TrackSpikesSp2011FINAL_Layout 1 2/28/11 9:08 AM Page 1
Track & Field Spikes
by Cregg Weinmann
T
he 2011 track season is upon us. As in other pre-Olympic years, there are some new products being rolled out to serve the annual championships, as well as the anticipation of what will be coming out for the 2012 London Olympic Games. The usual players have new and updated products; only Reebok stands pat. adidas and Mizuno have minor updates, while ASICS, Brooks, New Balance, Puma, and Saucony present new offerings for athletes at all levels. Here we review 8 of the best, most representative shoes, and highlight 8 more to give a well-rounded overview of what’s available.
adidas adiZero Avanti 3 $110
ASICS Prima Diva Sprint 2 $100
The Avanti is a name familiar to athletes from a generation ago when it was the adidas entry-level offering found in abundance on tracks across the U.S. The 2011 offering is designed for high-end performance and is now the pinnacle of adidas distance spikes. The airmesh upper lines up the foot over the spike plate to maximize traction, and the green colorway suggests Oregon’s influence in the track & field world. The effective, 6-spike distance plate has been proven over several seasons. This update is largely the same as the original adiZero Avanti, with minor adjustments to the upper to center the foot over the full-length EVA, which offers a touch of cushion. The mesh upper and perforations in the midsole and spike plate allow for water to drain quickly. The overall result is a quality product that delivers performance.
The Prima Diva Sprint emerges in Round 2 with a major renovation and ugraded features. Developed in cooperation with Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones, it’s designed to be ASICS’ best women’s sprint spike. The Diva 2 trades up from the Turbo Phantom spike plate to the same plate as the Japan Lite-ning, ASICS’ top-of-the-line sprint shoe—which is to say, from a stiff, 7-spike plate to the nimble 6-spike plate. It also saves some weight while better accommodating the female foot for which the shoe is intended. The zippered shroud both improves aerodynamics and snugs the fit for improved performance. A thin, full-length layer of EVA adds its measure of comfort to the shoe.
UPDATED Sizes: unisex 4–13,14,15 Weight: 5.9 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 1500–10,000 meters, steeplechase; synthetic surfaces
UPDATED Sizes: women’s 5–11,12 Weight: 6.4 oz. (w/spikes, women’s 8) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic leather shroud Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length EVA Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 100–400 meters, hurdles; synthetic surfaces
Brooks PR MD $60
Mizuno Geo-Silencer 3 $110
The PR series replaces the entry-level spikes that Brooks has offered for the past decade. Here each component has been upgraded which explains the price nudge of $5. The PR MD features a new 6-spike, Pebax plate with a sharkskin TPU outersole, each providing performance-enhancing grip. A thin, full-length layer of EVA is capped by a slightly built-up heel pad for protection in the jumping events or when fatigue causes a less-than-efficient footstrike on the track. The improvement in its entry range—which also includes a PR Sprint and PR LD—boosts Brooks track & field to a new level, and is well worth the price.
The Geo-Silencer has been Mizuno’s top middle distance shoe for almost 5 years. The Geo Silencer 3 is a color-up from last season’s Silencer 2, which debuted an update to the upper that has been maintained in version 3. The spike plate is 3⁄4-length nylon with a PUimpregnated polyester laminate. It creates a hard-toothed, grippy heel that’s been proven in numerous Mizuno spikes from past seasons. Six spike wells and three permanent pins provide the forefoot traction, and this season features newly shaped spikes with fluted ridges to improve the response on synthetic rubber tracks. The synthetic leather upper snugs the foot nicely with traditional lacing and internal webbing and features a hook-and-loop strap at the top of the laces for extra security.
NEW Sizes: men’s 5–13,14,15; women 6–12 Weight: 5.7 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11); 4.7 oz. (w/spikes, women’s 8) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length sheet EVA Outersole: combination Pebax spike plate, thermoplastic sharkskin (heel) Recommended for: 400–1500 meters, hurdles; synthetic surfaces
UPDATED Sizes: unisex 5–13 Weight: 6.6 oz. (w/spikes, men’s 11) Spikes: 6, replaceable; 3, permanent Upper: synthetic leather Innersole: sheet EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length thermoplastic spike plate Recommended for: 400–1500 meters, hurdles; synthetic surfaces