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The best spike for beginning pole vaulters is...


whatever mid-distance/jump/long-distance spike you can find on sale for cheap (under $50)!


Seriously guys, I think it's great having spike discussions on here, but a first-year high school vaulter definitely does not need to spend $100+ buying the fanciest jump or pole vault spikes on the market.

You need a spike with some kind of padding in the heel. Sprint spikes are bad because they do not have that padding and will beat your shins up excessively. High jump and throwing shoes are not suited for the pole vault either.

That leaves you with pretty much every other spike out there. I don't usually see too many jump spikes on sale for real cheap, but every track season, I know the local running stores have a generic mid-distance spike that they buy in mass quantities and sell for like $30.

You do need to invest in a pair of spikes (as opposed to just vaulting in sneakers) because it will help you run with faster and with better mechanics, and may give you better traction on wet days. But there is no reason to blow your allowance buying the newest model of pole vault spike.

Besides, you beginning high schoolers should all be doing other events like the sprints and horizontal jumps anyway. You can sprint in jump spikes just fine, but it is harder to jump in sprint spikes.


I never had a pair of real jump spikes until right before outdoor nationals, my 4th year of college. I used mid-distance spikes up until that point.

there r some cheap pv shoes out there they are only like 70 dollars (which is pretty cheap considering the other shoes are ranging form 90-120) they are called the asic turbo jump my friend got them and i jumped in them one day and they felt pretty soling accept the fact that they have no lace cover and they dont look as cool but they get the job done

Distance spikes work well for beginners. It doesn't really matter. I just suggest that they get something with a decent amount of padding in the heel. Once they get better and wear them out they can get the PV/TJ specific spikes.

if you can contact Dick pond athletics you can get older model jump spikes. i got the mizuno triple jump/ pole vault spike for $54 i think. and ive only seen one other person have it too.

You guys have quoted $70 and $50, but there is no reason a beginner should even have to pay that much for spikes. From those same sources, you can get closeout distance or whatever spikes for under $40 usually, or from a local running store.

rainbowgirl28 wrote:You guys have quoted $70 and $50, but there is no reason a beginner should even have to pay that much for spikes. From those same sources, you can get closeout distance or whatever spikes for under $40 usually, or from a local running store.

and you can use them for any other events as well. doesn't make a difference, especially if you're a beginner.

I think beginners shouldn't have to commit to PV and buying a specific spike their first year. If they get a basic distance spike they can use it for everything. Once they get good and find their niche they can get event specific spikes.

I found that these spikes were the best for the novice vaulter. Not only did they provide great support and exceptional traction...but they also helped me earn the attention from all the ladies. I highly recommend them for any novice jumper.

Yes, Sebes, you have found some righteous spikes!

Rhino wrote:Yes, Sebes, you have found some righteous spikes!

Except that it is no longer legal to "climb" the pole.

No one at my school even uses spikes

rainbowgirl28 wrote:You can sprint in jump spikes just fine,

This is usually true depending on the jumping spike, but not always. You might not, for instance, want to run the 400m in TJ spikes.

Jumping spikes (that is, LJ, TJ, and PV - high is totally different) are designed are designed with thicker soles in general but particularly thicker and stiffer in the forefoot, to emphasise rising onto the toes when weight is rolled forward on the foot, helping the athlete achieve a higher takeoff angle. This isn't ideal for sprinting, but you still have to run before you jump in these events anyway so they can't be SO bad, so they're fine for high school purposes with the one possible exception of running corners. The thicker the forefoot is relative to the rest of the shoe, the less suitable they will be for sprinting on corners.

I had a pair of Adidas LJ spikes I bought super cheap, and the forefoot was so ridiculously thick that it felt like I went up and down 3" with ever step. They were great for LJ, but I wound up running a leg of a 4x200m at an indoor meet and had to use them because I had no others with me, and the tight corners were murder on me. My right calf cramped up on the first corner, and my left shin on the second. My SHIN! I didn't even know that was possible.

So yeah...I second your suggestion to get a cheap MD spike for HS use. They're the only type of spike that won't ever cause problems if you use them for any or every kind of event.