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Whether you’re taking on the daily commute, shipping the kids off to school, tackling a multi-day hike or just nipping out for the shopping – having a quality backpack is at the cornerstone of almost everything we do. Here at Nordic Outdoor we’ve always prided ourselves on having a wide range of bags and backpacks for every event and over the past few seasons we’ve expanded out collection even further with new brands, styles and models.
While our customers may be best accustomed to our wide range of Fjallraven Backpacks we’ve been delighted to have brought on board a number of Thule bags, Kavu packs, Tretorn rucksacks and even some pieces from Icelandic style specialists 66°North over the past two years.
Much like your clothing – not all bags are designed equal. The same bag we would recommend for your business travel may not be the same we would suggest for a dayhike or the normal commute into the office. With our new season ranges landing thick and fast we thought it would be a good time to look at some of the best bags and backpacks for 2025 that are currently available at Nordic Outdoor.
Thule Aion Travel Backpack (28L) – Best for Travel
If you’re looking for a travel backpack for your next foreign adventure then our range of Thule bags and backpacks is the perfect place to start. While the brand are best known for their roofboxes and car accessories they have more recently become renowned for their collection of rucksacks, bags and travel accessories.
Since bringing Thule back to Nordic Outdoor there has been one product which is a consistent standout when customers are looking for the best travel backpack. The Aion Travel Backpack (28L) is constructed from durable recycled materials and is Bluesign approved. Even if you’re not heading into the sunshine you’ll be glad to hear the 600D waxed canvas shell fabric is highly durable and includes a water-resistant coating free of toxic PFCs that repels moisture, dirt and stains.
What makes this the perfect travel backpack is the ability to increase capacity from 28L to 32L – offering 15% more packable space for all your essentials. Internally the bag offers plenty of compartments to divide your essentials, including a padded laptop sleeve, stash pockets and internal dividers.
Our favourite feature of the Thule Aion range is the removable and easy-to-clean TPU divider which is perfect for keeping your worn clothes, wet swimshorts and gym socks separate from your main luggage and stopping odour, moisture and dirt from spreading through your travel pack!
If you like the Aion 28L but are looking for something a little bigger on your travels then you could explore the Aion Travel 40L backpack or for a serious upgrade take a look at Chasm Duffelbag which is available in a 40L and 70L version. You can shop the full Thule collection online now at Nordic Outdoor.
Fjallraven Abisko Softpack (16L) – Best for Daytrips
A new addition to the Fjallraven Backpack collection for 2025 is the Abisko Softpack – and straight away we think it’s the perfect choice for daytrips and shorter adventures! Offering 16L of storage, compatible with a hydration system, and offering a 15” laptop sleeve this is guaranteed to become your go-to backpack for everyday adventures.
Constructed from a super lightweight and 100% recycled polyamide ripstop with a 1500mm PU Coating. The breathable back panels and shoulder straps mean you shouldn’t sweat out on even a Summer day hike and the functional loop and strap system provides storage for walking poles, helmets, and water bottles!
While this day trip backpack is new to the Fjallraven collection we’re pretty sure it’s going to become a future staple. Here at Nordic Outdoor we’re looking forward to getting out into the hills this Summer and giving it a full test drive.
Kavu Rope Bag – Best for Everyday Essentials
Nipping to the shop? Cycling to the office? Headed to the park? Sometimes a full backpack can be overkill and you don’t need 16+ litres of space to hold your swimshorts and house keys. This is where your everyday backpack comes into force and we don’t think theres many better (or more stylish) everyday bags than the Kavu Rope Bag.
While Kavu might be a new brand to Nordic Outdoor, this is far from a new style. The Rope Bag has been a mainstay of the Kavu collection for over 15 years and has become one of the most popular and recognisable outdoor bags in the US during this time.
With an instantly recognisable and unique design the Rope Bag takes its name from the adjustable rope strap which can be carried cross-body – making it ideal for cyclists everywhere. This 10l bag features two large vertical zip compartments, a number of nifty phone pockets and offers the perfect amount of space for a day in the countryside or an evening in the park.
If you want something a little smaller for your keys, phone and wallet but love the styling then you can explore the Kavu Mini Rope Bag which is just a smaller version of our best everyday backpack. Available in a whole host of colourways this miniature model offers the perfect amount of size for when you’re just nipping into town of a Summer afternoon.
Fjallraven Kanken Original – Best for Students
Some products don’t need introduced and the Kanken is one of these. One of the most iconic and recognisable products on the planet, the Fjallraven Kanken is the perfect backpack for students across the world.
Initially designed with learning in mind, the Kanken rucksack was created in the 1970’s to solve the problem of childhood back pain which was rife across Sweden at the time. The now iconic square design was developed to hold two A4 binders and two schoolbooks while sitting flat on the back. Fast forward 50 years and the Kanken is still one of the top choices for students everywhere thanks to its fashionable design and simple functionality.
If the original model doesn’t provide you with the space or storage that you need for all those books, laptops and study papers then you can upgrade to the Laptop 15” or Kanken Laptop 17” which both introduce more storage, padded laptop sleeves and padded shoulder straps for even more comfort.
You can shop the full Kanken range at Nordic Outdoor online now including Kanken Original, Mini, Art and Laptop!
Fjallraven Ulvo 30 – Best for Weekend Hikes
The Ulvo 23 backpack from Fjallraven has been one of our most popular styles at Nordic Outdoor for years, but when you’re headed out into the hills for a weekend you might just want a little more space and storage – enter the Fjallraven Ulvo 30.
This is one of our favourite hiking backpacks thanks to the use of Fjallraven’s unique and award winning Bergshell fabric. Bergshell is constructed from 100% recycled polyamide and is entirely waterproof making it ideal for those spring showers on the trail.
With a spacious main compartment, divided into two sections alongside a padded laptop pockets and attachment loops this has got all the bells and whistles you would expect from an outdoor brand like Fjallraven.
While we think this is one of the best bags for weekend hikes and trips away the beauty of the Ulvo is that it can effortlessly move between trail and town and works just as well as a commuter backpack when you’re not on adventure. Sometimes the most sustainable choice is buying less and buying better and by having one backpack for multiple uses you’re making a sustainable choice for the better.
66°North Sports Bag – Best for the Gym
We love this gym bag from 66°North and it makes the perfect addition to your everyday kit thanks to the style, structure and sustainability it offers.
Taking direct reference from the Icelandic brands fisherman’s heritage, the sports bag is constructed from leftover fabrics from the 66°North factories. Offering a mammoth 35L of space this is perfect for holding your trainers, gym clothes, towel and shaker without feeling like the zips will burst!
The water resistant material will mean you don’t need to worry about getting changed into soggy kit while the small internal pockets and exterior waterproof pocket will keep your keys, wallet and essentials safely tucked away.
Conclusion
We’re just at the beginning of the 2025 season but are already excited about the range of bags and backpacks from top outdoor brands that we’ve managed to pull together for the season. Alongside all of the above standout styles you can explore our full collections from the likes of Fjallraven, Thule, Tretorn and Kavu online and instore now.
If you’re upgrading your outdoor backpack for the upcoming Summer adventures then you can use the code NORDICFIVE at checkout to save 5% off your first full price order at Nordic Outdoor. This is only the beginning and we’ve got a few more exciting brands to join us this year so make sure to sign up to our newsletter and keep an eye on our social channels!