What are your top 5 spikes?
What are your top 5 spikes?
brooks the wire
1. Nike Jasari. Best spike ever made, and can truly be used for any event 800m through 10k as well as XC + Steeple. Snug fit, lightweight, permanent omni-lite ceramic spikes. Best colors. The asymetrical spike platforms was a daring move that paid off.
2. Nike Kennedy: Excellent 1500 to 5k spike; one of the only spikes to ever bear the name of a track star, so that makes it unique. The spike design (placement on the foot) was ahead of its time and showed that lateral spikes aren't necessary (Zoom Victory lateral spike was moved in after people said the Miler's lateral spike hurt their pinky toe. The designers needed to look to the past and realize they had it right--a spike there was not needed!)
3. Nike Zoom JSC, first edition: Michael Johnson's signature shoe, which had the Jasari plate. Great weight, and could be used for anything from 200m to 1500m.
4. Nike Mamba: I've often said that a spike needed a carbon fiber plate (i worked on a project during college, arguing for carbon fiber plates, way back in '02-'03) and the Mamba did a great job. This can actually be tied with the new Maxcat as well, but since I'm a steepler, i'm putting the Mamba in here. There's a great energy return with that carbon fiber plate, and the spike placement feels great. The colorway could use some work though: the camoflauge on the first edition is weak, and with the cal-trans orange in the 2nd edition, it begs the question: "who are you trying to attract?"
5. Nike Jasari ID with Zoom Distance plate: You will never find a better spike for Cross Country. If you've ever raced in it, then you'll know what i'm talking about. The mesh is snug and form fitting, while the hard plastic outsole does a great job of holding up well against the elements (asphalt, concrete, rocks, snow, etc). I put over 120 miles of 8k/ 10k XC racing + training in a pair, and would still wear them today after 6 years off. They have held up considerably well.
Overall, I have not been too impressed with Nike's new line-up, and most other spikes are rip-offs of Nike's stuff, only they're 4-6 years behind. Saucony's Endorphin spike was a rip off of the miler, only 4 years too late. Brooks Z2 is a rip off of the Nike Zoom Shift; compare:
http://www.zapatillas.ws/lots/data/img_4a2b30af96747_20217.jpg
http://a1.zassets.com/images/724/7243602/6220-264863-p.jpg
Nike's new line-up of victory/ matumbo, etc is decent, but the materials that make up the uppers are lacking in the technology. It may be another 10 years before it is perfected. It is too loose, and gets slippery when the foot sweats. (compare that to the jasari--no slipping). The deletion of the heel cup was about 6 years too late, but thankfully they took it out (meanwhile, other companies are still using synthetic leather overlays, sometimes 2 and even 3 layers! compouned with all the plastic, and they wonder why their spikes are so heavy?!)
Honorable mention: Puma Harambee. It has a great spike plate that has stood the test of time, but the changes in the uppers over the years leave it begging to be put back with the Jasari counterpart. When they brought out the H2 the spike went downhill, and their third version just doesn't work well--it's lacking the charm of the original, and there is too much "fluff" with the spike--like the dumb little puma logo/ tag coming off the heel.
adidas adizero cadence: another nike rip-off. (Katana racer with spikes--Galen Rupp had a pair, and so did a few others circa 2007 and adidas went out and copied 'em, and manufactured them. I put them as honorable mention because they are in production and available to the masses, but it's a complete and total rip-off of another company, and it took little to no creativity on the adidas engineers part. that, and the heel cup is too heavy and not nearly as flexible as it should be.
it's too bad asics, adidas and new balance can't produce a spike that can even compete with others. adidas' spike placement went unchanged for years--sprint spikes + distance spikes--placement was the same. Then around '05 or '06 they brought out a few models that were different, but they still manufacture the exact same thing, not taking a risk, or offering a different placement that may work better for other people. New Balance put out the LDS 1005 a few years ago, and it was not rigid enough--it was great for 10k, but it was so streamlined, it was almost too relaxed. I felt like taking a nap after wearing them, because they felt like house slippers.
the best up and coming company though is Saucony--they're showing some creativity and enthusiasm behind their product. I think another 4-8 years (2 olympic cycles) is what it will take for them to iron things out after working with their athletes. I would love to see them offer spikes for jumping events as well, but the market is so small, it's a challenge to do that and make a profit, let alone break even.
Adidas adizero Cadence.
http://www.shopadidas.com/product/index.jsp?origkw=cadence&productId=3209169
I have a pair and they are the bomb. Well ventilated, super light weight, no spikeplate and pretty durable.
ASICS JAPAN THUNDER
because i'm not in high school
The recent vent plus feels perfect for 5k and beyond.
Do you know anywhere you can get spikes cheap?
