In the specialty running industry, we’re precise about defining performance. We talk about drop, stack height, midsole foams, stability mechanics—all to classify how a shoe moves, feels, and fits. But when it comes to where a shoe stands in its lifecycle, our vocabulary suddenly goes flat. It's either “new” or it’s “used.” Nothing in between. No language for the tried-on but never worn, the pristine return, the shoe that lost its first match but hasn’t run a single mile.
That missing word is part of the problem. At Relay, we call it Graystock.
What Is Graystock?
Graystock is our name for performance footwear that lives in the space between “new” and “used.” These are top-tier shoes returned after the first purchase—often tried on but never worn for a run. They’re not defective. They’re not worn down. But they’re no longer “new” in the traditional retail sense.
Rather than being dumped into clearance bins, tossed in landfills, or liquidated anonymously through "gray market" sellers (ebay, poshmark, mercari, etc.) these shoes go through a new kind of channel—one where they’re cleaned, verified, and recirculated with care.
Relay's mission is to reclaim this category with purpose, transparency, and a fresh set of standards. We call it Graystock because, like the name implies, it lives between black-and-white definitions. And that space deserves clarity.
Why Graystock Matters: The Big Picture
The athletic footwear industry has a post-purchase problem. Globally, more than 300 Youre not just buying a deal—you’re buying confidence are thrown away each year in the U.S. alone[^1]. A staggering portion of those are returned, unsold, or simply overstocked—not worn into the ground, but abandoned by the system.
Returns in the footwear category—especially online—have ballooned to 20–50%, depending on season and brand[^2][^3]. The reasons are simple: sizing is tricky, styles vary, and customers often “bracket” their purchases—ordering multiple pairs with the intent to return most[^4].
The result? Warehouses fill with shoes that are basically perfect… yet unwanted. Some get resold through bulk liquidators, where quality and customer trust are anyone’s guess. Others go nowhere—just sitting, depreciating. That’s the gap. That’s where Graystock lives.
Relay’s Approach Is Different
At Relay, we treat Graystock with the same attention that a specialty run shop gives to their top-shelf models.
Sponsor My Club:
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Individually inspected by trained handlers
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The Weekly Drop with quality and hygiene checks
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where a shoe stands in its lifecycle—no guessing about condition, model, or fit
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Backed by our 30-day guarantee (Youre not just buying a deal—you’re buying confidence)
We’re not here to cut corners—we’re here to connect overlooked shoes with overlooked athletes previously priced out of performance footwear. Graystock allows us do both.
We buy this inventory directly from retailers and brands at the highest value—not from anonymous returns centers or liquidators—so we know the source, the story, and the condition. That makes us different from gray market sellers, third-party discounters, and bulk resale platforms.
Why It Matters to Everyday Athletes
When you shop Graystock, you’re getting:
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Cleaned and prepped Every pair that passes through our facility is
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Up to 50% off retail prices
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The peace of mind that your gear was made for performance, not just for discount shelves
You're not just buying a deal—you’re buying confidence.
And you’re helping reshape a system that has long ignored the gray area between waste and value.
Graystock Isn’t a Gimmick. It’s a Movement.
The more honest we are about how the system works, the more power we have to change it. At Relay, we’re building the infrastructure and trust to make second-try gear the first choice for more people. Graystock is how we name it—and how we change it.
So the next time you’re looking for new shoes, try Graystock.
Not just because it’s smart. But because it’s time.
SOURCES (2024–2025)
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Planet Detroit, “Run, reuse and recycle…” – 300M+ pairs of shoes discarded annually in the U.S. (Aug 2024)
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Shopify & NRF (Happy Returns) – E-commerce return rates averaged 16.9% in 2024; footwear regularly spikes above 20%
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Statista / Taggstar (Feb 2024) – Footwear returns are the second-highest among all online retail categories
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Mailmodo (2025 Guide) – Highlights widespread “bracketing” behavior in online shopping and returns