Whitewater rushed towards my legs as much as my knees as white noise thundered in my ears. With a bridge out early within the Tour du Mont Blanc season, I used to be compelled to ford a speeding torrent or flip round. Ford it was.
Fortuitously, my ft and legs have been well-outfitted with waterproof Trango Tech GTX boots and Fjallraven Keb trousers. Thirty seconds after moving into the speeding waterfall, I stepped safely on dry path, ft nonetheless bone dry even after strolling via 18 inches of icy meltwater.
Certain, the boots have been nice. However much more spectacular have been the trousers, which stored water at bay regardless that it was a lot larger than my boot-tops.
This spring, I wore the Fjallraven Keb trousers ($240) on each step of the enduring Tour du Mont Blanc, a 100ish-mile circumnavigation of Mont Blanc with 35,000 ft of elevation acquire. The pants impressed me repeatedly with their versatility, sturdiness, and luxury.
In brief: Fjallraven Keb trousers are good trekking pants for cooler temps. With powerful G-1000 cloth in high-wear areas and stretch panels, the pants are powerful, comfy, and non-restricting. They’re extremely engineered particularly for trekking and it reveals.
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Cloth
G-1000 (65% polyester, 35% cotton), stretch panels (63% polyamide, 26% polyester, 11% elastane) -
Match
True to dimension - Weight 19.75 oz. (dimension 30R)
- Waxable water-resistance on G-1000 panels
- UPF 50+
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Sturdy and protecting -
Good air flow -
Spacious pockets -
Constructed-in gaiters
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Heavy -
Too heat for warm climate
Fjallraven Keb Males’s Trousers Assessment
For those who’ve spent a lot time round outdoorsy sorts, you’ve in all probability seen the Fjallraven Keb. Launched in 2010 and up to date in 2018 and 2019, it’s one of many prime merchandise from Fjallraven.
I first observed these pants whereas residing in Alaska for a summer time within the mid-2010s, the place one among my pals wore them on just about each outing. On a number of journeys to Scandinavia, I noticed them (or close to replicas) darn close to in every single place. However someway, in additional than a decade of drugs testing, I’d by no means gotten in a pair myself.
I lastly had the possibility this spring, and coincidentally, I additionally acquired a close to clone by the U.S. looking model Forloh. Having used each pairs onerous this spring, I’ve developed a keenness for each.
Whereas Forloh makes an incredible pair of pants (and I recognize that they’re manufactured in the united statesA.), it’s actually onerous to beat the OG.
Mountaineering 100 miles over 8 days pressed the Keb into onerous use. I crossed dozens of shin-deep streams, glissaded down lots of of meters of packed snow, and sloshed via miles of mud and brush-covered facet trails. My cellphone, a knife, snacks, and different gear have been at all times stashed within the plentiful pockets.
I by no means as soon as wished for any modifications within the pants. They’re dialed.
Keb Vents, Cloth, and Particulars
Beginning on the underside, the Keb has adjustable cuffs that enable the wearer to tighten them to their boots. In addition they have a gaiter hook that lashes them besides laces.
This was essential in deep stream crossings and tender snow circumstances, and allowed me to maintain my gaiters in my pack. The built-in gaiter is extremely practical for shorter-duration use. I used to be blown away that they stored my ft dry in deep stream crossings. The water resistance of the G-1000 cloth is legit.
Transferring up the pants, the G-1000 protects your legs all the best way to the thigh. Zip vents enable airflow on the calf and higher thigh, and these work nice on the lads’s model. It’s value noting that the ladies’s model (which my spouse owns) has mesh over the higher vent.
We weren’t positive why, however that mesh resulted in a lot much less airflow than within the mesh-free males’s.
Facet observe: Don’t neglect the sunscreen behind the facet vents. I obtained a nasty sunburn at some point after climbing for 10 hours with no sunscreen on underneath the open vents. It was a small patch of pores and skin, nevertheless it did get fairly fried!
Water-Resistant, Not Waterproof!
I wish to make clear one element: Whereas the Keb pants, significantly the G-1000 panels, are fairly water resistant, they aren’t waterproof. They may get moist in heavy and extended rain.
This occurred to me on a wet Tour du Mont Blanc day. A couple of hours of onerous climbing in a downpour was sufficient to soak my legs. My higher physique stayed good and dry underneath a Patagonia GORE-TEX Professional jacket. Beneath the waist was one other story.
It was the final day of our hike, so I made a decision to push via to get to the tip with out pulling out my rain pants. And in the end, I used to be advantageous with damp legs. However simply bear in mind that whereas the G-1000 panels on the decrease leg and bottom will resist water for brief occasions like stream crossings, extended rain will seep via the higher stretch panels. Finally, you’ll be soaked.
For those who want rain pants, look elsewhere.
Keb Trouser Pockets
The Keb pants have good pockets. I largely used the 2 hip pockets to hold my cellphone whereas climbing. I additionally carried my pockets within the hip pocket throughout many components of the hike the place refugios provided lunch or drinks for buy. Throughout different parts of the hike, I put my pockets in my pack for safer carry.
I did carry gadgets within the button-down thigh pockets sometimes. However whereas climbing, I usually discovered the hip pockets safe sufficient. In addition they are simpler to entry shortly when desirous to seize images on the path.
Total, the pocket design is sweet. The precise thigh pocket provides a stretchy sleeve inside to maintain a cellphone or different merchandise locked in place and helps the carry really feel extra comfy.
There are not any rear pockets, a considerate design alternative that retains the again of the pants streamlined. I appreciated this whereas glissading sections of downhill snow.
Keb Trousers: Who They’re For
The Fjallraven Keb trousers are perfect for hikers in cool climates who desire a powerful, long-lasting pant. The mix of stretchy and hard cloth optimizes the design for each consolation and sturdiness. And options like gaiter cuffs and facet vents add versatility.
For many who desire a rugged all-around out of doors pant, these are an incredible alternative. They excel in cool-to-cold temperatures, however can stretch into heat climate with the facet vents open.
If this sounds such as you, I wouldn’t hesitate to seize a pair. There’s a motive these are iconic trekking pants across the trekking world: they work, and a single pair will final for years. They might encourage replication, however in case you’re on the lookout for time-tested efficiency, there’s no substitute for the Fjallraven unique.
