2026, a brand-new backpack series, ALK, was finally born.

The name ALK comes from the Japanese word “aruku,” meaning “to walk.” Walking is a fundamental human activity and the foundation of outdoor adventures. That will likely never change. Yet in today’s rapidly advancing information society, the reality is that we no longer need to move as much as before. Walking as a form of movement has always gone hand in hand with outward curiosity—perhaps what we call a spirit of adventure. In a time when information was scarce, people probably walked farther and explored more.

Thinking about that, we felt inspired to create a product that supports everyone’s desire to walk. A backpack that lets you go anywhere, anytime. That idea sparked the designer’s spirit.

The development process, however, was surprisingly smooth—perhaps the smoothest we’ve ever had. That’s because we had already created and tested countless prototypes through the development of RUSH and ZENN, while steadily working on BUDDY-derived models as well. Drawing on years of backpack development experience, the process moved forward quickly.

That said, there were still challenges. The most difficult was the back-side opening design of ALK30. We repeatedly tested different frame and back panel structures to improve usability without sacrificing carrying comfort. The design of the front panel was another challenge. We wanted it to be compatible with ZENN optional parts while still giving it a distinct identity. After much trial and error, it ended up looking like a relative of ZENN—which, in the end, felt just right.

There are many more stories behind the development, but as the tagline suggests, ALK is designed to be easy to use both in the mountains and in the city—a backpack that makes you want to keep walking, anytime and anywhere.

So throw on your ALK and start walking with curiosity wide open.
Pack and Go!