I have shopped at the Great Outdoors for several years now. I cannot believe the selection of kids outdoor gear. The place is massive. All the big brands are there, for kids like mine who truly play in the outdoors...hiking, camping in the mountains etc. There is no other place to compare to it without ordering from the U.S. I have particularly liked the Columbia, North Face and Merrell Lines. My son is actually on his third year with his Columbia Shorts and they have held up amazingly well. I grudginly had to make him stop wearing them as they are now too tight and no pre-teen boy should wear shorts that fitted!
Since my one child outgrew their sizes, I have shopped there less often until recently when I started picking out items for my nephews and nieces too. It is a little far away from me, but worth the trip.
While the brands they carry are a little more expensive than your regular box store brands they are worth it as they are technical gear and hold up better under most conditions. They have racks of sale items and other sales periodically, so they are worth watching out for.