There are a tonne of sprinting spikes on the market and choosing which ones to can be a daunting task. We have reviewed a bunch of sprint spikes here on Athletic Courage, but we want to make sure you know how to choose sprint spikes that are nice for you. As a sprinter, the sprint spike is mandatory for speed work and training at a high level. Five areas make a difference in the type of shoe that you have. No one spike is going to be great for everyone, but it depends on your foot shape and the kind of sprinter that you are.
Plate Strength
The most important aspect of the sprint spike is the shoe the plate. As a sprinter, you want to have a strong spike plate. Unless you have a condition with your feet that does not allow you to have a harder plate, that is the place to be. Sprinting is about spending the least amount of time possible on the ground while also applying the most amount of force. When your foot strikes the ground, you don’t want to have any give. The mistake a lot of rookie sprinters make is getting spike plates that are made of rubber and have a lot of giving. The more give, the more speed you are willingly just giving up. There can also be exceptions made if you are a 400m runner. Sometimes it makes sense for a 400m runner to get a softer spike if you also run the 800. It may be a more natural spike to transition into if it is soft. Otherwise, your best bet is going to be getting the hardest plate you can find.
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Number of Pins
The number of the pins at the bottom of the plat is also essential. You want plates to have as many as possible. Most of the good plates will have eight spikes on the bottom. The reason the spike count is essential is that it gives you more contact points with the track and it also helps to prevent wearing down the shoe as fast. Spike pins are changeable so if you wear them down that is ok. If you wear the shoe down though, you are out of luck, and you need to go and get a new pair. It is not ideal to have to do things this way. The primary place you want to see these pins is right on the ball of the foot. This is one of the most aggressive contact points on your feet when sprinting, and it is easily the area that will take the most punishment on the shoe.
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Shoe Width
A lot of Nike spikes especially are made very narrow. You don’t want to be subjected to having to stuff your foot in a tight shoe if you have a wide foot. When your foot hits the ground, it naturally wants to expand. A shoe can get very uncomfortable if it is narrow, comes with a zipper or a strap like many of the unusual spikes Nike makes. You want to make sure that if you have a wider foot, that you look for a sprint spike to accommodate this. Spikes are worn a lot, and they should fit comfortably. If they fit too tight, you put your self at a bit of a risk of injury. Many sprinters have suffered from injuries simply from having spikes that too tight for their feet.
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Zippers and Straps
The reason that Zippers and straps get their category is that they can cause a lot of problems with spikes. I would guess that the number one reason people return spikes or send them back is that a zipper or strap is not working right. If you are an athlete that is not too worried about money, then this is not a big deal at all. You can afford to buy multiple pairs. If you don’t have a lot of money though and you need your spike to last, I would strongly recommend NOT getting spikes with straps or zippers. A spike without a strap or zipper will function just as well, and you don’t have to worry about anything breaking or ripping as easily. No need to return anything or hope Nike sends a replacement pair.
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Toe Box
The other important thing to look for in a spike is the size of the toe box. Some of these shoes have such a small toe box it can scrunch your toes up like many high heel shoes do to women. The tox box needs to be healthy for your foot, or it will cause issues with your big toe, and you will end up with a bunion. This is the area I made the biggest mistake, and my big toe is still paying for it today. I ran in toe boxes that were two small for my feet, and it pushed my big toe in. The problem is that when you are sprinting, you are putting a lot of force through that toe. To have that much force put through your toe when it is not sitting in the correct position is a nightmare. It can become extremely painful, and to this day it still hurts me a lot. Be smart and make sure that your toes can breathe a little bit.
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The Design
The design of the spike is important for a few different reasons. The first is vain but true and it si the fact that you want to look good. No one wants to step on the track and look like crap! That does nothing for you. Track is a sport based on confidence, and the truth is that if you want to run well, you usually need to feel good. Part of feeling good is looking good. You need a spike that you believe in the design of the spike. When you put them on your feet, you should feel good about the spikes. The best case scenario is when you put them on your feet you feel unstoppable. A well-designed pair of spikes can do that.
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Conclusion
- 1You want to have a strong spike plate
- 2Need a healthy toe box
- 3Want a well designed shoe
- 4Look for more pins over fewer pins
Sprint spikes are a huge part of being able to improve and run faster. You don’t want to waste time buying spikes that are going to slow you down. Your spikes need to be a tremendous asset to your ability to run fast but also to stay healthy and be stress-free. You will not be able to do that if you spikes are falling apart, hurting your feet or not made of the right stuff. Spikes are like a gladiators sword going into battle. They should make you more confident and give you the feeling that you are unstoppable
