The Karrimor Alpiniste

Outdoor brand Karrimor has re-entered the high-end clothing market with its first range of technical jackets for more than seven years.

Karrimor began life as a cycle pannier manufacturer founded in 1946 by Charles and Mary Parsons with Grace Davies sewing the bags in a room above a Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, bike shop.

After going into receivership in 2004, the brand was snapped up by sports-goods firm Lonsdale. Lonsdale parent company, Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct, now owns the Karrimor brand.

The company’s Alpiniste is the new top-of-the-range Jacket, using eVent fabric with Direct Venting Technology with waterproofing claimed to 20,000mm hydrostatic head and breathability stated at 14,000g per sq metre in 24 hours.

The Alpiniste retails at £199.99 (don’t forget your penny change) and has two torso mesh venting pockets plus an auxiliary pocket. The hood is helmet compatible and has a wired peak.

The jacket’s two-way YKK AquaGuard water-resistant zips are backed by an internal storm flap with rain gutter and it features internal hem cord adjustment.

The men’s jacket comes in black or blue, with the women’s black or pink. Sizes for men’s are S to XXL, with women’s in sizes 8 to 16. Size L men’s jackets weigh in at 500g, with women’s size 12 tipping the scales at 46g.

A lighter option comes in the shape of the XLite Helium, made with Weathertite Extreme fabric, which is waterproof to at least 10,000mm hydrostatic head and breathable to 10,000g per sq metre per 24 hours.

Again, the jackets have YKK AquaGuard water-resistant zips with internal storm flap and rain gutter, helmet compatible hood, two torso venting pockets, two chest pockets and internal hem cord adjustment.

Selling at £119.99, the XLite Helium weighs 370g and 340g for the men’s and women’s respectively and comes in black, green or blue for men and black, blue or pink for women, in sizes S to XL and 8 to 16.

The Transition completes the range, retailing at £79.99, it is water-resistant, windproof and has YKK water-resistant zips, internal storm flap, two low-position venting chest pockets, two torso pockets and internal hem adjustment. It has a durable water repellent finish.

A size L men’s weighs 530g and a size 12 women’s 450g, and both models come in black, sizes S to XL and 8 to 16 respectively.