An idea that carried weight
Our founder, Åke Nordin, was following the ”back” debate with great interest. With the help of the Swedish Guide and Scout Association, he immediately sketched a reasonably priced, functional backpack that had plenty of space for school children’s folders. The Kånken backpack was introduced in August 1978. The arguments in favour of the school backpack had already taken root with
experts. Around forty Swedish magazines even used the new Kånken backpack as the focal point of articles discussing society’s back problems.

Positive results
The launch campaign was directed toward parents and school children. One of the many advantages of the backpack was that it allowed the hands to be free. This meant that Kånken was also practical for older people who needed to support themselves using canes, banisters or handles. But would the younger generation embrace the idea? The school systems in the Närke and Värmland regions made several attempts to popularise the backpacks among school children - and succeeded. When the weight of the bag was redistributed from a single shoulder to both sides of the body, back problems dimini-shed. It was also asserted that the backpack improved a person’s posture.

Frowned upon, but loved
However, the new backpack would awaken unexpected emotions. Kånken was marked by some as a symbol of liberal political views and sometimes called ”the communist hunchback”. But none of this bothered Åke. He estimated that he would sell 200 Kånken its first year. He sold 400. The following year sales reached 30,000 and the backpack was officially a success.

Straight backs are happy backs.
In the interest of being politically
neutral, it should be added that back
then many school children were probably
also leaning to the right.

30th anniversary
Thirty years have now passed since the first Kånken was sold. The concept of wearing a backpack is widely accepted, as is the Kånken. More than 200,000 are made every year. But we would rather place the spotlight on the three million backs that have benefited from the Kånken. As a product, it has not really changed throughout the years. The only things we have added are more colours and a few new models, such as Kånken Laptop. One of the undisputed favourites is Minikånken. It is only 29 cm high and is made for the smallest children in the family. It is never too early to start a good habit.