Are spikes good for cross-country?
If most of your meets are on soft-surface courses (dirt and grass), cross-country spikes are your best choice for one simple reason: traction. Metal spike shoes provide much better lightweight traction on grass or loose dirt than any other type of running shoe. Almost all serious cross-country racers wear spikes.
How much of a difference do cross-country spikes make?
Spike Length Differences Most tracks state that spikes can be only 1/4 or 3/16 inch, or smaller. Using longer spikes on a track surface will tear the surface and ruin the track. Cross-country spikes are made to gain traction on high grass and through the mud, so spikes generally are longer.
How long do cross-country spikes last?
two seasons
Unlike training shoes, which need replacing every few hundred miles, cross country spikes should last you at least two seasons. That’s because you usually only wear them to race.
What size spikes are best for cross-country?
The most important consideration for cross-country spikes is the length of pin to use. While quarter-inch pins are the norm for use on a track, three-eighth-inch pins are standard for cross country. However, muddy conditions call for a longer pin, say, a half-inch or five-eighths of an inch.
Do you wear socks with cross-country spikes?
Make sure you only wear your spikes whilst on the track or at a cross-country event on a soft surface. As running spikes are a snug fit whether you wear socks or not is up to you. Going sock-free however can increase your chance of blisters so look for a thin technical sock to get the best of both.
Why do track runners not wear socks?
Many elite athletes avoid wearing socks because they want their feet to fit tightly into spikes. Some of them opt for specifically designed running shoes that already feature a built-in sock mechanism, making regular socks redundant.
