track spikes part 2 QK
4/1/08
11:00 AM
Page 1
2008 Track Spike Update By Cregg Weinmann
E
arly results from the track demonstrate that the buildup to Beijing has begun. Our technical track spike review in January included the earliest entries into the market. We offer this update to introduce you to the latest offerings. We expect that by July we’ll have at least one more update to wrap up the new shoes we’ll be seeing in the Olympic Games in August. For 2008, Reebok focuses attention on its high-end spike offerings by introducing two new styles designed for athletes in track events from 100 to 10,000 meters. Both carry the name “Kuai,” a transliteration from Chinese which means “quick,” “swift,” or “fast” and their design says the same thing. Scheduled for retail release in April, these will hit the shelves just in time for the invitational and championship seasons.
REEBOK KUAI DISTANCE
$100
Reebok’s reputation for producing effective distance running shoes reaches back more than a century. The Kuai Distance stands out as the best model among the dozen or so they’ve already produced in this century. The upper is a mix of woven mesh and supportive midfoot overlays, with HF-welded support straps over the toes. The newly developed spike plate is a bit of a hybrid. Its forward pitch gives it a middle-distance appearance, but the full-length layer of molded EVA softens the ride a bit for longer races without inhibiting the faster paces of the middle distances. The sharkskin heel provides an accommodating grip when the heel finds the ground. Sizes: unisex 4–12,13,14,15 Weight: 6.8 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 6, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays Innersole: EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: TPU heel, Pebax spike plate Recommended for: 800–10,000 meters on synthetic surfaces.
REEBOK KUAI SPRINT
$100
The Kaui Sprint, as you might guess from the name, leans toward the quickest end of the “Kaui” definition. The newly designed Pebax nylon spike plate provides a fairly rigid platform for sprinting, but does so at a minimum cost in weight. This model is more of a power sprinter’s shoe, though it’s not on the stiffest end of the spectrum. The synthetic upper is supportive and the Pump bladder offers a customized fit by surrounding the foot with its inflatable channels. Together, the upper and the Pump keep your foot securely over the spike plate to maximize your contact with the track. That security allows you to translate all your effort into horizontal progress. The sliver of EVA midsole buffers the impact from each step without dampening the crispness of your strides. Sizes: unisex 3–12,13,14 Weight: 7.1 oz. (w/spikes, men’s size 9) Spikes: 8, replaceable Upper: mesh, synthetic overlays, Pump system Innersole: EVA Midsole: full-length CM-EVA Outersole: full-length, flexible Pebax spike plate Recommended for: sprints & hurdles to 400 meters on synthetic surfaces.
Our previous spike reviews are available in the Winter 2007 issue of ATHLETES ONLY and on the Web at www.atf-athlete.com. CREGG WEINMANN is footwear and running products reviewer for the Running Network LLC. A competitive runner for the past 43 years, he also has coached runners at all levels for almost 30 years. He can be reached via email at shuz2run@lightspeed.net. Copyright © 2008 by Running Network LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of the Running Network LLC. Reprinted here with permission.