do track spikes make any difference for 5k?

What other shoes would you plan on wearing? If it's not the Vaporfly, 100% use spikes. Even if you have Vaporflys, I would still go for spikes on that short of a distance.

they would make a difference under 14 minutes

maybe

If one is world class it makes a difference. How important is it to you to be able to race final 800 metres sub-1:54?

my PR is 18:11. so I wonder if I'm too slow for it to make any difference...

trackspikesbuyer wrote:

my PR is 18:11. so I wonder if I'm too slow for it to make any difference...

The psychological boost of wearing spikes, the lighter weight and the improvement in traction should help make you a sub-18 5000 metres runner.

trackspikesbuyer wrote:

my PR is 18:11. so I wonder if I'm too slow for it to make any difference...

they are not worth it, you could even run slower in spikes than flats

given that I'm used to training in flats, and they are not particularly heavy, this does seem likely

People around here always says spikes are worth around 1s per lap.

But I wonder if it's worth the same for runners at any level of performance.

A 18:11 guy getting just under 18min is one thing. But a 13:23 guy getting an Olympic qualyfying may be another story. But I doubt the guy would be running 13:23 with no spikes.

joe, wrote:

trackspikesbuyer wrote:

my PR is 18:11. so I wonder if I'm too slow for it to make any difference...

they are not worth it, you could even run slower in spikes than flats

no way. Spikes will always make a difference of a few seconds at any level

If you have never worn spikes, you need to give yourself some time to gently introduce them into your running. I wouldn't recommend running a track 5k as your first race in spikes.

They may help improve your time, but you're probably better off buying a pair of the carbon shoes for 5k.

Bullet the Blue Sky wrote:

If you have never worn spikes, you need to give yourself some time to gently introduce them into your running. I wouldn't recommend running a track 5k as your first race in spikes.

Definitely this. My first ever race in spikes was a track 3k (Freshman year HS) and I had quarter-sized blisters on the balls of each foot. Doubling back for the 1500m 2 days later was very painful.

Before you wear them in a race of any distance, I recommend at least 1-2 track sessions, where you introduce your feet to them, at or faster than race pace. If you're scheduled for something like 12 x 400, maybe break the 12 into 2 sets of 6, and do the second set in spikes. You could also do a training run on the roads, and then wear your spikes for something like 4-8 x 200m at race pace, again, just to acclimate.

Spikes will make a huge difference mentally and if you want to accelerate at any point in the race (to cover a move mid-race, to kick to the finish, etc.) wearing spikes is like having performance tires on your car. You can do it without them, but it sure does make it a lot easier. Good luck!

There's a study which shows that Vaporfly's improve times even at distances as low as 3km. If I was the OP and had the money, I'd get the Vaporfly rather than spikes. They are just as effective on the track and can be used for road races too

vaporflys improve time on any distance compared to other running shoes. That does not mean they are superior to spikes...

Spikes are still the best shoes to run on the track with.

I could see the debate for 10k on track (mainly confort vs performance). But 5k on track is a no brainer. Just run it with spikes.

Also buying spikes and using them like once a week in a track workout will improve your running technique and the strength of your feet. So it is worth it even if you do road racing.

VF, Next, AF... they are all sub par on track. Too soft and no traction especially on the bends. And just wish you dont have to use them on the wet....

OP get spikes. But, if not, there are far better "flats" options for track out there, starting from the Takumi Sen and their awesome traction....

trackspikesbuyer wrote:

your thoughts please. I am considering getting some as I am doing time trials on the track during the pandemic (mile and 5k distance) but don't want to spend the money if it's unlikely to make a difference.

Buy the spikes. They do make a difference.

trackspikesbuyer wrote:

your thoughts please. I am considering getting some as I am doing time trials on the track during the pandemic (mile and 5k distance) but don't want to spend the money if it's unlikely to make a difference.

I’ve only run a couple of track 5000s, once with spikes as a TT (18:20), and another time with flats during a race (17:28). I was much fitter when I ran the track race, despite it being hot that day vs my TT (6° C and rain vs 27° C and dry). Wish I had run the race with spikes as traction is a bit better plus they’re also lighter. If you’ll be doing any kind of racing of racing on the track you should wear spikes. Splats are a good hybrid option for 5-10k if spikes beat you up too much.

If you like no profile no heel shoes get spikes, if you are more comfortable in shoes with heel height, or wear bulky orthotics, stick with flats

trackspikesbuyer wrote:

my PR is 18:11. so I wonder if I'm too slow for it to make any difference...

If you are a mostly normal proportioned person with a normal running gait, then track spikes will have a minimal effect at the 18-min pace. It is still plausible it can shave off a few seconds, but I'm not sure if there's any reasonable body of scientific evidence to conclude either way.

Track spikes help most when the force of your push-off is concentrated in the forefoot, when your foot strikes the ground. For the average ("normal") human, this happens more as the runner becomes faster. At the extreme end, when sprinting there will be barely any mid-foot contact, though this won't be the case for the 5000m distance.

Track spikes will give you some enhanced traction, andit will promote a more aggressive (forefoot/midfoot) foot strike. So whether it is beneficial will depend on your running form more than your actual 5000m time. If your calves are weak for example, spikes may make you fatigue earlier.

based on what everyone is saying I’m probably going to get some spikes. How about these ?

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/nik16646/nike-superfly-elite-racing-spikes-%7E-su20/

They’re expensive but I guess that’s cause they’re good (?)