Karrimor quality improving?

I visited sports direct yesterday to get a few things. It's never a pleasant experience, but the one near me has an extensive outdoor range, with a few bargains. I also noticed that it has lots of Karrimor products. I spotted the famous £99  event jacket which looks good. On the whole, it seemed that most of the things were of a better quality than they had been previously, including base layers and rucksacks.

I've been fairly cautious about using Karrimor stuff, but their dry bags, towels, base layers and jackets seem to be gettign better. Does anyone agree? 

It probably won't get better or worse in any consistent fashion, because most of it its just whatever they choose to brand. Of course that's the case for an awful lot of companies now, but they do generally at least have a coherent company image, design team etc.

Also iirc a couple of places like some of the rucksacks and some Japanese operation actually also using the brand name, and trying for (decent) quality?

>I even saw (for £150 mind) what looked like a decent pair of B2 boots

I once bought a pair of Karrimor boots with such a thick, heavy sole that they could have passed for B2s! Even a pair of their trail shoes had a completely inflexible sole.

I think at Sports Direct prices they are often good value unless you are a confirmed badge snob.

Bought some tights to wear as base layer under trousers and a couple of base layer tops and a waterproof hat - less than £30 all in.

When im covered in rain, mud and sweat on the side of a mountain they are good enough for me. I could spend more of course, but at my level I know I would not see/feel any benefit. 

My Alpiniste Event jacket is still going strong and is still my biggest bargain in the last few years...but a lot of the stuff I see is still just cheap nonsense. I can't stand Sports Direct but ever since bagging the jacket, I cant help but call in now and again to see if Karrimor have have any other 'bargains' on the go.

Bought some Karrimor running gloves a while back...when they got wet the black dye ran over everything...dyed my base layer top, bikes grips, rucksack inner and sleeping mat!!!

I agree the Karrimor gear seems to be of better quality - starting from a low base.

I worked in the centre of Preston for a couple of years, to pass my break times I often walked into Sport Direct, I never bought anything as the quality was so low, especially the footware. You can skimp a some cloths, but not footware.

But this weekend I went into a Trek & Field in Ambleside and I was surrprised how much the quality had impoved. Prices were still rock bottom, but the quality seemed half decent. I gave Mike Ashley some of my cash for the first time, for some approach trainers, I intend just to go to the pub in them, for £18 they seem a bargin.