Feet down, they have mastered top quality paddle boards, kayaks, and floating utility docks. I have…read moretried several other brands and nothing compares. What makes them even better is they 100% stand behind their products and their customer service is commendable. You get what you pay for and their products are a great value. I'm proud to be a paddle north supporter.

Was in the area and needed to pickup my online order. Walked in late afternoon and I was…read moreimmediately greeted by an employee behind the desk. He was nice and helpful. Bonus, I had the entire store to myself. Wow, theres a ton to look at here.... Great selection! Always nice to see items in person versus online. The store itself offers more than the booth at the MN State Fair which is understandable as there's only so much space. I use the paddle board and the value is fantastic. Paddle North's products are well made and worth every penny. I will continue to purchase.

I had a negative first experience there. It was not a well kept building, but more importantly, the…read moreman who helped me with selling my used skates to them, gave major sketchy used car salesman vibes. I told him it was my first time there, and didn't explain how the selling used items to them process worked at all. He just took my skates and ID, and then looked them over a number of times, then he mumbled something about store credit from the register (about 10 feet away), to which I replied "no" to. He then handed me a receipt for $10 in store credit. When I told him I didn't want store credit, he took offense and claimed that he was "very clear" with me. Side note; we wouldn't be having that conversation if he had been very clear with me. I then asked him if for cash or check instead of the store credit, because I had no need of store credit. He said he couldn't for anything under $10, which is the amount he arbitrarily came up with....like I said, sketchy used car salesman. I would avoid this place of business if at all possible.

Can't believe I haven't wrote this before. This is my "go to" play it again and skate sharpening…read moredestination. This place has also bailed me out more times than I can count when it comes to "gear failures" while playing at Schwans or Fogarty. Very nice hockey gear selection from solid skates, used and new, to the gear itself. Solid mix of new gear and used gear, along with almost all the accessories. A few items can't be found here (hard cover skate fenders, or feet guards for blocking shots), some visor items and compression/performance apparel. However, the major items are almost always covered - stick,s skates, shinnies, cup, breezers, elbows, shoulder pads, buckets and bags. If you're looking for somewhere to get into the sport, this is a great place to start and get your hands on the beginner gear with the guidance of a great staff and at a solid price. Lets face it, hockey is an expensive sport and if you're just getting into it, the price alone can scare you away. Stop here first and try things out before moving on to getting new, top of the line gear. Skate sharpening... it's a bit spendy for the standard, $4.50 I think. But, I've NEVER had my skates messed up here, and the guys ALWAYS check what kind of sharpen I want, and at what setting. That in itself is reason enough for me to spend more on the sharpen. If you have questions on what kind of sharpening to get, or what setting, they can answer them and get you squared away. For other sports, they do have a seasonal rotation that is typically well stocked. Overall, great store, solid location next to my most visited rinks, great staff, and the inventory is normally adequate for my needs.

Have rented bikes here several times. These guys are the best. Really cheerful, helpful, and know…read moretheir stuff. Shout out to Brett who was really great. Bought shoes a few times back by the running gear and those guys were super helpful too. Great shop all the way around.

I was incredibly impressed with the selection and service at this location! My boss told me to…read morecheck this place out when I informed him I was considering a tri-bike purchase and interested in competing in a triathlon. The staff was very knowledgeable and supportive. I am making my bike purchase from a 3rd party used site and will be placing all of my ancillary items at Gear West!

First Zombie always has the best gear and if they don't have it they will see if they can get it in…read morefor you. What is most awesome about Zombie though is their service. They know their stuff and are true OG snowboarders. I find myself wanting to go in there just to talk about snowboarding with these guys and they are more than willing to do it. They are also excellent "boardsmiths" and I have had several repairs and tune ups done here. Always excellent work and done in time for my trips. I cannot say enough good things about ZBS. Do not go to REI or buy online from a mega site. Support your local snowboard shop. This is a great one!

After shopping around online I stopped into our local board shop to look for a new snowboard for my…read moreson. Peter was awesome. I was looking to be educated to make a decision on which board fit our needs not just our budget. I spent a little bit more but I have no doubt that making the stop today I have a board that will fit my sons beginner level, size and be a much better quality lasting board than had I just ordered online. I am all about supporting a local small business and they will definitely continue to receive our business going forward. Definitely visit for your skateboard, snowboard, and wearable gear needs! They have a great selection and know what they're doing.

I recently experienced some sharp pain of unknown origin in my left foot while walking. it would…read morecome and go intermittently, especially when I was walking on the indoor track at the gym I belong to. I decided to see a Podiatrist, hoping I might learn the cause of this pain. Unfortunately, the doctor's examination couldn't positively identify the cause. He suggested that I try different walking shoes and/or some support shoe inserts. He gave me a list of some sport shoe retailers in the Twin Cities. I spent some time online checking out the list. One of the retailers listed was Gear Running Store. I was impressed with their website and decided to give them a call. I spoke to Maggie (a co-owner) and told her my story. She offered some suggestions and also invited me to visit her at the store. I took her up on her invitation and stopped by the next day. She was very generous with her time and gave me her undivided attention. She had me try out several different types of shoe inserts and also several different brands and types of shoes, all in an effort to find a possible solution to my mysterious foot pain problem. We were able to narrow the field down to a pair of Altra running/walking shoes that I tried out in the store. She then suggested that I also try them out for a few days on the track at my gym for a few days. Then, if they don't work out for any reason, I can return them for a refund. So, I tried them out at the track three times (I was careful to only wear the shoes while on the track). After the trial, I found that theses shoes were comfortable in some respects but they really didn't have any more impact on reducing the foot "pain" than my regular shoes did. So, I brought them back to the store (along with the original box and packing material) and turned them in to Paul (store owner). He was very pleasant and accommodating and promptly refunded my purchase. So, in the end, while these folks didn't make a sale in this case, they did gain a very appreciative customer who values great service from true professionals. I know where to find them when I'm in need of new shoes in the future. I will also be happy to recommend them to my family and friends. Thank you Maggie and Paul! David R. P.S.: After a prolonged rest from the track, my foot pain has gradually faded. I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't return.

This is the first time visiting this awesome place! Beth was OUTSTANDING! I will definitely buy my…read morenext pair of Hokas from them!

This is the best running store in Minnesota. This is the…read morebest running store in Minnesota. What Jeff and Bekah Metzdorff have done to make a retail store into the epicenter of running culture in the entire Midwest is remarkable. You will get it when you walk in. You need a pair of shoes and they'll make you run on a treadmill, ask you some questions and you'll be fitted for what shoe fits for you. From there, they have gear you want to wear running. And for those us (myself included) who aren't runners, they have comfortable clothing you will wear daily for comfort or for your own workouts. You go deeper if you're new to the Twin Cities and join a free group run, which is multiple times a week to keep you going. You might even find a date there, it happens oddly often. If you're one of those people who need to run a marathon, you'll see them during the Twin Cities Marathon yelling in the 20s mile area, getting written up in the local neighborhood papers for being too loud. From there, you want them to succeed, and you want to join them. Then you see their brand everywhere. In every race in the Midwest, you will see the brand name. And you'll feel good wearing it as well as you know it's a local business doing things right from the ground up.

Been 5 years so I thought I would update my review since I started running a bit. A 5K here and a…read more10K there, nothing too wild. Great staff and still has a great selection of shoes and apparel. What I learned by running myself is their fantastic shop runs that they put on several days per week and on every other Saturday, they have the assisted long run or "ALR" where there a lot of people, maybe ~100 all running different distances and paces on pre-set routes, like a 5K, 10K, 10 mile, etc. so you can pick a distance and pace and probably have someone to run with. They also provide Strava maps on their site so you really will not get lost. Best part is that these runs are free, they do it just because they love running and the running community. Kudos, amigos.

Best service and great shoes, and if they don't have your size they will get them in a few days…read more Plus, you can't beat their prices.

I have been shopping here since I was a kid, and I always go back when I am in town. When I was…read moreyounger, I got shoes for my private school uniforms. Now, I get their awesome selection of Ugg's, Dansko, or whatever else is in season. They have a great selection without being too overwhelming, and a great clearance selection. Sandy and Bob are the cutest and always willing to help. They'll wait on you and help you find what you need, and then later help you take care of what you bought. Sandy has an awesome no-nonsense attitude and Bob is just as sweet as a peach. I'll keep going back here for years to come!

Fantastic service. They do not want to just make a sale, they want to take care of you. They will…read morehelp you get the best for your needs. Thank you Jake.

Jake is the man. Patient, knowledgeable and helpful. Got me all setup and I couldn't be happier.read more