What Is Sizing Like at Karrimor? A Stylist's Honest Guide

Karrimor sizing is generally true to size for clothing, but their footwear is where you need to pay attention — it runs narrow, and if you've got even a slightly wider foot or plan to wear thick hiking socks, you'll almost certainly want to go up half a size. I learned this the hard way with a pair of trail shoes that gave me blisters for a week. Lesson learned, and I'm passing it on.

Karrimor is a proud British outdoor brand — founded in Kendal in the Lake District back in 1946 — and while it's now widely sold through Sports Direct, the kit itself is genuinely solid for the price. If you're after reliable hiking, trail running, or outdoor layering gear without spending a small fortune, it delivers. But sizing in outdoor and activewear is always its own world, and Karrimor is no exception.

Karrimor Clothing Sizing: What to Expect

For women's clothing — jackets, fleeces, base layers, leggings and shorts — Karrimor follows standard UK sizing (8, 10, 12, 14, 16 etc.) and for the most part lands true to size. That said, there are a few nuances worth knowing before you order:

Jackets and outer layers are cut with a slightly generous fit — intentionally so, to allow for layering underneath. If you want a more streamlined look, consider sizing down one. If you're hiking in winter and need room for a mid-layer, your usual size will be spot on.
Base layers and fitted tops are true to size with a small amount of stretch. No need to size up here.
Running and trail shorts/leggings follow standard sportswear sizing — true to size, with a secure, supportive fit. If you're between sizes, go up rather than down for comfort on longer runs.
Waterproof trousers tend to run slightly long in the leg — worth noting if you're petite, as they may need hemming or folding.

Karrimor Label SizeUK Clothing SizeChest (inches)Waist (inches)XSUK 832–33"24–25"SUK 1034–35"26–27"MUK 12–1436–37"28–30"LUK 1638–40"31–33"XLUK 1841–43"34–36"

Karrimor Footwear Sizing: The Important Bit

This is genuinely where most people run into trouble with Karrimor, and it's worth spending a moment on. Their hiking boots and trail running shoes are cut narrower than most UK high street footwear. If you have a standard or wide foot, this will matter.

Narrow to standard foot: your usual UK shoe size should work fine.
Standard to wide foot: go up half a size — you'll thank me after hour three on a trail.
Hiking boots specifically: always size up half if you intend to wear proper walking socks. There should be a thumb's width between your longest toe and the end of the boot when you're standing.
Trail running shoes: some customers find these run slightly short as well as narrow — check the insole length against your foot before committing.
Kids and juniors range: runs true to standard UK children's sizing without any of the narrowness issue that affects the adult range.

My personal rule with any hiking boot brand: try before you buy where possible, or make sure you're ordering from somewhere with a free returns policy so you can test them properly at home with your walking socks on.

Karrimor Women's Fit: Is It Actually Designed for Women?

This is a fair question, and the honest answer is — yes, more than you might expect at this price point. Karrimor does produce genuinely women's-specific cuts rather than simply offering a "shrink it and pink it" version of the men's range. The women's jackets in particular have a more shaped waist and shorter torso length than the men's equivalents, which makes a real difference to how they sit when you're moving. The women's trail shoes also have a slightly narrower heel box than the men's — though as noted above, the overall shoe is still quite narrow-cut.

Where the women's range falls down is on colour options — you're often limited to a narrower palette than the men's, which is frustrating when the technical spec of what you want is only available in one colourway. But the fit itself is solid for the money.

How to Style Karrimor Beyond the Trail

I know — outdoor kit as a style topic feels like a stretch. But hear me out. The gorpcore trend has genuinely mainstreamed technical outdoor clothing, and a well-chosen Karrimor fleece or lightweight packable jacket can work brilliantly styled back into everyday outfits. Think oversized fleece over straight-leg jeans and white trainers, or a slim-fit waterproof jacket as a commuter layer over a longline tee. The key is keeping everything else clean and simple so the technical piece reads as intentional rather than accidental. Don't overcomplicate it — let the jacket do the talking.

Best Alternatives to Karrimor: Every Budget Covered

Whether Karrimor doesn't stock your size, you want to step up the quality, or you're after something with a bit more style credibility, these are the brands I'd point you towards:

Fat Face — brilliant for the crossover between outdoor practicality and everyday wearability. Their fleeces, waterproofs and walking trousers are well-cut, well-priced, and much easier to wear off the trail than most technical outdoor brands.
Seasalt Cornwall — one of the best UK brands for women who want outdoor-capable clothing that doesn't look like outdoor clothing. The waterproof and windproof styles are genuinely functional, and the prints and colour palette are genuinely beautiful.
Joules — particularly strong on wellies, waterproof jackets and countryside-ready outerwear. The women's fit is generous and flattering, and sizing is reliable and consistent.
Barbour — the obvious step-up from Karrimor for those who want real outdoor heritage and a jacket that works for country walks and Saturday lunch equally well. Their women's sizing runs true, though some wax jacket styles are cut slim across the shoulders.
Timberland — if it's the footwear side you're upgrading on, Timberland is the natural next step. More stylish, more widely available to try on, and with a better track record for women's width fittings than Karrimor.
Sweaty Betty — for the more active, trail running or fitness-focused end of what Karrimor offers. Sweaty Betty's women's leggings and running kit are genuinely exceptional — better fit, better fabrics, and actually designed around a female body.
Lands' End — underrated for outdoor-practical women's clothing. Particularly good on waterproof and insulated jackets with a sensible, non-fussy aesthetic. Sizing is thorough — they offer petite, regular and tall options, which makes a real difference for outdoor kit.
Lululemon — if your Karrimor interest is primarily on the activewear and trail running side rather than hardcore hiking, Lululemon is in a different league for technical performance leggings, running jackets and sports bras. The price jump is significant but so is the quality.

For two independent brands that really deserve more attention in this space:

Finisterre — a Cornish outdoor and surf brand with exceptional women's-specific technical clothing. Their wetsuits, fleeces and waterproofs are genuinely engineered for women's bodies, beautifully made, and sustainably produced. Sizing runs true to UK standard. If you're spending more than £80 on a women's outdoor layer, Finisterre should be your first stop.
Passenger Clothing — a UK-based sustainable outdoor lifestyle brand that sits brilliantly in the gorpcore sweet spot. Their women's fleeces, anoraks and base layers are incredibly wearable on and off the hill, made from recycled and organic materials, and sized generously in a way that works for layering. Genuinely one of the most underrated women's outdoor brands in the UK right now.

MORE FROM THE TELLAR FASHION HUB

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