With its walls lined with compression socks, athleticwear, and sneakers of every color, Fleet Feet Princeton has served the local community as both a running store and fitness group. Located on Nassau Street, they offer personalized shoe fittings for customers that range from experienced marathon runners to nurses who are constantly on their feet. Although Fleet Feet has almost 40 brands in store, they encourage personal well-being over anything else.
“I think [a] common mistake is when people kind of get themselves boxed into ... having that brand per se, when in reality, it’s about comfort more than anything else,” said Connor McCraney, Fleet Feet’s Retail Experience Manager.
Using a 3D foot scanner combined with a pressure plate, Fleet Feet helps customers find their best running shoe fit.
“[The scanner] gives us that 3D image of a person’s foot so we can see exactly what someone’s true foot size is all the way down [to the] decimal points,” said McCraney. “We also have what’s called a pressure plate, which lets us ... see how people distribute pressure.”
Taking precautions to accurately measure people’s feet and choosing the right fit can help prevent injury. Much of the job, however, is the runner’s responsibility, as they evaluate the condition of their footwear. A shoe’s durability is one of the most important factors in both ensuring a runner’s comfort and minimizing injuries.
“All shoes are made with foam that’s made to ... compress and absorb impact, and ... spring you back up. We always tell people ... [if you take] care of your shoes, they’ll last for 300 to 500 miles,” said McCraney. “[If] you’re taking your running shoes and wearing them [to school] or [just] out and about, that shoe is going to wear down a lot quicker.”
Beyond protection and support, shoes can serve as a way to express yourself. Maintaining shoes is maintaining the comfort to get through each day. Finding the right fit can be a hassle, but ultimately, the feeling of accomplishment that comes with the perfect shoe is unmatched.
“Something as simple as [footwear can] really help people feel comfortable for all their lifestyle goals and needs,” said McCraney. “We always try to tell people [that] even though it may seem like a running story, we’re more concerned about helping people [in achieving their] goals.”