Where do you buy your shoes?

[Dogmama]

I usually go to a regular running shop, where the prices are pretty expensive. I see similar shoes offered at sporting goods stores (Big 5, Sports Authority, etc) for much cheaper. Are they the same shoes?

I ask because I bought some Saucony's through Sierra Traders that had the instep placed towards the ball of the foot. Definitely a mistake & I sent them back. I've worn Saucony's for 20 years, so I'm pretty sure it was a manufacturer defect.

I don't mind paying for shoes, but if I can get the same shoe cheaper somewhere else...

[Kerry1976]

I frequent Road Runner Sports, but also have had good luck with Holabird Sports and Runner's Warehouse.

(MTA: my main sport is running and I am such a shoe addict that our UPS delivery driver teases me whenever she drops off another RRS box at the office)

[zoom-zoom]

My faves are onlineshoes.com (they have a really liberal 90 day return policy, even if the shoes are worn), running warehouse, holabird, kelly's running warehouse...all good places to find deals.

[tangentgirl]

For running shoes, I generally like to try on 1,000,000 pairs at the local running store until i find the perfect pair. Road Runner is good too.

If you want to buy online, you can't beat Zappos' return policy. They pay shipping on returns, and if you haven't worn the shoe outside, you can return it within a year of purchase. Easy peasy.

[OakLeaf]

I'm so hard to fit that whenever I need to change shoes, I take a LOT of the salesperson's time. Because of that, I always buy replacement pairs at the LRS.

[GLC1968]

When I was wearing traditional running shoes, I would go to a local store, spend a ton of time with them to get fitted for the right pair, and then buy the first pair from them (since they did all the work!).

Then, when I needed replacement pairs, I'd find the same style online. If I could find a good deal, I would often 'stock up'.