I have purchased shoes and insoles occasionally from this store for years. Always treated wonderfully! Until this last time, July 3, 2025. I tried on many shoes, I went in to buy Topo's but the salesman talked me out of those. He brought me many Brooks and other brands. I decided on a pair of Hoka's and insoles. I told him I could get the Brooks for a better price elsewhere, which in hindsight I should not have mentioned. When I did say that he jumped up and said I was "using him and wasting his time". Even though I was spending $230 with him!! I should have simply walked out. I wish I had. It isn't everyday you see an adult man act like a child! The Hoka's were ordered and later I called to have them refunded. All it takes is one bad apple.... I won't visit that store again read more

I have purchased running shoes here on two different occasions and each time has been amazing! They took their time looking at my feet and watching me jog back and forth a few times. They brought out several different pairs of shoes for me to try and talked me through each choice! I could tell they were not just trying to sell me the most expensive pair, but really cared to find the best fit for me! read more

The crew at Route 16 Running are amazing. I was having achilles tendon issues when I was running and I went into the store and told them what was going on. They took one look at my shoes and the way I stand in them and they knew right away what was going on. They gave me several suggestions and I tried several pairs of shoes on that immediately relieved much of my discomfort. I appreciate the experience and knowledge that Miguel and his crew have. Thank you! read more

Great local store. I have been to going to Fleet running in Tacoma but since we live here, I want to support the local guys. Anyhow, polite and knowledgeable guys with a good selection of shoes, plus when you buy your seventh shoe you get 35% off and it applies to the whole family. read more

Great customer service! Was visiting from out of town and needed to new shoes and my size isn't always readily available, they we helpful and made great suggestions and I left with a great pair of shoes read more

I am so glad I came to Route 16 and saw Miguel!! I have never been so happy walking out of a shoe store in my life. I recently broke my ankle and had surgery for it, and rehab has been excessively long. Que Miguel. I went in kind of shy because I am no where near running anytime soon, LOL. Miguel put me at ease and explained that he does a lot of doctor and PT referrals. He not only was friendly, but SUPER educated on how shoes are made and how they should fit for different activities. He explained why my current shoes were not for me and what I needed instead, and why. He did not talk down to me, but rather as an equal (I admit, I know nadda about shoe construction). We tried on 5 different pairs and of course the first one he grabbed for me I went with, plus a spike ball for rolling my feet. He didn't try to upsell an insert, even after I asked about them. I will be going back to Route 16 when I need my next pair and seeing Miguel again! Thanks Miguel! read more

YES!!!! Route 16 was recommended to me by my Pilates instructor, specifically Miguel. He met me personally to help me find new shoes after an injury during the COVID 19 Pandemic. He spent almost 2 hours with me, got me awesome shoes fitted with a great insole and foam support. He truly spends time with his clients, shares some great stories (as if he knows you from another life), and really gives you a lot of guidance and support in your walking/running needs. I would HIGHLY encourage you to take the trip across the bridge to Route 16 VS going to another "specialized" running store. I used to go to a few other places here in Tacoma that TBH just seem to be more "chainy" and employee people who really aren't in the PT game. Whether you need support from an injury, are new to running or just need new shoes... Route 16 is your place (and I am sure seeing anyone here would be great, but if you can see Miguel then that's even better!) read more

Always taken good care of here, and Miguel, well, he's the epitome of what customer service should be! He has a knowledge-base that is both impressive and greatly appreciated. He retrofitted multiple pairs of shoes I brought in yesterday after being diagnosed with ankle injuries. He was attentive, diligent, and spent some time gathering my history, etc... and then, no charge! I can't say enough about this business, go check it out for yourself! read more

If you have any kind of foot problems, this is the place for you! Miguel is an absolute genius for fitting you in the right shoes and giving expert advice to help solve injury problems. My physical therapist, Lauren, recommended him to me and said to be sure to make an appointment with Miguel for a proper fitting! I have found his staff to also be friendly and helpful! read more

I had been having some serious foot issues from prior surgery and years of running. As a result I now doing a great amount of walking; specifically on the Cushman Trail which can get quite demanding with its hills. I went to Route 16 after consulting with my podiatrist for specific needs. I met with Miguel with whom I have worked prior. He could not have been more professional and helpful in attending to my specific needs. We settled on the HOKA ONE which is perhaps the best shoe I ever purchased. He did everything to fulfill my unique needs and sold me the shoes I absolutely needed....unbelievable quality and customer attention. I won't ever go anyplace else. read more

I went to the store midweek to check out their shoe selection and noticed about 4 staff members were on duty. For a relatively small shop, I think this is great staffing; it reduces waiting time. The owner Miguel was courteous and within a couple of minutes of small talk, he gave me great advice for my first half marathon. I developed a blister problem on my left foot about 2 weeks before the Seattle Half so he suggested some gel pads and the next 2 weeks of training were a breeze. He also gave me some very good shoe buying tips. They have a good selection so I plan to get my next pair there. I also found out that he was a collegiate runner and won the Seattle Half two years in a row. I'm glad that he's able to share his experience with running rookies like me. read more

I'm a supporter of small business and really wanted to buy my running shoes locally as opposed to schlepping to a bigbox. SInce I was new to the area, I searched yelp.com for a local store and found Route 16 online. I went into this store expecting more considering the reviews. I was greeted upon entering the store by a young man who helped me didn't seem to sure of himself, yet he was able to answer my questions - sort of - but I know enough about the shoes I wanted to purchase. I was the only person in the store for 5 minutes until another customer entered. The "owner" came out from the back while I was trying on shoes to help a the second customer who announced she was only there to try on shoes and then was going to purchase them online elsewhere. The owner sat her down in a chair and proceeded to give her the full dissertation on buying the right shoe. I decided which shoe to purchase, which were marked at $140, and when the quirky clerk person rang me up, he announced the price was now $145. I pointed to the sign, which displayed $140 and he said that the price was incorrect and they were now $145, they just hadn't the time to change the sign. I told him I would pay $140, not $145. He gestured to the owner who was still giving the tennis shoe dissertation to the teenager, and with visible irritation, he came over to see what the problem was. I told him the shoe was displayed at $140 and that his clerk wanted to charge me $145. He explained the same, they hadn't yet changed the sign, and reaffirmed the shoes were indeed $145 as they rang up on the register. I told him I wouldn't pay the extra $5, and he grudgingly rang them up for $140. Not worth the hassle, I won't be going back for the lack of quailty service. read more

I joined a gym at the end of July to try and get healthy and to lose weight. I just bought some every day Adidas. It didn't take long to develop some major foot pain. I went to Lady Foot Locker and the clerk recommended some Asics. She didn't help me size them or anything. Compared to the Adidas, they were comfortable so I bought them. The pain didn't get any better and it moved up into my legs. So on a whim I went to Route 16 today on my way to the gym (I found out about them at the gym). I don't know why I waited so long! The lady that helped me asked me some questions, asked me to walk down the hallway. She explained that my shoes were too short and too narrow and told me that was causing the foot pain on the bottoms of my feet and that it was probably also causing some tightness in my calves (very true!) and that I was automatically compensating by walking on the outsides of my feet. She then brought out a shoe for me to try on, but decided to go up a size and brought out two different shoes. She had me put one on each foot and try them out. As soon as I put them on, my feet felt like they were in foot heaven! I knew right away the shoe on my right was the one. I felt ridiculous, but I almost felt like crying because I could already tell the pain wasn't as bad. Best of all, I payed less there than I did at Lady Foot Locker. Oh and btw, the shoes from Lady Foot Locker are already falling apart and I bought them less than a month ago and ONLY wear them at the gym. I will definitely go back to Route 16 for my next pair of gym shoes. read more

Good staff and helpful service, but the owner (Miguel) is hawkish. He seems very disinterested in the customers, and impolite. I have shopped at this store twice, and both times had stoic interactions with the owner. Every question about shoes, Race for a Soldier, return policy, etc was answered with a "yeah," "it depends," "I don't know." His outlook is night and day compared to the staff working there. During my first visit I interacted with a staff member and got a shoe recommendation, but checked out with the owner. He acted as if I was a nuisance for buying a pair of shoes from the store. For a store that prides itself on "being blessed to be in such an active and supporting community," the owner definitely acts like he's giving people favors by selling them overpriced shoes. Will not be returning back to this store. read more

I love this place! After struggling to find shoes that wouldn't kill my feet I walked into Route 16 and could not be happier with the results. Jordan took his time to pinpoint the precise issue I was having then walked me through a variety of options until we found the perfect fit. He did not try to sell me stuff I didn't need or grow impatient as he tried to solve my particular issues. For the first time in a long time I feel like I'll be able to walk and hike pain free. You simply can't get this sort of knowledge and attention online or at a big box retailer. Small businesses like these with excellent customer service and a great selection are growing harder to come by and I am so grateful Route 16 is able to keep doing great work. I can't thank them enough. I'll definitely be back! read more

This place was highly recommended by a friend of mine when I told her that I had a terrible experience at South Sound Running in Tacoma. I was greeted by Miguel, and from the start he was ready to help and get down to business. I have bad knees and ankles and had purchased running shoes online for the sole reason of finding something cheaper. Huge mistake. I knew I should have gone with the professionals on choosing the right shoe. Miguel knew EXACTLY what I needed because he took the time to get to know my body mechanics and also give me advice and tips on what I should look out for for future purchases. I also loved that he didn't give off that salesman vibe or spiel. He was genuine and definitely knew his shoes. In addition, he also recommended some events that he and his wife do with the community. A business man with family values. Love it! I'm NEVER going anywhere else! P.S. Look out for the banner of his wife and her bridesmaids wearing track shoes on their wedding day hanging on the store wall. Too cute! read more

Route 16 Running & Walking - Shoe Stores Near Me - Gig Harbor, Washington

Great service! It makes a huge difference to get a proper fitting. We emailed ahead for an appointment. Staff members were very pleasant and knowledgeable. Very happy with my purchase. read more

What a great group of people and wonderful community resource for people of all ages. Miguel and his team have a great selection of gear for runners and walkers alike and genuinely want to help their customers meet their fitness goals. I am VERY happy with my experience there! read more

My wife and I love this store. She sprained both ankles and broke her right leg, and after four months still had pain and didn't walk with a normal gait. Miguel, Route 16's owner, spent 45 minutes with her, trying three pairs of shoes on her, fitting her with an insole, and applying KT tape. She bought some New Balance 880's and came out with almost no pain and a normal gait. Cost was about $10 more than for the same shoes on Amazon. That was a small price for 45 minutes of Miguel's time and expertise. read more

Best running store in the Puget sound period . Great helpful staff with a wide array of great running shoes and apparel. Thanks to Miguel for opening a great business this side of the bridge! read more

Very happy with these guys. I bought a pair of shoes and had horrible blisters but had already put about 50 miles on them. I came back and they recommended some different socks which was exactly the problem. They could have sold me another pair of shoes but instead wanted me to try the socks first. Honest and they know their stuff. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. If you have medical issues affecting your feet this store does not have the expertise to assist you. My mother who has Parkinson's disease, and diabetes has horrible pain in her feet. We have been looking for shoes that would ease her pain and accomodate her orthotics. My mother has her entire life worn between an 8 1/2 and a 9, however this store put her in a size 10 EE, come to find out after our third trip to the store that they never had a 9 1/2 EE in stock- the extra wide was needed to accomodate the orthotic. The store never checked her gait, they never checked if while walking she pronated or supinated. The shoes they sold her caused her to repeatedly trip and almost fall on several occaisions, luckily there was something nearby for her to grab onto. The store manager was the person that helped her originally but when we went in the third time it was a younger staff memeber. When the owner saw my mother he completely ignored her never once inquiring if everything was okay, or what was wrong- my assumption is because he knew what was wrong he put my disabled mother is the wrong pair of shoes. Now her feet hurt worse then they did before she purchased shoes there, before the store lied and sold her shoes not based on the needs of her feet but based on their inventory. That is reprehensible and shows a lack of ethics. The inserts they also sold my mom, the non-orthotic ones they sell were returned and they put them back in a box to resell. So beware what you buy may have been previously used. The staff wants to use industry specific jargon to cover up the fack that they are uninterested in actually assisting you in your problems, and a general lack of knowledge. The only reason I know this is because I sold shoes for years at Nordstrom where I have taken numerous classes regarding how to properly fit athletic shoes, how to put people in the correct shoes based on their gait, arch, and other medical requirements. Purchse from this store at your own risk. This store should be shut down. I will make sure that I let every physical therapist and physician I know what this store's practices are and that they should NEVER refer anyone here. read more

This store just saved my feet! I knew something was wrong with the fit of my running shoes, but I just didn't know what exactly. The staff that assisted me pinpointed the problem immediately and took the time to help me try on quite a few shoes until I got the right one for me. She watched me walk and run in each pair, and ultimately helped guide me to my new running shoes that saved my feet in the marathon I had coming up! Honestly I can't imagine how bad my toes would have looked had I not stopped by to be fitted before the race. The staff is so knowledgeable and friendly, I don't see myself buying running shoes anywhere else, ever! read more