Shoe Science Albany is a running and sportswear shop on Mercari Way, on the edge of one of Auckland's biggest shopping malls. Its main draw is expert fitting. The owner and the team fit each customer's shoe to their stride and their fitness goals, and the shop stocks wider-fit options, such as a wider-than-standard version of the Arahi 8 in both men's and women's styles. Parking is in front of the store, and the team says it may well offer a complimentary coffee while you browse.
The shop runs a Thursday night run club from its Albany store, with two distances and a late opening until 8pm, and it says the same club runs at its Silverdale store. Customers can spend $200 to get free delivery and free performance socks, and the shop accepts pay-later instalments. The staff are North Shore locals who walk and run in the area, which suits anyone in Albany or the wider North Shore who wants advice from people who train on the same roads and paths they do.