Within Track & Field, there are 3 main types of spikes which you can screw into your running spikes. You have Christmas Tree Spikes (Compression), Pyramid spikes or Needle Spikes.
They all have their advantages and disadvantages, and I’m going to list all you need to know below.
Christmas Tree Spikes
Let’s go straight in and have a look at some of the ones which are available to buy.
LAUFSTOFF
Information
These spikes by LAUFSTOFF are the classic Christmas Tree Spikes. Measuring in at 6mm, which is the standard legal length for running on tracks.
They come in a pack of 14, so quickly doing the maths give’s you 7 in each shoe, which is fine, as most shoes will hold 6 spikes in each shoe.
Omni-lite
Information
Within the Amazon listing for the Omni-Lite Spikes, they also have the pyramid version along with a wide range of various sizes which you can choose.
Their claim to fame would be that they were used by Michael Johnson in his golden spikes when he set the world record in the men’s 200m & 400m at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
They are unbelievably light compared to most other manufacturers that tend to make theirs out of Steel.
You can also select the number of spikes you would like in each pack, We just good as you can be completely covered for any swaps or missing spikes which does occur frequently.How Do They Work?
Technical aspects for the Christmas tree spikes are down to the way they work with the track.
As they are truncated and appear to have levels within the spike, it stops the needles from actually entering and penetrating the track.
Therefore limits the amount of friction and also gives the athlete a light spring as it compresses the track and then pushes back against the actual spikes.
Sure this is only a small amount, but when you’re looking for everything that will aid you in becoming the best athlete possible, why not look at the small things as well.
Needle Spikes
Next on this list are the Needle Spikes. They probably at a first glance look different compared to the other types of spikes, as they are a lot thinner. But we’ll look in the functionality of them later on in the post.
Cartasport
Information
If you select the “Tartan spikes” you are selecting a needle variant.
Like anything, many companies call the same item different names and this is one of them.
With most of the listings, I’ve posted you can select different sizes.
These particular ones coming in a pack of 12.
Advantages & Disadvantages of the Needle Spikes
Let’s have a quick look at the good and bad points…
Advantages
With the Needle spikes, because they actually penetrate the surface of the track, there are fewer chances of slipping in wet conditions.
Disadvantages
Because the needle spikes are very thin, they can break a lot easier than the other variants available. I probably wouldn’t feel any difference, as you would still be getting more than enough friction from the other spikes within the shoe. But if 2-3 spikes break, you could start seeing problems. But there are ways of making them last longer.
Pyramid Spikes
Pyramid spikes tend to be the most popular type of spikes mainly due to the fact they’ll be provided when you purchase running shoes.