walking sneaker

Question
I once heard of two stores in NYC where the staff will place the customer on I believe a treadmill type device and watch them walk to determine what particular type of sneaker best suits. Also they consider the type of surface that will be walked on indoor/od, city, dirt road etc. Can you tell me the name of such stores I don't recall.

Answer
I'm not familiar with specific stores in New York. However, any running specialty store with a good reputation should have personnel knowledgeable in finding mechanically compatible shoes for each customer. Some will use a treadmill, but others do not. I do not believe that a treadmill is necessary to identify a customer's shoe needs. Far more important is the employee's expertise.

Ask around and try to find a running specialty store with a great reputation. Just about any employee in such a store will be able to serve your needs with a high degree of confidence. I have worked in such a store, and believe me, your chances of being placed in the right shoe are very high -- even without a treadmill.