Whitewater rushed in opposition to 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.
Luckily, my ft and legs had been well-outfitted with waterproof Trango Tech GTX boots and Fjallraven Keb trousers. Thirty seconds after entering into the speeding waterfall, I stepped safely on dry path, ft nonetheless bone dry even after strolling by 18 inches of icy meltwater.
Positive, the boots had been nice. However much more spectacular had been the trousers, which saved water at bay despite the fact that it was a lot greater 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 robust G-1000 cloth in high-wear areas and stretch panels, the pants are robust, snug, and non-restricting. They’re extremely engineered particularly for trekking and it exhibits.
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Material
G-1000 (65% polyester, 35% cotton), stretch panels (63% polyamide, 26% polyester, 11% elastane) -
Match
True to measurement - Weight 19.75 oz. (measurement 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 Evaluation
Should you’ve spent a lot time round outdoorsy varieties, 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 high merchandise from Fjallraven.
I first seen these pants whereas dwelling in Alaska for a summer time within the mid-2010s, the place one in every of my buddies 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 all places. However by some means, 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 obtained a close to clone by the U.S. looking model Forloh. Having used each pairs onerous this spring, I’ve developed a passion for each.
Whereas Forloh makes an amazing pair of pants (and I recognize that they’re manufactured in the united statesA.), it’s actually onerous to beat the OG.
Climbing 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 by miles of mud and brush-covered facet trails. My cellphone, a knife, snacks, and different gear had been all the time stashed within the plentiful pockets.
I by no means as soon as wished for any adjustments within the pants. They’re dialed.
Keb Vents, Material, and Particulars
Beginning on the underside, the Keb has adjustable cuffs that permit the wearer to tighten them to their boots. Additionally they have a gaiter hook that lashes them in addition laces.
This was important in deep stream crossings and tender snow situations, and allowed me to maintain my gaiters in my pack. The built-in gaiter is very purposeful for shorter-duration use. I used to be blown away that they saved 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 way in which to the thigh. Zip vents permit 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 certain why, however that mesh resulted in a lot much less airflow than within the mesh-free males’s.
Aspect word: Don’t overlook the sunscreen behind the facet vents. I obtained a nasty sunburn someday after climbing for 10 hours with no sunscreen on underneath the open vents. It was a small patch of pores and skin, however 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 don’t seem to be waterproof. They may get moist in heavy and extended rain.
This occurred to me on a wet Tour du Mont Blanc day. A number 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. Under the waist was one other story.
It was the final day of our hike, so I made a decision to push by to get to the top with out pulling out my rain pants. And finally, I used to be superb with damp legs. However simply remember that whereas the G-1000 panels on the decrease leg and bottom will resist water for brief instances like stream crossings, extended rain will seep by the higher stretch panels. Ultimately, you’ll be soaked.
Should you 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 elements of the hike the place refugios supplied 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 typically discovered the hip pockets safe sufficient. Additionally they are simpler to entry shortly when desirous to seize pictures on the path.
Total, the pocket design is sweet. The appropriate thigh pocket provides a stretchy sleeve inside to maintain a cellphone or different merchandise locked in place and helps the carry really feel extra snug.
There are not any rear pockets, a considerate design selection 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 need a robust, long-lasting pant. The mix of stretchy and difficult cloth optimizes the design for each consolation and sturdiness. And options like gaiter cuffs and facet vents add versatility.
For many who need a rugged all-around out of doors pant, these are an amazing selection. 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 could encourage replication, however when you’re on the lookout for time-tested efficiency, there’s no substitute for the Fjallraven unique.