Fjallraven is gearing up to release its lightest wood frame trekking backpack yet, the Kajka X-Lätt 45. Wood isn’t often used as a design component in modern gear. You’ll see wood cores in skis and bamboo (technically a grass) used for fly rods, garment fabrics, and even bike frames.
But when it comes to backpacks, which need to be light, durable, and flexible, most manufacturers stick to plastic, nylon, and aluminum. Except for Fjallraven, that is. The Swedish outdoor brand stakes its name on the use of waxed cotton blends and Vinylon instead of GORE-TEX or DWR-coated nylon.
And it’s Aingi, Keb, and Kajka backpacks are some of the only packs using birch wood frames instead of aluminum.
In spring 2026, Fjallraven will release a new version of the Kajka pack, the Kajka X-Lätt 45 ($355), which has 10 L more volume and, shockingly, weighs a full 2 pounds less than the one we tested. It’s not quite ultralight, at 2 pounds, 9.8 ounces, but it’s on its way.
Fjallraven Kajka X-Lätt 45: What’s the Big Deal?
Fjallraven categorizes the Kajka X-Lätt 45 as a “lightweight trekking pack.” In true Fjallraven style, almost every component is repairable or replaceable.
GearJunkie editors stumbled upon an early preview of the Kakja X-Lätt 45 at the 2025 Outdoor Market Alliance (OMA) show in Denver. The pack’s light weight, repairability, and comparably small carbon footprint made it stand out among a sea of innovative backpacks and other gear.
The Kajka X-Lätt 45 is made with Vinylon F. This durable synthetic fiber swells when it gets wet and becomes more water-resistant.
The pack’s removable birch wood frame is visible in the back of the pack. The two wooden slats parallel the wearer’s spine and, according to Fjallraven, improve the pack’s carry comfort. That’s just one of the benefits Fjallraven pointed to when asked why it used wood instead of aluminum.
“The key advantages [to using birch wood] are that it is lighter than aluminum and since it is put together in multi layers, we can steer the flexibility and stiffness,” Donna Bruns, global product director at Fjallraven, told GearJunkie. “We also really appreciate how both the wood and the main material patina and age gracefully over time without degrading.”
Kajka X-Lätt 45 Design
The pack’s 45L interior is lined with recycled polyamide 140D ripstop and has a hydration bladder–compatible system. There is also a removable lining pocket that can be worn as a sling bag.
The fixed top lid has two pockets and opens/closes via two clips on the outside of the pack. A corded snow-closure accesses the main compartment under the lid.
The outside of the Kajka X-Lätt 45 has two stretch mesh side pockets with top and side access. You can expand these pockets with an elastic cord and hook to adjust them for carrying different gear. A removable front stretch sleeve allows you to store layers you need on hand.
Finally, two detachable gear loops make it possible to carry an ice axe or trekking poles for more technical missions.
Lightweight Pack Comparison
GearJunkie reviewed this pack’s predecessor, the Kajka 35, in 2024, and it left a good impression. Compared to similar-sized packs on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Backpacks, the Kajka X-Lätt 45’s roughly 2-pound, 9.8-ounce weight is on the heavier side. Take, for instance, the Dustron Kakwa 55L, which weighs 1 pound, 14 ounces, or the REI Co-op Flash Air 50, which weighs 1 ounce, 15 ounces.
However, that guide also includes the Mountain Hardwear PCT 50L, which weighs 4 pounds, 1.3 ounces. So, the Kajka X-Lätt 4 wouldn’t be the heaviest on the list.
Compared to the previous version we tested, the Kakja 35L, which weighs 4 pounds, 11 ounces, the new Kajka X-Lätt 45 is 2 pounds lighter. Compared to the Fjallraven Keb 52L, which also uses a wood frame and weighs 4 pounds, 15.6 ounces, the Kajka X-Lätt is almost 2.5 pounds lighter.
Fjallraven claims that making its packs with birch wood reduces the amount of CO2 emissions involved in the manufacturing process by 90% compared to aluminum. Because of that, the Kakja and its other packs with wooden frames have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than many comparable packs on the market.
The Kajka X-Lätt is also designed with many modular components that can be removed, and repaired or replaced if they ever break. That empowers owners of this pack to make it last for many years of hard use.
The new Kajka is slated to release in March 2026. It will be available in Fossil and Green colors in M/L and S/M sizes for $355. Stay tuned for a full review on GearJunkie.
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