If you are looking for running shoes in Des Moines, there are three Fitness Sports stores in the metro: 2915 Ingersoll Ave in Des Moines, 8810 Swanson Blvd in Clive, and 604 SW 3rd St in Ankeny. Each one gives you a free fitting with no appointment needed, carries the same set of brands, and is staffed by people who have been fitting Iowa runners and walkers since 1984. Here is what to expect before you drive over.
Where to find us in the Des Moines metro
The Ingersoll Ave store sits close to downtown and is the easy stop from the city or the south side. The Clive store on Swanson Blvd serves the western suburbs. The Ankeny store on SW 3rd St covers the north side of the metro.
All three keep the same hours: Monday through Friday from 10 to 6, Saturday from 10 to 5, and Sunday from 1 to 5. There is no difference in the fitting, the brands or the return policy between them, so choose the one that is closest.
What a free fitting involves
Buying running shoes without being measured is guessing with money. A fitting takes the guessing out, and it costs nothing whether you buy that day or not.
Fitness Sports is trusted by local physicians for proper footwear recommendations, so if your doctor has told you to get properly fitted, this is the fitting they mean.
- We measure the length and width of both feet while you are standing, because feet spread under load and the two rarely match.
- We check your arch height, which tells us how much support belongs under the middle of your foot.
- We watch you walk or run so we can see what your foot does rather than what it is supposed to do.
- We ask what you are training for, where you run, and how many miles a week you are putting in.
- We bring out a short list, and you walk or jog in every pair before choosing.
You can read more about how the fit experience works, or book a time online if you would rather not wait on a Saturday afternoon. Walk-ins are always welcome.
The brands on the wall
Between the three metro stores you will find Brooks, HOKA, ASICS, New Balance, Nike, Saucony, On, Altra and Mizuno, in road and trail options and in a range of widths. We also carry CURREX insoles, running socks, and OOFOS recovery footwear for the hours after a long run.
The point of stocking that many brands is not the size of the wall. It is that nobody has to be squeezed into the one brand a store happens to sell. If your foot is wide, or narrow through the heel, or happier in a neutral shoe, there is somewhere to go. Browse the current range of running shoes for men online first, then try the shortlist on in person.
Buy online, pick up in the metro
If you already know your size and your model, ordering online and collecting it is often the quickest route. In-store pickup is available at any Fitness Sports store, including Des Moines, Clive and Ankeny, and orders are normally ready within an hour. Standard shipping is free on orders over 70 dollars.
One caveat. If it has been a few years since anyone measured your feet, come in first. Sizes drift, brands fit differently from one another, and a pickup order is only as useful as the size written on it.
More than a shoe wall
Plenty of our customers in the metro are not training for anything. They are walking the trails, working a twelve hour shift, or looking for something comfortable for a trip. The fitting is the same either way, and walking shoes get the same attention as race day shoes.
We also carry the widest selection of youth track spikes in Iowa, starting at size 1 and going up, which matters when the season starts and options elsewhere run thin. Beyond the stores, Fitness Sports runs group runs and walks, hosts race packet pickups, and times races around the state. If you are new to running here, a group run is the easiest way to meet people who run the same routes you do. Our post on why Fitness Sports is the go-to running shoe store in Des Moines covers more of that side.
Questions we get asked
Where are the Fitness Sports stores in the Des Moines metro?
There are three. Des Moines at 2915 Ingersoll Ave, Clive at 8810 Swanson Blvd, and Ankeny at 604 SW 3rd St. All three are open Monday through Friday from 10 to 6, Saturday from 10 to 5, and Sunday from 1 to 5. We have four more stores elsewhere in Iowa, in Ames, Coralville, Marion and North Liberty.
Is the fitting really free, and do I need an appointment?
It is free, and no appointment is needed. Walk in any day we are open and someone will measure your feet, check your arch height and watch you walk. You can book a time online if you prefer a slot held for you. Nobody expects you to buy at the end of it, and there is no charge if you do not.
Which brands do you carry?
Brooks, HOKA, ASICS, New Balance, Nike, Saucony, On, Altra and Mizuno, plus CURREX insoles, socks and OOFOS recovery footwear. Stock varies a little by store and by season, so if you are driving across the metro for one specific model it is worth calling the store first to make sure it is on the shelf in your size.
Can I buy online and pick up in store?
Yes. Choose in-store pickup at checkout and collect from any store, including Des Moines, Clive and Ankeny. Orders are normally ready within an hour. If you would rather have it shipped, standard shipping is free on orders over 70 dollars. Pickup is handy when you already know the model and size that works for you.
What if the shoes are not right once I have run in them?
Bring them back within 30 days with your receipt and we will refit you, exchange them, or refund them. That is our fitting promise, and it exists because the carpet in a store is not the same as twenty miles on the trails. We would rather see you again than have a pair of shoes sitting unworn in your closet.
Do you fit walkers and people who stand all day?
Yes, and a good share of our fittings are exactly that. Walking, nursing shifts, teaching, retail work and travel all put different demands on a shoe than running does, and we fit for the activity rather than the label on the box. Tell us how you spend your day and we will narrow the wall down accordingly.
If you have been searching for a running store in Des Moines, start with a fitting and go from there. Come and see us at the Des Moines store at 2915 Ingersoll Ave, or head to Clive or Ankeny if one of those is closer. Bring your current shoes and leave knowing what actually fits your feet.