Sporting goods in and near Palo Alto

Palo Alto is an active town. Kids play in packed youth leagues, adults fill the tennis and pickleball courts and road cyclists head for the hills every weekend. Yet the city has no big-box sporting goods store. What it has instead is a set of specialists: a racquet shop, several bike shops, an outdoor brand store in a historic barn and a run of activewear brands at Stanford Shopping Center. For team sports equipment, camping gear or a full wall of baseball gloves, you drive a few miles to Sunnyvale, Redwood City or Menlo Park.

This guide sorts the options by sport and by distance. Every store named here was confirmed on its own website, its brand's store locator or a verified listing in our directory in October 2026. Bike shops get a short summary here, since our bike shops and outdoor gear guide covers them in depth.

Where to go for what

Tennis, pickleball and racquet sports

Tennis Town & Country is the city's specialist for anything played with a racquet or paddle. The family-run shop has been at Town & Country Village since 2009. It covers tennis, pickleball, squash and racquetball with frames, paddles, shoes and apparel. Its services are the real draw: racquet stringing, customization, frame checks and regripping. Bring your racquet in before a league season and ask about string types and tension. If you are new to pickleball, staff can explain the differences between paddle weights and surfaces.

The shop sits a short walk from Palo Alto High School and a short drive from the city's public courts. Our tennis and pickleball guide lists where to play and how court reservations work.

Running and activewear

For a proper running shoe fitting, the closest dedicated store is Fleet Feet at 859 Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park. Call ahead to ask how its fittings work. A shoe that suits your stride matters more than brand loyalty when you are logging miles. Downtown Menlo Park is about five minutes north of Palo Alto. Our Santa Cruz Avenue guide covers parking and the rest of the street.

In Palo Alto itself, Stanford Shopping Center has the city's biggest cluster of athletic brands. Its October 2026 directory included On and New Balance for running shoes. Several clothing stores also sell running and training gear:

• lululemon: yoga, running and training clothes, shoes and accessories on the Garden Walk.
• Vuori: men's and women's activewear, with personal shopping and community classes.
• Alo: yoga wear, activewear and wellness lines.
• Athleta: women's and girls' activewear at Town & Country Village.

Our running routes guide shows where to test new shoes, from the flat Baylands levees to the hills above Stanford.

Hiking and outdoor brands in town

Two brand stores cover the outdoor side without leaving Palo Alto. Arc'teryx at Stanford Shopping Center sells technical shells, down layers and hiking clothing. Patagonia on Alma Street, across from the Caltrain station, occupies a former hay barn built in 1880. Downtown also has Fjällräven on University Avenue, which offers free waxing of its G-1000 fabric plus tailoring and repairs. These stores are strong on clothing and packs but light on hard gear such as tents and stoves.

DICK'S Sporting Goods

For team sports equipment, gym gear and the widest range of balls, bats, gloves and cleats, the nearest big store is DICK'S Sporting Goods at 125 East El Camino Real in Sunnyvale. It sits across the road from REI, so one trip can cover both. A second DICK'S is at the Great Mall in Milpitas, at 1200 Great Mall Drive, which pairs well with an outlet shopping day. Check the DICK'S Sunnyvale page for hours and services before you go.

Parents gearing up for a new season should bring the league's equipment list and the child. Cleat sizing, shin guard fit and bat length rules vary by sport and age group. Our youth sports guide lists the main local leagues and their seasons.

REI Sunnyvale

REI's store at 130 East El Camino Real in Sunnyvale replaced the old Mountain View store in 2021. Its store page lists hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. It has a full-service bike shop and a ski and snowboard shop for tuning, waxing and repairs. It also rents outdoor equipment for people who want to try an activity before buying.

Members can start a trade-in online and bring eligible used gear to the store for review, earning an REI gift card for accepted items. The store also sells lightly used gear through REI's Re/Supply program, though the selection varies. See the REI Sunnyvale store page for current hours and classes.

Sports Basement

Sports Basement is a Bay Area chain of outdoor and sporting goods stores. Its nearest stores are at 202 Walnut Street in Redwood City and 1177 Kern Avenue in Sunnyvale. The chain also lists a Campbell store. Either of the two closest stores is 15 to 25 minutes from Palo Alto by car depending on traffic on US 101 and El Camino Real.

Bikes in brief

Palo Alto's bike shops handle most cycling needs in town. Palo Alto Bicycles on University Avenue has served the city since 1930. The Bike Connection on El Camino Real rents bikes and ships them. Mike's Bikes in south Palo Alto stocks road, mountain and electric bikes with fittings. Summit Bicycles on California Avenue focuses on electric and commuter bikes. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet under California law, so buy one with the bike. If you are only visiting, you can compare bike rentals in the Bay Area instead of buying.

Buying used sports gear

Kids outgrow cleats, skates and bikes every season, so used gear makes sense. REI members can shop lightly used outdoor gear through Re/Supply and trade in their own. Palo Alto bike shops such as Summit Bicycles accept trade-ins. Neighborhood email lists and school groups also swap equipment before each season. Inspect helmets carefully: replace any helmet that has taken a hard hit, even if it looks fine.

Stanford fan gear

For Cardinal shirts, caps and game day gear, the Stanford Bookstore on campus is the main source. Avoid home football Saturdays if you want an easy visit, since campus traffic and parking get busy. Our Stanford sports guide covers the season schedules and tickets.

Frequently asked questions