If you want a shoe store in Ames, Iowa where someone measures your feet before selling you anything, Fitness Sports is at 410 5th St in downtown Ames. We have been fitting runners and walkers across Iowa since 1984, and the Ames store sits a short trip from the Iowa State campus. The fitting is free, no appointment needed, and the point is simple: work out what your feet do, then put the right shoes on them.
Start with the free fitting
Every visit begins the same way. We measure both feet for length and width, look at arch height, and watch how you walk or run so we can see what your stride does under load. Feet change over the years, and plenty of customers find they have been buying the same size since high school.
Bring your current shoes so we can read the wear pattern, and wear or bring the socks you normally train in. You will try several pairs and move in them, not just stand still on carpet. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours, and you can reserve a time for the free shoe fitting if you would rather not wait on a busy Saturday.
Everything is backed by our fit promise: bring the shoes back within 30 days with your receipt for a refit, an exchange or a refund.
Running shoes for Ames runners and Iowa State students
Ames is a good running town. Between the campus loops, Ada Hayden and the roads out past the edge of town, people here put in real mileage in every kind of weather. We stock Brooks, HOKA, ASICS, New Balance, Nike, Saucony, On, Altra and Mizuno in neutral, stability and max cushion options, so your fitter can move you across brands rather than up and down one shelf.
Students training for a first half marathon, club runners, and faculty who run at lunch all get the same treatment. If you want more background on how our Ames team works, our post on the top shoe store in Ames covers it.
Walking shoes, work shoes and wide sizes
A lot of our Ames customers are not training for anything. They are nurses, teachers, retail and hospitality staff, and people who walk for exercise and want to keep doing it comfortably. We fit walking shoes and all black work shoes with cushioning and support, and we keep wide and extra wide options in stock because width is where most comfort problems start.
Roomier toe box brands such as Altra suit people who feel squeezed across the forefoot. CURREX insoles, socks and OOFOS recovery footwear are here too. Many customers find that a correct width plus the right insole settles everyday aches. We fit shoes rather than treat feet, so if pain persists it is worth talking to a doctor or physical therapist. Browse the wide and extra wide shoes we carry if you already know width is your issue.
Kids shoes and youth track spikes
Ames families bring in growing athletes all year. We carry the widest selection of youth track spikes in Iowa, starting at sizes 1 to 4 and going up, plus cross country shoes and everyday trainers that hold up to a middle school schedule. Kids grow out of shoes faster than they wear them out, so we measure both feet each visit. If your athlete is heading into a first track season, bring the event list and we will match spikes to what they run.
Buy online, pick up in Ames
You can shop online and collect in store, which saves time if you know your size. The practical details:
- Free standard shipping on orders over $70.
- Free in-store pickup at any of our seven Iowa stores, normally ready within an hour.
- Free fitting with no appointment, any day the store is open.
- Thirty day fit promise with your receipt for a refit, exchange or refund.
Our shipping and pickup page has the full terms if you want to check before ordering.
Hours, address and the area we serve
The Ames store is at 410 5th St and is open Monday to Friday from 10 to 6, Saturday from 10 to 5, and Sunday from 1 to 5. Along with Ames and the Iowa State campus, we see customers from Nevada, Boone, Story City, Huxley, Gilbert and Marshalltown. As a locally owned Iowa business we sponsor local events, support youth sports programs and host group runs and walks.
Questions we get asked
Where is the Fitness Sports store in Ames?
We are at 410 5th St in downtown Ames, close to the Main Street shops and an easy trip from the Iowa State campus. Hours are Monday to Friday 10 to 6, Saturday 10 to 5, and Sunday 1 to 5. You can walk in for a free fitting at any point during those hours, and there is no need to call ahead or book a slot first.
How much does a shoe fitting cost in Ames?
Nothing. The fitting is free whether you buy shoes or not, and it includes foot length and width measurement, a look at arch height and a gait check while you walk or run. We would rather you leave with the right pair than the first pair, so fitters usually narrow the wall down to two or three models and let you compare them properly.
Do you fit Iowa State students and new runners?
Often, yes. A lot of students arrive having bought shoes online by size alone and never had their width checked. New runners get the same fitting as anyone training for a marathon, and there is no expectation that you run fast or far. Tell your fitter what you are doing each week and how your current shoes feel, and that is enough to work from.
Do you carry track spikes for high school athletes?
We do. Fitness Sports keeps the widest selection of youth track spikes in Iowa, from sizes 1 to 4 and up, along with cross country shoes for the fall season. Bring your athlete in with their event list, since sprint, distance and field events call for different spikes. We will check the fit with the socks they race in and explain how snug spikes should feel.
Can I return shoes if they do not work out?
Yes. Bring them back to the Ames store within 30 days with your receipt and we will refit you, exchange them or refund you. Shoes can feel different after a week of real use, so we build that into how we sell them. Bring the shoes and any insoles you used with them so your fitter can look at the wear before suggesting a change.
If you have been searching for running shoes in Ames, come and see us. Check the hours and directions for the Fitness Sports store in Ames, bring the shoes you wear now, and give us a few minutes. You will leave with a size, a width and a shortlist that suits how you actually move.