have sports direct taken over field and trek went to tamworth sports direct sunday and see signs up for it and masses of outdoor gear like lowe alpine ect ..........have i missed something or am i just seeing things
|
 |
 Yeah it happened quite a while ago, there's some real bargains to be had on the F&T website these days. There are some good brands amongst the rubbish if you look.
I picked up a NeoAir short for £55 and just yesterday ordered a pair of Salomon Fastpacker Mids for £66
|
|
 Paul, if you check the [b]Field and Trek[/b] website, you'll notice Sports Direct International PLC at the bottom to the home page. I hope that answers your question.
|
| Edited: 05/04/11 19:37 |
 As others have pointed out, yes. What that means in practice is a much less specialised range of kit and often a distinct lack of technical Clue compared to years back when they were one of the best suppliers of specialist kit (including paddling and caving) in the UK. You do get some great bargains now if they happen to be shifting what you're after. Pete.
|
|
such a shame there goes another good retailer with good advise to help you out rather than sell you stuff. yet another tesco steamroller type company destroying good brands thanks for the replies and i will have too look on there website many thanks
|
|
 Where a town has a Sports Direct and a F&T, the staff switch between sites to cover staff availability, so I would take any advice with a pinch of salt. However, I got this Icebreaker top which has an rrp of £149 for £10 (yes ten quid) through Sports Direct online! 
|
|
just a quicky are the karrimor backpacks the real cheap ones or are they up to the original karrimoor spec as i know the got brought by sport world a long while back for the name
|
|
 I bought the Karrimor Bobcat 65 for 35£ the other day, at that price it's a good bet I'd say...
|
|
 And I just got a nice deuter rucksack, happy happy!
|
|
 Cheap labour doesn't give good kit advice. I guess that is why these forum's are useful!
|
|
 I have found that Sports Direct stock some decent gear, but it doesn't shift (as who would go to Sports Direct which is basically a stack 'em high sell 'em cheap retailer for high end walking or climbing gear?). This means it is often marked down after a few months, so you can get some bargains. Unfortunately they must have finally twigged (at least in Southampton) as they have run down the outdoors section and, other than cheap stuff, there is not much left.
|
|
 In the past I've bought Karrimor approach shoes / trainers at Sports Direct for about £22 a pair, 75% off apparently. They're not very comfy so I wouldn't pay more anyway! Last time I popped in there was much less stock than in there was before Christmas.
|
|
If you are looking at Karrimor gear in Sports Direct or Field and Trek it can be difficult to sort the good stuff from the Tat. One way is to check out the official Karrimor website. If it appears on the website then it normally means its available at other "independant" outlets rather than just the shops controlled by Mike Ashley. The X lite and Airspace Rucksacks for example have received favourable reviews in the outdoor press as have the KSB 300 fabric boots. See the current issue of TGO magazine or LFTO website for examples. Based on my experences of using the Chester and Derby stores some of the Field and Trek outlets do employ staff who know what they are talking about although I admit that the same cannot be said of the Sports Direct shops I have visited.
|
|
I had an Xlite that stripped its zip within the week  couple of years ago, mind you, and it did look & feel flimsy. i would look very carefully at the stitching, foam & feel/scratchiness of the fabrics. I can't remember the last time I saw a karrimor item worth buying (certainly at so-called RRP!),
|
|
 I took a pair of Karrimor Gaiters to Kilimanjaro and on summit night I put them on and the zip snapped off. No chance of repair. bit anoyed buy that so will be staying away from any technical kit from them.
|
|
 I was informed by my local independant shop that Sports direct had also bought the Karrimor brand. Not sure how true this ism but could explain the bias towards it in the shop. Is it me, or has the Karrimor quality dropped. Never a big fan in the first place
|
|
Karrimor waterproof trousers, nice thin black ones with long zips etc, very comfy, cost £50 but bought for £20, after wearing these twice the taping in the crotch area is detaching itself and I wouldn't call them fully waterproof. My Peter Storm cheapos always keep me dry!
Karrimor X-lite 20L, lovely comfy bag but again the waterproof coating on the inside is coming off after a few walks. Its come off the zips too but I have been a little too rough with them.
Karrimor wind 25L I like a lot and even bought it (£18) but after trying it with some gear in I felt it was too short my (rather long) back so took it back. They gave me a voucher for £18!
|
| Edited: 10/04/11 08:52 |
Having talked to some of the guys in the 'professional' walking gear stockists it would appear that Karrimor and Hi-Teck make some cheaper lines for the sports shops and the like and a better quality (and therefore higher price) for the specialist stores. The old adage 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!' applies when you are buying walking/hiking gear. I bought a pair of Karrimor boots, 70% off and after walking for 1/2 hour they really hurt the tops of my feet and one of the eyelets came adrift on the third time of wearing them. Ditched them and gone back to Brasher, more money, alot more money, but at least I can walk several miles in them without any problems - and they are waterproof!
|
|
I just picked up a current version Montane Super fly xt from f&t online for £140, reduced from £300. Bargain!
|
|
