Under what conditions/surfaces are the various types of spike elements (pyramid, needle, hex head, christmas tree) used?
Under what conditions/surfaces are the various types of spike elements (pyramid, needle, hex head, christmas tree) used?
Pyramids are generally used for cross country though they can be used on the track. Needles are usually used on the track or good cross country course (though not the roughest courses as they wear out quicker than pyramids). Christmas tree spikes are only useful on the track as they work by springing back from the rubber surface- grass or mud won't do this. They're also often ceramic, which wears down quicker than steel, and are generally recommended for sprints/ middle distance, though nike puts permanent christmas- trees in some 5k/ 10k spikes. It shoudn't make much difference what sort of head the spike has, though hex head spikes may be stronger.
This is what I've found...
Pyramid - Muddy XC, Rubber Track Mile-10k
Needle - Firm XC, Mondo Tracks 800+
XMas Tree - Rubber Tracks Sprints/Jumps/MD up to 800/1500
Omni Lite - Rubber or Mondo Tracks
Steel - XC or Rubber
Hex Spikes are stronger and don't strip as easily