Never mind the running shoes, how do you like to buy them?

Triathlon Forum
1

We got to thinking.

Running shoes are a little like bikes in that they must be fit to you and there are a lot of different designs, a lot of different models, a lot of different opinions on them.

That being the case we wanted to look at the models, processes and techniques retailers bring running shoes to the consumer market. We wanted to see the processes and try to understand the difference between the good ones, the best ones and the ones with opportunities for improvement.

We’re using what we gather in some kind of writing project/story type thing for our website.

This being the case I really need some input. Firstly, this whole thing is pretty vague at this stage. We’re not sure exactly what form it will take on, i.e., straight reporting like “The Best Running Shoe Stores are…” or something more editorial like, “The Process of Buying Running Shoes…”

Let us know how you buy your shoes: Where, how often, what your experience is like, how much you know, what you want in the running shoe buying experience, etc.

Thanks for the info in advance girls and guys.

2

i am lucky and live in San Diego, so i go to road runner and get my shoes. i average about 6 pairs a year.

i recently switched from kayano’s to nimbus to cumulus. they have you walk on a little mat with both feet in your socks after that on the treadmill. then they make recommendations based on what they see. they normally offer 3 pairs and then you go try them on. you can go outside and run around the parkinglot to make sure your getting what you want and if you don’t as long as your a member with them you can return the shoes in 45 days. i love the store.

i have also heard good things about san diego running institute.

3

I would like to buy them from the local running store but they never seem to have what I need on hand. However, road runner sports seems to have everything always and the people who answer the phone are both pleasant and knowledgeable. They make it easy to do business with them.

4

I’m very difficult to fit for any type of shoe. I prefer going into a small shop that will spend some time with me and will not get upset if I have to try on 5 or 6 different shoes. I don’t mind paying full retail for the seller’s time and expertise.

Luckily there’s one shop that fits the bill in Reno, my closest “big city”. (Otherwise there’s nothing else within 100 miles of me.) They guy who owns and runs the shop is a runner himself who also understand triathletes.

If I’m going to buy a second pair of the same shoes later on, I’ll try to find them cheaper either online or a chain store.

5

The same with me as well.

I try and buy two pairs of the same shoe at the same time and rarely change model. I will retest if the model is altered (notably weight/features)

After I know what model, I nearly always order online due to the cost saving.

6

Once I dialed in on the running shoes that worked for me via local stores (Asics 2110s and Kayanos), I pretty much shop for price. I know what size I need and I have no issues with tenderness, pain, blisters, gait, etc. So I look for them on sale wherever I can find them.

7

*Where *
always at a running store

how often
every few months

what your experience is like
it’s good. i try on shoes, or get the same ones, etc.

how much you know
it’s hard to quantify, knowledge is relative

what you want in the running shoe buying experience
for the sales person to know about the shoes, talk with me about differences between shoes, what they do on my feet and how it relates to my training, etc. technical knowledge is important to me, and generally helps me in my buying decision and makes a difference on where i shop. also, i shop off hours so the process is fast.

8

When I had it available to me I would buy at Fleet Feet or whoever their competitor was in Pittsburgh. One of the main reasons (and more addressing your actual question). Knowledgeable staff personnel (PT/AT experience and people who could at least fool me into believing they knew as much as me), being able to run on a treadmill with a video camera setup and showing me a live-feed of my footstrike in each pair of shoes, and lastly ability to take a “quick spin around the parking lot”. That deal with RRS where you can return them after 30 days of running in them I think is probably one of the greatest things out there for “finding your shoe”. Good for them that it isn’t abused (at least that’s what I assume).

That video thing and watching how your footstrike changes from shoe to shoe on a TV right in front of you sure was nice.

Now I know I like Mizuno Precisions and I buy them mail-order from whoever has them cheapest (unless I am back home then I go to the local place just to keep them in business… and they are nice guys)

edit:
every 3 months or so
I know a fair amount
and I have mostly been quite happy after I found “my place” (as comments above would suggest)

9

I get most of my running shoes from a local running store. They did a gait analysis and I tried out several pairs of shoes. That found the shoe that works best for me. I have tried other shoes, but none have work as well for me. The local running stores have a policy of giving running club members 20% off. With that deal and the personal service there is no need to shop online. The only exception is when I have wanted a particular racing flat and none of the local stores carried it. Two of the stores also carry triathlon items - shorts, trisuits, number belts, etc. All the stores are very supportive of both running and triathlon.

10

I started at the big box store and bought what looked cool. Then I wen to the local runnign shop and bought what they told me was right (well what they had). Then I got some good advice here and now I buy the same model shoe online whenever possible for a fairly good price. The problem with sohes and me is i tend to be very hard on them and need to replace them every 300 miles or so. Not too good when you start to log 35-40 mile weeks (which is not that often for me to tell the truth, but the wife still gives me slack about the frequency with which I buy shoes).

11

When I started running and lived in Chicago I knew nothing and went to Fleet Feet and they videoed my running, allowed me to try on a range of shoes and set me up in motion control shoes due to being a chronic over pronator.

I did this as a result of Plantar Facitis and running in the wrong shoes to start with.

As my mileage increased and my technique changed dramatically I moved to a stability shoe that works for my running and I now buy them on line and attempt to get last years model.

I have always bought two pairs at a time and alternated them.

When in the US I bought them online from Roadrunner and now in the UK I buy them from Wiggle.

Other good running shops in Chicago are Universal Sole and the New Balance Store.

12

After they analyze your gait on the treadmill are they measuring your foot with a Brannock device or are they just asking you your shoe size?

If they do measure you, given that you return there frequently to buy shoes (6 times a year you mentioned), do they repeat the process each time you return for new shoes?

13

Since you’re a difficult fit, do they take a measurement of your foot length and width each time?

14

Have you ever bought a shoe over the phone and been disappointed with the fit- even though you thought you ordered the correct size for you?

15

At the place you are buying them does the preson generally measure your foot using a Brannock scale or some similar system? Are they measuring your foot for size in addition to looking at your gait every time you buy?

16

good catch,

yes they do measure both feet for length and width.

they only check things if i say that there is a problem or want something looked at. other wise if nothing is changing they will just get new shoes in the same size.

hope this helps.

Ben

17

After the '04 Baltimore Marathon (which I signed up for the day before and ran zero miles to train for … and not having run in 13 years - needless to say I DNF’ed) I had a $15 coupon to a local running store. So went there and they fitted me based on my running style and foot profile (Mizuno Wave Rider 7). I then decided to actually train for a marathon for '05 and ran those shoes until it was time to upgrade.

We went to the same store again when they were having a tent sale in preparation for the marathon and the Saucony rep. was there. We were planning on buying my wife a pair of shoes so she talked with him and at the same time we entered a door prize raffle for different things. Before I had a chance to buy the same shoes I was running, I won a pair of Saucony’s. So I told the rep what I was currently running and he recommended a comparable model (Trigon 3 ride’s). and I’ve been running those ever since.

I currently shop online to find who still has them. After blowing through about 5 pairs of them in '06 I know that it is going to be harder and harder to find them as the 5’s are coming out I think. But because I like the way the style fits and has worked well for me for over 2000 miles with no injuries I’m going to stick with them and try the new model once I use up the new pair of Trigon 3’s I’ve got in a box.

I’ll typically go online and find the best price and just order them that way once I know what works for me.

18

I like knowledgeable people, stock in my size (15) variety, liberal return policy and lots of accessories. I like for the store to sponsor group runs. Here in Miami I frequent two good stores. The Runners high and Footworks. Here is my impression of each.

The Runners High
ALL staff is very knowledgeable
Provide video gait analysis
Carry good variety of brands and sizes
Easy returns and special orders

This store doesn’t offer training programs through the store, but does through Miami Runners Club. I like the fact that anyone of their staff can tell me about the shoes and identify the proper shoes for my needs. Every shoe they have recommended has fit well and supported my heavy frame and flat feet.
I like going to Runenrs high, because I trust their people to put me in the right shoe.

FootWorks
SOME staff is knowledgeable.
Carry good variety, large sizes usually by special order
Easy returns and special orders

Footworks offers several training programs following the Galloway method and also basic triathlon training programs. They stock aid stations in two places on frequently run paths with water and gatorade. These are free for anyone. They also sponsor two weekly group runs for anyone from their store. Their staffing leaves a bit to be desired. They have some people who are basically only cashiers. If you know exactly what you want, then no problem. But I have had them try to sell me shoes that are to small. The few people they have who are knowledgeable are very good, unfortunatley they are not always there. They have very limited offerings in size 15, which forces me to special order. I go to Footworks because I appreciate what they do for the running community by offering group runs and weekend aid stations. I wish their staff was more knowledgeable.

So if I need a shoe immediately or I want to try a new shoe, I go to Runners high. If I know what I want I will go to Footworks.

19

I put a lot of thought into any bike component that I buy. I research very carefully before purchasing. For most bike things I usually buy on ebay or online somewhere.

But for running shoes - don’t give them as much thought. Heck, they’re only shoes - not sexy bike stuff.:slight_smile:

And I put my custom orthotics into them any ways to correct a pronation problem. So I look for a neutral shoe and drop the orthotics in rather than looking for a corrective shoe.

Obviously, I don’t like running nearly as much as cycling. But to answer your question I always buy my shoes off a local running store where I’m good friends with the owner. I could probably get them cheaper online like my bike parts but I want to support his business.

20

Hi Tom. I agree that shoes are a lot like bikes. Fit is everything. I’d imagine that by the time people make it to this website they already know whether they pronate/supinate or are neutral runners. In fact, I’d imagine most already have a brand of shoe they like and consistently return to that shoe until the manufacturer changes it.

That’s the case with me. I buy shoes every 300-500 miles and am usually rotating two pair at a time. I’m a neutral runner with a narrow foot and want a cushion shoe so the adidas boston classic is the shoe I’ve gone with for the past 6 years (except for when they discontinued it for a year and then I went with the Mizuno Wave Maverick).

That said, I could buy them from any web retailer - but I don’t. I bought my first pair of running shoes from the Hansons. I choose to continue buying from them for three reasons.

1 - experience/service - I’ve always had a positive experience with them. They fit me with my first pair of shoes by determining what I needed rather than selling me the most expensive shoes. They usually have my shoe and size in stock and, if not, get it from another store in a day or two. They’re runners obviously, and everyone who works with them is a runner (olympic caliber). They’ve always been willing to chat about running and I’ve never felt that they feel put out by my asking questions. Instead, when you get them talking, it’s tough to break free :wink:

2 - trust - for the reasons mentioned above - i trust them. They’re good guys. Sure, they’re businessmen, but they’re personable, and that means a lot to me. They remember my name. Plus, given their olympic distance project success and my experience with them, I feel more than confortable that they are knowledgeable in the sport and can answer my questions regarding shoes, training, injuries, etc.

3 - loyalty - They support running so I support them. Plain and simple, I’m loyal to them because they’re active in the running community. They sponsor weekly local runs from all shops, free marathon training runs, host marathon clinics, and it doesn’t hurt that their ODP athletes are spectacular. Their results speak for themselves. I’m a loyal customer. I’d rather give them the money than save $5.00 (if that) on a pair of shoes.

Things that are not big factors are: (1) location - I’ll drive if I have to. (2) great selection - they have a great selection but since I go for the same shoe everytime, selection isn’t that big a deal for me.

In the end, running is my hobby, I like to go where people share my interests. I thoroughly enjoy walking into a store and knowing who is behind the counter and spending 10 minutes while I’m grabbing my shoes off the shelf talking about the sport.

BTW, I don’t think the Hansons have cornered the market on this. I think the folks over at Running Fit have the same set up. I know several runners who feel the same way about them as I feel about the Hansons.

Corny maybe, but you asked.

  • john