Advice

Choosing the Right Running Spikes

Running spikes generally fall into one of four categories: sprint, mid-distance, distance and cross country.

Sprint Spikes
Sprint spikes are designed to reduce the weight on your feet and help push off your toes. Due to lack of heel cushion, they are usually insufficient for lots of jumping or longer events.

Most sprint spikes have a plate only below the toes and are very flexible through the middle. Sprint spikes feature two types of spike plates: Rigid plates are made for power runners, while smaller, lightweight plates offer more flexibility for agile runners. Sprint spikes are designed for races up to 400M and hurdles.

- A long spike plate is designed to better keep the athlete on their toes by not allowing the heel to touch the ground.

- A shorter spike plate is very flexible, for the sprinter who wants a good flexing plate in a shoe that closely conforms to the foot.

- A mid-size spike plate is a composite of the shorter and longer lengths for athletes seeking a balance in flexibility and rigidity from their sprint spike.

To find the cheapest prices for Sprint Spikes please click here.

Middle Distance Spikes
A middle distance spike is light and flexible. Since middle distance runners do not stay on their toes the whole race, the mid-distance shoe has a slight heel cushion. Because of this extra heel, the mid-distance shoe is the most versatile track spike.

Designed for 400-meter to 1,500-meter events, mid-distance spikes provide heel cushioning and have a flexible forefoot plate. Hurdlers like them for the heel protection and weight. They're almost lightweight enough to be sprint shoes. They adapt very well to horizontal events such as the long jump and triple jump.

To find the cheapest prices for Middle Distance Spikes please click here.

Long Distance Spikes
While significantly lighter than a training shoe, distance spikes have a full-length cushion spike, as they offer more protection. Distance spikes are suitable for the longest track distances.

Designed for 1,500-meter to 10,000-meter events, distance spikes provide the most heel cushioning of any track spike because the runner's heel hits the ground so many times over a long distance. These spikes, which generally have flexible plates, also can be used for multi-purpose events and cross country. To find the cheapest prices for Long Distance Spikes please click here.

Cross country running spikes
These have a more rugged one-piece outsole for better grip and a flexible spike plate giving a more secure foot strike on rough ground. They also have a more durable and protective upper.

They are designed to provide the runner with better traction over the course of the race. However, cross country races take place on trails instead of tracks so the need for longer spikes is usually necessary.

To find the cheapest prices for Cross Country Spikes please click here.

Step1
Buy a pair of spikes designed for your event. Running spikes can be roughly divided into three categories: sprint spikes for up to the 400 meters, middle distance spikes for 400 meters to the 1500 meters, and distance spikes for anything above.

Step2
Get a shoe with the right kind of strike plate for your event. Sprint spikes often have a rigid strike plate that's lifted to keep you from running on your heels. Middle-distance and distance strike plates are lower to the ground and more flexible than the sprints.

Step3
Look for a shoe whose strike plate suits your running style. This mainly applies to sprinters, who will need to choose between long, short and composite strike plates. The long plates are the most rigid and are good for power runners, whereas the shorter plates are much more flexible and conform to the foot.

Step4
Buy shoes that fit like a glove, literally. Extra room in the end of the shoe will inhibit your mechanics and slow you down.

Step5
Try on as many different spikes as you can and preferably late in the afternoon when your feet are at their biggest. The shoe should fit comfortably and flex with your foot in all the right places.

Step6
Once you have found your particular favorite use our search engine to find yourself the best price!