10 Best Shoes for Spartan Races – 2024 Buying Guide
We tested and reviewed dozens of top shoes and found that the Salomon Speedcross 5 outperformed in multiple categories. What put this shoe at the top is the blending of performances, durability, and value.
Read our full selection of reviews below.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Use
The Spartan Race is for the tough-minded individuals who love challenging and pushing themselves to the limit.
Having the right shoes for the occasion is the first step toward completing and winning this dreaded competition. Running uphill and downhill, on stones and flat surfaces, through mud and gravel, and jumping over ropes, is not a task you can perform with just about any pair of shoes. Tough sports events require adequate preparation and specially designed shoes to withstand all of the challenges that come with running or participating in obstacle races. There are many manufacturers claiming to make the best shoes to support your sports ambition, but not all are suited for tough tasks such as the Spartan Race. Today, the high number of shoes on the market can be overwhelming and confusing when it comes to choosing the right shoes for a specific racing event. Below are best shoes for Spartan Race reviewed for quality.
The Spartan Race is for the tough-minded individuals who love challenging and pushing themselves to the limit. With a combination of obstacle races to complete and win, you cannot risk wearing any other shoes except those you can count on to perform even on the roughest of terrains. With reliable shoes, you can be sure that going through varies terrain would not be as difficult as it would be without trusted sportswear to depend on. When shopping for a pair of shoes to help take you through a challenging competition, it is important to pay close attention to some specific features and benefits that could help make your work easier and support you to give your best.
Materials
This is perhaps one of the most important factors to consider because it contributes to several other features of the shoes
It also greatly determines the performance of the shoe. On top of your must-have runner sneakers should be shoes made of lightweight material. If you are going to hit the ground running, note that you will be doing so with an immense force that could double your own body weight. Running generally makes you add more force to the ground when stepping on.
This implies that your muscles and joints stand to suffer if you do not have high-quality shoes to handle the challenges. The shoes should have a lessening impact on your joints and muscles, which makes it even more important to consider the material you will be wearing. In this regard, you should first go for a lightweight high-quality material that can provide the right support to your joints.
Support
The arch is an important feature of the foot. It bears the full body pressure with every stride you take.
Since they carry immense pressure that your full body exerts, they should get the right amount of support to reduce the risk of injury or developing various musculoskeletal issues. Many people have developed pain as a result of unsupported arches that are forced to carry the body’s immense weight.
However, it is important to note that each individual needs a different kind of arch support to be able to perform at an optimum level. It is recommended that runners get motion control shoes with the ability to prevent collapsing/ inward rolling arches, especially if you have low arches. On the other hand, those with high arches need sneakers with inbuilt cushioning to help provide support and prevent outward rolling while at the same time developing inward arch strength.
Comfort
Intense running on varied terrain exerts so much pressure on your feet that ccan make running uncomfortable.
You cannot deny that running on varied terrain exerts so much pressure on your feet that you risk developing injury and various musculoskeletal issues if you do not get the right cushion you need to help you absorb all the shock that a Spartan Race can throw at you. If you would like to spring back as quickly as possible following a strenuous run, you might want to cushion every stride you take. Picture yourself running on stones and gravel on bare feet or very thin sole.
This can be a devastating experience because your heels will hurt and your whole foot will experience pain. However, with the right amount of cushioning, you can even run on fire without feeling a thing. It is crucial to get the right cushioning to absorb all the shock directed toward the muscle, joint, and even spine whenever your foot comes into contact with the ground. Note that different individuals need different cushioning depending on the type of feet.
Overall Fit
While some feet tend to remain intact and rigid when running, others tend to roll and twitch at the slightest opportunity.
These feet will roll whenever they land on the uneven ground. Since Spartan Race is performed on varied terrain, where there are stones, gravel, mud and just about any other obstacle you could encounter in the wild, you should give utmost protection to your feet to avoid any possible injury when running.
Apparently, midsole cushioning tends to minimize chances of injury to the ankle, heel, and even toe. This is because cushioning will improve the overall support to the foot and ankle as well as help to reduce the amount of stress placed on these areas. By running using cushioned sneakers, you could be preventing possible injury to the hip, back and even knee. Clearly, the importance of using sneakers with cushioned midsole cannot be stressed enough.
Top 10 Best Spartan Race Shoes
1. Salomon Speedcross 5
These shoes will help you cut through a range of terrains
Read moreThese spartan shoes feature an EVA midsole to provide the runner with lightweight cushioning. The midsole drop is 30mm down to 20mm, this is a 10mm drop. They are great for trail running and dealing with challenging technical terrains.
The shoes are designed to remain close to the foot. and a low-top from arch shaft ensures good support. The Sensifit uppers are 100% synthetic and do give a fair amount of support and breathability. The water-resistant uppers and anti-debris mesh will give protection against water and debris. The shoe is easily adjusted for FIT and secured via lace loops and an upper pair of eyelets.
The outsole is updated heavy-duty rubber armed with sharp deep lugs for gripping all types of soft to moderately technical trails, backwoods, and even grippy in mountain terrains The sole tapers into a toe guard at the front. This shoe is built for spartan racing.
2. ADIDAS CF Racer Tr
The quality of the shoe can boost performance.
Read moreBreathable textiles/mesh is fitted on the upper side of the shoe to provide proper air circulation and increase breathability. The shoes are designed to shape around your foot as you run. The shaft runs approximately low-top from the arch.
The aggressive grip and durable rubber sole ensure that stability and grip work together so you can focus on precise footwork in technical environments.
The shoe has a cloudless sock-liner for light cushioning and the uppers have a soft textile lining. These have a heel pull and tongue pull for quickly taking or putting on. the shoe gives nice performance and value.
3. Inov-8 Terraclaw
An optimum grip on the ground with every footstrike.
Read moreThe lace-up mesh upper is100% Textiles and synthetics and are designed to ensure ventilation to the shoes and feet. The shoe design leans toward centralized comfort, precision footwork and stability.
The lightweight toe cap is double layered with welded overlays that wrap the forefeet. The shoe features a diagonally sewn tongue that protects against dust and debris. A dual sticky rubber outsole has a multi-directional lug layout that works on all surfaces, including slippery rocks.
For racing or lots of miles, the cushioining is light and the shoe has an 8mm drop with a 16mm-8mm stack height. This shoe works for all challenges up to moderately technical trails.
4. Reebok Trailgrip
Remain steady on virtually any terrain
Read moreWith an underfoot cushion backed by midfoot stabilizers to ensure your running session will be cushioned and secure. Featuring mid-foot stabilizers to ensure the runner gets good stability.
The shoe uppers are synthetics and textiles and lock down securely with an adjustable lace system and supportive heel cup. These uppers include a MicroWeb lacing system fitted on the sides for accurate FIT and more support. A built-in stability bar gives lateral support.
The shoe has a nylon mesh lining with moisture-wicking capability. The footbed is memory foam and can be removed for replacement. The outsole is rubber and features a directional lug pattern for good traction/grip. A pair of these weight in at 2 Pounds.
5. Salomon Speedcross 4 CS
Designed for ‘cross-terrain’ running.
Read moreThis shoe is 100% percent synthetic uppers and has a heavy-duty rubber sole. Breathability is average and water protection is good. They are light on the feet and allow you to move with speed over multiple terrains. Good for spartan racing.
With low-top from the arch, they give stability and support. The lugs are deep and laid out to bite into the soft ground while also shedding mud. The Contragrip rubber sole allows for precise footholds and quick lift-off.
The midsole height gives a drop of 30mm-20mm -10mm. A pull cord lace system enables you to quickly adjust for a good fit. One shoe weighs in at 10.58 Ounces.
6. New Balance Nitrel v1
Energize your sprints uphill and skillful descents downhill.
Read moreFeaturing a combination of lightweight and very protective materials, a gusseted tongue with an improved updated all terrain outsole. The shoe gives good traction, speed, and performance. These have an 8mm drop.
All materials for the uppers are a synthetic weave, breathability is ok and waterproofing is good. The Revlite midsole gives a combination of light cushion with stability. To deal with comfort/shock this shoe has a response 2.0 performance-insert.
The outsole is rubber, the tread is an AT design with shallow lugs capable of gripping soft grounds and giving traction on rocks. The shoe front tapers upwards into a rubber toe protector. This shoe weighs 9.5 Ounces.
7. X-Talon 212
Good for uphill or over multiple terrains that require traction, Runs well on soft ground, firm ground, and technical terrains.
The uppers are synthetics that are tightly woven to give waterproofing and allow breathability. The lacing system works well for securing a customized fit.
The outsole is durable rubber with a deep aggressive lug layout for gripping soft and firm surfaces. This is a good all-terrain fast shoe weighing in at only 6.4 ounces per shoe.
Read moreExceptional Grip
The model design features Inov-8 patented sticky rubber design to provide athletes with the grip required to run over challenging terrains. You can be confident that the shoe will guide you through the terrains no matter the conditions.
Best Traction
There is no denying that this shoe has the best traction and even won the 2013 Best Traction award by Competitor Magazine. Under the "Fit Feel Ride" award category, the shoe emerged on top and can now be regarded as dependable when it comes to providing aggressive grip.
Cost and Value
If you are looking for shoes with the best traction on today’s athletes’ footwear market, this pair will provide the exceptional grip you need to have confidence in your running abilities.
