The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket is a rain jacket and breathable and waterproof thanks to the Eco-Shell fabric. Read the review!
The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket is a rain jacket made of Eco-Shell fabric. A smooth material with a lot of stretch which makes it comfortable to wear. The fabric feels pleasant on bare skin. The Eco-Shell is a 3-layer laminate and this makes the hardshell jacket suitable for use with a heavy backpack. If you want to know more about how a hardshell can be waterproof and breathable at the same time, read the Expert Advice article I wrote about hardshells.
Details, size and weight
2 large pockets with a zipper on the chest / abdomen, one small pocket on the left upper arm, one elastic inner pocket with a zipper, cuffs with velcro, hood with peak, ventilation zippers on the side, two-way zipper at the front. I measured the Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket at 504,4 grams on my scale. Fjällräven specified 520 grams for a mens size M and 470 grams for a ladies size S.
Fit
The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket has a loose fit making it very easy to wear a thick winter sweater or a fleece underneath. Even with a puff it is still doable. Yet the jacket with only a thin sweater underneath doesn’t feel oversized. The back is longer than the front. This means I don’t have too much material at the front and the lower back is well protected when bending forward. It is not so long that I can also sit on the back panel to keep dry buttocks in wet grass. The arms are comfortably long.
Pockets
There are two large pockets on the chest that are closed with waterproof zippers. The zippers have good pull tabs and strings. They are perfectly usable with cold hands and gloves. The breast pockets are so large that they can hold 8 x 42 binoculars or a topographic map. The pockets have a passage for ears on the inside. Each pocket also contains a small pocket. It is a pity that the chest strap of a backpack runs exactly in the middle of the pockets, making them rather impractical. The inner pocket is also spacious and a smartphone Plus size fits easily. Because it is made of stretch mesh you can stuff it quite full. This pocket is in the right place in combination with a backpack. The pocket on the left upper arm is useful for a credit card or a skipass.
In practice
The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket is made from Eco-Shell. The material falls smoothly which makes it comfortable to wear; it nicely follows the movements I make while walking. It also fits nicely under a backpack due to its flexibility. The fabric has a lot of stretch and that also contributes to comfort. The fabric feels pleasant on bare skin.
The front zipper is a two-way variant so I can also open the zipper from below. This is useful if I need some space for a climbing harness or just for the toilet. Also, good pull tabs with cord here. The zipper has a good draft flap at the back that widens at the throat. This allows you to open the zipper slightly without creating a draft immediately. At the top, the zipper has a garage and the inside that touches the chin is finished with soft material.
At the bottom of the jacket is a great pull cord to pull it closely on to the hips for a good seal. This also applies to the Velcro at the cuffs. The hooks of the Velcro are of the fabric-friendly version; it hardly damages if you close the cuffs less carefully.
At the bottom of the jacket is a great pull cord to pull it closely on to the hips. 
The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket cuffs are fabric friendly.
The hood of the Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket is particularly spacious and of good shape. The hood can be pulled tightly around the head with a cord and two cords on the sides pull the peak and collar together. This creates a nice small viewing gap for when the weather is really dirty. The hood offers great freedom of movement. The peak is reinforced and even keeps glasses drip-free for a fairly long time. A helmet can easily be worn under or over the hood.
Sustainability
Fjällräven has been engaged in sustainable production for quite some time. The Eco-Shell goes just a step further. Eco-Shell is made from partly recycled polyester. The fact that also the membrane is made of polyester, means that the jacket can be recycled at the end of its life. The DWR coating is free from Perfluorocarbon Compounds (PFC’s). It is important to re-impregnate the jacket with a water-repellent agent after washing. Fjällräven has its own code of behavior regarding the environment, production and working conditions. This code is regarded by many to be far ahead of the industry. The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket is produced in China, but production and transport are climate neutral.
Waterproof, breathable and water-repellent
In practice, the jacket has proven to be waterproof, and I have no complaints about the breathability. A good point is the placement of two ventilation zippers on the sides of the jacket. They work great and are a pleasure to use because the zippers open to two sides. I can also use these zippers to access the pockets of a fleece or puff that I can wear under the jacket. I can be brief about the water-repellent DWR coating: it performs slightly less than average. This has everything to do with Fjällräven’s choice for a PFC-free DWR.
The DWR-coating when new. 
Only a few dark spots after three washings.
Care instructions
Wash at 30 °C, on a normal program with regular detergent. Tumble dry on low heat. Impregnate again after washing.
Verdict
The Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket is a wonderfully soft and flexible jacket. The fit is spacious so that it can also fit a nice thick fleece. The sleeves are longer than average. The pockets are spacious, but the place behind the chest strap of a backpack is rather clumsy. The hood excels in comfort and protection and a helmet fits underneath or over the hood. Fjällräven pays much attention to sustainable production and with the Keb Eco-Shell Jacket it is not differently. The fact that the PFC-free DWR coating wears a little faster requires only regular maintenance and is to my opinion no (negative) point. The price of € 499,95 for such a sustainable jacket is fine and therefore I rate the Fjällräven Keb Eco-Shell Jacket at 8,5 out of 10 points.
Information
- Price: € 499,95
- Men: Weight (S) measured 504,4 g (520 g specified in M), women given 470 g (S)
- Sizes: Men XS-XXXL, Ladies XXS- XXL
- Material: 100 % polyester
- Membrane: Fjällräven Eco-Shell 100% polyester, hydrophilic
- Construction: 3-layer laminate
- Country of origin: China
