Fjallraven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket Evaluation

Specs at a Glance

• Best Use: Trekking, Backpacking, Backcountry Skiing, Climbing
• Material: 100% polyester/climate compensated – 3-layer Eco-Shell
• Breathability: 26,000 g/m2/24h
• Water Column: 30,000 mm
• Waterproofing: PFC free DWR on outer, Aquaguard zippers, welded fabric seams
• Pockets: 2 Napoleon chest pockets with internal cellphone security holders, 1 upper arm, 1 interior mesh
• Hood: Fully adjustable, helmet-compatible, visor wire
• Ventilation: Torso side zips
• Weight: 21 oz

Jacket Cut and Fit

The Keb Eco-Shell is tough where it needs to be and supple everywhere else.  The jacket has an athletic fit that layers well.  It doesn’t feel clammy against bare skin, it doesn’t crinkle when you move, and in many respects feels more like a shirt than a jacket. Every seam in the jacket is welded or seam-taped and the back of the neck and chin areas are lined. The Keb has adjustable Velcro cuffs at the wrists so you can slide the arms up to the elbows for added ventilation, while a drawcord cord waist and drop hem lets you seal out drafts from below.

Hood and High Collar

What makes the Keb Eco-Shell truly special is its fully-featured hood. While it is helmet-compatible, it has a rear volume adjuster and neck toggles so you can fine-tune the fit even if you don’t wear one. The hood has a wire brim to keep rain, snow, and wind out of your eyes, a feature that’s rarely found on US-made hard shells and more common on European ones. The high collar provides superior wind protection when it’s not raining and allows you to let off some heat through the top of your head while keeping your collar area, chin, and your entire neck warm and protected from the elements.

Torso Zips

While the Keb has top-notch breathability and waterproof specs, it also comes with side torso zips that you can use to shed excess body heat when you’re working hard. These run from the waist all the way to the bottom of your armpits. Perspiration can quickly overwhelm the ability of any breathable jacket to vent water vapor if you’re backpacking, ice-climbing or skinning up a mountain, so having vents like these is essential for self-regulating your heat output.

Napolean Pockets

There are two very large Napoleon pockets on the chest that are bellowed to increase their volume so you can carry maps, food, extra gloves, hats, climbing skins, and electronics in them. Napoleon pockets are great because they don’t interfere with a backpack hip belt or climbing harness. Each of the pockets also has a mesh inner pocket large enough to hold a cell phone, a nice touch that doesn’t favor right-handed or left-handed people over one another.

The Keb also has a small pocket on the left upper arm that is big enough to fit a small knife, car keys, compass or ski pass. A large interior mesh pocket also comes with headphone ports.

Zippers and Pull Tabs

The jacket comes with waterproof Aquaguard zippers and pull tabs so they can be opened and closed while wearing gloves. I appreciate this attention to detail and

Fjallraven’s Eco-Shell Fabric

Eco-Shell is a 3-layer waterproof/breathable fabric that is smooth, lightweight, soft to the touch, and very stretchy. It is coated with a PFC-free DWR that repels water, rain, or snow from the face of the fabric. All Eco-shell products are made with recycled polyester and the manufacturing and distribution process is climate compensated to offset the green gas emissions associated with its manufacture.

Performance in the Field

Since I’ve owned this jacket for over a year, I’ve been able to field test it in all four seasons, and I have found that it can effectively handle extreme swings in temperature and weather – hot to cold, cool to warm, high winds, rain, sleet, snow…

• In the Winter, I use this jacket for all of my outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing.  Whether the temp is frigid minus 20F or 36F degrees and melting, the Eco-Shell adapts well over thicker layers.
• During the Spring and Fall shoulder seasons when the temps fluctuate from hot to cold and back again and rain turns to snow, sleet, or just stinging wind in your face and fog, the Eco-Shell quickly adjusts to changing needs for warmth and wet protection.
• And in the Summer, when it is warmer but heavy rains can bring a chill, the Eco-Shell breathes while keeping you dry over the thinnest of base layers.

Recommendation

Fjallraven’s Keb Eco-Shell is a 4-season hardshell jacket that checks all the boxes a hard shell should check and truly excels in changeable weather in technical backcountry situations. Made from a 3-layer recycled polyester fabric, the Eco-Shell is climate compensated, lightweight, soft to the touch, stretchy, and adaptable. With a hood that adjusts to any head or helmet, side ventilation zippers, adjustable cuffs, and large pockets where you need them, the Eco-Shell provides highly breathable waterproof protection from the wind, snow, and the rain.

Disclosure: The author owns this jacket.

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