Miami's Best Sporting Goods Stores

Locally owned sporting goods stores are rare. National chains dominate the business and that's not a bad thing, because they offer a wide variety of products tailored to specific regions. Here are a few of the best sporting goods stores in South Florida.

Play It Again Sports

12181 Taft Street
Pembroke Pines, Fla. 33026
(954) 704-3700
www.playitagainsports.com

While part of a national chain Play It Again Sports has the feel of a mom-and-pop shop because it buys, sells and trades used sporting goods.  Locals own and operate the store and provide knowledgeable service and rock-bottom prices. This is a good place for parents to buy their kids' first soccer ball, baseball bat or junior golf club. Top brands are usually in stock and you can save 50-75 percent off the price of new items. Here's to buying broken-in baseball gloves. Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

200 Gulf Stream Way
Dania Beach, Fla. 33004
(954) 929-7710
www.basspro.com

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World perfectly fits South Florida's year-round outdoor sports lifestyle. This 160,000-square-foot behemoth stocks everything you need for saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, fly fishing, boating, kayaking, camping, hunting, golfing, archery, RV-ing and alligator watching. Whew. There are also hunting and fishing workshops, weapons courses and hunter safety classes. There are more golf clubs than you can count. Despite the absence of basketballs and footballs, this is still one of the best sporting goods stores around. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Midway Sports

Mall of the Americas
7795 West Flagler Street
Miami, Fla. 33144
(305) 264-0788
www.midwaysports.com

Located in one of Miami's most popular malls, Midway Sports caters to hard-core athletes and workout freaks. High school and college jocks shop here. This small, family-owned store is crammed with gear. Soccer, basketball and football enthusiasts will be drawn to the "wall of balls." Check out the medicine balls, chin-up bars and speed jump ropes. Explore the assortment of other goods, such as wrestling kneepads, flag football belts and hockey sticks. The store even carries referee's gear and restrings tennis rackets. Golf equipment? Not at this store. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.