good in-person selection of shoes in bay area?

i'm looking to try on climbing shoes of various styles and brands to understand what fits me, but the REI in santa rosa has a pathetic selection. anyone know of a place in san francisco or oakland that carries a lot of brands and styles and sizes?

ilya f wrote:

i'm looking to try on climbing shoes of various styles and brands to understand what fits me, but the REI in santa rosa has a pathetic selection. anyone know of a place in san francisco or oakland that carries a lot of brands and styles and sizes?

There's no one place, but if you're heading to SF then you can make it a day of going to REI, Sports Basement(s), and the Touchstone(s) and Planet Granite (the gyms will let you look at their shoe selections without paying for an day use pass) shoe selections. 

One easy circuit coming from the north is Berkeley REI-->Berkeley Sports Basement--> Berkeley Ironworks. All have decent parking (or you can take the 72 bus and walk a little! RIP the 80 bus along Ashby that would have made this easier) ; none have a great selection but you should get a decent idea of what you need. 

Go climb at Table Mountain and check out Golden Chain climbing shop in Jamestown on your way there/back

TaylorP wrote:

Go climb at Table Mountain and check out Golden Chain climbing shop in Jamestown on your way there/back

Their shoe selection is as small as REI's

PG in the Presidio has a decent selection, way more than REI or Sports Basement, and they've been getting gear shipments in regularly lately, even Totems! There's also a Sports Basement a 1/4 mile away from PG. 

B McG wrote:

even Totems! 

  shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

perfect, this is what i figured, actually that a gym might have the best selection. thanks for the input bob and kevin.