From the counter
The advice a good sports shop gives across the counter: what to buy at your level, how it should fit and what lasts. Buying guides for running, racket sports, team sports, golf, cycling, home gym and kids’ gear.
Buy for the player you are this season, not the pro on the box.
What to buy for your sport, at the level you play
The advice a good sports shop gives across the counter, written down: what you need when you start, what to add once you play every week, and what earns its price when you get serious.
Newest first. Each guide says who a piece of gear is for, who can skip it, and how it should fit before you pay for it.
All 18 guidesAisle 6 · Fitness & GymNewest
Small home gym ideas help you turn spare-room clutter into a workable workout space with compact gear, floor protection, tidy storage, and budget swaps.
Small home gym ideas are practical ways to create a workout area in a spare room
Golf driver shaft length affects distance and accuracy. Compare typical and tour lengths, check the 46- and 48-inch limits, and find your best fit.
Golf driver shaft length is the measurement from the grip to the shaft tip
Barbell weight varies by type. Compare standard bar types, learn to verify the bar in front of you, and choose plates for your space and budget.
Barbell weight is the weight of the empty bar before plates are added
Garage gym ideas help you turn a cluttered garage into a usable training space, with practical advice on layout, flooring, gear, climate, and costs.
A garage gym is a dedicated workout space inside your garage
Golf balls for slower swing speeds should compress easily to help you get airborne. Compare options by budget and spin, then test before you commit.
Golf balls for slower swing speeds are designed to launch and perform well when a player does not swing fast enough to get the best from a firmer
When to replace running shoes depends on mileage, wear, and your stride. Check the warning signs and learn when to retire or repurpose a pair.
Running shoes should be replaced when their cushioning
How to fit running shoes: check toe room, heel hold, and width, then account for socks, time of day, and your running style before you buy in store.
Fitting running shoes means finding enough room for your toes while keeping the heel secure and the shoe comfortable across the width of your foot
Start with your sport, or with your kid’s. Care & Repair is for the gear you already own.
Walk the aislesA piece earns its place by fitting as it should, lasting a season of real use, costing a fair price for its level and coming from a maker that stands behind it.
All 36 on the Gear pageRunning
$145
Visit SauconyRacket sports
$200
Visit SelkirkTeam sports
$99.95
Visit WilsonGolf
$24.99
Visit SrixonCycling
$94.99
Visit LezyneHome gym
$990
Visit Concept2Care and repair
$12.95
Visit Park Tool