The Sporting Goods Store People Plan Road Trips Around
Most sporting goods stores are places you go to buy something. Scheels is a place people plan a day around. Its biggest stores have a Ferris wheel, huge aquariums and sport simulators under the same roof as the running shoes and fishing rods, and for a lot of families in the Midwest a trip there is an outing in its own right.
That reputation raises a practical question for everyone who does not live near one: is Scheels worth shopping when all you see is the website? The answer depends on what you are buying and what you value in the place you buy it from.
A hardware store that grew into an all-sports giant
Scheels traces its history to 1902, when Frederick A. Scheel bought a hardware store in Sabin, Minnesota. It is now based in Fargo, North Dakota, and has grown to more than 30 stores across the Midwest and West, from Montana and Utah to Arizona and Texas. Its store in The Colony, Texas, at 331,000 square feet, is billed as the largest all-sports store in the world.
Two things set it apart from the national chains. First, the range: apparel, footwear, exercise equipment and team sports sit alongside a deep hunting, fishing and outdoor section. Second, ownership. Scheels became employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan in 1991, and says it is among the largest employee-owned companies in the US. Its current CEO started at the company as a part-time cashier.
Where Scheels is strongest
- Hunting, fishing and outdoors. This is the heart of the business, and the selection runs deeper than most general sporting goods chains. Scheels also has its own premium outdoor line, Scheels Outfitters.
- Regional sports. Stores in snow country carry serious winter gear; stores near lakes carry serious fishing gear. The online catalog reflects that breadth.
- Name brands across many sports in one basket, which is useful when a family is kitting out several people for different activities at once.
Not sure you will stick with a new sport before spending on it? Our guide to buying gear for a hobby you have not committed to yet is a useful place to start.
How to shop it well from home
- Check shipping and returns before you fill the basket. Bulky items such as exercise equipment, kayaks or gun safes can carry delivery conditions that differ from a pair of shoes. Read the terms on the product page.
- Look at the size charts brand by brand. Footwear and technical apparel vary between makers. Measure, then compare against each brand’s own chart rather than your usual size.
- Know the rules for regulated items. Firearms, ammunition and some hunting products are subject to federal, state and local laws, and some cannot simply be shipped to your door. Check what applies where you live before planning a purchase.
- Use the store if one is within reach. For boots, bikes and anything where fit matters, trying it on in person before buying is still the safest route, and many shoppers combine it with a day out.
🎣 Shop hunting and fishing gear at Scheels
When to shop somewhere else
- You only need basics at the lowest price. A plain gym T-shirt or a set of dumbbells is often cheaper at a discount chain or big-box store.
- You are a specialist. Serious climbers, cyclists or runners may find a dedicated specialist shop has more expert fitting and a narrower but deeper range.
- You want it tomorrow. If speed matters more than selection, compare delivery times with a nearby store or a large online retailer before you order.
For outdoor and multi-sport shoppers who value a wide range and like buying from a company owned by its own staff, Scheels is well worth a look, whether or not there is a Ferris wheel down the road.
