Athletic shoes for women?
Where in Berkeley-Oakland is there a bricks-and-mortar store to buy decent-quality women's athletic shoes?
This is driving me crazy.
Because of my vision problems, it is very important that I have solid shoe support, to prevent falling. Stiletto heels are not an option. (:-)
REI used to be my go-to, but the quality has plummeted. In common women's sizes (7-8), it seems that all they have are weird designs in weird colors.
Cheap shoes made in Asia tend to have stiff heels that require a struggle to put on, or collapse with wear.
Buying shoes over the Internet is impossible.
If you know where to get good black cross-trainer shoes of any brand, please share your secret!
Jul 5, 2023
Parent Replies
I highly recommend going to Transports (technically Oakland, in Rockridge). The staff really know how to fit shoes to your unique feet and can hopefully get you into something that works for you.
I like La Foot in Berkeley on College Ave in the Elmwood. They specialize in recommending the right shoe for the right activity and the suggestions are customized for your particular foot. They do not have as large a variety as REI or Sports Basement (which I also like) but they carry major quality brands and their selection is curated. The staff are all extremely knowledgeable about fitting shoes and they are friendly too. I got some 'plain jane' Brooks shoes at La Foot that I like.
For stability I'll recommend Hoka One One, which I think REI carries. Once you find your size you can order them online. Hoka is a French brand that is popular with runners. They are highly cushioned with a very wide base so they never wobble from side to side. They are not cheap but they last forever. I've worn my Hokas for a few years now and the first pair I bought is still in good shape, even after hundreds of miles of Covid walking. No more breaking in, no more plantar fasciitis, no more tripping and stumbling. A lot of nurses wear Hokas - when I go to Kaiser, every third person on the elevator is wearing them. They do come in wild colors, which I personally like, but there are also plain black Hokas.
One other tip: You don't have to untie and re-tie your shoes every time. My kids turned me on to this. I leave my shoes tied and I have a long shoe horn I got at Ikea so I can put them on standing up. The Hokas also come with a loop at the heel which makes them very easy to pull on if you don't want to be lazy like me and you're going to tie them every time.
I like Road Runner which is off Gilman in Berkeley (behind REI). I’m not a runner, I’m a walker, and needed stability like you do. The staff is knowledgeable and you can return sneakers if they don’t work for you (I don’t remember the length of time but it’s very reasonable). After 3 tries, I found a pair that work well for me!
Another vote for La Foot in Berkeley, they do a great job fitting shoes specifically to your needs.
Sports Basement?
Hi, I don’t have a brick and mortar recommendation, but I am very hard to fit and have had luck with online shoe shopping. I use Zappos.com. They have an extremely customer friendly policy, with free shipping, free return shipping, and 365 days to return unused items. What I do if I don’t know brand and size already is order a bunch of different pairs of shoes on my credit card, try them all on in my living room at my convenience, and then return most of them, keeping the one that works. It’s like turning my living room into a shoe store, and I don’t have to decide on the spot, I can take several days to decide. Shoe shopping at stores was always pretty stressful for me, and now I’m really happy, so I’m very loyal to Zappos.
Road Runner on 10th in Berkeley.
Transports on Solano Avenue.
La Foot does a good job of analyzing your gait and recommending shoes that will support your feet. Once you find a pair you like (Brooks are my favorite), go to Sports Basement if La Foot doesn't the style/color you like.
I like Nordstroms in Corte Madera.They have a big collection and good return policy.Also like the Clark Store at the Vacaville outlets plus there are several other shoe stores there
I recently purchased Hokas at Sports Basement on Milvia and Derby (the old Iceland building). They have a pretty big selection of shoes, so you should be able to find something in black. The Walk Shop on Vine and Shattuck has great service, and carry Hoka and Brooks athletic shoes. Another idea might be Nordstrom in Walnut Creek.
I second the recommendation for Transports (on College or Solano), and also wanted to mention that if you find yourself in Walnut Creek, Athletic Outpost provided super thoughtful, patient service when I took my elderly mom there to get shoes - she likes the fancy running shoes for support and comfort, even though she's not a runner.
Road Runner Sports at 1326 Tenth st in Berkeley has a wide selection of athletic shoes. As the name would suggest, they specialize in running, but have a wide variety and have staff who can analyze your stride to help find shoes that would support your individual need.
I'm not sure about black cross trainers in particular, but I have a few go-tos... Transports on College Ave is great. LaFoot in Berkeley is also great but with a smaller selection.
The place next to LaFoot sometimes has a few things (is it called Village Shoes)? And Shoes on Solano (just down College Ave from Transports) is also a place I look. Though both of those have more walking/casual shoes than athletic shoes.
I understand the reluctance to buy things on the internet, but over the years, I have been very grateful for Zappos' liberal return policy, and I have been able to find good shoes through Zappos with a little bit of time and persistence.
Good luck!
In addition to all the excellent previous recommendations, I wanted to recommend the Hruska Shoe List;
https://www.hruska-clinic.com/shoe-list/
This is a list of athletic shoes recommended by a physical therapy clinic in the midwest. It's updated 2x/year and though it's aimed at professionals, I've found it to be understandable and spot on. They are fanatics for the latest tiny changes to the various models of shoes and each update includes a video about why they are recommending what they are. I I take couple of recommendations that I think will work for me, order them in a couple sizes from Zappos, then try everything on at home and return everything I don't want, enjoying Zappos free shipping for purchases and returns. Zappos typically has everything Hruska recommends in all the colors, too. Good luck!