Fjällräven's Keb Trousers are stout enough to stand up to cold, snowy conditions/Marcelle Shoop

Growing up, blue jeans seemed to be the preferred pant for hiking and backpacking. And then along came khakis, wool if you expected rain or snow, and then, of course, synthetics. To continue the evolution, Fjällräven adds its trekking trousers with the company's proprietary G-1000® Eco fabric.

There are many things to like about the Keb Trekking Trousers (MSRP $200). There are no back pockets, so you won't find yourself sitting down on bulges formed by your wallet or anything else you might slip into back pockets. There are two front pockets on your thighs, which makes it easy to deposit or pull out items such as your wallet, phone, GPS unit, or snacks. One of the pockets also has inside it a smaller mesh compartment to hold items, while the other pocket is zippered to ensure items don't fall out. With that in mind -- keeping items in your pockets until you reach in for them -- the hand pockets at the top of your legs are cut high to prevent items from slipping out when you sit down.

There also are zippered vents running from hip to knee, and along your calf, to fine-tune ventilation. And an interesting cinch embedded into the cuff lets you pull it tight if you're breaking trail through scrub and brush and don't want debris to creep into your boot. On top of that, a hook within the cuff lining can hold fast to your boots' lacing for even more protection. Two very nice touches.

The G-1000 fabric is a mix of organic cotton and polyester that gains its water repellency from a coating of beeswax and paraffin. The company also claims that the fabric, when properly coated with the wax, is "mosquito safe." I haven't had the opportunity to test that claim, but look forward to doing so.

The waxing might deter some from buying these pants. You need to rub the wax into the fabric, and then heat it to melting, either with an iron or over a flame or with a heat gun. Not the quickest approach for maintaining the water resistancy of the pants, but one that has drawn praise from the company's fans.

A nice touch is the stretch in the G-1000 fabric, which allows full movement while scrambling up hillsides or through the woods, and the doubling of fabric around the cuff to protect it from rubbing against your hiking boots. There's also a little extra room in the knees and seat of the pants for comfort.

Not so nice, at least to me, was that fifth internal mesh pocket inside the large pocket atop your right thigh. It kept getting in the way when I tried to put my wallet or cellphone into the larger pocket. 

Though a bit heavy for summer hiking, in my opinion, the heft of these pants, their durability and multiple features, make the Keb Trousers perfect for three-season adventures.