Where is the best place to get sporting goods? Sports is one of those fields (pun intended) where the right equipment can make or break your sporting experience. Whether you're a first-time player, joining a school team, a longtime pro, or just picking up a new-to-you sport for fun, the proper sporting goods are key to having a good time. Sporting goods retailers are popping up all over the place, too, making it easier than ever to find the equipment you need to make your sport a winning experience.
Good
Anthem Sports is a site that promises to help you "build champions." The company has been around since 2002, and was started by Mark Ferrara, who played football for the Boston University Terriers while he was a student there. This is a family-owned and run establishment. Anthem Sports stands out from the pack by offering sporting goods across different types, including items for schools or team owners (like bleachers) as well as some gear for players.
24+ brands and thousands of items in stock
There are tons of brands available at Anthem Sports. Some of the popular names at Anthem Sports include 3N2, Aer-Flo, All Star, Baden, Bison, Catalyst, Champion Sports, Crossnet, Dalco, Diamond, Dudley, Easton, Evoshield, ForceField, Franklin, Gladiator Lacrosse, Igloo, Matguard, Mueller, Osaka, Pro Nine, Rawlings, and many more. As for sports, you can find America's favorite national pastimes as well as some unique offerings in the sporting goods inventory. You'll see baseball, basketball, football, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, pickleball, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and more. You'll even find sports medicine, training and fitness gear, water sports, and wrestling. Like the other sporting goods stores on our list, we looked at the inventory options for three popular sports: baseball (1,975 items in stock), football (909 items in stock), and softball (1,639 items in stock). However, many of these items were for training purposes rather than buying gear for yourself.
The filters could be more robust
The browsing at Anthem Sports could be a little more streamlined, but if you know what you're looking for, the process is pretty user-friendly. First, you'll pick your sport from the list, and then pick a specific category. This can be a little annoying if you need to buy two different football gear items, but if you only need one thing, it can be helpful to narrow down items right away. Once you've got the category for sporting goods narrowed down, you can use filters like brand and price to get further options. However, there were fewer total filtering options at Anthem Sports when compared to competitors. The listings themselves were fairly simplistic, offering the name, price, and a photo of the item (usually in use).
Prices from $19.95 to $449.99 on researched items
To do our cost comparison at each sporting goods store, we looked at three different price ranges. First, we checked out the price range for all Nike items, but Anthem Sports did not offer anything in that brand, so we had to leave that out of our comparison. Second, we looked at Easton bats to see the prices for softball and baseball. Finally, we checked on the price range for football helmets as a popular product across multiple brands. However, there was only one actual helmet for sale, and the rest were helmet racks and other equipment-based items. Here's what we found at Anthem Sports:
No free shipping and 30-day limited returns
Currently, online sporting goods orders for Anthem Sports only ship to the 48 contiguous states. Items don't generally ship for free at Anthem Sports unless there is a special promotion for particular items. As for returns, new and unused items can be returned for a refund. However, you will be responsible for both the original shipping charges and the return shipping. You'll have 30 days to send back the item. The return policy does not apply to baseball and softball bats, which must still be wrapped in plastic and entirely unused to qualify for a return. Despite saying there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Anthem Sports' limitations on returns undercut that promise a bit.
High praise for problem resolution
Anthem Sports currently holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it holds a phenomenal 4.8-star average rating on Trustpilot. Over 85% of all ratings on Trustpilot are a full 5 stars for this sporting goods store. Recent reviews note that when there were issues (like a damaged item), Anthem Sports replaced the item right away, free of charge. Customers love the fast shipping, and say that most items come in 2-5 days. Anthem Sports also received lots of compliments for its customer service, with one shopper praising the company's reps and their ability to answer questions about the items to locate the best option for her needs.
Best if you're a sports coach
Anthem Sports is a favorite among shoppers. However, some severe limitations in its inventory (focusing more on teaching and team gear rather than individual sporting goods) mean it doesn't rank quite as highly as it could. It's a fantastic resource if you're a coach or a school looking to buy gear, but if you're an individual player, you might find Anthem Sports less helpful than other stores. On the other hand, it does still have a competitive selection of some sporting goods, so it's worth a look either way.
Continued from above...
Sports is one of those fields (pun intended) where the right equipment can make or break your sporting experience. Whether you're a first-time player, joining a school team, a longtime pro, or just picking up a new-to-you sport for fun, the proper sporting goods are key to having a good time. Sporting goods retailers are popping up all over the place, too, making it easier than ever to find the equipment you need to make your sport a winning experience.
Choosing an online sporting goods store is a great idea if you're looking for a place where you can buy it all. Sports don't just require the big stuff like baseball bats or hockey masks. You'll also need to buy the basics: socks, pants, golf balls, warm-up gear, and more. The best sporting goods stores will be a one-stop shop with everything you need in one place.
Have kids who play different sports? No problem. Need extras like water bottles or workout gear on top of your sport-specific goods? They've got it. Some sporting goods stores have more specialized inventory (which would be great if you're a pro in that particular sport), but for most customers, having a wide variety is going to help you across all your various sports requirements.
The best part? Most sporting goods stores offer impressive deals. Since the sites are mostly online (though there are still a few brick-and-mortar stores if you're someone who likes to try things on), you won't run into overhead costs all the time. Plus, you can browse through clearance and seasonal promotions you won't find elsewhere when you shop at a sporting goods store online. Plus, the top competitors will have solid policies for both shipping and returns, resulting in high customer satisfaction and also great for keeping the total price in your cart down.
Whether you're buying varsity football gear for your student athlete, grabbing some new leotards for a new gymnast, or ordering some new shoes to try out running for the first time (good luck), there's a sporting goods store out there to meet your needs. No matter your budget, you'll be able to find a sporting goods store that ticks all the boxes.
But, with so many options, it can be hard to decide which sporting goods store deserves your business. There are so many things to consider, so we made it simple with a quick list of factors that can help you decide:
You don't need to worry about finding the best sporting goods stores out there: with our detailed research and rankings, Top Consumer Reviews has identified the top sporting goods stores online today. This way, you can get your head in the game and enjoy your sport (or cheer on a loved one who's playing). Let's play ball!
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