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 44 guidesAisle 8 · Care & RepairNewest
How to regrip a tennis racket: remove the worn wrap, fit a replacement or overgrip, choose the right size, and tape the handle for a secure, clean finish.
Regripping a tennis racket means replacing the wrap on its handle to restore a secure
Electricity from a bike can charge a phone or light a trail. See expected power, devices it can run, and what DIY builds or ready-made kits cost.
Electricity from a bike is power made by connecting a generator to a moving wheel or pedals
Baseball glove cleaning lifts grime while protecting soft leather. Learn how to brush, wash, condition, care for laces, and tell when a pro can restore it.
Baseball glove cleaning removes dirt and sweat from the glove while preserving the leather's flexibility and shape
Most cushioned running shoes vary by more than foam thickness. Compare top road, trail and walking picks, then use the fit guide to choose yours.
The most cushioned running shoes use thick midsole foam to soften impact
Dumbbell exercises help you build a routine by muscle group, match sets, reps, and weights to your level, and choose moves and gear for your space.
Dumbbell exercises are movements performed while holding weights in your hands or at your sides
A pink badminton racket should fit your game, not just your style. Compare frame materials, prices, and level-specific picks, and avoid toy-like listings.
A pink badminton racket is a playable badminton racket with pink as a prominent design feature
Squash vs racquetball: Compare court layouts, ball and racket differences, and scoring rules to choose the game and beginner gear that fit you.
Squash and racquetball are related wall-based racquet sports
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