Santa Barbara Running Company

SB Running is the best running shoe store in Santa Barbara. The owners and staff of SB Running are so knowledgable and helpful and I love coming into the store because it has a local vibe and all the best and current gear. Even if you just want a cute pair of shoes and don’t run — check it out!

I recently was highly recommended to come into the Santa Barbara Running Company store due to an injury. I was immediately greeted with an engaging, smiling individual that helped me beyond all of my needs. They found me a truly superior pair of running shoes that fit perfectly, and an insole that really supported my arch. I also got some cool accessories as well as an «orb» ball and roller that will alow me to stay in the best shape and get through my injury. I highly recommend this store. The owner, Monica DeVreese, was so helpful, honest, kind and professional that I will come back.

Yesterday I brought in a one month pair of Hoka One One’s that had the sole ripping off. I was expecting at LEAST a short time of me pleading my case, but within 5 seconds of showing them the shoe she interrupted me, grabbed the shoes and said, «hold on, I’ll get you a new pair.» She returned 30 seconds later with said new pair stating, «If it happens again, we may need to switch you to a different style.» I was out of the store with new shoes in less than 2 minutes. Wow! GREAT customer service! She even remembered selling me a prior pair of Hoka One One’s almost a year ago.
Thank you so much!

Came here to pick up a new pair of kicks for a half marathon I was running. Sure glad I did! The gentleman who helped me examined how I walked then brought out many pairs of shoes that I should try on. I even jogged a little on the treadmill to make sure they were comfy and a perfect fit. Left happy.
They also have a super cute collection of shoes for children. Wish they came in my size!

I am late in writing this but I was reminded of this experience when someone referred me here and I had to tell them about my unfortunate experience back in 2010 and why I had never returned. I wanted to support a local business but after some disgruntled middle aged man behind the counter here thinly veiled his assertion that I was lying about where I had bought a cheaper pair of shoes when trying to get a refund it pissed me off. I had already bought a pair from them months earlier but this guy had issues and the young woman with him didn’t even try to stop him even though they knew nothing about me as a customer or person. Who does this?

Great experience and service. I had been training for a half marathon and was enduring some serious foot pain thinking it was a result of the increased distances. A couple of weeks before the run, I went to SB Running Co… the gait diagnostics were helpful, the employees (runners themselves) were great. They narrowed the selection to a few types of shoes and they all felt much better. The pair I settled on was a huge help.
I had mostly avoided speciality shops in the past because I thought prices would be much higher, but they prices were actually quite good here.
Highly recommended!

Great Store!
Helpful staff that really knows their shoes. Both guys that were in there were runners themselves, and gave me great advice. Tried on several shoes on the treadmill, and loved the first shoes that they brought out for me. Huge selection, and now I see them supporting all the events in town.
Will be back!

I had a horrible experience with the owner of this company… will never ever ever be returning.
A friend and I went in to purchase him a pair of vibrams at the Goleta location. The man working seemed a bit out of it, but we waited while he helped another customer and then asked him to try on the bikila ls. He helped my friend determine the appropriate shoe size for vibrams,
He brought out the wrong model twice. It wasn’t a big deal, my friend just tried them on for fit and then asked for the bikila ls (again). The man working huffed and puffed and muttered something under his breath as he went to the back. I thought it was kind of strange. My friend and I just looked at each other, and he asked me if I smelt the guy too. He REEKED of alcohol – explains the weird, vacant behavior.
They didn’t have the size my friend needed in the bikila ls, so we thanked the guy and said we’d probably just order them online since they didn’t have them in the store today.
His sarcastic and demeaning reply was: «Thanks for taking my time.»
I went over to the register to get a business card to call the manager/​owner and let them know about the incident. We politely made our way out and explained to him that we would have bought if the size needed was available. His response: «Thanks for taking my time” – again!!!
So I immediately call the downtown location and ask for the owner. The nice guy on the phone down there explained that the owner was working at the Goleta store today. I confirmed the rude man’s appearance and sure enough the alcohol-​smelling, rude and demeaning man was the owner.
Still kind of in shock. I love supporting local businesses, but I will be taking my business elsewhere – I don’t need to feel unappreciated, degraded and talked down to by the owner of a business.

Just went to buy something today, and found that they had a tent with sale items in the handicapped parking spot. How ironic that they market to healthy lifestyles and don’t show respect for those who need a hand up.
They also previously have given discount to local businesses, and denied that…

I’ve been going to Santa Barbara Running for several years and would never go anywhere else now. The selection is huge and the staff really know what they are talking about. When I first went in they analyzed my gait and taped me running on the treadmill to ensure I was getting the correct shoe. Everyone who works there is also a runner so they really care about the local running community.

Loved the customer service here. They were not pushy at all and wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the shoe. They literally brought about 5 different pairs for me to try before I settled happily with a pair. They analyzed how I walked and made recommendations appropriately.
A treadmill is provided to test out the kicks as well.