Here’s Where You Can Return Your Sneakers, Even If You’ve Already Run in Them
There are many reasons to buy shoes from a local running store rather than online or from a big box store, including more knowledgeable staff and the fact that you’re supporting the local running community. But another important point is the fact that many will receive returns even after you’ve run in your sneakers a few times.
If you don’t have a local store with this policy, it’s good to know that some major brands and online retailers also accept returns on lightly worn shoes. Fleet Feet and Running Warehouse are among the largest stores offering this benefit; some online sneaker stores include it as part of their membership (e.g. Roadrunner). But some sneaker brands themselves offer no-questions-asked return policies, so if you know you love (say) Nike, you can buy directly from the brand.
Don’t be discouraged if you take advantage of this policy. The whole idea is that you can trust your body to tell you if the shoes work, rather than worrying during a quick try-on about whether the shoes will fit you. If you can’t shake the guilt, you can compensate by purchasing your next new pair of shoes from the same place. They do this because they are trying to win you over as a repeat customer.
In most cases, Adidas requires shoes to be unworn, but it has a separate policy for “performance” sneakers, which includes all popular sneakers from the $65 Runfalcon and up.
Altra actively advertises ” 30-day trial runs guaranteed .” A return label is included with your shoes and returns are allowed “for any reason” within those 30 days.
Brooks will accept returns within 90 days , even if you ran in the sneakers: “Run in them, sweat in them, inside, outside, in the rain—if they don’t perform the way they’re supposed to, send them back. “
Hoka has a 30-day return policy (60 days for members), even if you’ve worn the shoes. “Try them, that’s what our 30-day guarantee is all about.”
Newton accepts returns within 30 days “for any reason with the same or minimal wear and tear” as theirs.
Nike will allow you to return shoes, even if they have been worn, within 60 days of purchase . It specifically says you can return shoes, including custom sneakers, “for any reason” within that time period. There are exceptions , including items purchased from Nike Clearance stores.
Please note that rules are subject to change and often differ by country. Customer service staff can sometimes help you even if you go beyond official policy, but don’t count on it. However, if you bought shoes, ran in them and were not happy, it doesn’t hurt to ask.