Just had one of the best shopping experiences ever at A Runner's Mind in SF with Ted (I think? - i'm really bad at names). I don't know anything about my feet (whether they're flat or wide or if I pronate) and right off the bat, I knew I was dealing with a specialist! As soon as I walked in, I was greeted and felt taken care of. He asked me what I was looking for, sized my feet/arches and even had me go on a test run to see what would best fit my needs! The best way I can describe it is like Olivander's in Harry Potter but for running shoes. Service was so good, like he was even helping put the shoes on my feet and lacing them up, and I walked out with a pair that I knew would work well for me! read more

A Runner's Mind - Exterior - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow, the place is good but the up sale is crazy. Also there is a guy here that needs to wear underwear, your shorts are too short for a guy. Please cover yourself up . read more

There are sneaker stores and then there is ARM. You will never go back to a regular store after your experience here. They do a full analysis and tell you what type of shoes you need...they let you try them on and finally pick the one that feels just right. Big fan! read more

A Runner's Mind - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Wonderful service and selection. Knowledgeable employees. They do a lot for the local running community! Run clubs, activities, and good gear. read more

See all

Awesome place to get running shoes. Really helped us to figure out the right shoes. Terrific selection and super helpful folks.

Really appreciate the gait analysis that is provided here :) Was able to find my perfect running shoes at A Runner's Mind! We were able to try on a few pairs of shoes and run outdoors with the shoes just to get a better feel! Staff was super friendly and attentive to our needs. The value of the shoes were also decent without breaking the bank! They also keep a record of your gait analysis and the shoes you've tried on in case you want to go back for more shoe selections! read more

See all

ARM is my favorite and go to spot for all my running needs. The staff are humble and knowledgeable and always welcoming. I always get the best advice and tips from them. Sign up for their runs and be a part of this amazing community & get healthy at the same time. read more

Amazing staff! A fit consultation is the way to go, and they were able to help us find a set of light trail running shoes that did the job. The store is set up just the way it should be, all running and sports training gear on hand. A bit of a wait to be seen for the shoe fit, a couple test runs outside, and we left with a new pair of kicks for running on the Presidio trails. I'd recommend this store if you're new or a long time runner! read more

Went on a Saturday morning and the folks were busy, and only got busier as more people streamed in. Even though all staff were busy helping customers, they still acknowledged this of us who were waiting in line and kept their collective cool. I believe the person who helped me was named Derrick and he was very patient and supportive of me taking my time. I felt like I was not being pressured to buy more only informed on what would help. I loved being able to compare my last two shoes side by side with a quick jog up and down the sidewalk. Incredible staff and I know I'll keep coming back. read more

Service is great at A Runner Mind. They are very knowledgeable about the nuances and sizing of the shoes they well. They helped me find a show that fits my narrow foot. I am very happy with the shoes I bought there. read more

I have heard how amazing this place was and was shocked by how much it lived up to the expectations. I came in one afternoon and was helped by Emmanuel. I learned so much about my gait, foot arch, and shoe size! Turns out I was wearing running shoes that were way too small. He suggested several shoes and I chose a pair that fit my style along with the suggestions based on my gait. Not only was I helped with finding the perfect fit, but they also delivered my size and style from Burlingame. I got the text early morning the next day and everything went smoothly. I could not recommend this place more -- completely worth a visit! :) read more

A great running store with attentive sales associates who helped me find a great pair of running shoes. PROCESS: The associate I was working with asked me questions about my current pair of shoes, had me step on a foot analysis machine, and then had me jog down the sidewalk while he recorded me. FEELING: I felt like the whole process was very thorough and he was very patient with me as I asked him all my questions. I also got to try on lots of different brands to compare. I never felt pressured to buy anything even after being there for 30 minutes. IMPROVEMENT: The only thing I didn't love, but that I understand, is that you likely won't be walking out of there with a brand new pair of shoes. You might be getting a pair of shoes that others have also tried on, especially if you are very specific about the colors you want. They have limited size and color inventory so you either won't get exactly the color you want or you will and it won't be brand new. read more

A Runner's Mind - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

AMAZING service! I went on sat morning @10:30 and I didn't have to wait at all for help. Frances helped me and she was so sweet and knowledgeable. I had never been fitted before, so I learned about my arc, got sized for length and width, and recorded my running form. I tried on 5 pairs and ended up with New Balances I've been running in for 2 weeks now and they are A DREAM! I had hokas before that gave me terrible blisters when breaking in, but the shoes have help up over multiple runs on trail, concrete, and treadmill. I will be coming back for my next pair! In the end I spent $150 (including tax), which is an investment, but shoes are arguable the most important article of apparel and with the service included i believe it is worth it. (also the shoes aren't ugly which is a major plus) read more

A Runner's Mind - New Balance W 860 v13 Wide (D) Sea Salt/Washed Burgundy 8 - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Rosie at A Runners Mind was awesome!! She specialized in On shoes and found me my perfect pair and insert. I appreciated her patience and her attention to detail. read more

A Runner's Mind - On cloud shoes - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

My fiancée and I came here this past Saturday morning to get her a new pair of running shoes for her upcoming marathon. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND coming here if you're looking for a new pair of running shoes. We came here because a new pair of shoes my partner purchased from REI seemed comfortable initially only to result in blistering after running in them for more than 3 miles. I really wish I remembered the name of the associate who helped us (super friendly asian guy) because he was so helpful and informative. We have never thought about the criteria of running shoes so his consultation was very valuable. He watched her run in several pairs of shoes, and he helped us narrow down the right fit based on my partner's pronation, preferred cushion level, arch type, and previous issues with other running shoes. He never pressured us to buy anything, but we ended up leaving with a pair of shoes, insoles, four pairs of compression nylon socks, and some energy bars that my partner is super glad to have purchased. We were lucky in that we were able to get a consultant right away since the store wasn't too busy. They personalize all their recommendations to your preferences so you definitely leave with a pair you'll appreciate! read more

A Runner's Mind - Mizuno Running Shoes - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Really nice spot and convenient location to pick up runner gear and shoes, it's a bit expensive but the staff is super cool and helpful. I like having a store like this close to running trials. read more

First time coming in a running shoe store and I was totally amazed with the attention and care that they gave for each customer who wanted to be fitted for shoes. We were asked what are goals were, and along with an evaluation of how we jogged/ran, we were given a couple of shoes to test out. Did not feel rushed at all - I was given an ample amount of time to feel out each pair of shoe. I came home with a very supportive and comfy pair that I am absolutely in love with. Shout out to Carlos who helped us through the process - his knowledge, expertise, and superb customer service was just simply amazing :) read more

A Runner's Mind - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here to get some Nike's for track. The version of the shoe I wanted was $172., I thought that was a bit expensive. The associate was really trying to sell them to me . Then I went home and looked them up on the Nike website . They were on sale for half the price. Do not come here . read more

I struggle a lot with reviewing Runners Mind. I've had some really positive experiences over the years and I desperately want to support local businesses. But the last three times I've walked in I stand in the queue and the employees just don't adhere to the order. Anyone that wants to walk in and starts talking immediately gets attention while the patient customers wait and wait. If it was a one time deal I wouldn't mention it. Either have a line and observe it or don't have a line. But trying to do both is the worst of both worlds. I'd rather not waste time and tell ChatGPT that I have medium pronation and mainly run/walk on city sidewalk and purchase shoes next day arrival on Zappos. read more

If you care about your foot health, posture, and any other things that come indirectly from your shoe, this is absolutely the place to go. I came in expecting a normal shoe place where I can look for a shoe I like and ask for a size. This shop is so much more than that. They take shoe fitting to the premier level of measuring every part of your foot and optimizing it extremely well. The staff helping me were amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the shoes and general anatomy to ensure you are getting something that fits you best. Big shout out to Carlos and Stefan for the amazing fitting and really making sure I was getting what I was looking for. I can't recommend any other place now that I've been here read more

Walked in, three employees talking to one customer. I looked at the wall of shoes for a couple of minutes, no one even said hello. Nice store, the people seemed friendly enough. I won't be back. read more

Big thank you to Maggie who helped me find my perfect pair. I came in wanting funky comfortable shoes and she found my perfect match. Would come back! read more

Wanna run? Drop in and get fitted from the foot savant Kyle! Super knowledgeable and tons of background in the industry. So very adept at finding the slipper for Cinderella. but over and above all that... Just a really genuine experience. These folks truly care about getting you out. Running/living your best life. What could be better than that? Lifetime customer read more

A Runner's Mind - Why drive when you can RUN!!! - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

A Runner's Mind is the place to buy running shoes, no questions asked. I went in needing a new pair and, truthfully, am overwhelmed by how much the staff bent over backwards to help me. Several foot scans, recording my gait, offered me 10+ shoes to try on and run around the block in. An amazing customer experience. While it likely won't be a quick 5 minute stop in, these guys really pay attention to you and have your best interest in mind. Carlos helped me and he was seriously the best. All staff seems great too. Would highly recommend. read more

I have some skills for "A Runner's Mind" or is that swimming and biking. Do you know about triathlon. I want to run 3 miles to do triathlon in USA. Oh ok..I have to get a compression knee sleeve from a runner's shop. Is this Sacramento or California St. What is that about? Is this hat from France or what? Sacramento St is an offbeat street. Running is a great hobby and this is an interesting shop for the community. There's a running group every Thurs evening 3-5 miles. Yesterday was Thursday and today is tomorrow. Injury prevention good idea. read more

A Runner's Mind - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

So grateful for their amazing customer service and expertise! About 5 weeks ago I came in late on a Sunday to buy a pair of road running shoes. There were about 5 people ahead of me already, with about 45 minutes to store closing time. A few people got in line after me, and they helped all of us even after the store was closed. The person who helped me was friendly and extremely knowledgeable. I came here specifically for the gait analysis, and learned that my stride has evolved for the better over the years. She helped me pick a pair of shoes that felt great (Hoka Cliftons) and recommended some insoles to help counter a common issue with the shoe shape at the arch. I noticed in my past couple of long runs that I was experiencing some chaffing in that spot (luckily no blisters). I contacted the store, and they were happy to swap out the medium profile insoles for the low profile ones. They felt noticeable better on my walk home from the store, and I'll be putting them to the real test with my workout tonight (fingers crossed!). read more

A man's way of running is through the freedom of his feet. And this small business shoe store, A Runner's Mind, is what's suits him. I've been running on a treadmill many times and believed I had no regrets when there are other people out there were faster than me. I'm no trackstar; therefore, I run or walk whatever pace I like. Perhaps it's time for me to prove myself once I find a better pair of shoes. It took me three quarters of an hour in A Runner's Mind to get a better pair of powerful shoes and it's worth it. Seeing how everyone were proud of their chosen staff members, Eileen sure took good care of me as well. After using the thermal pad and the foot measure, it took a couple of minutes to narrow down to two different pairs of Altra shoes, followed up with three different levels of insoles ranging from low to high. Then after seven tryouts, I found a perfect candidate, one that guide me to run in forests and parks! If the next time I come back to A Runner's Mind, I choose to buy a pair of socks or a snack. This shoe store sure beats better than Nike's when it comes to quality. A better pair of shoes helps a runner move at a breakneck pace! read more

See all

Bad customer service for such a high end place. Waited on hold for 30m when I called in for a quick question, gave the full 30m wait period because I've worked retail and understand what's up with random rushes of people coming in. But when I hung up and called back to just check in about the hold time they'd turned their phone line off. read more

A Runner's Mind - Shoe Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best customer service I've ever had. Thank you Kyle! I came in with my baby to get fitted for running shoes. I was nervous of how it would go but Kyle went above and beyond to help us! The shoe fitting was top tier and he even held and helped with the baby which I couldn't have even dreamed of. Wow. What an amazing store. He hyped me up so much to enjoy running again. Thank you! Whenever someone needs running shoes, I'm sending them here! read more

I didn't even know there were places like this that provide comprehensive analysis on your running form to suggest running shoes! (Other locations in Los Altos & Burlingame) If only I have known about this place earlier, maybe my ankle injuries would have been avoided :-) If you're looking for a place to give advice for running shoes (specific to you!), look no further. I even searched online for the shoes & insoles I was interested in to find out they didn't up-charge at all. The service was phenomenal - I spent around 40 minutes total here (recorded my running, did an analysis, and was suggested around 5 shoes). They were super patient and knowledgeable - the items pointed out here I have heard from my physical therapist when I sprained my ankles + I even learned some tips for my own running form. After my visit, I now know my exact foot size, how to improve my own running form to prevent my previous injuries from happening, and left with a pair of shoes that is more suitable for me. read more

Caleb provided the best fitting experience I've ever had. He filmed me run and analyzed my gait. He then had me try 6 different shoes, running around the block in each pair. Surely enough his first pick was the best one, so he got it right from the start. I've had $1000 ski boot fittings that were not as intricate as this fitting. Everything was explained to the detail. Would recommend this place to everyone. read more

Like many places in San Francisco, this store has fallen into the trap of prioritizing the experience over the product. If you are a runner with a shoe in mind, this is not the store for you (despite its name). If you are interested in spending 1+ hr waiting for someone to take a video of you running, perhaps you will enjoy your visit here. The employees seem nice enough and they have a solid selection, I just feel they've put one too many eggs in the "shopping experience" basket. Hopefully in the future they either hire more staff or modify their logistics so purchasing a pair of shoes in a reasonable amount of time becomes possible, I would love to support this business. read more

My favorite running store! I don't shop for running shoes anywhere else. Also, their return policy is the best I've seen (return within a month with ANY wear and tear - this allows you to actually test a shoe across multiple runs) read more

I highly recommend. I can't believe I hadn't gotten fitted sooner. Who knew what a difference the appropriate shoes could make. JT was very knowledgeable, patient and helpful. I wish there were a few more JT's running around. read more

Came off a bit pretentious. Spent a good 10 minutes standing there without any acknowledgment. A simple we will be with you in a minute would have been nice. Took my business elsewhere. read more

I was very hesitant to go to a running store because I was worried that I would be priced out of my budget or encouraged to buy something I didn't want. Instead, I tried searching for shoes online and ended up buying multiple pairs that didn't fit right or hurt my feet. "This is so frustrating" I thought. I wished there was a way I could try on shoes in person. Finally, I convinced myself to visit A Runner's Mind. The staff member (I think his name was Jason) spent over 30 minutes with me - he did a gait analysis, took a video of me running, and selected 10+ pairs of shoes for me to try based on my feedback. From the consultation, I finally learned why I had so many issues with other shoes and how to correct them. I ended up buying a pair of Mizuno Waves that I was incredibly happy with. I was overjoyed to finally have new shoes that weren't causing me physical pain when I ran in them. Plus, I looked up the cost online and it was very similar to the price I paid. TLDR; don't order your shoes online, support a local business + actually find shoes that work for you! read more

Summary Pros - Knowledgeable, friendly staff - Good location - Large selections of brands (On, Hoka, Brooks, Sketchers, New Balance, etc) - Clean, well kept store Cons - Pricier on shoes and accessories (not a place to go for sales or deals) - Not a ton of selection for colors once you choose a shoe you like (less the store's fault, more the brand's fault here I assume) - Can be a long wait if there is a line Details: Like many, I started running during COVID quarantine - and a few months and miles on my old adidas shoes, I felt (and my knees felt) like it was time for a big kid upgrade. A Runner's Mind is in a quiet, safe location. During COVID, 2 parties are allowed at a time. A wait can be quite long as each consultation takes some time - FYI if you end up seeing a line. It's well worth it, though - I'd recommend only coming here if you are pretty sure you're going to walk out buying a pair of shoes - it's not really a "window shop" vibe. They give you trial socks, where they'll measure your feet, recommend the shoe size and record in slow-motion a sample of your run. Based on how much stability you need, the salesperson will bring out a few options for you to try. Tons of brands and styles - not a ton of variety within the same shoe, though (i.e. usually a pair of shoes only has one or two color variations). Once you find a shoe you like, they'll talk about insoles and provide an opportunity of upselling you if you need. I did not choose this, but have pretty standard arches anyway. Accessories are quite pricey (3-4x price of Amazon). I recommend checking and comparing online costs. The entire process took about half an hour, and I walked out with a new pair of shoes. 30 day warranty included with your purchase. The shoes I purchased were Brooks brand at $170. The analysis and consultation itself is probably worth $25-50, so all in all, I was OK with the price and didn't feel the need to wait for a sale online or something. Overall I'm happy and would recommend this to any other runner that is getting serious and are looking to invest in their hobby! read more

Got a trail running shoes, gels, slippers, and running top. Great and helpful staff. Thank you

Couldn't recommend this place enough!! Bought a pair of shoes that after a few runs I realized were too small. Went back to the store and they exchanged them for a bigger size for free! Did not at all expect for it to be free. I will now solely come here for my running needs and you should too! read more

I can't say enough good things about A Runner's Mind. I have weirdly shaped feet, with a super high instep and wide toes, and often shoe stores will try to put me in shoes that don't really fit and then claim that I'm being difficult or that any shoes I find comfortable will ruin my feet. My experience here was the opposite, and the sales associate really worked with me and patiently helped me try on ton of pairs and sizes before I settled on my favorite. I sent my partner here as well after he complained of getting blisters from his current running shoes, and he also had a great experience. read more