Tim and his store, Athletic Outpost, is the absolute best! Tim solved a huge problem I had - finding the right shoe to support my ankle after my TAR surgery (Total Ankle Replacement). It was a difficult task, but Tim's expertise and experience was the key! I bought 2 pairs of Brooks from Tim and I'm very grateful. Oh, and I should mention how nice and personable he is. He truly is a gem. read more

My wife and I have been going to Athletic Outpost for several years and highly recommend them. The experience of buying a shoe here--from someone who listens to you describe your needs, recommends particular shoes for you to try, and helps you pick the best one--is far superior to buying online or in a big-box store. The result is that our workouts are better and our feet hurt less than before. And the store helps our kids find the right shoes for their feet too! read more

Excellent small business with a wealth of information and friendly atmosphere. This is the only place that I buy my running shoes from even though I've moved away from the east bay in the last 3 years to Napa. Highly recommend them for their expertise and thoroughness to address your individual situation, and you never feel rushed or get the "hard sell". Well worth the trip every time! read more

Shannon was amazing. Went to find some shoes for my mom. This was the last chance that she could find shoes before she had to have serious foot surgery. Shannon listened to my mom's needs and she found shoes that made her feet feel good. So very grateful for Shannon. If you need special care for your feet you need to come here. read more

I really appreciate the help from Tim, after some discussion, he quickly he found for me a running shoe which suits my running style and habits along with some other options. Got to test them out and everything. read more

Fantastic service. I went in looking for a shoe to fit my needs. I was lucky enough to work with Shannan Kral. She was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to my specific concerns. It was a really good experience and left feeling like we found the right shoe, which was goal read more

My son had severe plantar fasciitis and could barely walk. Shannan listened to him and figured out what shoes would help. She had it with only two try-ons, and also gave him other tips. She has a BA in Kinesiology and it sure shows! My son was able to get around again and he said over and over again that "she really knows what she's doing." Highly recommend. read more

I absolutely love this place! I bought my last pair of shoes for walking (I walked 2 to 3 miles or more most days) through REI/clearance, I will never again make this mistake! I am currently on a walk (about 7 miles) wearing shoes that I purchased at athletic outpost! The customer service is fantastic, the folks that work there pay great attention to detail and make sure you leave with shoes that fit you perfectly. I tried on several pairs, and decided on these beauties! It is without reservation that I recommend this establishment for anyone who is looking for walking, running shoes! read more

Athletic Outpost - Happy walking feet - Shoe Stores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Athletic Outpost is a rare independent store with a long Walnut Creek history. Tim and Shannon continue to provide expert customer service across the age span. From supporting our local high school runners, to helping a group of 40 & 50 year old women start a new training program, to helping my 91 year old father-in-law get shoes that worked well for his needs, they provide caring, knowlegeable service. I'm impressed every time I go there. read more

This place is old school retail in all the right ways. My wife and I were looking for new athletic shoes. We wandered in after lunch nearby and were greeted immediately at the door. The staff was all very friendly and clearly knowledgeable. I never want to buy another pair of athletic shoes on my own ever again. They asked questions I would not have known to ask. They watched our stride. They listened to what we wanted and what was important to us and then they gave us their recommendations and always more than one option. These people love what they do and I am very happy with my new shoes! I use Amazon for convenience, but this is one instance where you'd be crazy not to shop small and local! What a gem! read more

Athletic Outpost - My new Mizuno's! - Shoe Stores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Good knowledge and service. Was able to get a good shoe with the right width and size.

What a refreshing experience! I received personalized, expert advice from Tim. I had a concern about pressure on the ball of my right foot. He suggested Sole inserts & a metatarsal pad. Placement of the pad is important & he did it for me. I also purchased a Spenco insole for arch support to use in my slippers. I tried on a few pairs of athletic shoes & there was no sales pressure. Prices are competitive. I still wear the Brooks Adrenaline style the he recommended when I first went here on recommendation of my Podiatrist. They are the best. read more

I went in for some insoles for a planter fasciitis literally just walked out and I already feel 10 times better, Tim was such a big help... Thank you so much!! Will definitely be back!! read more

I went to this shoe store today on the advice of my podiatrist to purchase shoes. Parking was difficult due to Bonanza Street being closed in favor of restaurant parklets. I entered the store. There was a woman sitting on the floor with numerous crayons or coloring pens. I think she was preoccupied with an arts & crafts project. I told her I wanted to buy shoes. She responded with "do you have a mask?" I do but it's in the car parked blocks away. I asked her if she had a customer courtesy mask. She did not. So this place of business was less than accommodating and told me no mask, no shoes! So I left this place. In hindsight I really don't know if that woman even worked there as she didn't present well and was preoccupied with crayons. I next went to the nearby Walk Store on Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Walnut Creek where I was treated with dignity and respect by knowledgeable sales people. I spent over $600. and left the store as a happily satisfied customer. I will inform my podiatrist of the unfortunate customer experience and I will recommend the Walk Store to my family and friends. "You only get one chance at a first impression. read more

Excellent service. Tim was very knowledgeable about the shoes and about the kind of support I needed from my foot injury. Super nice, and was trying to save me money. Cannot recommend highly enough. read more

Great salesperson named Shannan who guided me to a special request by my Dr. for specific shoes. She also pointed out the brand of inserts Kaiser sold me, ran small, which they did, so I was able to return them and come back with the right size. I would have been sorry had I kept the other pair as they would have been too short and not returnable to Kaiser. Very helpful and also sold me a pair of slides with the built in arch support.. Very kind and deserves a raise, due to her expertise and patience. My only complaint would be the man driving the Tesla who was backing out of the customer only parking spot and almost hit me, learn to say your sorry when your wrong and stop parking there, even if you own the place. read more

Tim is fantastic. Very knowledgeable and patient. I had bought a couple pairs of "Brooks Addiction 14" off him and he had my size 14 in stock. It's so hard to find my size anywhere and he both wide and double wide in stock. I have since moved onto the "Brooks Addiction GTS" since there is no seam in the back of the shoe where your heel is. I have Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome and this is the best shoe for me, while wearing my custom inserts. I had called Tim in February of 2022 inquiring about getting a back up pair of shoes in black. He called me the other day, informing that he got a pair of "Brooks Addiction GTS" in black for me. He still remembered me and followed through. That is customer service. Thanks Tim! Thanks Keith Petersen read more

I consider this my first running store or the place that helped turn me on the path of being a runner. They have a great selection of sock and shoes but the customer service is what sets them apart. They are very knowledgeable and professional and helpful. read more

I'm not a person to give a 5 star rating, but this was 5 star service. great place, highly recommended.

The owner of this place selects only the best shoes to sell...he was very helpful in helping me choose a shoe based on my past experiences. When my tried and true New Balance was cutting into my Achilles, he suggested another shoe with a lower cut and they work perfect. It was a quick exchange and no problem even though I'd taken them outside already. He's super friendly and he runs his business with a lot of integrity. I've been here before and will keep coming back. read more

Poor customer service. I walked in because of a shoe I saw in their window. The employee at the store (lady) was kirt and answer every question with an attitude. I am a resident of WC and I haven't experienced that type of behavior in other merchants. I wouldn't go back. read more

Very helpful staff. They analyze your stance, gait, and feet and then show the right shoe for you.

My podiatrist recommenced the Outpost after injuring my toe. I attempted to find my own shoes elsewhere but was overwhelmed by all the choices. So to the outpost I went. The woman working (Tara?) was helping gentleman but made it a point to acknowledge me. I listened to her offering recommendations, sharing a lot of information and knowledge with him to help him choose new running shoes. He was insistent on low profile, popular running shoes. She did her best to explain that those may cause more damage to healed injury he had. She was very patient with him, clearly concerned with the health of his feet and less about making a sale. When my turn came up she was very informative and helpful. Clearly she knows her stuff! I left in my new shoes ready to get back to working out. The two week return policy makes it a total no brainer. I'll be back when I wear these out. read more

I was extremely pleased with the service and quality I found here. They knew their shoes and I didn't feel hurried, rushed or forced into a pair I wasn't feeling. I ended up getting a pair I was really happy with and a few pairs of socks because I've also been having issues with blisters, and the woman who helped me told me having cotton socks is the reason for this. Which was totally news to me. I was 100% fully satisfied with my purchase and would definitely recommend to others. read more

This is my family's go to store for athletic and support footwear. I was in dire need of new training shoes and was glad that this store had several options for me to select from. We walked out with 2 pairs so I can now alternate. My husband also has purchased his every day shoes from here but unfortunately the manufacturer no longer makes the style he likes. Social distancing is practiced here and the staff is helpful. read more

I have purchased several pairs of shoes over the years from Shannon at Athletic Outpost and have never been disappointed. Yesterday I went in for a new pair and what I always appreciate is how Shannon listens to what my specific needs are. She asks clarifying questions and then provides options. I tried on three pairs of shoes and found the perfect fit for me. I am so thankful for Athletic Outpost. I set a walking goal of 2,021 miles this year and they have given me the comfortable tools to meet my goal. Thanks to Shannon for the great service! We'll be back! read more

Tim was so kind, patient, and helpful. He helped me find the proper shoes to address my foot pain. Thanks so much!

I was recommended by my Cross Country coaches to come here for shoes and insoles for my bad knees. I ran with Mr. Ketron's amazing daughters and was given a discount for being a part of College Park! Both employees here are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable! Their products always help limit my pain and are durable for a long time, even with such a great price! Mr. Ketron even gave me free shoes since they could not be sold because of a minor logo defect!!! I advise everyone in search of shoes or athletic equipment to come here for the impeccable service, awesome prices, and quality of product:) I know the exclamation points are everywhere but it is totally worth it for Athletic Outpost, a place that puts a smile on my face every time I visit:))) read more

Outstanding, personalized service. The owner takes the time to understand your shoe needs and offers a wide selection of options. This is the kind of small business that I feel good about supporting. read more

I visited needing better shoes to alleviate some foot pain. Shannon was so helpful and informative. She helped fit me with the best pair of shoes I have had in years. I highly recommend this store and the amazing people. read more

Tim goes above and beyond every time I've visited. He's fitted me for shoes, but also offered marathon training advice and gave me maps of trails in the area... He's extremely knowledgeable and tremendously kind. read more

Tim is great! I've been working out at Orangetheory for about a year (Tim is also a member) and my shoes were not giving me the right support. I land a little wonky on my right foot when I run, and Tim was able to notice that and advise me on the right running shoe for me. He's extremely helpful, attentive, and has a vast knowledge of runner wisdom! I mean, have you ever had someone watch you run outside multiple times to pick the right shoe for you? Shop small! read more

So glad they're open. Great selection of men's running shoes. Picked out the perfect pair they'll customize in record time. Thanks for being open and having a great staff. read more

I came in here for some shoe recommendations after a foot injury. Tim was so knowledgeable and helped me pick out a pair of shoes to properly support my feet. Along the way, he encouraged me to take my time and really try out the shoes. What impressed me the most is he was genuinely interested in helping me find a match and not in making a sale. I will be coming back. Thank you! read more

I came to the Athletic Post to find running shoes that don't hurt my feet! Well, I came to the right place. The staff here are really knowledgeable and helped me find a pair of New Balances that are just perfect. I normally purchase Hoka's or Brooks but was pleasantly surprised by the New Balance running shoe. So far so good, I've run 75 miles in them and they feel great! I don't even need my special insets with them. I want to thank the staff at Athletic Outpost and 100% support local small businesses in Walnut Creek read more

This post is long overdue on my part. I went into Athletic Outpost after about 2 weeks of Orange Theory. I was running in what I thought were great running shoes but I quickly learned otherwise. My knees hurt, my ankles hurt, my shins were killing me to the point that I couldn't even run at all anymore. After taking some time off from running and transitioning into the new shoes that I got at athletic outpost, my problems have been solved. The owner is amazing & actually had be run outside for him so that he could suggest the right shoe based on not only my feet but how I run. I won't EVER go anywhere else for running shoes! 10/10 customer service! read more

Over the last few years, I've bought my athletic shoes at the Nike outlet in Vacaville. Very loud, very crowded, very impersonal. After two years my sneakers were useless so we walked into the closest Athletic shoe store near us and WOW! It was so great to actually speak with someone who understood foot issues and the right footwear. The service was A-1 and Tim has a fabulous dry sense of humor which made the experience even better. I will be back soon for sandals and continue to support this small business. read more

Just left this store. I am very disappointed. I have recently started running again and I needed some new shoes. I wanted to speak with one of the workers there because I have flat feet and wanted to make sure I had the best shoes for support. Usually smaller stores like these are great for this kind of thing because you know everyone working there is legit into running . When I walked in we noticed two women sitting in the front talking. So we walked to the counter thinking maybe they were just waiting for shoes to try and and there was someone in the back. There wasn't. We even called into the backroom to see if anyone was there. So one of the women in the front must have been a worker. So we waited for 10 minutes while these women just sat and talked about the schools their children go to and how they have to do extra precautions when they drop them off. There was no acknowledgement that we were even in the store. Not a "I'll be right with you' or a "do you need any help" '"Would you like to try on anything" (because all the shoes are behind the counter). We started to leave and STILL no acknowledgement. I don't know what the issue is but it's hard not to feel like it's based on race when, in a pandemic, a white woman can sit in this small store, not trying on shoes and just talk about whatever, but a black woman can't even get a sideways glance when she wants to actually buy some running shoes. I will not be coming to this store again. read more

Came here off a recommendation and was not disappointed. Received very personalized service and good recommendations. No pressure to buy and no upselling -- in fact, had sale shoes recommended for my foot type. Will be back! read more

They are very knowledgeable and helpful. Had problems with my right foot and helped me find the right shoe for my feet. I no longer have problems with my foot. Have been running for 45 years and this is the best shoe store I have found read more