Trailhead used to be in a really cool rustic looking post and beam building at Scott St and McRae…read moreAve, but that building was torn down to make way for condos (story of my neighbourhood). So it moved to the Fairlawn Plaza which is across the street from Carlingwood Mall. The older building had much more character, and was really fitting for Trailhead, which is an outdoor adventure kind of store, like MEC. Nonetheless the new store is doing well. Admittedly, when I walk into these kinds of stores, I am like a fish out of water. I have zero interest in kayaking, camping or climbing mountains. I like the temperature controlled climates of enclosed shopping malls, museums, theatres, and restaurants (and don't ask me if I want a seat on the patio, because the answer will always be "no." Lol). Actually, I do like the outdoors, but only when the weather is fair (20 degrees Celsius, no precipitation), the sun is setting, and the bugs haven't come out yet. I am not sporty nor outdoorsy. So why the heck do I even go to Trailhead, you ask? Because they have some cute clothes! They have a great selection of prAna jeans (ethically made, sustainable, and organic fabrics) and they have clothes that are great for travel, like they fold up real small and don't wrinkle (brands like FIG from Montreal, and Toad and Co.). Their prices are on the higher side, but they do have sales, although their sales are not as discounted as at Bushtukah or Sail. Nonetheless, I like going in to poke around, but only for clothes because I have no idea what most of the other stuff in there is for ;) Oh, they also sell Canada Goose jackets. These are also of no interest to me, as I try to avoid situations where I have to be outside when it's -30 degrees. Lots of free parking in the plaza.

The person who helped me with the purchase of my cross country skis was Tyler. He was extremely…read moreknowledgeable, and very helpful. He taught me the proper way to use the bindings, and was patient with all of my unending questions. There was never any pressure, just education, and assistance. On another note, I was pleasantly surprised at the price of the skis and bindings. The same brand and style was much less expensive than at their competitor. I can honestly say that the only reason I was in there was because I had a gift card, but I realize now that my bias that they are too expensive has been quashed. their prices for good quality items was very fair.

I stood in the shop for 20 minutes waiting for service, looking around. There were several…read moreemployees rushing around. No one offered to help, or said hello, and I couldn't manage to flag anyone down. Finally I politely asked someone if she could assist me and she told me, dryly, that she was in the middle of something. Ten minutes later she was drinking coffee behind the counter and I asked if she was available. She rudely responded "we're all really busy." I left. I found the service horrible and cold; I felt invisible.

Kunstadt has become my go-to ski and bike shop in Canada…read more I always walkout with the gear that I need or have made a plan with one of the staff to special order gear that matches my passion for outdoor adventure. Whether I'm hitting the slopes or exploring the trails, their impressive selection of top-notch equipment never disappoints. The knowledgeable staff, who are avid outdoor enthusiasts themselves, always take the time to understand my needs and guide me towards the ideal gear for my skill level and budget. One thing that truly stood out for me was their exceptional service and attention to detail. When I purchased my new ski boots this winter, they meticulously fitted them to my specifications, ensuring the perfect blend of comfort and performance. And when I needed some fine-tuning on my bike just last week, their skilled technicians went above and beyond to make sure it was dialed in just right. They've never overcharged on service or replaced parts just for the sake of replacing parts. Their dedicated team is always there to lend a helping hand and ensure that my equipment remains in peak condition, ready for my next thrilling escapade. Beyond their product range and expertise, Kunstadt is always supporting the Ottawa adventure community and so we should support them too. Being a customer should feel like returning to your hometown, not becoming another number in a big box store's ledger. Shop local and support family business's in Ottawa.

I deal with a fellow named Duncan. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of bikes and cycling, and…read morestrives to procure what I need, usually successfully. (I felt bad for him and for the store when I asked to buy a Specialized Roubaix S-Works, and Specialized told him they'd basically decided not to sell any Roubaix models in Canada this year). Anyway, Duncan knows his stuff. He is also a pretty expert mechanic, and has taken excellent care of my Merlin Road and my Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel. I have recommended friends to Duncan, and they have been just as happy.

Today I received a master class in the opposite of a Fresh Air Experience. I visited the…read moreWellington store this morning and asked the manager in charge whether FAE carried a Canadian Branded bicycle that I was interested in purchasing. The guy went off at me as if I had insulted his mother and began to berate me about wrapping myself in the flag. Setting aside for a moment the shear boorish, un-Canadian rudeness of this remark, it was clear to me that the people at Fresh Air Experience find something deeply offensive about Canadians wishing to purchase products that maximize Canadian materials and labour. The tone-deafness and offensiveness of this remark by someone in retail and the way it was delivered was simply stunning. I left the store without comment. I certainly will not be spending my $4-$5K budget at this store and will be sure to communicate my Fresh Air Experience to my business associates and social circle.

Softmoc is a safe bet when it comes to shoes. There is everything you may need for your family at…read moredecent prices. There are also shoelaces and sprays if needed. This store does work on commission so the person at the cash will always ask if someone has helped you. The area was clean and well organized.

The ladies here are fantastic. Even when super busy, they keep their cool. The counter manager is…read moreprofessional and in 2 visits, I've had the pleasure to deal with Lily and Charlotte. Both deserve a high 5. Super helpful. I've made a couple of purchases in 2 weeks, will be back again next week for another pair of Uggs I have on hold. Bought protective spray too, glad they reminded me as I was out! They remembered me as I gave them a nice review on line when the email survey came thru... I've been so busy I had forgotten I had filled it out. Make sure you give them an email address as I already have accumulated points for $ off my next purchase. I had a great visit today post Black Friday, no crowds and got just what I wanted. Thanks, ladies! See you soon and I appreciate you keeping me in winter style!!!

I went to Sports 4 College Square to buy a pair of New Balance running shoes, but they did not have…read morethe model I wanted. The clerk suggested I try another brand. I asked if I could try them at home to make sure they were comfortable, and the clerk assured me that I would be able to return the shoes. Today, I brought them to return to the store, as I found that they were a bit narrow in one of my insteps. When I went to return the shoes today, the clerk went to the back of the store where only staff can go and spent a long time talking with, I assume the manager or store owner. When he returned, I asked what the problem was. I was told that there was a note on our name that said we were only allowed to get an exchange or get credit. I asked why and was told that over the past six years, (since 2018) my husband and I had bought 9 pairs of shoes and returned them. I was then told by the person from the back of the store that we were banned from buying any shoes from that store because it takes up too much of the staff's time to deal with people who buy and then return goods. Wow! I am not a person who goes and tries things on in stores and then returns them and buys online after. I rarely buy anything online. I felt very violated by the attitude of the staff people in the store. Instead of talking to me about why I returned the shoes and maybe trying to get to the bottom of why the shoes had been returned, instead we are told we are banned from buying in that store. What a shocking way to treat your customers! I will definitely let others know the customer service policy of this store. We have at least 6 runners in our family and many friends also. Looking forward to buying from a store that respects and values its customers.

I was diagnosed with metatarsalgia and knew that I needed new shoes. I had been walking everyday…read morefor more than 5K for 90 days since we were in Florida and chose not to rent a car just for that reason. We had to walk everywhere. It was all hard surfaces and by the end of the 3 months I had a very sore foot. A friend of mine recommended sports 4 where she said she always bought shoes. When I walked in Nathan greeted me. It was really busy and he started to serve 3 customers at once. I have never in my 50 years of living in Ottawa and now at the age of 80 had such outstanding service. Nathan measured my foot and then brought out a pair of shoes that were a miracle. He wanted to make sure that these were the best so he brought out two more. He gave me time to walk in each pair and then choose. Although not a super athlete we have walked every day on many trails in the small towns within an hour of Ottawa. I was one of the featured trails in The best trails of 2021 on the Alltrails.ca website. Today I went to my zumba class and I didn't have any pain in my sore foot in my new shoes. Nathan is a super star salesman and has saved my life. Thank you Nathan and Sports 4. Roz L.

Courteous, helpful staff went over and above the call of duty and standard level of support. My…read moreson's heal plates to his favourite old 21 yo ski boots cracked off. Salomon redesigned their heal plates about 10 years ago. Alex made a detailed list of my son's old ski boot specifications and helped him try on various ski boots. Mike did not think that the heal plates for boots as old as his would be available so he transplanted the back heal plates from another pair of boots of similar size to my son's old ski boots and donated the boots to fix the front heal plates if they break. All work was done within 2 weeks and free of charge. My son's old comfortable ski boots were repaired to our full satisfaction.

Paige and Cameron were awesome! They helped us find new ice skates and answered all our questions…read more It was fast and knowledgeable service.

We had some luck in this shoe store, without a lot of pressure. Service was good, and we found…read moreshoes that fit, at a good price. They have a good selection that offers a bit of variety. They also offer a rewards program that sends you emails only once a week, instead of the spam that comes every day. I don't know how long they've been here, but they weren't in Yelp before we visited, so my guess is it hasn't been here too long. We will keep an eye on the place, and check it out every now and again.

Sunday July 5 2020; my daughter bought me a pair of Vans on-line for my birthday, unfortunate they…read morewere just a little small for me. Because of the pandemic, I thought I would have a very difficult time doing an exchange at the store. I was greeted by a very friendly staff upon entry and was so refreshing to deal with Neisha. Neisha was the most pleasant person and say easy going. In most cases, returning or exchange and any other store is not always dealt in a positive manner. Not the case at Journeys. I will be going back for my next purchase, they have a great selection of merchandise but mostly because of my experience. Neisha deserves a raise.

During the past years, I have shopped at Sports Check (Barrhaven) about six or seven times. The…read morefirst time I went there, sales staff kept approaching me offering their help. I politely told the salespeople that I was just looking for now. A short time later I heard a manager (possibly the owner) yelling at her staff saying that they had to ask everybody in the store if any help was needed. I must have been approached by three or four salespeople within only a few minutes. It was way overboard and annoying. Getting frustrated, I ended up leaving the store without buying anything. Another time I went to Sports Check wanting to buy a pair of good quality running shoes. Despite trying on numerous different running shoes none of them fit my feet properly and they weren't even comfortable. When shopping at other stores, I always find good fitting shoes without too much difficulty. During my last visit at Sports Check, in the late Fall, I asked a manager about cycling pants. She said, "I show you what I have." The manager brought me over to the area where they display hiking pants. Over the years, I have found that Sports Chek usually doesn't sell what I'm looking for and/or often they don't have my size. Even when they do have my size, the clothes/shoes don't fit properly. I am an average-sized person proportionate to my body shape, height and weight. Also, I have found that staff doesn't know much about the products they are selling.

Needed to get new shoes for the gym. I usually go to Mark's, but I'm hard to fit, and I thought…read moreSport Chek would have a bigger selection. They did. Walls and walls of choices. Fortunately, I was approached/greeted by a staff member who was eager to serve. After trying on a few pairs and explaining what I needed, and the difficulties I usually have shopping for shoes, the manager helped with some more suggestions. The 2 of them narrowed down the choices the perfect shoe for me. I paid for my purchase, and left the store quite satisfied, and enthusiastic about sharing my experience here on Yelp, as well as my family, and friends.