I need to buy some racing flats, but I need them to drain water. Not doing tris, just serious trail races with river crossings etc.
I havent bought flats or spikes in YEARS and would appreciate some advice. Cant tell on the internet, and I am currently overseas.
What race distances? How would steeple spikes work?
Any of the Zoot shoes should work well (or another tri brand like Avia or Scott). Also, the Saucony Type A3 or A4 would be good.
Nike's Streak XC 2: the mesh upper is porous like a window screen. Excellent traction too.
Asics Hyperspeed
Saucony Type A3
Saucony Fastwitch
Zoot flats
I second the fastwitch. I have a pair and are great on days that it is raining. They dont get too heavy or soggy.
A second thumbs up for Hyperspeeds. They drain faster than the Fastwitch and are lighter too. I have no idea how they'd hold up on a trail run (since the bottom is completely smooth rather than nubby), but they're great on the roads.
The Saucony A3 actually has holes in the outsole. I suppose they might drain water out.
They certainly let water in - terrible design. Could be a perfectly dry day but you run through a puddle or whatever, and BOOM you are running in wet socks
You should look around on trail running websites
I'd go with a steeplechase Nike spike, like the Nike Latang ST or the Nike Zoom Ventulus 2(bright green) or the old Nike Jasari's
Innov-8 Talon 212, designed as a fell running shoe, works great for muddy trails and wet rock/creek crossings. Very light weight; big, soft lugs work well for grip and lightweight cushioning on trails but not good for roads.
Zoom Streak XC 2 good all around very minimalist shoe.
Both drain very well.
i second the XC streak 2. GREAT stuff with those
i'm primarily a trail runner and use hyperspeeds (v2) for road and track workouts and races, and don't think they'd do well on trails, largely because stuff would get caught in the cutouts in the sole, and also debris would easily find its way in during creek crossings and irritate the feet thereafter.
my everyday go-to trail shoes are the new balance 790s and, more recently, the NB 100s; i've raced a trail marathon in the 100s and everything up to 50 miles in the 790s. both drain well and certainly qualify as flats meant for "real" trails. i wouldn't, however, recommend them for desert-like terrain where every step brings you in contact with sharp rocks, because part of what makes them great shoes is the intimate relationship they offer with the stuff underfoot.
note that the 790s have been discontinued, but there are online outlets that still offer them in men's sizes at good prices; alas, it has become tougher to find the women's model.