Compare Kids Backpacks
REI Co-op Tarn 18 Pack - Kids' scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Fjallraven Kanken Mini Backpack 7.2/10 and the REI Co-op Tarn 18 Pack - Kids' 8.3/10 on the same kids backpacks scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The REI Co-op Tarn 18 Pack - Kids' comes out ahead, led by its safety score (8.4/10 vs 7.0/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Fjallraven Kanken Mini Backpack vs REI Co-op Tarn 18 Pack - Kids'.
Unlock the full Fjallraven Kanken Mini Backpack vs REI Co-op Tarn 18 Pack - Kids' breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want a light, durable pack with a clean material story for a young child who carries only a few light things
You care most about low chemical exposure and like that it has no vinyl, no PVC, and a brand produced-without-PFAS claim
You want a bag that survives years of daily use and is backed by a lifetime warranty rather than something you replace each year
You like the size and look for preschool or early grades, where the daily load stays small and light
You want a low-chemical-exposure daypack for a child roughly eight to twelve and value bluesign-verified PVC and phthalate-free construction
You want full load support for a child who carries real weight: padded straps, a ventilated padded back panel, a chest strap and a hipbelt
You want a PFAS-free water-repellent finish that is backed by an outside textile standard rather than a bare brand claim
You want a reinforced, double-layer-bottom pack built to survive daily school and trail use
The main thing to know
The classic Kanken has thin unpadded straps, no structured back panel, and no waist or chest strap, so it carries a loaded school day poorly even though its materials and durability are excellent.
This is one of the cleanest kids' packs we scored on chemicals, but two of its signals rest on certification and regulation rather than a lab test of this exact pack. The forever-chemical-free finish is backed by REI's statement and the bluesign program rather than a published lab reading, and the lead in the hardware rests on the federal children's-product limit rather than a published REI test result.
Skip this if you...
Your child is older and hauls heavy textbooks, where unpadded straps and a flat back will dig in and strain the shoulders
You want padded straps, a structured or padded back panel, and a hip or chest strap to spread a heavy load
You are price sensitive and do not want to pay a premium for a small pack that leaves out carry support
You will only buy a pack with its own independent forever-chemical lab result, since this model is certified rather than separately lab-tested
You want a published lead-free test on the zippers and hardware rather than reliance on the federal children's-product limit
You specifically want a recycled or natural-fiber main body, since the Tarn's primary shell is virgin nylon ripstop
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Kids Backpacks options at every price pointEvery Kids Backpacks in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Fjallraven and REI Co-op across 3 independent criteria: Safety (94%), Efficacy (5%), Usability (1%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with REI Co-op REI Co-op Tarn 18 Pack - Kids' - it scored 8.3/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Kids Backpacks across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects how we weight those three pillars, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
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