After Nike retired the wonderful Lenang steeple-spike, what's it's replacement? The Nike Mamba looks pretty close, but it's not marketed as a SC spike.
So, what's the best steeple spike? My Google-fu has failed me.
After Nike retired the wonderful Lenang steeple-spike, what's it's replacement? The Nike Mamba looks pretty close, but it's not marketed as a SC spike.
So, what's the best steeple spike? My Google-fu has failed me.
I own some Lanangs, but never liked them much for steeplechase. I use them for sprint/800/1500-paced work. Yes, they dry fast, but I found that if I misplant on the water jump and the midfoot hits it but I don't get the spikes planted, they skid off forwards like they're greased; also if I come down hard off a hurdle it's a big impact. It looks like there is some heel cushioning, but there really isn't.
Then again I'm old and bald and outside 10min at the moment. If you hurdle perfectly, run at 8min pace, maybe even hurdle the water jump, and never need to heel strike, they're probably perfect.
I have a pair of Ventulus which are much better - a bit more cushioning and springiness, feel great when your midfoot touches down (better suited to 5k pace), and the midfoot seems to grip and roll better over the water jump due to the sawtooth pattern 2/3 of the way back. Yes, I have to wring them out after the race (both of them, I am ashamed to admit), but I don't feel the weight.
Prior to that I used some old Adidas XC spikes which had good heel cushioning and rubber ridges/studs.
I would love to hear what's good, too.
The mamba is nike's steeple spike at the moment. You can still get lanangs (i just did) if you know where to look, though. Also, if you look at the pros you'll see that a lot of them use the victories.
adidas makes a spike called the avanti. all of the adidas pros wear those for the steeplechase.