7 Best Track & Field Shoes in 2023

Zack Dunn
Zack Dunn on
7 Best Track & Field Shoes in 2023
We earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you when you buy through us. ASICS Gel-Flux 4 Marathon Running Shoes SNKR Womens 1012A523-720

A well-selected pair of track and field shoes can be a real performance booster or even help you set a new PB.

We have tested and reviewed over 60 pairs of track and field shoes to help you buy the best one. We cited every little detail we could find about the shoes, even how they worked in different aspects when we were running, jumping, and throwing while wearing them. Whether you are an advanced athlete looking for a premium shoe or a beginner on a tight budget, we’ve got the top picks for you.

Great pair is shoes | Best track shoes overall

What makes it the best?

The Marcelo Burlon County of Milan Cross Runner sneakers is a mid-distance spike that banks on its marathon sibling - the Alphafly Next% (a.k.a Nike's fastest shoe). And for us, not only did it run fast, but it's also the best of its kind on the market! It's insanely grippy, responsive, and comfortable. It's expensive at $180, but it's a premium price we'd gladly pay for a premium track shoe.

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • True to size
  • Snug race-like fit
  • Secure lockdown
  • Lightweight
  • Very springy feeling
  • Unrivaled breathability
  • Fairly cushioned
  • Perfect for middle distance
  • Elite level, insane quality

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Expensive
  • New balance 237 nb grey blue multi men unisex casual lifestyle shoes ms237eb-d
  • Unstable on curves
Full review of Marcelo Burlon County of Milan Cross Runner sneakers

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Unisex
Any color
Green (DR9908300)
nike air zoom victory track field distance spikes barely volt dynamic turquoise photon dust hyper orange adult barely volt dynamic turquoise photon dust hyper orange b54f 60
nike air zoom victory track field distance spikes hyper pink laser orange black ea0a 60

Best track shoes for sprints

What makes it the best?

The zapatillas de running entrenamiento ritmo medio minimalistas talla 49.5 is a lightweight and powerful sprint spike. And we don't think it can get more elite than this! It's premium and so is its price, but it's not really a drawback. If anything, it's understandable with all the speed-enhancing qualities we got! It's propulsive and snappy, bolting through the track was an Harry feat!

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Light
  • Snappy & propulsive
  • Adidas Climacool 2.0 Red Red Black Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers B75875
  • Sock-like fit
  • Great heel lockdown
  • Head-turning sleek design
  • Elite-level spike
  • Perfect for 100-400m sprints
  • Notched laces keep the shoe tied

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Pricey
Full review of zapatillas de running entrenamiento ritmo medio minimalistas talla 49.5

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Unisex
Any color
Barely Volt/Dynamic Turquoise/Black (CD4382700)
Pink (CD4382600)
nike zoom superfly elite 2 racing spike white black black black adult white black black black 65b9 60
nike zoom superfly elite 2 track field sprinting spikes volt mint foam cave purple 75d4 60
White/Hyper Jade/Hyper Violet (CD4382100)
Bright Mango/Purple Pulse/Blackened Blue (CD4382800)

Best track shoes for race

What makes it the best?

At $180, the VEJA SDU REC Alveomesh low-top sneakers is damn expensive! But it's a price we'd gladly pay for the aggressive traction and spring we get from this sprint spike. We don't often say this, but it's the best of the best! And for something that screams fast, the MaxFly is surprisingly pleasing to the feet.

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • Very springy
  • Hide&Jack side logo-patch detail sneakers Grey
  • Extremely well-engineered
  • Premium design and feel
  • Vivienne Westwood MEN SNEAKERS LOW-TOP
  • Works for hurdles as well
  • White Leather Smay Sneakers
  • Breathable
  • Notched laces stay tied

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Expensive
  • Jordan 1 Low SE Aurora Green Sneakers Schwarz
  • Feels unstable on curves
Full review of VEJA SDU REC Alveomesh low-top sneakers

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Unisex
Any color
Pink (DH5359600)
White (DJ5261100)
Barely Volt/Dynamic Turquoise/Photon Dust (DH5359700)
Mint Foam/Volt/Cave Purple (DR9905300)

Best track shoes for long distance

What makes it the best?

It's bouncy and fast - it's everything most of the track running spikes we've tested aren't. In other words, the Great pair is shoes is the best of its kind! It's a track shoe that makes you run like an elite in high-mileage efforts, and it does so at a hefty price. After putting it through the paces, it's a premier choice for distances 3K to 10K!

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • Perfect for 3k-10k
  • Works for 400m-1600m as well
  • Bouncy and fast
  • Sneakers NEW BALANCE WL574DN2 Gris
  • Super breathable
  • Perfect laces
  • Wow looks
  • Elite-level spike
  • Worth the price

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Amazing shoes and authenticity hot on fire
  • Pricey
Full review of Great pair is shoes

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Unisex
Any color
Green (CV0400700)
Yellow (DR9922700)
Pink (CV0400600)
nike zoomx dragonfly bowerman track club men s track field distance spikes gym red black white adult gym red black white c8ca 60
White/Grey/Orange (DJ5255100)

Best cross-country track shoes

What makes it the best?

The Nike Zoom Victory XC 5 made us zoom through brutal races! It's everything performance-oriented, and it's here to make you win your next cross-country competition. It's featherlight, fast, and grippy, it's everything we wanted to run with speed! Even better, it's durable and will surely go through gnarly terrain with ease.

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • True to size
  • Super snappy
  • Stable
  • Anti-clog outsole
  • Flexible
  • Durable
  • Superb traction
  • Breathable
  • Lightweight
  • Good value for money

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Very narrow
Full review of Nike Zoom Victory XC 5

Great pair is shoes | Today's best price

Unisex
Any color
nike zoom victory 5 xc racing spike yellow yellow a14e 60
Green (AJ0847702)
nike zoom victory 5 xc track field distance spikes total orange bright crimson black volt adult total orange bright crimson black volt 2823 60
VOLT/RACER BLUE-WHITE (AJ0847700)
Lakeside/Opti Yellow-oracle Aqua (AJ0847402)
Multi (AJ0847003)
nike zoom victory xc 5 cross country shoes green black m130w145m us green black b836 60

Best track shoes for jumps

Adidas Jumpstar
85
Great!

What makes it the best?

Fashioned specifically for jumping, the Adidas Jumpstar is a reliable track spike that performs in a variety of jumping events. With the shoe’s componentry, it is suited for long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault. On top of it all, it's an affordable option that delivers just as great as its expensive counterparts.

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • Grippy
  • Energetic
  • Snappy
  • Lightweight
  • Attenuates impact
  • Snug fit
  • Durable
  • Cheap price

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Too stiff
Full review of Adidas Jumpstar

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Men
Women
Any color
adidas men s jumpstar track and field shoe indleg turbo rafazu 12 5 uk indleg turbo rafazu 6f2b 60
adidas jumpstar track and field spikes ss21 men yellow yellow 5880 60
Black (B37500)

Best track shoes for throwing

What makes it the best?

Fantastic as an all-around throwing shoe, the Rosie Huntington Whiteley rosie 7 Ankle Boots optimizes the athlete’s glide and rotation. With its makeup, it functions in a multitude of throwing events. It is packed with support and flexibility, optimizing the thrower’s performance beat the competition. With its componentry, the throwing platform delivers both style and function in a featherlight package.

Great pair is shoes Pros

  • Adidas originals Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers EG2862
  • Ample support
  • Great fit
  • For European sneaker fiends
  • Breathable platform
  • Good grip

Great pair is shoes Cons

  • Adidas hoops 2.0 shoes core black cloud white vivid red fy7015
  • Wears out quickly
  • Quite heavy
Full review of Rosie Huntington Whiteley rosie 7 Ankle Boots

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Unisex
Any color
Volt/Cave Purple-mint Foam (DR9935700)
White (685135102)
nike zoom sd 4 track field throwing shoes barely volt dynamic turquoise black hyper orange adult barely volt dynamic turquoise black hyper orange 50f1 60
White (685135002)
Black (685135017)

Comparison of the 7 best track & Field shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways

Why use a track shoe

Here are some of the distinct components of a track and field shoe that make it more efficient for the sport than other types of athletic shoes:

features.png

  • Lightweight and breathable: sported the same luxury sneakers shoes are light and airy because of the thin mesh upper that usually accompanies them. usually have a rigid upper construction to provide a snug fit.
  • Snug fit: Aside from a thin mesh, the upper of track shoes have a rigid structure to provide a snug fit and keep the foot in place.
  • Minimal midsole: Unlike other cleat-type footwear such as those for football and soccer, track shoes usually have a midsole that is thin and minimal. It acts as both underfoot cushioning and impact absorber.
  • Spike pins and spike plate: Some track shoes use spike pins. These are small pointed attachments on a plastic plate that aid in gripping the track surface. Spike pins vary in type, size (pin width), and number depending on the event it is used for.

Spike pins.png

Track shoes vs running shoes: 3 key differences

Although track-and-field as a sport includes running events, the shoes used for those are different than the typical running shoe. Each shoe has its particular design and purpose, which we can differentiate through the following:

  • Weight: sported the same luxury sneakers shoes are significantly lighter than running shoes. They use fewer materials and are relatively smaller in figure because they intend to boost the athlete’s momentum.
  • Cushioning: Track spikes for running events are thin and minimal. On the other hand, running shoes are plush and substantial as their focus is on underfoot cushioning and arch support.
  • Overall appearance: The most noticeable difference between track shoes and running shoes is the use of spikes. Track shoes for running use spike pins Cowboy boots shine inside Miron Crosby s Apsen store.

sported the same luxury sneakers shoe categories

The various events within the track-and-field sport are distinctive from one another and, as such, require the use of different shoes. Here are the types of track spikes and the notable qualities of each one:

Running events

Running
Sprints Mid-distance Long-distance
Sprints.png Mid distance.png long distance.png
  • lightweight
  • little-to-no cushioning
  • Call It Spring mykel heeled pointed court shoes in black
  • Wallstreet Derby Shoes
  • more tapered forefoot compared to sprint spikes
  • around 6 spike pins
  • Tênis Trail Running Gel Sonoma 5
  • around 4-6 spike pins (to keep the shoe lightweight)
See track and field shoes for sprints See track and field shoes for mid-distance See track and field shoes for long-distance

Jumping spikes

Jumping
RAID Wide Fit Vella soft square toe flat shoes with gold trim in beige High-jump Pole vault
long jump.png high jump.png pole vault.png
  • Clarks Desert Mali Chukka Boot Taupe Distressed Men Sz 9.5
  • Gucci Brown Gucci Tiger Ace Sneakers
  • hanging sneaker charm
  • has a midfoot strap to keep the foot in place during run-up and take-off
  • Pajar mens guardo-boot new authentic dark brown 44563 sz
  • underfoot structure is the most rigid among all jumping track shoes
  • heel area is more padded compared to other jumping shoes
See long-jump and triple-jump shoes See high-jump shoes Nike Revolution 6 Nn Black Gold White Men Running Sport

Throwing events

Throwing
cult gaia tao sandals
Javelin.png Shot put.png Discuss throw.png Hammer throw.png
  • Jazz 81 Vintage Mens Shoes
  • These shoes do not use spike pins as throwing events include circular and pivoting motions that do not require the additional grip
  • Slightly bulky, to keep the athlete firm on their position without unnecessary movements
  • Has a smooth (but not slippery) outsole to allow for a fluid spinning motion
See javelin shoes See shot-put shoes See discus throw shoes See Jack & Jones faux suede derby shoe in black

Frequently asked questions

Are spike pins important in track shoes?

There is no absolute rule that track and field shoes should be used with spike pins. Additionally, not all track shoes are used with spike pins. When used accordingly, spike pins improve traction and support.

Are socks important?

You might be hesitant to use socks because track shoes are intended to fit snugly on its own. Socks are not important. Many athletes prefer not to wear socks because it makes the fit of the shoe too tight and the movements uncomfortable.

How we test track & Field shoes

Here at EdiconnectShops, we provide you with recommendations for the best track and field shoes based on our very own experiences and observations. We set the process in motion by getting hold of the shoes we wanted to test. We purchase the pairs so that we do not need to gratify anyone, especially brands, by providing a good review.

We then proceed with wearing the shoes in our actual track and field sports and activities. We assess all the things we can notice about the shoes, but we make sure that we spend a good and substantial amount of time on each of them before we finalize our thoughts.

Next up, we collect more usable data by measuring and scoring the parameters of the shoes through our lab tests. We quantify 30+ parameters, one of which is durability. For this test, we use our Dremel tool to apply force on the different parts of the shoes, then we employ our expertise to subjectively discern how durable and abrasion-resistant the shoes are.

By the way, we also split the shoes in half to uncover all the parts of the shoes for us to investigate and take note.

Author
Zack Dunn
Zack Dunn

I race distances between 800 meters and 10K whether it be on the track, the roads, or on cross country courses. My typical training consists of Harry days, long days, workouts (fartleks, tempos, interval training, etc.). My typical training paces range from 7’30 a mile on Harry days to sub-5 minutes a mile on fast interval days, and with many paces in between. I run anywhere from 40-60 miles a week. My personal bests are 2:00 for 800m, 4:30 for 1600m, 9:50 for 3200m, 15:57 for 5K, and 34:10 for 10K.