Studded sneakers

If sport is life for you, then you should not postpone your beloved morning and evening jogging, even if a blizzard, snowfall and roads are icy outside the window so that not only running, but also walking has become risky. Let others be afraid! And people who are determined, bold and active put on studded sneakers and set off to set records.

The father-progenitor of studded sneakers was the German Adolf Dassler, the future founder of the Adidas brand. It was he, the manufacturer of slippers and a great connoisseur of the ball game, who once invented and created shoes designed for football. Dassler commissioned a local blacksmith to build the spikes for her. It happened in 1925.

The appearance of the first "spikes" caused bewilderment. The sports professional community viewed the innovator as insane and was in no hurry to buy studded shoes.

Then Dassler decided to send his creations to the participants of the Olympic Games completely free of charge. And after 7 years, at a competition in Los Angeles, German Arthur Yonath in new studded sneakers managed to reach the podium and become a bronze medalist. Since then, a huge queue of runners and football players (both amateurs and professionals) has lined up at Dassler's factory, wanting to get magical, winning shoes.

The scope of this type of sports shoes is not wide: studded sneakers are designed for athletics in snowy and wet weather.

They differ from their summer colleagues by the material they are sewn from, the sole and the presence of plastic, rubber or metal studs on it, which provide reliable grip while running.By the way, studs can be stationary and removable, and "studs" for men differ significantly from women.

Inexperienced runners often make the mistake of thinking that they can make the purchase cheaper and buy regular winter sneakers for training.

This is not true. Only studded, and made in compliance with all the requirements of the sneakers, provide comfort and safety during exercise.

The most famous manufacturers of "correct" and proven "spikes" are Asics, Nike, New Balance, Salomon, Adidas.

Different manufacturers use different materials, but the “right” spike sneakers are mostly made with membrane fabric. It is waterproof, heat-resistant, and, due to a special layer, allows you to remove excess internal moisture. The result is that the athlete's foot is warm, dry, and does not sweat.

The soles of the spikes are thick, but rather flexible. And this is the main requirement for them. The sole during running or intensive walking should accurately repeat the shape of a person's foot, then the runner will not feel any discomfort.

Studded sneakers are different. It all depends on their purpose.

• Sprint. They are good for running short distances (100 to 400 meters). The spikes on them are located in the front of the sole.

• Universal. These "spikes" are optimal for running at distances of 800 meters or more. They are relatively lightweight and cushioned.

• For long distances. These sneakers can be used for running up to 10 kilometers. They have a soft sole and excellent cushioning. True, it is advisable to run in them at a leisurely pace - they are not intended for fast running.

• All-terrain vehicles. These cross "spikes" are called so for a reason. They will go everywhere: on the ground, snow, stones, mud, dry foliage, damp sand and even ice. They differ from their counterparts in their sturdy construction. Very reliable. As a rule, this type of spike sneaker has the most reinforced spikes, for example, steel.

• Obstacle spikes. They have a special convex tread, reinforced heel for a successful landing. Always replaceable pins are located in the bow.

The studs on some winter sneakers are removable. This allows the athlete to independently decide whether to use this element, based on their weather outside the window.

If there is ice on the street, the spikes can be installed in certain zones of the sole, if there are puddles, they can be removed partially or completely. More experienced athletes even try to use the spikes to adjust their sneakers to a particular type and pace of training.

Running is a very energetic sport. And in spiked sneakers, it becomes more difficult to do it, since they are heavier than their other brothers, especially when it comes to sneakers with a metal spike on the sole. In such shoes, the risk of tripping, falling, injuring yourself increases, and if you fall with thorns, you can still get hurt. Even an experienced professional athlete is not immune from such a development of events, what can we say about amateur runners?

Spikes, as already mentioned, are not always removable. Such sneakers deprive a person of the right to choose, and in a severe frost, the spike will interfere.

When choosing studded sneakers, you need to have a clear idea of ​​how and where they will be used. So, for short morning runs in the park, sprint models are suitable, and for serious training in the forest - "all-terrain vehicles".

Whichever model you choose, the main requirement for studs is safety. Before buying, test the pair for durability, evaluate the flexibility of its sole and the comfort of the insoles.

When trying on, be sure to pay attention to the toe and toes. They shouldn't go numb in studded sneakers. Correctly chosen model fits snugly on the leg, fixes the foot.

Consider the material from which the shoes are made. Leather sneakers look luxurious, but they will quickly "die" in cold and damp conditions.

Consider your region of residence. It is the climatic conditions that should tell which pair to take - with a removable or stationary stud.

By the way, of all the existing studs, it is better to give preference to metal ones - they break less often, and due to the fact that they are fused into the sole, the risk of them flying out during an intense load is reduced.

If you're running for speed, the weight of the studded shoe is important. The pattern is obvious: the heavier the shoe, the slower the athlete will move in it.

Studded sneakers are not used in greenhouse conditions, and therefore quickly become dirty. Therefore, the issue of caring for such shoes is very relevant.

If you are the owner of "spikes" with removable iron spikes, be sure to remove spikes, laces and insoles from your shoes before the procedure. Pack the pair in a special bag, which is sold in any sports store, and then wash the “shoes” in a delicate mode at a water temperature not higher than + 35C. Before washing, insoles are soaked separately in warm soapy water.

If the spikes on your sneakers are non-removable, try to clean the sole of small stones and dirt as much as possible with the help of available tools (awl, brush). Then wrap the pair with a thick cloth and put it in a special bag for washing.

But washing sneakers with rubber spikes does not cause any difficulties.

When washing, pay special attention to the water-repellent coating, which is more and more common in "studs" lately. Washing with a typewriter can damage the protective coating. This problem can be solved by using a special spray that should be sprayed on the shoes after drying - then the coating will be restored.

Dry the spiked sneakers slowly, at room temperature, after filling the inner space tightly with white clean paper.

"Studs" for women have significant differences from similar shoes for men. This is due to the difference in the anatomy of the foot.

The fair sex has a smaller leg, and they need a narrow last, in addition, the women's ankle has a weak point - the Achilles tendon. In sneakers for ladies, the heel should be slightly raised to protect them from injury. Cushioning in "spikes" for women and men is also different: the heel and toe of women's sneakers should have soft cushioning, while the strong half of humanity has similar shoes that are heavier and harder.

The cost of a pair of studded sneakers depends on the manufacturer. Asics, for example, will cost 6000-8000 rubles per pair. "SUVs" from Mizuno cost about 10,000 rubles on average. Adidas spikes are in the same price range. Experts do not recommend saving on the cost of studded sneakers, because reliable manufacturers are a guarantee of a runner's health.

Users usually don't complain about the quality of the studded sneakers they buy. But they often complain about the inconvenience and pain after training. If you take a closer look at each specific situation, then the reason for such unpleasant consequences was the mistakes of the buyers themselves, who did not appreciate the purpose of the shoe pair, did not take into account their weight and features of the structure of the foot.

There is no rush when choosing studded sneakers.