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 47 guidesAisle 2 · Racket SportsNewest
Badminton court size depends on singles or doubles. Get dimensions in metres and feet, net height, line rules, and the extra space needed around the court.
A standard badminton court is 13.4 metres long
Is football an Olympic sport? Flag football, not tackle football, debuts at LA28; trace its Olympic path from early history to the 2028 Games.
American football is not an Olympic sport
Sports balls by size vary by age and level. Compare official circumference and weight specs to choose the right ball for your player's league before you buy.
Sports balls by size are balls measured by their circumference or diameter
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
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