I cannot say enough good things about LaFoot in Berkeley. My brother manages a grocery store and is on his feet all day. Recently he started having significant foot pain. As a nurse who has dealt with bone spurs and plantar fasciitis myself, I immediately told him he needed to address it -- both by resting and by investing in proper shoes. I've been trying to convince him to upgrade his footwear for years! I found LaFoot while scrolling Yelp. The name caught my attention, and when I read that it's owned by a physical therapist and staffed with students/residents in orthopedics and foot care, I knew this wasn't just a regular shoe store -- this was going to be different. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. Parking was easy (even on a busy day), and we were greeted by a tall, slender young man with glasses who introduced himself as a kinesiologist (I'm so sorry I didn't catch his name!). He was professional, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He had my brother remove his shoes and socks, observed his gait by having him walk up and down the hallway, and even demonstrated how my brother's current shoes were too flexible by twisting them. Then he brought out a Brooks shoe and showed us the difference in structure -- it barely twisted at all. He explained why that stability matters. They measured his feet the old-school way with a sizing device to ensure a precise fit. They also noticed that my brother's feet turn slightly inward when he walks, which likely contributed to his pain. What I really appreciated was how they used a skeletal foot model with bands to visually demonstrate what was happening. For visual learners, this was incredibly helpful and made everything make sense. When my brother tried on the recommended shoes, he immediately said, "Oh my God, these make such a huge difference." That alone told me we were in the right place. The exact color he wanted wasn't in stock, but they ordered it and had it shipped to his home within a few days -- seamless process. Yes, the shoes were $154. But when you consider the amount of time he spends standing and walking, and the importance of preventing long-term foot issues, that is absolutely worth it. Your health and comfort are not the place to cut corners. The professionalism, the education, the attention to detail, and the way they truly listened -- both to my brother and to me -- really stood out. This isn't just a shoe store; it's an experience rooted in understanding foot health. We left feeling confident, informed, and genuinely impressed. Highly recommend. read more

LaFoot Plus - My brother being evaluated by a certified kinesiologist. - Shoe Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I purchased my everyday shoes from the store. As someone with a foot condition, they understand your requirements much better than what you can find on my own. They also have right stability shoes to try that are otherwise hard to find in stores. read more

My husband has problematic feet. We count on LA Foot to find the right shoes for him.

We left confident about making the right choice and my fiancé has expressed that her new shoes are the most comfortable running shoes that she's had. read more

Very professional and knowledgeable staff. Luis provided thoughtful and expert advice. If you have complicated feet, or if you don't :), they'll take good care of you with no upselling or pressure. read more

I was impressed by the care and analysis taken by La Foot staff before they tried to sell me anything. After careful listening to my athletic needs, habits, and deficiencies they recommended a shoe that turned out to be ideal for my needs. The initial experience was so positive that I returned for gym specific shoes and ortho inserts for my Haflinger cork slippers. 6-months + into wearing the first shoes I remain totally satisfied. If you visit La Foot Plus be sure to go well before closing time. At the end of the day they respect their staff's non-work time by closing promptly at closing time, if not a little before. read more

Confusing website, claiming they have physical therapy among other things, but when you click on one of their supposed services, like physical therapy, it says "error." Since their website is so weird (a bunch of faded blocks that don't or won't click), and since my doctor referred me here for PT, I decided to call. Mistake. I explained I had a referral from my doc and just wanted to ask a few questions before making an appointment. There was a deadly silence on the other end and I could tell the young girl was flummoxed. Is it wrong to ask a question? But I proceeded to speak into the silence (after all, my doctor had referred me here) and I asked if they were still seeing patients with neurological problems as they are specifically listed as specializing in this. The young girl went off to ask someone and I could hear talking in the background. She returned to say: "We cant help you." This was very strange, so I tried engaging her a little more to find out what the deal was. But she went into "broken record," mode, repeating the same thing: "We can't help you." I guess questions aren't allowed here. Oh well, I'll consider that the Universe has kept me out of a strange, hostile and weird Physical therapy (or not Physical therapy place - who knows? read more

Very personalized service. After a frustrating experience trying to get shoes for my wide flat feet, I came here. After observing my gait, they recommended a Brooks model. They had to order it (which took a week) and after wearing them inside for a week, I needed to exchange them for an X-Wide, which are working out well. Staff have been helpful and very polite. read more

If you're particular about comfort or support for your feet I highly recommend you bring your woes to LaFoot. This is not the place to shop if you want to make a fashion statement, it is a place to go if you have basic foot issues such as flat feet. I have a family member who unfortunately has incredibly flat feet with bilateral hyper-pronation. She has had custom orthotics most of her life but the most recent pair made by a clinic specializing in foot care were so uncomfortable she could not bear wearing the contraptions even after multiple attempts. LaFoot came to the rescue. With a little description of the concern they did some evaluation and worked as a team (the owner was present and quite knowledgeable) to create a customized over the counter orthotic that was instantly comfortable and corrective. If you're satisfied with your customization make sure to request that they save your information to make subsequent visits even smoother. Just give them your contact info upon return and get your needs met instantly or if preferred use the old info to help you start all over if things have changed. Last, I suggest that every time you go you take your favorite pair of shoes, a pair of shoes you plan to wear, and any current medical devices used, prescribed, or avoided. Bringing a stash of useful items made things a little easier for our experience. Most importantly in my experiences with this business over many years is that they absolutely do not try to over sale products even if you only want a single pair of your favorite socks. Covid Rules: Only four customers inside at a time. Social distancing is attempted but the place is small for walking demonstrations. Masks required. May be shuttered so call ahead, plus their business hours may be shorter. Side walk assistance was observed for special/pre-orders. No appointment necessary. read more

LaFoot Plus - Thorlo makes a true quality sock. Never too tight or hot/cold. - Shoe Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

They are very helpful and knowledgeable! The man who is a physical therapist fitted me With shoe inserts for my pronation and flat feet as well as a heel lift. They give me good support, better than Super Feet! Customer Service is great! read more

I was so hopeful! My podiatrist recommended this place. I got the orthotics & they made me feel off balance & had less support than my superfeet. My bunion & plantar fasciitis did NOT improve with this. My podiatrist was shocked with how little support the orthotics offered. Save your non refundable $350 & go somewhere else. read more

I have multiple feet issues and walking/hiking is my main form of exercise. With my current shoes being worn out - I needed a new pair. My old pair was discontinued and the company no longer had a retail location. I wanted good old fashioned customer service for my next purchase. I found LaFoot Plus because I googled Orthotic Shoe Store - hoping to find a knowledgeable on-site store. I received excellent service. The salesperson measured my gait, listened to my various issues, and was patient as I tried on numerous pair to get the right fit. I was very satisfied with my shopping experience. I just bought the shoes so haven't given them the full road test yet with my daily walking! If you like customer service and want to work with knowledgeable people - this is the place to go! Note: They also specialize in various foot/leg pain issues and physical therapy. read more

The 50% sale size was enough for me to "look see" what's inside. Haha! It's not just a shoe store, but a custom orthotics shop. Pretty interesting how they make these prosthetics. I watched with amazing amusement how to get fitted and the technology to make them. No. I didn't have the need, which was cool with the staff. Most of the shoes are for the serious runners. There's high end brands that I was not familiar with and the sales were limited to either sized small, very large, or ugly shoes. I'm really not much of a runner except to catch a bus, jaywalk, or from the police. Nevertheless, a nice shop with helpful and informative staff. read more

I had a good experience with La Foot Plus. There wasn't pressure to buy new shoes or inserts and the assistant was able to inexpensively alter my current pair. Even though the shop was busy I didn't feel rushed. This shop is important because a normal shoe store can't help you with orthopedic issues and a podiatrist can't help you with footwear. I won't hesitate to come back and buy my next pair of gym shoes from them. read more

Wow! I made an appointment for custom orthotics the next day after I called. The team there is knowledgeable, not pushy, and guided me to the right solutions for my IT Band injury. I was happy to support local with this business and will be using them again. read more

Christine was so amazing!! I called before going in to check if they were accepting clients into the store. She assured me they were all while closely following all covid rules. If you need running shoes, this is the place!! They are professional, knowledgeable, and wonderful to work with. This is my second pair of brooks from them. Perfect. read more

Today I sat down with Christine, who has been working at LaFoot for 5 years. She was incredibly sweet and full of knowledge. They didn't have the shoes in stock that she recommended for my body type, and specific concerns due to a bad hip and bad knees, so instead she recommended some that I could shop for online. This told me that she genuinely cares about making the appropriate recommendations and can be trusted when she guides you on what she feels would be most suitable for a person's body type. I highly recommend visiting this store and Christine. I hope in the future I can come back and purchase shoes, as I was grateful for the eduction and recommendations. read more

This is theoretically a shoe store, but it is really a "Let's get rid of your pain in your feet, knees, back, hips, wherever you have it" store. Christine and Josh are totally helpful, knowledgeable, and caring. They took the time to get to know what my feet and aging knees need. I went in to buy a new pair of shoes, but wasn't sure I needed them. My old shoes were tested by Christine and she said they are not really worn out. What, you are stopping me from buying new shoes? Yes, indeed, she advised against it at this point. So, today's sale was lost, but every pair of shoes I buy in the future I will buy from LeFoote because I know they will take the care to get just the right pair that is best for my body--and reduce pain now and in the future. Caring to the max. read more

Truly an excellent place for shoes and evaluating foot issues. Craig is the resident lead as he has machine that custom make inserts. They evaluate fallen arches, runner needs and have some great literature about muscle/body dynamics. Their staff is well trained and courteous. It's a little bit pricer than a box store, but we'll worth keeping/having them in the neighborhood. They are a gem of a place. read more

My daughter and I went to the store yesterday to look at running shoes. It was 4:50p, the store was closing in ten minutes. When the clerk heard and saw us walk up, she came to the door, closed it and locked it, didn't say anything, rude! We drove over to Road Runner and bought 2 pairs of shoes. read more

World class expertise and physical therapy. The patented foot balancer and orthotics is 2nd to none. I have purchased 3 pairs of orthotics over the past 10 years. Get yourself fitted for a pair of orthotics before this service is no longer being offered. read more

Christine helped me today so solve my concerns that my feet hurt after my long walks. Christine worked tirelessly with me to get a shoe that fit perfectly. I did not feel rushed, I felt like she really knew what she was doing, and she is amazingly sweet. I cannot recommend LaFoot enough! read more

Angie is so good. We came in to get shoes for our mom. She was more than accommodating and attentive. A line started forming behind us but she stayed focus and helpful. Thank you so much for helping us. read more

Josh helped me find my next walking shoes in the most insightful and stellar way possible. Watched me walk. Brought four shoes for me to try. Answered all my questions. Returned from a walk and feet feel supported and amazing. Thank you!!!! read more

Incredible Service and extremely knowledgeable staff. My Brooks Walkers were very squeaky, and they diagnosed the problem and solved it by applying fabric to my arch-support-inserts! They did this for free! They also carefully installed pads in my wife's sneakers, had her walk around, and adjusted them again- twice. They did this for free with the purchase of the 5 dollar pads...Fantastic! You can also get custom arch supports there, and products that my physical rehabilitation specialist (bad knees) wanted me to get. To recap, La Foote trains their employees to analyze your specific feet problems, and they are able to customize sneakers as well. Highly recommended! read more

Awesome customer service....I came in to find a pair of running shoes and left confident that i found a great pair to start my fitness regimen. The gentleman who assisted me had me take off my shoes/socks and walk as he assessed what type of shoe would work best for me...he then measured and came back with a variety of shoes for me to try on. After much trying on and pondering (the salesguy was knowledgable and patient!), I made a decision on the Saucony....they have support, have some flexibility and the width i need. I realize its worth spending a little more to find the right fit and purpose-high stability (overpronation) shoe to have a comfortable running experience. I'm almost excited to start running after a 3-year hiatus...time to hit the pavement! read more

Craig Norton is terrific & knows what he is doing. His appointment scheduler is a disaster. He cannot be trusted. That may sound like a small thing but the guy who is responsible for booking appointments managed to sink a 3 month long treatment plan for surgery which then had to be delayed. read more

During beginning of COVID lockdown I developed foot pain which I thought was caused by my hiking shoes, though I couldn't figure out why as they weren't old and I'd hiked in them without problems. No stores were open and I didn't want to buy new shoes online. I knew that at LaFoot the issue would be evaluated and I'd be properly fitted. Fast forward to first week they opened. Christine identified the issue and merely added pads to the insoles of my shoes. My foot was sensitive in all of my shoes except the old running shoes I wore into the store. Having expected to dish out a lot of money for hiking shoes, I applied the savings to a new pair of running shoes that Christine fitted for me. I wore those shoes exclusively for a couple weeks and voila. Pain went away. I'm back hiking and can wear all my other shoes. Bravo. read more

I was having problems with my feet and decided I needed expert assistance selecting the right shoes. My orthopedic surgeon had recommended this store in the past, so I was confident I would get the help I needed at LaFoot. After analyzing my gait and measuring my feet, the person helping me brought out three pairs of shoes that added stability. I found a pair that I really liked. But when I added my orthotics and lift, the heel of the foot with the lift kept popping out. So, I tried on another pair with higher heels. This one was perfect. I was told of the return policy, 10-days and shoes could only be worn inside. The next day, I decided to wear the shoes outside because I was so confident that I purchased the right shoes for me. From a price perspective, the shoes were expensive, but when I took into consideration the time and expertise that went into helping me find the right shoes, I think it was worthwhile. Overall, my experience was a really good one! read more

I had been having very severe foot pain since 2 months. I had been on pain killers twice daily. Doctor said it was because my lumbar disc was torn during my accident. My daughter took me here and I was given a shoe insert and a heal for one leg. 80 percent of my pain is gone. I am not sure if the other 20 percent pain is from my house slippers. Anyway I am a lot better than what I came with. Christine was the one helped me. She was very patient and nice. read more

Having read through all of the yelp reviews for this place, I was eager to check it out. I needed good, solid walking shoes for urban hiking. The guy who helped me out spent about 1/2 an hour watching me walk, giving me advice on different shoes, and patiently answering all of my questions. I tried on about six pairs of shoes, and he let me walk down the sidewalk and take my time in deciding. This is a decidedly non-pressure sales team. In the end, I picked out a comfortable pair of New Balance running shoes that I think will make my feet soooo, soooo happy. =) read more

Summary based on a couple of visits: --good selection of athletic shoes --helpful advice --competitive prices --ok parking on the street a block away or in the lot across the street behind the shops Good place to go with someone who's looking for shoes and wants advice read more

LaFoot Plus - Shoe Stores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Brought my 73 year old mother here today. She has one hell of a time finding shoes that properly support her feet. Tommy worked with us and was patient, knowledgeable and kind. We wound up finding the perfect pair. Having a real professional help us was a GREAT experience, especially when compared to bungling around the big outlet shops blindly trying things on. Perfect experience. read more

This is the only place in the world I buy running shoes. The staff are all experts on gait analysis and more. Without me telling them they diagnosed that my left calf is abnormally tense (due to some knee issues). They shoe selection is the best in the world with Mizunos, Asics, and more. Yes it is expensive but your performance and health are worth it. I love my new shoes! read more

La Foot is a great store for getting personalized attention for finding the right athletic shoes for your particular feet and gait. They take their time to really be helpful (so this means there's often a long wait, but it's worth it). I want to give a special shout out to Josh, who has spent so much time helping me, with infinite patience. He went above and beyond and I really appreciate him. The other young woman who works there (whose name I don't know) is also extremely attentive and helpful. Both of them are highly educated in topics related to foot health and share their knowledge generously. read more

This place is Amazing! I was helped by Jennifer and an older gentlemen that appeared to be the owner. They first did a Free Gait analysis of my feet by having me walk barefoot. I then informed them about discomfort i was feeling in my feet and the owner associated it with tight calf muscles. He explained to my how the foot is supposed to move and how tight muscles can affect your foot. They sized me up and I purchased a pair of Brooks Addiction 13. The shoes instantly made my feet feel better! Very pleased with the experience and I strongly recommend this place. read more

I brought a loved one here to buy shoes based on the recommendation of a friend of a friend who likes the store. A quick check of the website states that the store was established by two orthopedic surgeons & specialists in sports medicine and technical footwear. They say they can offer all kinds of special foot goods (custom orthodics, etc) and they say their staff includes Physical Therapists and they are highly trained in biomechanics and kinesiology . They say they offer "superior customer service". So what's not to like? I was hopeful this would be the go-to place to buy shoes for my loved one. I have been to LaFoot twice. I went to try and fit my loved one's very hard to fit foot in a shoe. My loved one has issues galore with their feet, resulting in major foot pain and difficulty walking, running is not an option. First of all, it is a very busy store, be prepared to wait. I would not go as far as to say they have "highly trained" staff in the front (sales) portion of the store. I would say they are probably UC Berkeley students working part time and they probably major in physical therapy, biomechanics and/or kinesiology. There really was no "consultation" other than noting my loved one's feet were very wide and so due to their myriad of foot issues would need something a bit wider and longer than usual. The salesperson did help my loved one by re-lacing their shoes in such a way that it was more comfortable with their feet inside their shoe. The salesperson went on to recommend an opposite sex shoe in extra extra wide and although they did not stock the shoe, they could special order it and come back when it came. The shoe came in a week and so we went back to try them on. So the second trip "both" salespeople were busy and we waited probably between 15-20 minutes to be assisted on a weekday (close to closing). When a salesperson finally freed up, we got the shoes and it was not the right shoe - it was not the correct width. So now, after a long wait, their highly trained staff who offers "superior customer service" did not even get our order right! While we were being waited on, customers were coming in and interrupting our "service" with questions. That was a bit irritating. Because I was unimpressed with their "superior" customer service, we left and I went to a local competitor to order the correct shoe. Because of my loved one's mobility issues, it just was not worth it to me to make another trip to College Avenue (a very busy retail area), hunt out a parking space and navigate someone who can't walk very well to the store again to try on shoes I was not all that confident would be the right order. In conclusion, I think La Foot is advertising a bunch of services and amenities that are simply not there. I would not return, but in the end I wish they more matched the services they offer on their website. read more

I was blown away by my experience with Christine and Josh at Lafoot Plus. Christine spent ~2 hours with me doing a 3-point gait analysis, trying out multiple running shoes, and most importantly putting in custom cut heel cushions and tongue cushions to take care of my multiple of injuries, discomforts, and foot / running issues. She was so knowledgable, so patient, friendly, never made me feel rushed, I felt like I was taking up too much time and she reassured me that it was okay. She's going to physical therapy school and it really shows. I saw her associate Josh meet with multiple customers and be really patient and understanding even when the customer wasn't the most friendly/understanding. Honestly this made my whole day. I've been having such a hard time finding the right shoe, I've tried several running shoes over 6 months and nothing has felt good. I'm truly blown away and honored and just so excited about this store. They also have their own custom ratings for shoes based on support and other metrics that I believe the owner who is also a physical therapist created with orthopedic specialists if I'm not mistaken. read more

The most important information for people whose feet or KNEES hurt: this store has the equipment to produce custom orthotics quickly on site, and the knowledge not to sell them if you don't need them, a full line of off-the-shelf and custom knee braces, and sufficient stock of good shoes that you can walk out with one without waiting. I was having metatarsitis (fancy name for painful toe) and made an appointment with Craig, who is a pedorthist (professional who has specialized training to modify footwear) and a physical therapist, and was recommended by friends. Craig said the pair of Keen hiking boots that I walked in with were fine, and that there would be no need for me to buy new shoes. Wow, talk about no sales pressure. He also didn't recommend a custom orthotic, although there was a computerized machine milling new custom orthotics right next to us as Craig was helping me. He sold me a Smartfeet Green orthotic, and stuck two wool pads on the orthotic and one in the tongue of the shoe to support my metatarsal and keep my thin ankle from moving in the shoe. Poof! All of the pressure on my metatarsal is gone. No flop of my ankle up and down as I'd usually have in any low shoe. Inflamation declining. Long walks, here I come! I twisted my knee skiing 20 years ago, and wear a compact off-the-shelf brace to ski now. Hey, this place has much better off-the-shelf braces that I'd be more comfortable with, and that are still compact enough that they wouldn't load me down with too much hardware. I'll put on some shorts and come back to be fitted with those. I did end up buying a pair of Brooks Addiction walking shoes but there was so little pressure that I actually had to ask to see them. Craig would have been happy to see me walk out in my Keens with a few cheap off-the-shelf parts. read more

Going to LaFoot is like having a personal Physical Therapy consultation for as long as you like. They genuinely want to help you solve whatever problems you have and they provide a ton of insight while ultimately letting you make the choice (only you know how you feel and what feels best). I had foot pain that was so bad I couldn't walk without pain. I returned home with a pair of shoes from LaFoot and have been walking around doing chores (wearing those shoes) with no pain at all. It's pretty wonderful and I feel grateful to have such an amazing resource here in Oakland. Thank you LaFoot! read more