Kajka 85 first impressions
I bought a Fjällräven Kajka 85 today after going back and forth between the 75 and 85 for quite a while. I honestly thought the 85 would be to large as I'm used to a 55l Gregory Katmai, but after getting home and actually packing it the way I realistically would for a mountain trip, it suddenly made a lot more sense.
I packed it for what would be around a week in the mountains with the kind of gear I personally like bringing. Not ultralight at all, but not careless either. Sleep system, fishing gear, electronics, knife, Trangia, extra clothes, camp chair and some other comfort items. Basically the stuff that makes me genuinely enjoy being outside for many days instead of just “getting through” the trip.
What surprised me was that the whole setup only ended up at 19.3 kg, and honestly it felt extremely comfortable on my back. I expected it to feel much heavier and bulkier than it did. I didn't have all the food/drink items that I normally would have, so I would guess that the total weight would be around 22-24kg.
I've owned a lot of backpacks, and the last years I've been using the Gregory Baltoro 75l and recently the Gregory Katmai 55l. I got everything I needed in the 55l, but it was packed to the brim and without room fishing/hunting/winter gear. Those backpacks are also really great packs, and there's nothing wrong with them, I just love the fabric and color of the Kajka, the features it provides, and I love the side pockets as well.
I think I’ve realized that the reason I like larger packs isn’t because I want to bring unnecessary stuff, but because I like flexibility. If I remove the chair, swap the Trangia for a Jetboil and maybe leave the Jerven bag at home, I suddenly have room for a lot more food to stay 2 weeks in the mountains or bring winter clothing instead. That matters a lot more to me than having the smallest possible backpack. I could also strap on the extra side pocket on the back if i need more volume - that would give me 89l in total.
A lot of people online seem very focused on ultralight hiking, and I completely understand why, but I don’t think that style fully matches the kind of trips I enjoy. I like long mountain trips in Northern Norway, fishing along the way, eating proper food, sitting comfortably in camp and having enough gear to handle weather changes without stressing about every kilogram.
I also think there’s a big difference between a heavy pack that carries weight badly and one that carries it well. The Kajka 85 genuinely surprised me there. Even with close to 20 kg it felt really stable and comfortable.
For shorter trips I already have a Kajka 35, which I’ll use for day trips and lighter summer overnighters as well as hunting trips. I’ll probably end up buying a Kajka 55 or 65 at some point too for weekend trips, but honestly I can already tell the 85 is going to be amazing for longer trips, especially in the autumn. I have a 14 day hike (190km) in the planning stage for this summer, and I think the 85l is going to be perfect for that.