Frequently Asked Questions

We are a fit and service orientated shoe store that offers a curated collection of running shoes, casual shoes, dress shoes and sandals. Our staff are highly trained with biomechanics physiology and anatomy as either as Kinesiology graduates or students. The RIGHT Shoe staff continues to keep up to date with the current technologies through product knowledge sessions conducted by the various shoe companies. Many of our staff participate in 10k's, half and full marathons and triathlons, locally and internationally.

Ha! We get this question often. Actually, only the left shoe is on display in the store to ensure we grab you the right shoe.

1601 West 4th Avenue Vancouver - at the northwest corner of 4th Avenue and Fir Street near the entrance to Granville Island. Fir Street is one block west of Granville Street and two blocks east of Burrard Street.

We have parking behind the building (enter off the alley). There is also ample street parking on Fir Street, 4th Avenue and 3rd Avenue.

We opened our doors May 1991.

Our staff are highly trained with biomechanics physiology and anatomy as either as Kinesiology graduates or students. The Right Shoe staff continues to be updated with the current technologies through shoe product knowledge sessions conducted by the various shoe companies. Many of our staff also participate in 10k's, half / full marathons and triathlons, locally and internationally.

We carry a curated collection of running shoes, casual shoes, dress shoes and sandals in variety of widths and sizes, plus a large selection of over-the-counter arch supports/insoles, socks and other accessories.

Yes. Some models are available in width sizing. We offer mens in wide and extra wide, some women's in narrow, medium and wide. There is typically more extensive width offerings in the athletic shoe category, however we do offer some causal shoes in width sizing as well.

Yes, the majority of our shoes have removable insoles which allow them to accommodate orthotics. Typically the athletic shoes will fit most orthotics, as you move to dress casual to dressier shoes it becomes more difficult to fit orthotics in. However, we try to carry dress casual that will accommodate. We offer a wide selection of sandals to accommodate as well.

Barefoot or minimal shoes are designed with a lower heel to toe drop (less height in the heel) to promote a more mid foot/forefoot running pattern. Some believe this encourages a more natural and efficient running stride. Be cautious when adopting to this style of running/shoe because it engages a lot of different muscle groups and could lead to potential injury.

Shoes with rocker soles are very stiff in the front of the shoe and often rounded creating a rocking effect. This rocking effect helps alleviate pain due to condition affecting the forefoot or the ball of the foot.

Straight refers to the shapes of the shoe. A straight last is symmetrical relative to a line drawn on the bottom of the shoe from the middle of the heel to the middle of the toe.

Yes, we carry a wide variety of over the counter arch supports - Superfeet, Sole, Spenco and Birkenstock.

Shoes with removable footbeds, deeper heels, ideally with laces or an ankle strap.

Waterproofing shoes can be achieved in several ways. One way is to treat the leather and seam seal the seems, another option is to use a Goretex membrane which is a membrane laminated between the outer and inner layers of the shoe. This premium membrane is permeable to air particles but not water molecules, thus creating a breathable yet waterproof material. There are a variety of other waterproof breathable membranes on the market that are made by other companies other than Goretex.

Most running shoes last 400-600 miles. Most of the wear is influenced by your running style, your biomechanics, the terrain you run on and frequency of wear. Marathon runners will be replacing their shoes every four months, whereas most people should be replacing yearly.

Typically you want half to a full thumbs width from the end of your longest toe to the front part of the shoe. This should be tested when weight baring i.e. standing.

Ideally you want to decide on a shoe that has the least amount of slippage but some heel slippage can be common when the shoe is new. Once the shoe flexes and molds to the foot, heel slippage is generally eliminated.

Solutions may be shoes that come in widths or different lacing techniques to lock down the heel. Some brands of shoes naturally fit this way.

Rigid shoes with a rocker soles are very stiff in the front of the shoe and often even rounded creating a rocking effect. This rocking effect helps elevate pain due to condition affecting the forefoot or the ball of the foot. A stiff heel counter is a rigid cup that encapsulates the heel or the back the back part of the shoe.

Supportive footwear, with a more prominent arch support.

Once we have received your order, you will receive an email confirming your order. Once the order has been shipped you will receive another email confirming that the item(s) have been shipped. Or, if you have selected "pick up in store", you will receive an email letting you know the order is ready. 

**Please note that all in-store pick-up will require presentation of all of the following:

1.  Credit card used to make the purchase with
2.  Government issued ID with the credit card billing address
     note: " only the purchaser" may pick up in store
3.  Confirmation email showing proof of purchase 

MasterCard
Visa
American Express

The stock on our website is an accurate reflection of the stock we have in our store. Please email or call us if you'd like to know if, or when, we will restock a particular brand, style or size. We’re happy to help. See our Contact Us page.

At the bottom of every newsletter we send is an 'Unsubscribe" link. Simply click "Unsubscribe" and it's as easy as that. We'll be sorry to see you go! However, you can always re-subscribe at any time to stay up to date on our newest brands, sales and promotions.

We do keep an eye on our competitors’ prices and are in constant communication with our suppliers.

Please contact us at 604-737-6014 for cancellation as soon as possible to cancel the order, prior to shipping. We make every effort to pack and ship out our orders within two business days of order placement. If the order has been dispatched, we will provide return/refund information.

Due to Canada Post labor issues, we are using UPS and Canpar to minimize disruptions, though some orders may be impacted by destination and costs.

Shipping times vary, but you can generally can expect to receive your order within 1-7 business days depending on your geographical location. See Shipping Information page.

Yes. We currently ship only within Canada and US.  For order from the US, shipping will cost $30.

Due to our quick turnaround process, it is important you contact us within three hours to correct your delivery address. We will do our best to help ensure that your shoes reach their correct final destination.

You have the choice to have your new shoes delivered to your home, work or anywhere else you'd like! Orders may require signature for the delivery. If you are not available during the delivery, a safe drop may occur or a collection note will be left with instructions on where you can pick up your new shoes at the nearest depot. 

 In store pick-up can only be made by the purchaser.  

Please note that all in-store pick-up will require presentation of all of the following:

1.  Credit card used to make the purchase with
2.  Government issued ID with the credit card billing address 
     note: " only the purchaser" may pick up in store
3.  Confirmation email showing proof of purchase 

Returning your shoes is simple! Shoes can be brought into the store for a return or mail (customers expense) them to us. Call us and we will happily assist, 604-737-6014. For more information, please refer to our Returns and Exchanges page policy.

We do require all shoes to be returned in their original, undamaged packing in order to be eligible for a refund or exchange. Please visit our Returns and Exchange page for further details.

Shoes must be returned unmarked, without signs of wear and/or tear.

Sale items are a "Final Sale" and are not eligible for a refund or exchange, as they have been heavily reduced in price.

If your shoes do not pass our requirements following inspection by our Returns Team, we will advise you that your refund has been declined and will ship the product back to you. Due to the additional costs incurred, we will charge you a $5.00 shipping fee.

Refunds can take up to 10 business days to process after we have received the returned product. In most cases however it usually takes two days once the shoes are received and inspected and then another two days to process the refund with your chosen method. Credit card reversals may take up to a week to show on your statement. Check with your credit card company if you require further information. See our Returns & Exchanges page.