It can and is often the case that with chain stores, of any nature, you lose identity. The brand…read morename just becomes the same old same old store and you get a bog standard experience, whether you like it or not, that you come to expect. Well Lululemon is different! Much different in fact, because although you are still shopping with a vastly successful Canadian athletic apparel company, you gain a sense of connection to the place. They do an unbeatable job of community engagement and offer loads of free activities and educational classes for people, not bad from a shop that sells Yoga pants. They do have a fantastic range of athletic wear and it is by far the best quality products I have ever worn. I've had a pair of their shorts for 3 years and they look and feel brand new. What I love most about this place though is the social vibe the staff exert. Whether you're going in looking to spend £1000 on leggings or just fancy a chat with a friendly face, they are welcoming and will invite you back for a coffee and a natter whilst you are amazed by the excellent products on offer!

It's the Bolton Wanderers club shop so its pretty obvious what it sells although it really doesn't…read morehave that much choice. It could well be part of Bolton's current financial woes but the store always seems pretty low on stock and there really isn't a lot to choose from. Cheap it may be but I only really plan to visit when I know a sale is on so I can grab some low priced training gear. You get a 5% discount with you season ticket I believe - just a shame the football is dismal so you probably won't want to buy one of those.

average football club shop - not too fan friendlyread more

In spite being the sort of guy who has visited every one of the many outdoor chain stores on Deans…read moregate, I still have a lot of time for Campcraft. The premises are large enough to display a good selection of outdoor gear - two good-sized floors - with tents, backpacks and boots being on the upper floor. The staff are really friendly, the young sales assistant who served me especially so, pointing out cool gear at random such as a super-lightweight pack. And I was treated to a demonstration of the latest LED headlight which varies its intensity according to lighting conditions - perhaps a wee bit more James Bond than I need, but still it was fun to see! I had been looking for a pair of adventure sandals to replace my worn-out pair, and had no problems at all with paying £75 for a Merrell pair featuring super-grippy natural rubber soles. Somehow, the 'just enough' stock on display helped me focus on making a buying decision which had eluded me in larger outdoor stores. I also appreciated the sales guy's opinion that I needed the larger size. Having since done a few hikes wearing the sandals I am very happy with the fit. For most Bolton locals, I would say Campcraft offers you all you really need. Just step through the door and tell the staff you need a tent, sleeping bag, campstove, boots, whatever and I am sure they will put you right. Although I don't do any extreme outdoor sports, I'm still a total outdoor gear junkie. But there is definitely a place for Campcraft's expertise alongside the Deansgate outdoor chains and out-of-town tent display warehouse places which I also enjoy. Although some of the Campcraft gear is cutting edge, this is still the kind of place I can imagine getting on first name terms with the staff and rocking up to ask 'What's new?' and be treated to a demo of the latest gizmos. Or for staff to remember what level I am at with outdoor pursuits or previous conversations and come up with suggestions tailored to my needs. Plus, we got talking about food, and it turns out that the owner of this place also owns Thyme deli and cookshop in Horwich which the sales assistant thought I might like. Where can you get that sort of village feeling these days? Exactly - so let's treasure it!

It's a fair sized shop but no where near as big as the big retailers. The staff are very helpful…read morethough and know what they are talking about. I went for some gas for my gas stove. I didn't have a clue what I was doing /looking for, but they were really friendly and helpful in advising me on what I needed.

In my ongoing quest for a buff beefcake body I thought it was about time I fixed myself up with…read moresome super fly trainers to match my swanky new gym membership... seeing as the previous shoes I had really were not made for anything more than fashion and my ankles were buckling badly! So the good news is that with my wife's direction I made the visit down to Up&Running to go on their in house treadmill and video set up to get a full analysis of what sort of shoes I need for the way my legs move. Wow - what service, after trying about 5 different shoes on and being filmed each time - I found the perfect pair. Maybe slightly more than I was hoping to pay at £80 but they did throw in a free shirt, shorts and socks which was cool so at least I'm now Up&Running (if you excuse the pun...) A really friendly bunch of guys who were helping me and a very professional service. This is one thing I was pleased to not just do online as they really measured me properly and made sure I had the right ones before leaving the store. Definitely check them out if you're needing new kicks for the gymnasium!

Have been meaning to review these guys for a while ever since I bought my trainers here…read more Unfortunately due to having size 8.5 feet I'm pretty constrained when it comes to shoe choice in general and I in particular had very limited colour options which means I now have some horrible 'raspberry' coloured trainers. On the plus side they are good quality ASICS which the helpful staff member dug out of the sale rack - says a lot that they would point me in the direction of discounted shoes to ensure I had the best fit (8.5 being in scarce supply on the full price options). Overall there's limited stock here and I was a bit disappointed I didn't get more advice and use of the running machine to identify a suitable pair, which was basically because there was only one staff member on duty on a quiet afternoon when several people unexpectedly turned up at once (contrast my experience with Jonny's - it might be worth going back another time if you turn up and it's busy). Still you can't go too wrong with ASICS and I noticed when I popped back recently to get a sports bra that of the limited selection they have of bras they also basically just stock the best brands. So while the stock they offer is limited they do seem to have selected the best available, as far as I can make out. Again the (different) staff were extremely helpful and friendly and not at all intimidating to the beginner/intermediate level runner. It's also a very convenient location on Deansgate so easy to drop by if you're in town.

I'm shocked that there are shops in Manchester that know about Nudie jeans, let alone a single shop…read morethat carries them. Are there Mancunians with that large a wad of cash burning a whole through their purses? Impressive! A chill, hipster-y gent sold the boy a super cute pair of Vans (casual shoes that aren't a shade of brown: success!) and explained the origins of the noteworthy bicycle saddles hanging up behind the till. Luxury skinny jeans and posh gear for your fixie... I mean, what else could a Williamsburg-wannabe desire, right?

Good style never comes cheap. This is especially true if you're a man. Most clothing boutiques and…read morehigh street stores cater for women and it's rare you find a store like this that offers so many unique quality items for the discerning young gentleman. This is the only store my boyfriend comes to for his trousers (in particular he Edwin brand of jeans) simply because you can't find them anywhere else. From Barbour to Oliver Spencer, Levis to YMC, they have such a well selected collection of labels that convey the best in British understated style.

After being modernised, refurbished and expanded (it also over Vision Express' unit which was…read morepreviously next store after they moved across the way, making one bigger store), it is a much better store overall, while I find the staff still remain rude/unhelpful, the selection is pretty good and the store overall has a pretty cool feel to it, much better than similar retailers nearby including Sports Direct. They also have a small selection of non-footwear items, but if you're not really looking for footwear, your best bet is JD Sports nearby which is owned by the same company anyway so you're going to see pretty much the same or similar items and of course pricing. 3*

That doesn't sound too pleasant does it, an asylum full of feet. What would feet do when they had a…read morenervous breakdown? Or perhaps it is where feet seek asylum. Safety, protection, in the form of a well-cushioned trainer. Now that makes a little more sense. This is a very interesting shoe shop as while it focuses on some brands I do appreciate, it also nods to some I would happily never see again. But I'll leave that one open as that would be a value judgement on my part and unfair. What I will say, however, is get thee to the sale, because it's not often you can pick up a pair of Adidas old skool style sneakers for £35. That said, at full price the trainers aren't any more expensive than you'd see in the average sports store or high street outlet, so don't be alarmed. You won't find Size?-esque £500 vintage trainers or anything like that. Staff vary, from the friendly and eager to those who look like you're really putting them out when you ask for a certain size. This comes with the territory. But it's definitely an interesting place to check out and it's one of Manchester's better and more varied options for casual shoe shopping. While it seems like a masculine store there's plenty for the ladies - not party shoes or heels but comfy boots, hi-tops and colourful laced pumps. Give it a try, your feet might like seeking asylum here.

Ordered my son a nike tech in a nice shade of red and someone tell me why he looks like someone's…read moreused tampax.Will 100% not be purchasing any nice products for the forseeable.He's got his middle finger up to the absolute mingers that made this colour of nike tech

I cannot believe I have just discovered that there is a Nike Outlet store at Manchester Fort…read moreShopping Park! Despite regular visits over the years. How new is this! Doesn't matter. It makes me happy! My recent visits have impressed me greatly! The store itself is smaller to what one would find in other Outlet Malls. Maybe! However, the range of stock, sale items, and discounts are very impressive. Personally I am seeking some new trainers for the gym... well, I am always looking out for new sportswear! I found a great selection at this store and the prices were amazing, and sale items seem to be constantly changing so if you hesitate with buying, then be warned, but also you will find something new the following week. The staff in the store are welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable. They certainly have that US Cusomer Service mindset, which I welcome wholeheartedly. I can see myself becoming a regular here, especially when the Summer of Fitness is upon us.