REASONS TO BUY
Lots of deep pockets
Breathable
Highly water repellent fabric
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Not comfortable
No stretch in waistband
Fjallraven Keb Curved - Women's Review
These pants hold up in technical terrain and resist wear and tear
Credit: Elizabeth White
By Elizabeth White ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ November 15, 2025
Our Verdict
These eye-catching pants are as durable as they look. We scrambled up and down granite rocks, bushwhacked through thorn shrubs, and trekked through snow in these pants—and they still look and feel brand new. The Fjallraven Keb Curved trousers are made of very dense material, and while certain areas of these pants offer good stretch, we did feel somewhat constricted by the rigid material. And while we love the abundance of features and large pockets, we could feel the seams from the patchwork and pockets rubbing up against our skin, which for some may be hard for some to ignore. And, they didn't keep us incredibly warm in snowy conditions. However, a pair of thermals underneath these pants could fix that.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The latest version of the Fjallraven Keb Curved is crafted from highly water-resistant materials and bulletproof fabric, designed to meet the demands of even the most ambitious adventurers. We measured the stretchy gusset of these size eight regular pants to be 34 inches, which allowed for a fuller range of motion for certain movements. That said, these pants are quite a bit heavier. After placing them on the scale, they weighed in at 21 ounces—something to keep in mind if you're planning an ultralight adventure.
The Keb's are the perfect pair of bushwhacking and rock scrambling pants.
Credit: Elizabeth White
Comfort and Mobility
As mentioned, the gusset of these pants provides plenty of range of motion for side-stepping in technical terrain or jumping across creeks, but high-stepping proved to be more difficult than we would have hoped for pants in this price range. When climbing and high stepping, we felt more restricted by the thicker fabric.
Here are the Keb trousers flipped inside out. As you can see, there are protruding seams all over the inside that scratched against our skin while hiking. It would be one thing if the seams were soft, but they're actually quite stiff and rough, which makes them much more noticeable.
If you're a sensory person, the feel of these pants might be jarring. Whether you're sitting, walking, or climbing in the Keb trousters, the seams are highly noticeable, and felt scratchy against our skin. This is highly disappointing for a pair of pants that cost hundreds of dollars. They also feel quite heavy when walking and climbing (these are some of the heaviest pants we've ever tested), but that's also the price you pay for durability. We also found the regular length of these pants to be a tad too long, even for our 5'4" testers. But the curved cut of these pants fits our pear-shaped testers nicely.
The Keb's have a good balance of durability and mobility. We just wish the material was softer on the inside.
Credit: Elizabeth White
Venting and Breathability
While these pants have some heavy, dense material, we found them to be quite breathable. These pants come with four vents—the top vents feature a dual-zipper design that allows your thighs to breathe through mesh fabric. We tested the durability of the mesh in the field, and it withstood bushwhacking without ripping. The lower leg vents open up completely, allowing plenty of air in. The hem also opens up wide to allow airflow through the bottom.
While the Keb's have thick material, they offer plenty of venting.
Credit: Elizabeth White
Weather Resistance
Even when we had all of the vents sealed shut and the hem tightened, we still felt a breeze blowing through them, especially in cold, windy conditions. We wore these on a frigid, snowy day, and they didn't keep us very warm. However, they were perfect for staying dry on a rainy day. The rain rolls right off these pants. We even tried them out in the shower, and the fabric around our waist stayed completely dry for around 45 seconds, and then just barely began to seep through. Though, the fabric around our calves experienced seepage at around 21 seconds.
Though we didn't purchase any add-ons, Fjallraven also produces “Greenland Wax” that can be applied to all of its G-1000 apparel for additional water-resistance, made of paraffin and beeswax.
The Keb's kept us dry in stormy weather.
Credit: Elizabeth White
Construction Quality
This is mostly what you're paying for. The quality of construction of all Fjallraven pants we've tested is unparalleled. Fjallraven uses G-1000® material, which is a blend of 65% polyester and 35% cotton, while the stretchy material around the gullet and back of the knees is made of 11% elastane, 65% polyamide, 24% polyester. Both offer incredible durability and water resistance.
The Keb's have a highly adjustable hem with several sturdy snap buttons that hold it in place.
Credit: Elizabeth White
Versatility and Features
There's no doubt that these pants are feature-packed. Apart from the four venting zips, the Keb's also include a knee pad insert (though knee pads are not included), a hook at the hem for clasping to your laces to prevent snow from getting in, and a highly adjustable hem that closes up tight or opens up wide enough for snow boots. These pants only have front pockets, but there are five pockets in total: two hand pockets big enough to fit a large phone, two cargo pockets below that are roomy enough to fit a 16-liter Nalgene bottle, and a mesh pocket within the right cargo pocket.
One of our favorite parts of these pants - massive pockets!
Credit: Elizabeth White
As far as climbing goes, we would likely only bring these pants on class two terrain, scrambling across rocks, but we wouldn't use them for vertical climbing. We wouldn't be embarrassed walking into a mountain town bar with these, but we also wouldn't necessarily wear them to work. That said, we did receive many compliments on the trail when wearing these trousers, and we love them for their unique style.
These pants come with plenty of large pockets, lace hooks, side vents, and an adjustable hem that can cinch tightly around your ankle or allow enough space for large winter boots.
Should You Buy the Fjallraven Keb Curved?
If you can stomach the price, the Keb's are a tough pair of trousers with lots of utility that will likely last you for many years. We also appreciate that when the water resistance wears off, you can reapply it with Fjallraven's affordable Greenland Wax. But, those who dislike the feel of rougher material (think hemp pants) and aren't able to ignore large seams that rub against the skin, there are many more comfortable and affordable trekking trousers available.
We recommend these rugged pants for high adventure activities and to those who don't need the absolute best comfort.
Credit: Elizabeth White
What Other Hiking Pants Should You Consider?
For maximum comfort and better resistance against the wind and cold, we love the REI Activator Pants. They're also fairly durable and can withstand bushwhacking while also offering full range of motion. But, if you're looking for high-end all-around versatile hiking pants, we recommend the Arc'teryx Gamma Pant. These pants have highly wind-resistant material and a great range of motion that's perfect for everything from everyday hiking trails to summiting peaks in brisk fall conditions.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Fjallraven Keb Curved - Women's versus top competing products:
—Elizabeth White
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