Fjällräven Skule Kids
The Fjällräven Skule Kids backpack offers clean Scandinavian design with generous storage space and sturdy construction. Its child-friendly features and comfortable harness system make it ideal for preschoolers.
Our Verdict
Clean aesthetic with simple storage that provides ample space without complex organization, perfectly functional for preschoolers
Child Friendliness
Child-sized zippers, reflective details, and attachment points enhance usability.
Harness System
Padded, breathable straps with adjustable sternum support
Storage Capabilities
Spacious, flat-bottomed storage with excellent internal visibility
Water Resistant
Water-repellent protection that beads moisture
Our opinion reflects our personal experience with the product. We encourage you to consider our assessment alongside your own research to determine if it's the right fit for you.
Buying Options
$65.00
Only available in EU
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Full Review
I never owned a Fjällräven bag before, mistakenly assuming they only created stylish urban packs for adults with their iconic Kånken. Boy, was I wrong! The Skule proves their expertise extends brilliantly to children's needs. This Swedish-crafted backpack genuinely understands what young explorers require for their daily journeys, addressing the anatomical considerations essential for developing bodies while meeting parents' expectations for durability and function.
First Impression
My first hands-on with the Skule left me genuinely impressed. The heritage aesthetic shines through immediately - that timeless Scandinavian approach where nothing feels superfluous. The navy blue fabric with vibrant orange accents creates visual harmony through complementary colors that feel sophisticated rather than juvenile. With patina green and magenta pink options available, there's a colorway for every young personality.
The navy colorway (also available in refreshing Patina green or Magenta pink) offers practical versatility for all seasons and personalities.
The Skule maintains Fjällräven's signature minimalist approach with clean lines and considered proportions. The front panel showcasing just the centered fox logo provides subtle brand identity without overwhelming the design - exactly the kind of restrained branding both kids and parents can appreciate.
While not as rugged as their adult offerings, the 600D polyester construction strikes an ideal balance—providing sufficient durability to withstand children's rough handling while maintaining a lightweight profile that won't burden small shoulders. The solid harness system demonstrates Fjällräven's understanding of pediatric ergonomics - crucial since developing spines need proper support distribution.
This isn't a simplified adult pack - it's a ground-up rethinking of what young explorers need, delivered with that quintessential Fjällräven character we've come to trust.
The hardware details speak volumes about quality commitment. The zippers glide with that distinctive YKK smoothness - absolutely crucial when little fingers are learning fine motor skills. Meanwhile, the Woojin adjustable Z buckles click into place with satisfying precision. These aren't cost-cutting afterthoughts; they're carefully selected components from industry leaders known for their reliability.
Child-Friendliness
The Skule's design incorporates several practical features specifically designed for younger users. The navy blue fabric includes strategically placed nylon webbing loops with reflective strips that serve as attachment points. While these reflective elements add some visibility during low light conditions, their relatively small size means they aren't easily spotted from a distance. Consider these loops as a supplementary safety feature rather than a primary visibility solution.
The zipper pulls showcase Fjällräven's understanding of children's developing motor skills. Each pull features a navy paracord with orange speckles that coordinates with the bag's overall aesthetic. The extended length provides sufficient leverage for small hands to grasp and maneuver, eliminating the frustration often associated with standard metal pulls that can be slippery for younger children.
The high-contrast orange Fjällräven logo on the tag makes it immediately identifiable when the bag is opened, helping children quickly recognize their own belongings among similar items.
Inside the main compartment, a name tag is sewn directly into the light gray interior lining. The tag includes clearly marked fields for both name and contact information—an essential feature in school environments where identical bags can easily be confused.
Harness System
The Skule's harness system employs a straightforward yet effective design focused on children's needs. The back panel features perforated gray mesh padding that provides both ventilation and comfort, reducing sweating during longer wear periods.
The shoulder straps utilize thickly padded foam covered in the same breathable mesh material. This generous padding maintains its structure even when the bag is fully loaded, preventing the straps from digging into smaller shoulders. Unlike some competitors who skimp on padding for children's bags, Fjällräven has applied the same quality found in their adult offerings to this junior model.
The Skule's harness system demonstrates Fjällräven's understanding of both children's anatomical needs and practical parental concerns.
The sturdy nylon webbing handle at the top proved its worth during school pickup when my son refused to carry his backpack. My hand slipped through easily, providing a comfortable grip. Importantly, this handle sits properly positioned to avoid scraping against the back of the child's neck - a common design flaw in many children's packs.
The sternum strap system features webbing that allows for height adjustment to accommodate different torso lengths. This adaptability ensures the strap sits at the appropriate position across the chest. The black plastic buckle provides secure closure without requiring excessive force to operate. While sliding rail systems might offer smoother adjustment, this simpler approach maintains durability for sometimes rough-handed younger users.
Nylon keepers at the ends of the adjustable straps help manage excess webbing, preventing the dangling that often occurs with children's bags when straps are tightened for smaller frames. This practical detail helps maintain a clean appearance while eliminating potential catch points.
Storage Capabilities
Opening the main compartment reveals a light gray interior lining that provides excellent visibility. The main compartment features a flat-bottomed design that creates a stable foundation for packing. This flat floor is particularly useful for lunch containers, which sit securely without tipping over. The generous opening allows full visibility of the contents, though the bag's depth requires some intentional organization. Items needed frequently should be placed near the top, as reaching items at the bottom requires removing upper contents first.
Efficiently holds daily essentials including lunch, books, clothes, and personal items.
A zippered pocket at the top provides secure storage for small essentials. The pocket includes a key leash with appropriate length that prevents keys from tangling with other items while keeping them securely attached to the bag. This leash holds keys to one side rather than allowing them to shift around loosely inside the pocket.
The pocket size accommodates small necessities but becomes cramped if overfilled.
The Skule includes two standard side pockets designed for water bottles. These pockets utilize stretchy mesh construction that lies flat against the bag when empty, maintaining the streamlined profile. However, the pockets are oversized for standard water bottles, failing to provide a secure hold. The stretchy material loses its elasticity fairly quickly with regular use. If parents are prioritizing a firm grip on water bottles to prevent shifting or withstand rough handling by the kid, this design falls short of expectations.
During hands-on testing, the Skule's capacity impressed me. I packed it with a full day's essentials: dual lunchboxes sat securely on the flat bottom, with a small blanket resting neatly on top. Two stationery cases stacked efficiently, using the bag's vertical space. Books slid perfectly into the dedicated back sleeve. A complete change of clothes and a soft toy crowned the pack's contents. The napkin tucked conveniently into the quick-access top pocket, while the water bottle fit snugly in the stretchy side pocket—all while maintaining comfort on smaller shoulders.
Water Resistance
The Skule fabric exhibits impressive water-repellent properties that proved valuable during real-world testing. We conducted a simple water test—inserting a paper napkin inside the main compartment and subjecting the exterior to a thorough misting. After sustained exposure, we checked the napkin and found it completely dry, confirming the fabric's protective capabilities.
The interior remained completely dry throughout testing, keeping contents safe from moisture.
What's practical about the Skule's water resistance is how easy it is to maintain. Water droplets bead up nicely on the surface rather than soaking in, allowing moisture to be shaken off with minimal effort. Even when thoroughly dampened, the fabric dries surprisingly quickly after a simple wipe-down.
Technical Details
Dimension
15.4 x 9.1 x 6.0 inch
Weight
0.9 lbs
Storage
15 litres
Material
600D Recycled polyester
Customer Reviews
"I had been looking for a backpack for my son with the aim of finding a product without PFAS or other pollutants for his return to first grade. This brand meets this requirement unfortunately, I will have to reequip myself for the next few years. But it will pass into a sport/hiking bag and other leisure activities. Too bad but I recommend the brand for its desire to protect our children's bodies. So I'm taking out a star for that."
"Unfortunately too small for a DinA4 folder"
"Purchased for my son starting school soon. Really nice bag with good padding and sturdy straps. My son says it's comfortable"
"Too narrow. Damages A4 format books corners. Also wish the bottle holder would have some kind of elastic, bottle falls out. Wish you could eliminate these flaws."
- Impressive capacity—easily holds daily essentials like lunch, books, clothes, and personal items with room to spare
- Perforated gray mesh padding on back panel and shoulder straps provides ventilation
- Quick access top pocket to store frequently needed small items
- Flat-bottomed design makes packing items easy
- Hydration pocket mesh susceptible to wearing out over time, gradually losing its ability to snap back
- May not grip slimmer containers tightly enough in the side pockets
Conclusion
The Fjällräven Skule Kids proves invaluable for my 5-year-old son's needs. Unlike most children's backpacks I've reviewed, its storage accommodates everything from his blanket and pillow to art and crafts without compromising comfort. The flat-bottomed main compartment maintains its shape even when partially filled, preventing items from shifting during transit. Beyond practicality, the clean Scandinavian aesthetic has earned envious glances from other parents during drop-off.
