(Photo: Hannah Whitaker)

For the first time, the lightweight and refreshingly simple backpacks from Swedish outdoor company Fjallraven (f-yall-raven) are available here—right now at Opening Ceremony ($80; 35 Howard St., nr. Broadway; 212-219-2688), and in a few weeks at J.Crew. The boxy design, based on the original pack launched in the seventies, comes in over twenty colors and is made from durable Vinylon—just as crucial to the city commuter as it is to the teenager headed back to school. It’s also available in a mini size ($60) for younger kids or lighter loads. 

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• Archive: “Best Bets”
• Table of Contents: Aug 10, 2009 issue of New York | Subscribe!