Spike sneakers

If sport is life for you, then you should not postpone your beloved morning and evening runs, even if outside the window a blizzard, snowfall and roads have iced up so that it’s not only to run, but to walk is risky. Let others fear! And decisive, courageous and active people put on studded sneakers and go to set records.

The father of the studded sneakers was the German Adolf Dassler, the future founder of the brand Adidas. It was he, the manufacturer of slippers and a great connoisseur of the game of ball, who once invented and created shoes designed for football. Dassler instructed to build spikes for her to the local blacksmith. It happened in 1925.

The appearance of the first “spikes” caused bewilderment. The sports professional community looked at the innovator as insane and did not rush to buy studded shoes.

Then Dassler decided to send his creations to the participants of the Olympic Games for free. And already after 7 years at the competitions in Los Angeles, the German Arthur Jonat in new studded sneakers managed to reach the podium and become a bronze medalist. Since then, a huge lineup of runners and soccer players (both amateurs and professionals) has been lining up for the Dassler factory, wanting to get magic shoes that bring victory.

The scope of this type of sports shoes is not wide: studded sneakers are designed for athletics in snowy and wet weather.

They differ from their summer colleagues in the material from which they are sewn, the sole and the presence of plastic, rubber or metal spikes on it, which provide reliable grip during running.By the way, the spikes can be stationary and removable, and the "spikes" for men are significantly different from women.

Inexperienced runners often make the mistake of believing that you can reduce the cost of your purchase and purchase regular winter sneakers for training.

This is not true. Only studded, and manufactured in compliance with all requirements sneakers, provide comfort and safety during class.

The most famous manufacturers of “correct” and proven “studs” are Asics, Nike, New Balance, Salomon, Adidas.

Different manufacturers use different materials, but the “right” studded sneakers are mostly sewn with membrane fabric. It is waterproof, heat-resistant, and, due to a special layer, allows you to remove excess internal moisture. Result - the athlete’s leg is warm, dry, it does not sweat.

The soles of the spikes are thick, but quite flexible. And this is the main requirement for them. The sole during running or intensive walking should accurately repeat the shape of the human foot, then the runner will not feel any discomfort.

Studded sneakers are different. It all depends on their purpose.

• Sprinting. They are good for running over short distances (distances from 100 to 400 meters). The spikes on them are located in front of the sole.

• Universal. Such "studs" are optimally suited for running at distances from 800 meters. They are relatively light, cushioned.

• For long distances. These sneakers can be used for running at a distance of up to 10 kilometers. They have a soft sole, excellent cushioning. True, it is advisable to run in them leisurely - they are not intended for fast running.

• ATVs. These cross "spikes" are not so called by chance. They will pass everywhere: on the ground, snow, stones, dirt, dry foliage, damp sand and even on ice. They differ from their counterparts in a sturdy construction. Very reliable. As a rule, this kind of studded sneakers has the most reinforced spikes, for example, steel.

• Stud shoes for running with obstacles. They have a special convex tread, reinforced heel for a successful landing. Always replaceable spikes are located in the bow.

The spikes on some winter sneakers are removable. This allows the athlete to independently decide whether to use this element based on their weather outside the window.

If there is ice on the street - spikes can be installed in certain areas of the sole, if puddles - partially or completely removed. More experienced athletes even try to adjust their sneakers with the help of spikes according to a particular type and pace of training.

Running is a very energetic sport. And in studded sneakers, it becomes more difficult to deal with them, since they are heavier than the rest of their counterparts, especially when it comes to sneakers with a metal stud on the sole. In such shoes, the risk of tripping, falling, getting injured increases, and if dropped by spikes, you can still get injured. Even an experienced professional athlete is not safe from such a development of events, what can we say about amateur runners?

Spikes, as already mentioned, are not always removable. Such sneakers deprive a person of the right to choose, and in severe frost the spike will interfere.

When choosing studded sneakers, you need to clearly imagine how and where they will be used. So, for short morning runs in the park, sprinting models are suitable, and for all-terrain training in the forest - all-terrain vehicles.

On which model you would not stop your choice, the main requirement for “spikes” is safety. Before buying, check the pair for strength, appreciate the flexibility of its sole and the comfort of the insoles.

When trying on, be sure to pay attention to the toe and toes. In studded sneakers, they should not be “numb”. A correctly selected model sits tightly on the leg, fixes the foot.

Consider the material from which the shoes are sewn. Leather sneakers look luxurious, but in the cold and damp they will quickly "die".

Consider the region of your residence. It is the climatic conditions that should tell which pair to take - with a removable or stationary stud.

By the way, of all existing spikes, it is better to give preference to metal ones - they break less often, and due to the fact that they are fused into the sole, the risk of them flying out during an intense load is reduced.

If you are running at speed, the weight of studded sneakers is of great importance. The pattern is obvious: the heavier the shoes, the slower the athlete will move in it.

Studded sneakers are not operated in greenhouse conditions, and therefore quickly become dirty. Therefore, the issue of caring for such shoes is very relevant.

If you are the owner of "spikes" with removable iron spikes, be sure to remove spikes, laces and insoles from your shoes before the procedure. Pack the pair in a special bag that is sold in any sports store, and then wash the “shoes” in the delicate mode at a water temperature of no higher than + 35 ° C. Insoles before washing are soaked separately in warm soapy water.

If the spikes on your sneakers are not removable, try to maximally clean the sole from small stones and dirt with the help of improvised means (awl, brush). Then wrap the pair with a thick cloth and put in a special laundry bag.

But washing the sneakers with rubber spikes does not cause difficulties.

When washing, pay special attention to the water-repellent coating, which has recently been increasingly found in spikes. Machine wash may damage the protective coating. This problem can be solved with the help of a special spray, which should spray the shoes after drying - then the coating will be restored.

Dry studded sneakers need to be slowly, at room temperature, after having densely stuffed the inner space with white clean paper.

Studs for women have significant differences from similar shoes for men. This is due to the difference in the anatomy of the foot.

The fair sex has a smaller leg, and they need a narrow block, in addition, the ankle of women has a weak spot - the Achilles tendon. In ladies' sneakers, the heel should be slightly raised to protect them from injury. The depreciation in the “spikes” for women and for men is also different: the heel and toe of women’s sneakers should have soft depreciation, while for the strong half of humanity, similar shoes are heavier and stiffer.

The cost of a pair of studded sneakers depends on their manufacturer. Asics, for example, will cost 6000-8000 rubles per pair. "Off-road" from Mizuno on average cost about 10,000 rubles. Adidas studs are also in the same price range. Experts do not recommend saving on the cost of studded sneakers, because reliable manufacturers are a guarantee of the health of the runner.

Users usually do not complain about the quality of the studded sneakers they bought. But they often complain of inconvenience and pain after training. If you understand each specific situation in detail, then the cause of such unpleasant consequences was the mistakes of the buyers themselves, who did not appreciate the purpose of the shoe pair, did not take into account their weight and structural features of the foot.

When choosing studded sneakers, rush is inappropriate.