I was always a bit intimidated by this running store, as I'm more of a recreational runner who runs mainly so I can enjoy more sweets and desserts. But I needed a new pair of legit running shoes for my (ahem) "older" feet, as my worn-out pair just wasn't cutting it anymore. This time, I decided to be brave and go for it because I just didn't trust AI or a Google search to do my feet justice. I needed someone at a brick-and-mortar store who could actually assess my feet and stride and tell me what I needed. I'm so glad I went in for a fitting and gait analysis. It turns out your feet can change as you age, so I needed to go up a full size and switch to a wider shoe. Gael was incredibly patient, listened to all my questions, and helped me find the right fit, the perfect insoles, and the best type of shoe for my feet so I can keep running--and keep enjoying more desserts. From clothing, socks, insoles, running gear, and shoes to a wealth of knowledge and expertise, A Snail's Pace has you covered. The pricing of shoes and accessories is on par with what you would pay online but with A Snail's Pace, you get the added personal service to boot. Who knows? Maybe with all my fancy new running gear, I'll actually sign up for a marathon someday instead of just asking for that extra scoop of ice cream. In the meantime, I'll be running down the street at a true snail's pace in my new, cushiony Brooks. Thanks again, Gael! read more

If you stop by, definitely ask for Amanda! She was so kind, patient, and incredibly helpful. I wasn't quite sure what I needed, and she took the time to bring me several different styles of shoes and insoles to try until we found the right fit. She never made me feel rushed and genuinely wanted to make sure I was comfortable with my choice. Great customer service and such a pleasant experience. Thank you, Amanda! read more

A Snail's Pace is THE place for runners to shop! Not only do they have running shoes, but they have running gear, running fuel, running recovery tools, just about anything a runner needs. And of course, a good selection of running shoes. I came here today to pick up a bib for a race, and was pleasantly surprised to find so many items. The worker there greeted me, and was not pushy for me to buy anything. I saw enough customers there on a random afternoon on a weekday. The store was clean, and well organized. Although I did not need to purchase anything, I would definitely come back to grab essentials. Happy running, A Snail's Pace! read more

See all

There are a few of these around. They have a good selection of shoes, clothing, and accessories for runners. Most of them employ actual runners who can recommend products, but other times there will be an employee who is not a runner and does not even know one of the brands of running gear. I do love that they have a treadmill that you can use to find the best shoe for your body's needs. If you are interested in finding a new shoe, or you're just starting out, this is definitely the chain to hit first. read more

See all

Solid evaluation and reasonably priced running shoe recommendations. No need to check Amazon etc, the prices are the same and you support a local business. Nice selection of running shorts and shirts, including Rabbit, Lululemon etc. plus Snails Pace branded shirts. Very happy. read more

I'm in my fitness era and was looking into purchasing proper running shoes. Bryan/Brian helped with the stats and analytics then selected a variety of shoes that best fit. He was patient and answered my questions even gave me some running tips. He did not try to upsell and even suggested the most affordable shoes out of the selections. It's been over a month since I left the store and my running has drastically improved. I will be a returning customer! read more

My feet had been killing me. I work in retail and am on my feet all day, everyday. Then with graduation season, it was 6 days straight of standing on concrete, helping customers. I told my coworker that after that week, I needed to buy new shoes and I wanted to walk on clouds. After some Yelp investigation, I came across a Snail's Pace with great reviews. They have three locations with the Fountain Valley spot being closest. It's located in a little strip mall - lots of parking out front. I walked in and was immediately greeted by a friendly associate. He had me stand on a foot scanner and it was very cool. It measured my arch, the bridge, instep, pronation/supination and of course length and width. My arches are regular, not high or low. I have a high bridge which was interesting and means I have to untie my shoes more to get them on. I neither pronate or supinate. The sales associate brought out a bunch of shoes that work with my feet. Since they are slightly wide, but I don't need to wear "wide" he brought styles that run a little wide. I'm using the shoes for walking and work so that helped narrow it down too. Then it was just trying on everything to see what felt best. I ended up with a pair of New Balance 1080 V14 $164.95 and Hoka Bondi 9 $169.95. I have never spent that much on shoes, actually probably no clothing item I own costs that much. But it definitely feels like I'm walking on clouds. read more

Amanda was so so helpful in doing our foot analysis and giving us shoes to try on. We ended up buying a pair in store and also ordering one to ship directly to my house (free shipping too!) read more

The guy named Guy took care of me + 3 family members and took us all through the demo to find the perfect shoes for all of us. We were there for about an hour and a half and guy showed us all the shoes he recommended plus any shoes we wanted to look at. We left with 3 pairs of shoes and had a great experience at this running store. Will be back !!! read more

My partner took me to this place since I'm training for the Socal River marathon. I've just been training in whatever sneakers I got and she told me I need to get some real running shoes. We came in got greeted by Chris. Now being new to all of this he put me through the whole for process. Usually when we go to any type of store the employees always feel like they're reading or going off a script but with Chris it was like I was just being helped by a friend. While educating me about my feet and stuff I need to know about running we joked as well. Overall it was a great experience that I know many more people should experience. I highly recommend more people go in for a analysis even if it is for walking shoes. read more

A Snail's Pace Running Shop - Shoe Stores Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

Wanted to give a shoutout to Amanda who helped with an exchange of shoes and insoles for my son who was originally fitted for larger sized shoes and insoles by a different employee. After running in the new shoes for a couple weeks for cross-country, my son's feet were brutally blistered. We brought both the shoes and insoles back into the store and Amanda immediately helped my son with refitting his shoes and insoles without any hassle or extra cost. Love this kind of consumer experience which continues to make us patrons of A Snail's Pace! read more

I am never shopping for running shoes anywhere else again! I came in with some recurring shin splints. They have been on and off for the past year, but this time I narrowed it down to one pair of shoes getting really worn and figured it was the right time not to buy a new pair online but to go in store and maybe learn something about how I run, if I pronate, and if there are other shoes out there that are better for me. Here comes Amanda! She quickly started an assessment on me to measure my arch and feet. Turns out... I was wearing run shoes one size too small... to me they felt fine but wow now i can tell the difference! She also set me up with some insoles to support my arch as well as with a pair shoes that are the CORRECT size and wow what a difference it has made. It's been about 3 weeks and i have no pain, I can run better, overall I am so grateful to her and this shop for helping me so much! Prices were pretty much the same as anywhere else, but you get the wonderful personal touch. Amanda was wonderful, she was patient with all of my many, many questions and also helped my fiance get a new pair of shoes and we are both incredibly happy we came here! read more

We walked into A Snail's Pace and was instantly greeted by Emily and was asked if we needed any assistance. My girlfriend and I were looking for some shoes for walking/light running and wanted to see what was best for us. We did a foot analysis and was recommended a couple of different options. Emily sadly had to go on their break, but Shannon came out to assist us and was already aware of our situation. Shannon provided us great feedback, asked us the right questions and guided us towards our new potential pairs of shoes. Shannon offered us great options and suggestions and made sure we found our dream shoe. Surprisingly, the prices were reasonable as well! Thank you to both Shannon and Emily! read more

Gaël was incredibly helpful! He was very knowledgeable and patient as I tried on many different pairs of shoes. Great customer service, I will be back read more

Had a great experience at this running shoe store! Zac helped fit and scan me, my parents, and my brother, and he was incredibly welcoming, calm, and patient the entire time. He answered all of our questions thoroughly and never made us feel rushed, even after the store had already closed. You can tell he genuinely cares about helping customers find the right shoes. Excellent customer service -- we'll definitely be back! read more

Diana was so amazing and serviced my 14yo, myself, as well as my sister in law. She was so patient and answered all of our questions and unique needs in shoe wear. I'm definitely going back to buy more from her! read more

I recently took my son he's in cross country and it was a very good experience very helpful

Harray Harray, We finally got a Snail's Pace Running Shop in my area now. I no longer have to drive all the way to Fullerton anymore when I want my Snail Running Shoes. I love these guys, they are the best. I didn't know we had a location until today when I was driving by the area. I guess I was not paying any attention here. I love the shoes, and I finally purchased the ones I wanted. Im sorry folks, I meant to say the other store location is Brea. Its right by the Brea Mall. read more

Started a new job and wanted to reward myself with a new pair of shoes to prepare me for the long shifts ahead. I saw that people recommended going to running stores to analyze your feet and walk. A Snail's Pace did NOT disappoint! The sales associate (I'm sorry I forgot his name) was super attentive and guided me through the process of analyzing EVERYTHING from how I walk to the actual sizing of my feet. He recommended several models for me and helped me try them on and figure out which worked best for me! I'm super happy with his help and with the shoes I ended up choosing! Trying to come up with a new reason to reward myself with another pair of shoes... read more

I have been training for a half marathon and have had some injuries along the way. I went into snails pace to see if I could get fitted for a shoe that would be right for me to help prevent some of the injuries that I've been getting. I was quickly greeted by Gus who helped me figure out the perfect shoe for me. He had me get a scan of my feet, tracked my walking pattern, and looked specifically at how I ran on a treadmill. Gus took the time to make sure the shoe that I purchased was the perfect shoe for me. I really enjoyed being able to try on the shoes and use them on the treadmill. I walked out of the store with a shoe that I know will be perfect and will hopefully prevent some of the injuries I have been getting. As a bonus, the shoe I needed up buying was on sale!! I appreciate that Snails Pace did not try to push a membership, but rather really focused on making sure they found the right shoe for their customer. read more

Came in on noon on a Saturday, most the workers were occupied but when someone (Hillary) saw I needed help, they gave me help. I was looking to get some running shoes bc I've been procrastinating starting my running journey (don't look at me). Hillary was great at explaining the whole process of analyzing my feet and explaining what to look and feel for in a shoe. She was very honest and didn't upsell me things I didn't need (but if she did I would've purchased bc I trusted her w my life ngl). Value wise I think it's just msrp but the service you get is priceless. read more

Took my 91 year old mom here for a new pair of shoes that were going to be comfortable for her to walk in daily. I teased her that she hadn't bought a new pair since the Great Depression. We were waited on by David and his customer service was beyond reproach. Had her try on 3 different pairs and compare each one by trying on one shoe from one pair and another shoe from another pair to see which one felt better. He always helped her to her feet as it's hard for her to stand up from a sitting position. She found a pair she loved and was happy with the purchase. Needless to say she will be a repeat customer thanks to David. read more

A Snail's Pace Running Shop - New shoes! - Shoe Stores Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

They'll pace running shop has always been good to me. Staff is always friendly go out of the way to help me and help me look for the right shoes. Their shop is in a perfect small business shopping center that I can go in and out. read more

Emily, was great , she was so helpful in me finding the rights shoes for my hurting feet. She took time to explain why the shoes would benefit me in the long run. She's amazing, friendly and helpful. Keep up the great work. Didn't give a five star because not because of her but when I walked in no one came to help and sat there without help then someone came in after me and then the guy who worked there took the person after me to help. Then just left me there without help until Emily came and saved the day. read more

Nice selection but never have a good selection of my son's size 8 running shoes. Staff are very helpful and patient and I do like the high school student discount. read more

I just wanted to say I went into this little shop the other day. I was looking for some new shoes for my walks in the morning, and everyone there was so friendly. A tall young guy helped me - I can't remember his name, but he said he was still in training, and that really speaks volumes. He took his time figuring out what would be the best fit, listened carefully to my needs, and made sure I got the perfect pair of shoes. He was really warm and kind the whole time, and I really appreciated his patience. read more

Great service to come here for mainly running shoes. I felt awesome this dude was helping me with couple people I'm coming to this place. It is organized well especially all the apparel everywhere. Earlier this week I was there, it was tidy with so much dust cleaned off recently and shoes I tried are brand new too. Whoever cleaned the place well and organize clothes nicely, those deserve the proper respect. They care to do the basics right. Highly recommend to come here for any running, walking, or at least active footwear needs. read more

See all

I normally never write reviews but I have to commend Abby, one of the female staff at this location for her excellent customer service! Staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful in terms of getting you ready for whatever needs or races goals you have! I was recommended by a friend of mine to check out this store because I needed to analyzed my feet and running form as well as get new running shoes. When I arrived, it was about 10:30am and all staff were busy attending to other customers, which I did not mind at all. However, about 10-15 mins later, Abby noticed that I was still waiting and kindly asked to wait a couple more minutes before being attended too. When I finally did get settled, I asked if I could get an analysis of my feet and sure enough, I was able to get the information I needed. I was surprised by the results, but Abby was knowledgeable and helpful to guide me through the type of shoes I needed. I'm that kind of person that likes to research shoes and let's just say that I tried on about 10 different pairs and had the opportunity to run on the treadmill each time to test them out. Abby was super supportive and patient with me the whole time and I just felt valued as a customer. Conclusion: I finally got the shoes that worked best for me and I can strongly say I walked out that door with 100% confidence! Definitely coming back for race day shoes when my next marathon race comes soon!! Minor Concerns: The only downside I may have is the lack of color options and limited stock of sizes for certain shoes. I get they're a retail shop and most likely the shoes you might want like might not be available. However, you are able to purchase with them online and have it be shipped to you for free. Extra: Oh military members, ask for a discount! They do accept 10% but I went on Veterans Day so who knows if that discount is permanent. Pros: -Excellent customer service -Free analysis of feet and running form -Treadmill to test out shoes -Other running accessories available at shop -Price is similar or cheaper to other retail stores Cons: -Potential lack of color ways or sizes of shoes -Might have to wait 10-30 mins before being attended too on certain hours. Tip/Recommendation: Do your research before coming over. Have a particular shoe in mind and check their website to see if they have the shoe you are looking for. If you might need to analyze your feet for complete evaluation, at least have a few options before hand so you are not in the store for over 2 hours. read more

See all

Went in for shoes. They gave me a 2 min evaluation. Shoes range from $100-$200 and the reason for the drive is to get the best. Anyhow... the shoes didn't fit properly and I went to exchange them. The same sales rep that took little to no time with me was with another male customer (I am female) and she was with him for 30 minutes... I waited for 20 min and then another man walked in and they helped him ahead of me. I stayed patient and finally someone helped me. Again.. not doing the running or walking test. Not doing my the treadmill test. I was so disappointed. I picked the second pair of shoes I tried on. Both men that were being helped for 20-45 minutes while I was there did not purchase shoes either. I'm not sure if they see men as the real "athletes" or what the issue was but it was bad. read more

My wife and I just yesterday stopped in to purchase new running shoes. We were helped by Kevin who provided us with expert help in picking out these shoes. He measured my wife's feet so as to ascertain the correct size and analyzed her gait so as to recommend the proper shoe. Kevin is a runner himself which is an immense plus in shoe recommendations. He told me what to expect in terms of "feel" and he was spot-on! Throughout the "trying on" process, he was very patient and at no time did we sense any pressure "to buy" or to "hurry up and buy". To top it off, I had forgotten to tell him that we had gift cards and didn't remember until after he had rung up the sale; at which point he very patiently reworked the sale so as to include the gift cards, and he did so with not even a hint of frustration. A Snails Pace is very fortunate to have Kevin under their employment. Thank you Kevin and thank you A Snails Pace with making our purchase a most pleasurable and fun experience! read more

I have been a customer for almost 25 years since I walked my first marathon. I have noticed a decrease in service in the past few years. The staff is less trained and they have fewer shoes in stock. It is hard to do a fitting when they don't have the normal and wide shoes to compare. I find they are often trying to put me in men's shoes instead of women's shoes or I have to order my size for delivery. I recently had a bad experience. The reason I come to this shop is for the fitting. They have my history of which shoes have worked for me and are supposed to know the fit of the current versions (is the toebox more narrow or wide, heel drop, etc.) and what works best for walking (since most people heel strike when walking). I was wearing my old shoes and was fitted to two new shoes. I never demand a shoe or color (I learned that early on). I buy the shoe that they recommend for me. The old version and the new version of my old shoe was so different so I needed to try other options. One shoe she recommended was too tight in the toebox after my toebox swelled (which is a known problem per the Internet with that shoe model) and one caused major pain in my calves and ankles after a month of wearing the shoe. I have never been hurt from a shoe I bought before. I am still recovering five days later. I went back and worked with Kevin. He is excellent and found two shoes that work for me based on my past history and correctly fitted me this time. He is like the old A Snails Pace. It took me four times to the shop to fit shoes that fit. In the past, I would come in and the staff was excellent. I am not sure I am going to continue to come in or go to REI next time. I like frequenting a local business but hope they go back to their old level of service. I am planning to try them one more time and decide. Hopefully they retrain their staff. If I have to do research on shoes and learn the science of running shoes, I might as well buy shoes on the Internet. The reason I have always come here is for the fitting service and to support a local business. read more

The employees-43 great here! I have been multiple times with my daughter and they are always so kind and take their time with us.

I was experiencing heel pain on my daily runs before a buddy recommended scheduling an appointment for a gait analysis at a local A Snail's Pace. I was greeted by David when I arrived for my appointment at the Fountain Valley location. He took me through their 5-Step Fit Process and conducted a digital foot scan to analyze my foot and arch length, height, and pressure points. He also used video cameras and a treadmill to analyze my foot strike and to make footwear recommendations. I tried on 4-5 pairs and tested each option on the treadmill before deciding to go with the Brooks Ghost 14s. You definitely get what you pay for and most importantly, I am no longer experiencing heel pain! David's customer service level was top notch and I would award 5 stars if that were the sole criteria. I support small business but admittedly I was put off by the email reply I received when asking if their 5-Step Fit Process was complimentary and if there was any obligation to purchase after. There was mention of small business costs and time spent needing to be offset by customer purchases, so there you have it. At least all of their products are price protected by their vendors so they will price match if you find them for less anywhere else. read more

A Snail's Pace Running Shop - Brooks Ghost 14 - Shoe Stores Near Me - Fountain Valley, California

Overall great experience, Stephen was extremely knowledgeable and kind. He helped me find my right fit and gait after all these years of just guessing. I got my Hokas for a great price that would have cost more had I ordered from Hoka's website--so I am glad I came here. Great value, great workers, great shoes. read more

I came here looking for running shoes, and it was pretty packed on a weekend. I had to wait 15 minutes before it was my turn to get the foot analysis done. They do carry a wide variety of shoes, but unfortunately for me size 8s were all out of stock, and the only colors left were pretty out there for my taste lol. However the staff are nice, patient, and knowledgeable. Cool thing is if shoes are in stock at another location they can ship it to this store and vice versa. It will take a couple of days though. read more

First time coming here to get some shoes for my flat feet. Bryan (Brian?) was super helpful. We did a scan of my foot to see what would be the best options for optimal comfort. Place was super crowded, so I appreciate the attentiveness. Def coming back! read more

I have been fitted two other times at the shop in Brea and then in Monrovia and now compared to what I experienced at Fountain Valley I won't ever go back to those other stores. Elin helped my sister and me through an in-depth fitting. He explained everything and even humored my less-than-thrilled toddler. He gave us so many options and talked us through everything and answered all the questions we had. I have been recommending him to all my family and friends! read more

I had serious doubts, but was completely blown away. My first visit literally changed my life. Recommended by my PT. Their shoes are priced exactly the same as amazon/online... and the foot analysis insights were FREE but priceless. I feel like I just saw a really good Dr. (haha) Guy was super nice, patient, and way overqualified in my opinion. What he revealed to me about my feet and shoes was surprising and I never would've known shopping online. I didn't know I was buying the wrong shoes for years. I thought everyone had aches and pains in their feet/legs when they walk as much as I do. I was WRONG. All of my pain is gone- and almost immediately. I'm not an idiot either. I've researched and conscientiously searched for the right shoes in the past, but I'll never buy shoes elsewhere again. This is a NO-BRAINER. Saved me so much time and fuss. No waiting for shipping, sending stuff back, etc. They have a huge selection of shoes, and a few really good ones I had never seen or would have known to try. I'm so glad I found them! read more

Pros: 1. They don't have every kind of shoe - instead they only carry the best ones from the best brands. Basically it's the best products and then they help you find the one that's right for you. They had some new models that were just released that I have not been able to find at other stores. 2. Staff is very knowledgeable about the various items - they aren't just generic salespeople, they are runners who know the differences between the products and can help you find the right one for what you need. Very helpful and not pushy. 3. Although I didn't use them, they have a treadmill and other devices to help you be sure that you can find the right shoes. read more

Amazing customer service! I bought a defective jacket at one of the races. They didn't have the jacket I bought in their store, but they called their other stores and were able to find another one for me. Will be back! read more