The Karrimor D30
Karrimor, the venerable old British brand that can trace its origins to 1946 when it started making bicycle bags, is now owned by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct group.
Fighting against the perception held by many that the brand has gone downmarket, it appointed Bonita Norris and James Cracknell as brand ambassadors.
And now, its 2013 range of trailrunning shoes is pitched firmly towards the top end of the market with the D30 model which officially retails at £159.99.
Trailrunning shoes have evolved into the British outdoor scene from broadly an American idea – essentially anything off-road could be classed as trailrunning.
However, many UK routes are less ‘trail’ and more bog, bog and more bog. Fellrunning, of course, has been around for decades and newer ultrarunning events push top athletes to the limit over longer distances.
So quite where models such as the Karrimor D30 fit is difficult to say. Karrimor doesn’t give a weight for the shoe – a crucial omission for many looking for performance without the end of your legs feeling like a deep-see diver’s.
And, curiously, on the Karrimor website, these D30s are on offer for pre-order with a March delivery at half the stated official retail price: £79.99. Is this a Mike Ashley sales ruse?
So what you get for your money is, according to Karrimor, a shoe ‘perfect for the seasoned trailrunner who really wants to put the landscape to test with key features including rubber outsoles with deep lugs for superb traction on uneven terrain, a breathable, waterproof fabric outer and a TPU [thermoplastic polyurethane] arch shank for added foot support’.
“These trailrunning shoes include a quick lace system, D30 technology for optimum shock absorption and a full length softer density ride line for superior underfoot cushioning,” the company said.
The D30 has: elastic laces with pull toggle, padded, shaped ankle collar, Aegis microbe shield technology, full-length softer density ride line, rear and forefoot gel technology and a dual density midsole.
The men’s model comes in green or black; the women’s in black or white and pink.
The women's Excel Dual
The Excel Dual Trail Running Shoe has moulded outsoles with deep lugs, a TPU shank to the arch for support and a gel cushioned heel for shock absorption.
The shoe, which has an official retail price of £139.99 halved again on the Karrimor website to £69.99, also featuring aegis microbe mesh lining which provides added comfort and odour prevention coupled with a breathable mesh upper and reflective detailing for added visibility when running at night or during the winter months.
It has rear foot gel technology, a lace-up front and synthetic and textile upper, textile inner, synthetic sole.
Men’s colourway is silver and blue or blue and black, with women’s coming in blue and grey or black and purple.
More details of Karrimor products are on the brand’s website.
