Fjällräven Abisko Friluft 35 Pack | Performance

There’s something reassuringly, traditionally Scandinavian about Fjällräven kit. Not so much in an IKEA way, more along the lines of Volvo or Saab. Seriously solid engineering that’s more about sturdy performance than looking good or meeting modish expectations.

With the Abisko Friluft, it all begins with the waxed G-1000 Eco fabric. It’s a modern take on canvas using 65% recycled Polyester and 35% organic cotton and it has a nice, tough, natural feel. The base though is waterproof Polyamide for added toughness and damp protection.

None of which is new for Fjällräven. What is different is the back system, the brand’s first ventilated one using a suspended mesh panel against the back backed up with an aluminium perimeter frame. It’s not exactly original, Osprey’s vented packs used to use pretty much the same system, but in this case it works really well.

There’s an instant feel of supportive comfort and the hip-belt in particular wraps round with a sort of jaunty, springy embrace. In short, it’s a properly comfortable pack to carry with the ventilation gap coming as a bonus.

The other surprise waiting for you, is a massive fold-down zipped access panel that gives either neat nice access using one zip – above. Or, if you zip down both and un-Velcro the top, you can expose the entire main compartment in a suitcase style. Handy for huts, useful for retrieving buried kit treasure from the bottom of your pack at short notice.

We like. We also liked the big, zipped, front pocket for stashing shell jackets and the like, the solid fabric side stash pockets, which feature shock-corded closure to keep things secure and the traditional floating lid, which comes into its own if you head off on an overnighter with just a little bit more kit than the Friluft can swallow. Nice.

Other mod cons include hydration system compatibility, twin compression straps on either side and a rain cover in UN Blue, which lives in the lid pocket, but can be stowed wherever you like.