Shoes made for 100m - 400m sprints. They are usually lightweight and with either stiff or flexible spike plate. See
sprint shoes
Mid-distance
Designed for 800m - 1500m distance. These shoes usually have small forefoot spike plate and small cushioned heel. See
Mid distance track shoes
Long-distance
Track shoes for long distance have fewer spikes but with full length cushioning for protection and support. See Long
distance track shoes
Hurdling
Slightly flexible track shoes with enough padding and heel support. See hurdling track shoes
Relays
These are stiff track shoes with minimal cushioning. They usually have 6 to 10 spikes. See track shoes for
relays
Long jump
These shoes offer right amount of padding in the heel to protect the foot when landing. See Long jump shoes
-High jump
These shoes have spikes placed in the forefoot and rearfoot. They usually have strap for lockdown and midfoot
support. See high jump shoes
Triple jump
Shoes for triple jump events have different heel and have more cushioning than long jump shoes to reduce heel
bruises. See shoes for triple jump events
Pole vault
They are very similar to long jump and triple jump shoes. They are moderately padded and stiff. See Pole vault
shoes
Discus
Discus throwing shoes have round, smooth outsole. They are sometimes labeled as rotational or hammer/discus. See
discus throwing shoes
Shot put
These shoes have slightly textured outsole and wide, flat heel. They are flexible with ample ankle and midfoot
support. See Shot put throwing shoes
Javelin
Also known as Javelin boots, these shoes are heavier than other throwing shoes. They also comes in either low, mid or
high top cuts. See Javelin shoes
Hammer throw
Hammer throwing shoes have round and smooth outsole. They offer ample amount of support for the ankle, achilles, and
midfoot. See Hammer throwing shoes
Steeplechase
Steeplechase shoes have a mesh upper and are water-resistant to protect the feet while running across water.
Brand
Event
Running
Includes sprints, mid distance, long distance, hurdles and relays. Track shoes for running events are either stiff or
flexible with minimal to moderate level of cushioning. See track shoes for running events
Jumping
This event inclused long jump, high jump, triple jump and pole vault. Jumping shoes have full length midsole for
comfort, support and stability. See Jumping shoes
Throwing
Throwing events include javelin, hammer, discus and shot put. Throwing shoes are flexibile with wide and flat
outsole. See throwing shoes
Disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn
affiliate commissions
when you buy through us.
If you find a good deal on RunRepeat, you click to the retailer and you buy the shoe, we get
a commission of the sale. This is how we pay ourselves. It does not make the shoe pricier
for you.
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and
experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all track & field shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It
also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is
to avoid that shoes with few ratings unjustly receives high scores.
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and
experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all track & field shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It
also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is
to avoid that shoes with few ratings unjustly receives high scores.
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and
experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all track & field shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It
also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is
to avoid that shoes with few ratings unjustly receives high scores.
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and
experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all track & field shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It
also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is
to avoid that shoes with few ratings unjustly receives high scores.
This shoe has recently been added to RunRepeat. The CoreScore is based
on a few reviews only, and it might change the coming weeks.
N/A
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and
experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all track & field shoes.
This shoe has a 10% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. It
also has a 10% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is
to avoid that shoes with few ratings unjustly receives high scores.
New Balance middle-distance spikes were once just reserved for the most elite athletes. Luckily for modern-day track racers, these running spikes are now reasonably inexpensive and accessible to anyone looking to improve their racing performance.
Hers is a quick guide from us to you, hoping it will be useful to our readers. This guide is about how to understand better why New Balance mid-distance track spikes are worth considering over regular running shoes.
New Balance mid-distance track spikes 101
Best New Balance mid distance track and field shoes- May 2020
New Balance mid-distance spikes are at par with one of the most popular middle-distance spikes, the Adidas Distancestar. Middle-distance spikes from New Balance are known to be the most versatile of all the track spikes out there. The brand offers stiff and aggressive spike plates that have enough flexibility to run long, middle, and short distances. Because of
These middle-distance track spikes are used for events ranging from 400-1500m. Its construction is very much likened to that of sprint spikes. This is in the sense that the shoes are elevated at the front. This design was made to encourage the runner onto their forefoot. Although, the build of the heel section provides a small amount of cushioning to make the shoe feel less rigid than a sprint spike.
New Balance mid-distance spikes are usually fitted with six to eight spike holes. And while these spikes are stiff, they still offer flexibility for better movement and performance. The shoe also has a soft upper that keeps the foot in place but stays agile and lightweight.
How New Balance mid-distance spikes fit and feel
How it should fit
New Balance mid-distance spikes usually have a slightly more relaxed, comfortable, and even slipper-like fit. It has a contoured and snug fit throughout the midfoot area. The shoe’s toebox also has the right amount of space for the wearer’s toes to move freely. These features provide additional comfort as well as having proper room for the feet to splay in. It is also ideal for this type of spikes to fit much tighter than standard trainers. The idea is that the spikes are an extension of the wearer’s feet.
The shoe’s narrow fit is only great for short periods of time. Middle-distance track spikes from New Balance also tend to run narrow; that is why for athletes with wider feet, it is suggested for them to go a size higher.
How it should feel
Mid-distance track spikes from New Balance feels snug and secure to the wearer’s feet without giving that cramping feeling. The toes should be close to the front of the shoe but not touching the end. These track spikes are built to secure the foot and provide remarkable traction.
These spikes feel much lighter than standard running shoes. This is because their main focus is speed and performance over anything else. With this in mind, middle-distance spikes or track and field spikes, in general, do not give the same technical support or build that can be found in most regular running shoes. However, this does not come at an advantage because racing time in tracks is generally less than road races.
Care tips for the New Balance mid-distance track spikes
New Balance mid-distance track spikes, especially the ones with removable spikes, are heavily used for middle-distance races. These removable spikes are called pins and are usually made of either metal or steel. How well kept the pins have an essential impact on improving the runner’s speed and overall performance. Track spikes that are also properly taken care of usually last through two to three racing seasons. Looking after spikes is all about keeping the pins and the shoe itself well-maintained.
Before racing, it is advised to break-in one’s New Balance mid-distance spikes, particularly newly bought ones.
Often check the spikes and its pins for signs of wear and tear. It is suggested to replace them around every two racing seasons.
With constant use, the metal or ceramic spikes are bound to get dull, and they will lose their traction. When this happens, do not attempt to sharpen them as they will likely break. Instead, buy replacement spikes and change the worn-down ones. Replacement spikes are usually sold at a relatively low price in sports shops nowadays.
For no-stress maintenance of one’s New Balance middle-distance spikes, always carry some extra spike pins and spike spanner during races, events, and meets. This is so that when the need arises to change the spike configuration, everything will already be handy.
Use a proper spike spanner. When changing the pins, only insert the pins slightly past where the turning becomes tight. Turning it any further will risk damaging the threads and footbed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best New Balance mid-distance track shoes?
The best New Balance middle-distance track shoe is the MD800v6. It is incredibly lightweight and secure, and it might also be New Balance's most aggressive middle distance spike ever. One of the reasons why it is one of the best middle-distance shoes out in the market is because of its new full -length plate. It allows the MD800v6 to race smoothly distances from 800m up to 3K.
What happens if I go sockless when wearing my New Balance mid-distance spikes?
Not all New Balance middle-distance shoes are designed for sockless usage. It is important to be informed about possible injuries that can happen when running sockless. Some of which are blisters might develop on the wearer’s foot, accumulated sweat in the shoe’s platform can cause deterioration of the material’s quality, and it can also cause foot odor from the moisture resulting in athlete’s foot.