I needed a "good pair" of shoes for running and I had heard that paying a visit to a place like…read moreFleet Feet was highly recommended. Considering I know absolutely zero about running shoes, I followed that advice and had a top-notch experience. I was greeted by Kathleen, who is a total gem, and was directed to a bench to place my belongings. I then did a 3D foot scan, followed by a quick walk up and down the store so she could watch my gait. Kathleen brought the tablet over and we looked at the scans. She said a lot of foot terms and I nodded along, fully trusting the process. Shoes were suggested and then taken for a spin around the store. They were all excellent choices, but I had to choose one and went with a pair of Asics. I was so glad I had a shoe guide for the journey. Kathleen was knowledgeable and kind. The store has running accessories, apparel, and even nutrition offerings. I'm not saying I'm a runner, but I would definitely make a return visit for another pair of shoes down the road.

This place is great! You walk in the door, and within seconds an employee is walking up to help…read moreyou. They have a fancy machine to take an assessment of your feet to determine which shoes would fit best. Feels like they actually care about helping you find the perfect shoe. 10/10 would recommend and will be back!

The Lakes Running Company should be your go to spot for all things running + more!! They have an…read moreincredible shoe selection with knowledgeable employees who take the time to assess your needs and provide you with a variety of high quality options to best suit you. They can answer any questions, review your walk, and help ensure you leave with an amazing pair of shoes! In addition to running shoes, they also sell some Birkenstock products, various athletic apparel, some sports nutrition and an assortment of other items. They care about their customers and provide high value items while keeping a reasonable price. It's absolutely worth stopping in if ever taking a stroll through excelsior!

I still am a bit saddened that they moved to Excelsior from Minneapolis, they were so close to my…read morehome. That being said I still absolutely love them and have made the trek out to them on a number of occasions. They have been great supporters of so many of my running milestones from the first half to tackling the 10 mile races, they are amazing! When the Brave like Gabe shoes came out, I knew they were going to fly off the shelves and I messaged 3 running stores seeing if they had them on Instagram and The Lakes responded so fast and was able to put the shoes on hold for me (the other stores didn't respond for 1 day and 1 week!). I really appreciate how fast they are to respond!

I had a great experience at Little Feet. Prior to bringing in my grandson for his first pair of…read moreshoes, I went in alone to get a feel for what he would need. I was greeted by a very friendly and helpful associate, which made me confident I'd want to purchase his first pair of shoes at this store. I brought my grandson in the next day and another very friendly associate was working. She told me about different options and did a very thorough job with a measurement of both feet and then checking the fit once the shoes were on. I will definitely return for the next pair!

They have a nice selection, but the owner was rude and their hours are very limited. Very…read moredisappointed.

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!

I went in to look for softball bats and a glove. They had a good selection of used and new gloves…read more I was able to find one that fit perfect for only $30! The bat selection was decent they only had a few in the size and weight I needed and the prices ranged from $20-$200 so about what you would expect. Overall good experience!

This is the best Play it Again in the Twin Cities. They do a great job rotating seasonal equipment,…read morehave great prices on used gear, have a good selection of new equipment, offer some accessories, and are super knowledgeable. The staff there deserves 10 stars, every time I've needed something they know exactly what I'm looking for!

When I need new walking shoes they always have what I want and I'm in and out within ten minutes.read more

Always great customer service. Knowledgeable staff. Great selection of shoes, running fuel,…read moresocks, & all other running related stuff! I've purchased several pairs of shoes from this store, & I've always been satisfied with my purchases.

I have bought over 10 pairs of shoes from Manny at Fit 1st Running. Why? Manny is knowledgeable…read moreabout shoes and makes sure that you walk out of the shop with shoes that are right for you. And time and time again they have been perfect. When I first went to Manny I had never ran a mile in my life, and now, with his guidance, I have completely 3 marathons.

Manny is knowledgeable, patient and understanding. He will absolutely fit you into the best shoes…read morefor whatever you need. If you're looking to get fit for shoes whether it's for running or if you're on your feet all day. This is the place you're looking for.

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.