Amazon and other online retailers have made things really easy for shoppers. From the comfort of our work desks and couches, we can look through seemingly endless options to find the exact item we want. This includes researching the latest trends in fitness gear.

Many people are amping up their fitness routines by joining running groups, signing up with a cross fit gym, or even hiring a personal trainer to help create a customized workout plan. No matter what you try, you’ll need a good pair of shoes that’s right for you and your activities.

Big athletic stores are on the decline, with Sports Chalet going out of business and other large retailers closing stores every year. In addition, smaller retailers don’t often have the size, color, or exact brand or model of the shoe you’re looking for. This can make it difficult to find what you need simply by visiting retailers.

This is why online shopping on stores like Amazon and Brooks Shoes can benefit you, but there are things to consider. Following is a list of pros and cons to buying running shoes online:

PROS:

More choice.

Retailers are dependent on the wholesalers for their supplies, so when Nike or Asics has a new line of shoes coming out, the retailers don’t order the old styles, and instead wait for the supply they have to sell out. So if you like a particular brand or style, you can’t always get it at a retail outlet. However, when you shop online, you can typically find exactly what you’re looking for.

Saves time and money.

Retailers tend to sell at full price unless there is a special sale going on. When you purchase online through a site like Zappos or Amazon, you will typically get a discount on the same pair of shoes. Again, if you know what you want, it’s a preferable way to buy.

Convenience.

Online shopping is convenient because you can do it anytime, anywhere without waiting for the doors of a store to open. Also, running shoes can be delivered straight to your door so you don’t have to fight crowded stores and limited parking.

CONS:

Can’t try them on until you get them.

This can be frustrating, because not every shoe is going to fit just right, especially when it comes to running shoes. It’s important to have a good fit because you’ll be wearing them out, and they should hold up without causing blisters or other problems. Online shopping means you have to wait and see.

Returns and shipping.

If the shoes don’t fit, it can be a pain to return them and wait for a new pair to arrive to go through the process all over again. Also, shipping costs are a factor. Some online retailers offer shipping but others don’t. Read the fine print.

Difficult to search if you don’t know what you want.

This is the main thing to consider when wondering whether to buy running shoes online. If you have a shoe or brand in mind, it makes the work easier because you know how they fit and what they look like. But when you are just browsing and looking at a wide variety, it can get challenging to make a decision.

Bottom line: See what you can try on in a store and then make your purchase online. You will have more options of size, color, and style and the price will be right.