Ordering Process  (back to top)

Generally all items listed on ShopASnailsPace.com are in stock and ready to ship. All orders of in stock items will ship within 48 hours. If your item is out of stock, you will receive an additional e-mail explaining the situation.

Out-of-Stock Items-
If an item is out of stock, ShopASnailsPace.com will order that item directly from the manufacturer. Once the order is placed with the manufacturer ShopASnailsPace.com usually receives it within 5-7 business days. As soon as it arrives, ShopASnailsPace.com will ship the order to the customer by UPS 2^nd Day air at no additional cost.

Returns/Exchanges  (back to top)

Our goal at ShopASnailsPace.com is to make customers happy with their purchase. We want you to find the product that is right for you.

If you ordered the wrong size, or if your purchase just does not fit properly, send it back to us and we will exchange that item for another size or style, credit your account at ShopASnailsPace.com or provide a refund on your credit card.

Conditions for return:

-Items must be returned within 30 days of purchase in new and unworn condition and in the original packaging.
-Please include the completed return/exchange form that was sent with your order.
-Non-defective shoes that have been worn are subject to inspection by our shoe experts. Worn shoes that are not clearly defective may only receive partial credit towards a new shoe.
-Customers are responsible for all return shipping costs. ShopASnailsPace.com will process exchanges and send the replacement product back to the customer at no additional cost.
-Customers may be charged a 10% restocking fee if they return three or more items.

Merchandise purchased through ShopASnailsPace.com may also be exchanged or returned at any of our four Southern California retail locations.

Click to view our to Locations!

Shipping  (back to top)

ShopASnailsPace.com uses UPS ground as our standard shipping method. You may also select to pick up your order from one of our four locations. At check out, please select which location you would like to pick up your order.

Shipping Costs- UPS Ground (standard with orders)
Under $50- $5.00
$50.01-$99.99- $8.00
$100-$199.99- $12.00
$200+ - $15.00

UPS 2^nd Day Air*
Under $100 - $15.00
$100+ - $20.00

UPS Overnight*- $25.00 (flat fee)

ShopASnailsPace.com cannot process international orders. Orders can be shipped to the 50 US states and its territories. Shipments to P.O. Boxes and APO/FPO addresses may be shipped via USPS priority mail.

*Upgrading shipping to UPS 2^nd Day Air or UPS Overnight will not guarantee arrival in that time span. Orders are processed 24 - 48 hours after receiving them and shipped within that time span unless there is a backorder. Customers will be notified with a tracking number via e-mail, once their product has been shipped.

If there are any problems or if you have not received delivery confirmation within 48 hours from ShopASnailsPace.com, please contact customer service.

Sizing Tips  (back to top)

Here are some helpful tips to make sure you find the right shoe that fits you properly.

-Keep in mind that there is no standardization in shoe sizing, even within the same brand.
-Be sure to measure both feet. Most people will find one foot larger than the other. Be sure to always fit the larger foot, especially in running/athletic shoes.
-Your running shoes should have plenty of room in the toe-box. As you run, your foot will swell and expand. Having a shoe that does not provide enough toe room may result in blisters and/or black toenails.
-You should have about one finger’s width of space between your longest toe and the end of your shoe. This becomes more critical the longer distance you run. Novice marathoners should be especially careful to have ample toe room.
-Running shoes tend to run small. You will find that you will wear a larger size in a running shoe than in a dress or casual shoe. Refer to our sizing chart to help you choose the right size for your running shoes.
-Socks will affect the way your shoe fits. If you do wear a thick sock when you run, take into consideration that it will take up more room in the shoe and may require a larger shoe size.
-Insoles and orthotics may also affect the fit of your shoe. Whether you use a custom orthotic or an over-the-counter insert, it may take up space in your shoe and necessitate a larger shoe size.
-It is OK for your foot to move around in the shoe a little. Slight movement in the toe-box or in the heel can be okay. Remember, once you start running your foot will expand and take up extra room in your shoes.
-If you are running in a stability shoe for the first time, your foot may take time to become accustomed to the additional support. After a few runs, you should feel comfortable with this added stability.

What type of runner are you?  (back to top)

This section is designed to help you determine what type of runner you are. Once you know what type of runner you are it will make the shoe buying experience much easier. With nearly all runners, the heel is the first part of the foot to strike the ground, more specifically, the outside portion of the heel. That is your natural biomechanics. What your foot does after the heel strike determines what type of runner (below) you are. A very small percentage of runners run on their toes. If this is the case, you will not see any wear on the heel of your shoe.

What is overpronation?
If you are an overpronator, the outside edge of your heel comes in contact with the ground first and as your foot continues forward, it will roll towards the medial (or arch) side of your foot. At the end of your foot strike, you will push off (toe off) mainly using the metatarsals of you big toe and second toe. As you can see, the lower extremities of the overpronator are rather mobile and unstable.

Most people are overpronators. About 70-75% of runners are overpronators to some degree. Typically people with flat feet/lower arches overpronate. To find out if you overpronate, you can look at the sole of a shoe you have used regularly. If you notice heaviest wear in the outside (lateral) heel area and additional wear in the vicinity of the big toe, you are an overpronator.

What is supination (underpronator)?
If you are a supinator/underpronator, the outside edge of your heel comes in contact with the ground and your foot continues forward, staying along the outside (lateral) part of your foot. At the end of your foot strike you will push off mainly using your 4^th and 5^th toes. This is a more rigid and stable footstrike, but impact is not distributed throughout the foot and shock absorption is less efficient.

A very small percentage of runners supinate. Only about 1% of runners are supinators. Typically people with very high arches supinate. To find out if you supinate, you can look at the sole of a shoe you have used regularly. If you notice more wear along the outside (lateral) edge of the shoe, you are a supinator.

What is normal (neutral)?
If you are a neutral runner, the outside edge of your heel comes in contact with the ground and your foot continues forward, rolling towards the center of your foot. Your foot comes into complete contact with the ground and your foot and ankle are stable. It also means shock absorption is efficient.

The remaining 20-25% of runners make up this category. Typically neutral runners have a medium arch. To find out if you are a neutral runner, you can look at the sole of a shoe you have used regularly. If you notice the wear pattern has some heel wear, then travels right down the middle, you are a neutral runner.

If you are in the Southern California area, we recommend visiting one of our four locations to receive a proper fit from one of our shoe experts. Our shoe experts will watch you run and determine exactly which shoes work the best for you, whether it is your first pair of running shoes or your 100th pair.

What type of shoe should I purchase?  (back to top)

Shoe companies make four types of running shoes to accommodate the different types of foot strikes runners have.

Neutral shoes
Neutral shoes are obviously made for neutral runners, but they are also the correct shoe for supinators. Manufacturers do not make a supinator-specific shoe, so supinators should look for a shoe with no added stability features (which is not needed for their stable footstrike). People who have a normal foot strike and do not require added stability to correct for overpronation may also run in neutral shoes. Typically neutral shoes are lighter than stability shoes, primarily because the mid sole is made of one single density of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (or EVA). Stability shoes always have a denser mid sole on the medial side (that's the side closest to the midline of your body; the arch side) to correct for overpronation.

Slight stability shoes-
Slight stability shoes are made for overpronators who have a slight inward roll with their foot strike. If you notice the wear on the sole of your shoes to be almost down the middle but slightly towards the big toe, you should go with a slight stability shoe. The slight stability will correct this mild overpronation by adding a small section of denser EVA (or other midsole enhancement) to the medial side of the shoe. This will stop your foot from rolling inward and leave you with a more neutral foot strike.

Moderate stability shoes-
Moderate stability shoes are made for overpronators who have a more noticeable inward roll in the foot strike. If you notice the wear on the sole of your shoes to be mostly towards your big toe, you should go with a moderate stability shoe. The moderate stability will correct the overpronation by adding a larger section of dense EVA (and/or additional midsole enhancement) to the medial side of the shoe. This will stop your foot from rolling inward and leave you with a more neutral foot strike.

Motion control shoes-
Motion control shoes are made for pronators who roll severely inward when they run. Motion control shoes have the highest amount of stability. They can take a pounding and last just as long any other shoe. If your wear pattern on your shoes is completely towards your big toe, or if you notice that your worn shoes tend to lean severely inward, then you need motion control shoes. Motion control shoes have the most stability in running shoes, often using a large portion of dense EVA and a reinforced medial post usually made of high density thermoplastic. All the added materials that go into making a motion control shoe will make it heavier than most others, but weight will always only vary by a few ounces between all the shoes.

If I run XX miles per week, what kind of shoe should I get and how long will they last?

Basically there are two type of shoes based on the amount of miles you run each week. Most shoes are suitable for mid-to-high mileage, meaning you can run up to 30 miles per week in them without them breaking down at a faster than normal rate. Mid-to-high mileage shoes typically are under $100 and are made for all foot types.

For runners who are training for longer distances, high-mileage shoes will work better. High mileage shoes can take the impact of a 40+ mile week. High mileage shoes are typically over $100 in price, but will not break down as quickly as someone who runs 40+ miles per week in a mid to high mileage shoe.

Running Shoes generally last between 300-500 total miles. That includes any walking in the shoe. If you wear your running shoes around casually, the midsole will compress more quickly and you will get fewer miles of actual running wear. Keep track of the amount of miles you run in each pair of shoes so that you know when it's getting near to the time that you need to replace them. One of the running logs available on our accessories page is perfect for keeping track of your shoe mileage.