Fjällräven Kånken Rain Cover Review

Overview

The Kånken Rain Cover is a 60 g shell cut specifically for Fjällräven’s boxy daypacks, and it exists because the Kånken’s Vinylon fabric handles a brief shower but not a long, steady soak. It is a commuter and day-hike accessory rather than a thru-hiking tool. The headline trade-off: a tailored fit that stays put in wind, in exchange for working with almost nothing but a Kånken.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	60 g (2.1 oz)
Material	100% recycled polyamide, 70D
Volume	18 L
Fits	Kånken Original; Kånken Laptop 13” and 15”
Attachment	Elasticated edging; press buttons at the shoulder straps
Storage	Integrated pack pocket with Velcro closure; small loop for a carabiner
Other features	Reflective Kånken logo; produced without PFAS
Price	$25

Performance

Weather protection. The cover is a single piece of 70D recycled nylon that pulls over the pack body like a shower cap. Elasticated edging holds the hem against the bag, and press buttons at the top clip to the shoulder-strap anchors so the cover doesn’t wander. Owners on retail sites describe it as staying put and keeping the pack dry in heavier rain, which is the whole job. A cover can’t do more than that: it shields the pack from above and the sides, and it does nothing about water running down a wearer’s back into the strap side of the bag.

Packability. This is where it earns its place. The cover stuffs into its own sewn-in pocket and closes with Velcro, and at 60 g it disappears into a side pocket or the main compartment. A small loop lets it hang from a carabiner on the pack’s exterior. Buyers repeatedly cite the small packed size, and one reviewer noted that even a child could manage the stow-and-attach routine, which is a reasonable usability test.

Fit. The cover is sized for the 18 L Original and the Laptop 13” and 15” versions, and most owners report a close, correct fit. The exception is a fully stuffed Laptop 15”, which one buyer found too tight to cover comfortably. The cover is cut to the Kånken’s rectangle, so a stretchy generic cover for other packs isn’t an alternative; this one is for this bag.

The shoulder-strap button issue. The most common complaint concerns the buttons. The cover clips to the same strap anchors used by aftermarket shoulder pads, so owners running pads report they can use one or the other. Without the top buttons secured, the pads slide around. Reports are not unanimous: one Kånken No. 2 15” owner says the cover installed fine with the straps in use for carrying. Owners who add pads, however, should expect a compromise.

Visibility and materials. The reflective logo adds a modest touch of visibility for evening commutes, though it is a logo, not a safety panel. The recycled polyamide and PFAS-free production are a point in its favor among rain covers, many of which are not. Fjällräven’s care guidance is to brush it off and use lukewarm water rather than wash it.

Against the field. Generic covers for 20–45 L packs cost a fraction of the price, and some can be had for under $10. They don’t fit a Kånken as precisely, and none carry the matching branding. For ultralight use, a trash-compactor liner weighs less and costs almost nothing, though it does nothing to protect the outside of the bag or keep it clean.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 60 g and packs into its own integrated pocket
• Tailored shape and elasticated edge stay on in wind
• Works across Original, Laptop 13” and Laptop 15” Kånkens
• Recycled 70D polyamide, produced without PFAS
• Carabiner loop and reflective logo

Cons

• $25 for a single-purpose cover
• Strap buttons clash with aftermarket shoulder pads for many owners
• Tight on a fully loaded Laptop 15”
• Fits one pack family and little else
• Shields the pack only, not the wearer’s back panel

Who Should Buy This

Kånken owners who commute, travel or day-hike in climates with real rain, and who want the bag’s contents kept dry without carrying a dry bag. It suits the Original and Laptop 13” best. Anyone running aftermarket shoulder pads, or overstuffing a Laptop 15”, should expect friction. Thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers carrying frameless packs of 30 L or more should skip it, as the cover doesn’t fit and a pack liner does the job better for the weight.

Verdict

The Kånken Rain Cover does the job it was designed for: it fits the right pack, stays on, and weighs next to nothing in your pocket. The price is steep and the strap-button conflict is a real annoyance, but for a Kånken owner there isn’t a better-fitting option. For everyone else, it is irrelevant.