Fjallraven’s Keb walking trousers are already highly regarded, but the latest version has taken user feedback on board in an attempt to refine the overall fit and functionality.
They still employ a hybrid construction of weatherproof and tough G-1000 Eco – a sustainable polycotton blend that can be waxed for additional water-resistance – with stretch softshell panels. This offers good, durability yet exceptional freedom of movement.
They are now a little slimmer fitting overall, particularly in the lower leg and over the rear. Stretch panelling is a bit more extensive and a seam has been removed across the rear thigh.
There are still double leg vents to help dump heat, but the top vent now has a two-way zip, which does improve usability.
The pocket construction has been simplified, as has the patterning at the ankle. This saves weight overall, and apparently means that ankle cuffs can now be more easily repaired or altered if you don’t need the leg adjustment.
It has meant sacrificing the double fabric layer at the instep, however, which is a shame, as this offered a bit of scuff protection. But overall, the design changes have made them even better suited to technical trekking and hillwalking, resulting in a superb pair of walking trousers.
Pros
- Superb comfort
- Robust
- Excellent leg vents
Cons
- Not the lightest
- Expensive
| RRP: | £215 / $240 |
| Weight: | 630g / 1lb 6oz |
| Materials: | G-1000 Eco (65% recycled polyester, 35% organic cotton) / Stretch fabric (63% polyamide, 26% polyester, 11% elastane) |
| No. of pockets: | 4 |
| Men’s sizes: | UK 28-44” waist |
| Women’s sizes: | UK 6-22 plus additional ‘curved fit’ option |
| Leg lengths: | Men's short/reg/long | Women's short/reg/long |
Fit
Fjallraven’s range of trousers is extensive, and the Kebs in particular come in a wide range of sizes for both men and women. Men can pick from a combination of 10 waist sizes and three leg lengths, while women have the choice of nine standard sizes or nine ‘curved fit’ options, both in three leg lengths.
That’s commendable commitment to producing a range of choices for multiple shapes and sizes. In addition, the brand has recently updated its patterning, with a new ‘improved fit’ that is designed to offer a trimmer silhouette without affecting overall comfort.
The advice for men is to order a size up in the newer fit compared to older styles – if this is your first pair of Fjallraven trousers, check the online size guide to find your best fit.
Women can expect to stay the same size in the improved fit if you wear an EU 34 through 44 (UK 6 to 16). EU sizes 46 (UK 18+) and above can go down a size, depending on fit preference. Again, it’s worth looking at the size guide on the Fjallraven website.
Fabrics
These trousers are constructed from two different types of fabric in a panelled construction. The seat, thigh, knees and lower legs are made from G-1000. This fabric has essentially been around since the late 1960s, originally being developed by Fjallraven founder Åke Nordin.
Given its age, it’s still an excellent fabric. It’s a 65:35 blend of polyester and cotton, which is hardwearing and reasonably quick drying. It also has a smooth outer, which resists snags better than softshell fabrics – making these a good choice if you’re tangling with nettles, bracken and other light undergrowth.
On the other hand, remember that polyester and cotton fibres are not as strong for their weight compared to nylon, so if you’re looking for ultimate toughness, you’d be better off with high-denier nylon ripstop such as Cordura, or even some of the newer walking trousers that use aramid (Kevlar) fibres in their construction.
This obviously adds weight though, which means you’re probably going to be looking at dedicated winter trousers.
The Kebs are really designed to balance ruggedness and robustness with breathability and flexibility for multi-season use.
As such, other panels are made from a stretchy softshell fabric made with recycled polyester and nylon, blended with elastane, and given a PFC-free water-repellent treatment. This makes them a versatile choice, especially for variable conditions in the hills.
G-1000 fabric is tightly woven, so it is reasonably windproof. One other advantage of the fabric is that it can be waxed to improve its overall weather resistance. In fact, a heavy waxing (which is easy to do at home) renders it surprisingly water-resistant – though it does impair breathability a little.
But if, say, you're trekking through dewy grass, it’s well worth waxing the ankles and calves with the brand’s Greenland Wax (a mix of paraffin and beeswax). On test, the results were impressive.
But if all this sounds like a bit of a faff, don’t worry. The Kebs are lightly pre-treated when you buy them, so they can handle light rain from the get-go. In addition, they soon dry out if they do get damp, meaning you don’t have to pull on your waterproof overtrousers until the weather really sets in.
Features and construction
As noted, the Keb trousers have a panelled construction. Areas of high wear employ G-1000 fabric. These areas include the thigh pockets (objects in pockets can make delicate outer fabrics more prone to damage), rear seat and knees (which inevitably get a lot of abuse during mountain activities) and the lower leg (where scuffs against rocks and brushes with vegetation are common).
Meanwhile, the waist, hips, crotch and backs of the knees all use stretch softshell to improve comfort and ensure excellent freedom of movement. It makes for a pair of trousers that feel flexible yet robust, too.
The trousers are well equipped. They're fitted with belt loops, a button waist and a zip fly as well as two open hand pockets. There are two large front thigh pockets, both fitted with buttoned flaps. The left hand pocket has an additional secure zip closure, while the right-hand pocket has an internal stretch sleeve to accommodate a smartphone.
Knee panels have a bottom opening to make them compatible with optional knee pads, while the leg endings have press stub tabs and lace hooks to firmly attach them to boots.
Our favourite feature, however, are the excellent zipped leg vents, which are great for dumping heat fast when pushing hard uphill. There are two sets on each leg, at upper and lower thigh respectively.
When fully unzipped, they expose the leg, providing efficient cooling. Just be sure to keep them zipped up if you’re in places where ticks are likely to be present.
Sustainability
There are a number of key approaches that Fjallraven has taken with the Keb trousers to boost their sustainability credentials. Firstly, their construction makes use of recycled polyester and organic cotton and is PFC-free.
This means they contain none of the harmful ‘forever chemicals’ that have been shown to bio-accumulate in the environment, and which the outdoor industry is now almost completely phasing out.
Perhaps more importantly, though, is that they’ve been built to last and provide many, many seasons of use. This is the heart of the brand’s primary ‘sustainability through longevity’ approach. Part of this is that the Keb trousers are designed to be easy to clean, reproof and repair.
They can be washed and reproofed with any specialist outdoor gear cleaner such as Nikwax or Grangers, and the G-1000 panels can be topped up with the brand’s Greenland Wax, a blend of natural beeswax and paraffin (admittedly, a petrochemical).
The high price tag makes these something of an investment, but you should therefore expect good lifetime value. Products also come with a two-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
As a brand, Fjallraven now produces a comprehensive annual sustainability and CSR report, which is available to download via its website. It's widely perceived as one of the most sustainable brands out there by outdoor consumers, across UK, European and US markets.
However, the Good On You sustainability directory and the Sustainability Review both only rate it three out of five overall.
Price and competition
The Fjallraven Keb trousers are very well made with an eye on sustainability and both those are worth paying for. But there’s no doubt that the brand name and cute arctic fox logo are having a big influence on price here.
Fjallraven is increasingly trendy and therefore desirable, so there’s no question it’s driving the price up, even when it comes to the Swedish brand’s less ‘lifestyle-orientated’ kit, like these no-nonsense walking trousers.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Kebs now have plenty of competition – including a few rivals that arguably offer considerably better value. The best examples come from rival Scandinavian brands, such as Helly Hansen’s Verglas Tur pants (£180) or Revolution Race’s great-value GP Pro pants (£109).
Both of these have a hybrid construction similar to the Keb, with a mix of polycotton and stretch softshell panels for balanced ruggedness and mobility.
Having tested all three, I think the Kebs probably still win out when it comes to overall fit. But whether that’s worth paying an extra £35 compared to the Helly rivals or an extra £100+ compared to the Rev Race option is your call.
Verdict
The Fjallraven Kebs are versatile, robust multi-season outdoor trousers that are now trimmer-fitting and even more comfortable. Undeniably brilliant, deservedly popular, but very expensive.
Need some additional weather protection? See our list of the best waterproof trousers.
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About the author
Matt Jones is a freelance journalist based in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, he’s a vastly experienced gear tester and self-confessed outdoor kit geek.
Matt’s been one of our main gear testers for the last couple of years and is the first person we call with any complicated kit queries that need in-depth and forensic analysis.