A Guide’s Review of the Fjällräven Keb Trousers
There is a plethora of trekking trousers on the market. They tend to be designed to be light and fast using every modern material possible or strong enough to work on a construction site with burly more traditional materials. The Fjällräven Keb trousers blend strong waxed canvas with modern stretch materials, combining the best of both worlds into a fantastic three-season do-it-all trekking pant.
Overview
- Material: G-1000® Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton
- Stretch Material: 63% polyamide, 26% polyester, 11% elastane
- Weight: 610 grams in size 48
- Size Tested: 54
- Country of Origin: China
What are the Keb Trousers?
Not all hikes are built the same and therefore not all hiking pants should be either. In fact, not all of them should be called pants or the Brits will snicker. The Fjällräven Keb Trousers are burly trekking trousers that mate Fjällräven’s well-known, strong, and abrasion-resistant G-1000 Eco in high-wear areas such as the seat and knees, with a modern soft shell material to provide stretch, allow for more ease of movement, and a little more breathability and functionality.
Keb’s Stretch Material for Movement
The inner thigh, waist, and behind the knees, are made of a blend of 63% polyamide, 26% polyester, and 11% elastane. This material is best described as a mid-weight soft shell. It is a stretchable fabric that breaths really well and compliments the G-1000 Eco by allowing the pants to move more naturally with the wearer than a pant solely made of G-1000.
Keb’s G-1000 for High Wear
Fjällräven’s proprietary G-1000 eco is a blend of 65% polyester and 35% organic cotton. It is found from mid-thigh to the top of the foot, from the back of the calf to the cuff, and covers the seat of the pants. All high-wear areas where you would want the most abrasion resistance.
G-1000 is a somewhat heavy material that pays off in its durability. A little stiff at first, it softens with frequent wear. Bush bashing, rope work, chopping wood. It does not matter. This is a material designed for work, and it can handle most anything you can throw at it. The exception here being the sun. The coloring of the G-1000 will fade with wear, especially in highly sunlit places.
The material is not waterproof by nature but can be made quite water-resistant by using Fjällrävens own wax to increase waterproofness. The Fjällräven Keb Trousers come pre-treated and this lasts for a few rounds in the washing machine before “needing” another wax. I highlight the word need as I tend not to re-wax my Fjällräven gear. I find they wear better without being waxed and if I am out in the rain, I’m probably already wearing rain pants.
The Venting
The G-1000 Eco is not the most breathable material, especially when waxed. My legs get sweaty during high-output activity and on hotter days. There are four very large zippers, two on the outside of each leg. This allows for cooling to help you keep wearing these pants further into the warmer months.
The upper zipper runs from mid-hip to the top of the knee and is the zipper I reach for the most. These are massive openings that allow for a lot of airflow. There is no mesh or liner so nearby hikers will get treated to a thigh show and you may even need to put on some sun tan lotion The double-ended zip means opening this vent is a breeze.
The smaller zipper runs from just below the knee to slightly above the ankle. If you’re the type to get hot calves, this is the zipper you will most often reach for though I can see material ingress if worn in knee-high bush. There certainly have been instances where I have reached for both zippers for maximum venting.
The Fit
The Keb Trousers have what Fjällräven calls a regular cut with a mid-waist fit. This means the waist sits just below a pack’s waistband and has a slightly looser than athletic fit. I find this to be accurate. There is just enough room for high steps and movement is not restricted at all thanks to the stretch material.
The legs are roomy enough for my larger-than-normal thighs, but not so loose at the bottom that there is a problem when wearing crampons. Should you find the cuffs too loose there are adjustment leashes to tighten them. These leashes recess into the cuff when not in use.
At the bottom of the hem are lace hooks to keep the pants low akin to gaiters. I’ve yet to have these pants ride high enough to where I’ve felt the need to use them. I have had the hooks unnecessarily catch on my shoelaces and keep me from being able to take my shoes off, though. Make sure to keep the lace hook tucked away in its garage and this won’t be a problem.
The Pockets
My favorite part of the Fjällräven Keb Trousers is the dual thigh pockets. Both close with dual brass snaps. The right pocket has an inner elasticated pocket that holds a mobile phone in place while the left Thigh pocket has a zipper closure as well. The outside of both pockets is bellowed to allow expansion.
These pockets are from slightly inner thigh to the mid-outside thigh. This means they sit mostly on top of the leg and don’t sway when you walk like traditional cargo pockets. They are just the right size to carry a log book, map, or cell phone. Its placement is exactly where I can reach the bottom of the pocket without any effort.
There are also hand pockets that have more than enough room to hold a pocket should your thigh pocket become full. There are also no back pockets so if you are the type to keep a wallet in your back pocket, you’re out of luck here.
Overview
The Fjällräven Keb Trousers are fantastic trousers. They are intended to take a beating and they do just that while looking stylish with their color blocks, be it Black and Stone grey or Deep Forest and Laurel Green.
I’ve owned several Fjällräven pieces throughout the years and have been super stoked with the longevity of their gear and the Keb Trouser is no exception. I have worn them on cool days guiding in the Alps, summits in Canada, Nch’ḵay̓ (FKA Garibaldi), and while teaching crevasse rescue courses. They’ve taken everything I could throw at them, including a crampon spike. G-1000 truly is a strong material and married with the stretch material makes these pants far more versatile than a pant made of a single material.
When I first received the Keb Trousers I was guiding a Tour du Mont Blanc with a clothing designer. So, I brought them to her to “inspect.” She was enamored at the detail that the pants are made with. She looked at every seem, tack, and gusset and marveled at the Swedish craftsmanship.
Unfortunately, my legs get sweaty while wearing these pants, which means they are relegated to three-season trousers. When I want Fjällräven trousers in the summer I turn to the Abisko Midsummer pant, which I previously reviewed here.
Who are the Fjällräven Keb Trousers for?
The hiker and bush basher who is looking for a traditional pant that will last longer than most others on the market but still includes some modern flare to make them more comfortable, and as far as I’m concerned, functional.
Who are the Fjällräven Trousers not for?
Ultralight hikers and folks with sweaty legs.
If you are interested in picking up a pair of the Fjällräven Keb Trousers, head on over to Fjällräven and pick some up. For more Fjallraven reviews, search HERE.
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Black Sheep Adventure Sports was provided with a free pair of Keb Trousers. This in no way affected our opinion and review of the trousers.
