Which do you prefer and why? What are the main positives and negatives of each model? What are the main characteristics of each as far as suitability to specific track events, suitability to running style, spike setup, width, durability, comfort, weight, etc...?
I prefer the Kennedys to the Vents at just about any distance. Good things about the Kennedys are
1. removeable spikes yet still super light
2. perfect spike configuration for me. I don't push off from the outside of my foot, I tend instead to land there so I don't need the spikes there.
Only thing I don't like about the Kennedys is that the middle spike receptacle pushes against my metatarsal when I'm warming up and it's annoying. During a race it does not bother me at all though.
Good thing about the Vents
1. Super light -- slightly lighter than the Kennedys
2. Super comfortable -- the inside fits like a slipper
Bad things about the Vents
1. Permanent spikes which are way, way too long. These annoy me to no end.
2. Spike configuration screws up my stride -- they place two of the spikes too far back. The one on the outside in the rear is truly annoying
I've worn the Kennedy's in everything from 200 to 3000 and they felt great. I'd wear them in a 5000 too, I think.
they are both exceedingly light and both are very good shoes...i have a neautral gait and both work perfectly for me.
Kennedys:
THey are real light but they have an upper that seems to give guys on my team blisters on the side of thier feet.
THe raised spike wells are not confortable for me at all. I don't think they are very suited for longer races, and the wells tend to slip if you put smaller spikes in. The inside configuration tends to give people foot pains unless you run on your toes the entire race.
The plastic nubs wear out real fast as well as the cushioning, not that there is much anyway. The fit to mee seemed wide, I have narrow feet and I had to tighen the laces a lot, I think its because of nike's tendency to have 'cushy' heels.
Ventulus (plus):
Lightest distance shoe out there. Well except for the mangostin...can't find those anywhere really...except the adidas outlet in this town hahahaha..
THe spikes are really suited to 5 or 10 thousand meters, and yes they are a tad long, but nothing that will really bother you or get you d'qed. The two spikes in the back made it easy for me to run tall but not on my tiptoes like i felt i had to with the kennedy's
The upper is much more confortable then the kennedy's but again the heel tends to be wide for me. The spikes last surpirsingly long (for 99$ they better), just don't wear them on pavement even walking to the track.
The plus have an open mesh upper for steeple, i don't know how well the spikes would work for steeple, I'll stick with the adistar's for that event.
Where can you find the Vents? I can't find them anywhere. I can only find them in like size 8 or 13, there is nothing between. Anybody can help me that would be great
Kennedys gave me blisters too, I prefer the ventulus. Try www.eastbay.com for the ventulus
crap.......i didn't see this thread............here is my question: Has anyone worn either of these spikes in a steeple? I have some adistar's, but these are particularly lighter.
Eastbay has the Ventulus plus in all sizes for 99$.
has the plus for 110$
https://www.runningunlimited.com/asp/product.asp?pid=232
has them for 109.95 as does ...a bit pricy
http://www.fitnesssports.com/nikeshoe2.html
they have both, at team and student discounts it ends up less than 90$ I believe
http://www.runnfun.net/linkrnf.htm#NIKE
has them for 85$
Go for the Adidas steeplechase spike.
I ran my best (9.43) in the old Zoom Ultra.What a great spike that was!!
Happy 'chasing.
Andy
Going back to the Kennedy and Ventulus, how do they run as far as size? If I wear a 9.5 in the Pegasus and Zoom Rival MD would a 9.5 fit me well in the Kennedy and Ventulus?
Depends how you want spikes to fit. I always size down a half size because I like my toes at the edge. But if you want some wiggle room the same size will be fine, just remember that they will be far more narrow then your trainers at the toes.
Mizuno has a middle distance spike that is smooooth. It actually will guarantee you a PR by 5 seconds per mile. Not sure on name though. This is NOT a paid advertisement!
Bump.
Bump.
One of my teammates used the kennedy's for a steeple and he said it f***ed his foot all up because of the hard landing and lack of support in the shoe. It gave him all sorts of arch problems.
what mizuno shoe is that?!
Steeplechaser1 wrote:
crap.......i didn't see this thread............here is my question: Has anyone worn either of these spikes in a steeple? I have some adistar's, but these are particularly lighter.
yes, i have worn both for the steeple. i liked the ventulus a lot, only they were a little big (borrowed them from friend) and foot was slidding too much inside. but i liked it better tho than the kennedy. with the kenndy, they are nice cuz they are lite, and dont hold too much water. but to me, they hurt every time i landed off the pit, and also when landing coming off the barriers. due to that they are too lite (sort of), but just cuz the way the spike plate is. to mee, they hurt quite a bit.
Average_Joe wrote:
Only thing I don't like about the Kennedys is that the middle spike receptacle pushes against my metatarsal when I'm warming up and it's annoying.
This was a problem for me, too, when I first switched to kennedys. I dropped a blank in the middle spike socket and it hasn't been a problem since. Great shoes overall.
I might be looking to steeple this spring and I'm curious if anyone has opinions if I would be better off in the Kennedys or a pair of old zoom countrys I use for cross. They seem like they would be heavy but sounds like the kennedys might be too hard on the feet.
Kennedy's suck. Vents are pretty sweet. Vent plus blows though. If you are a steepler, get the Lanang. The Eldoret 2 is dope as well.