In the fast-changing world of sports shoes, new high-tech footwear is making a big splash, giving both short and long-distance runners a huge advantage. The latest breakthrough—called “super spikes”—has caused a lot of debate, as studies now show these spikes can improve running speed by up to 3.1%. But is this boost due to athletes improving, or is it just better shoes?
A group of scientists wanted to figure this out. They focused on “advanced footwear technology” (AFT), which is the official term for super spikes. As these shoes become more common in top-level races, the big question is whether today’s athletes are truly faster or if it’s just the shoes that are better.
According to Montgomery Bertschy, a biomechanics expert, super spikes have a thicker, lighter midsole with a carbon-fibre plate for extra support. This design helps runners feel more comfortable and go faster, but it’s hard to say exactly why.
For shorter and longer races, it’s easier to see how these shoes help with speed and energy use. But for middle-distance races, it gets trickier because other factors can play a role. To test the shoes, scientists set up four different tests, having 12 runners run 200 meters while wearing both regular shoes and super spikes. The runners kept a steady pace for longer distances like 800 and 1,500 meters, allowing researchers to measure how much the shoes made a difference.
The results were clear: runners using the AFT shoes ran about 2% faster. In the 1,500-meter race, some athletes even cut their time by 5 seconds—enough to turn a loss into a win. The shoes didn’t make runners take more steps, but they helped them take longer strides, which is key to their success.
As sports scientist Ethan Wilkie points out, even a tiny improvement of less than 0.5% can decide who wins a race. So, these shoes may be giving athletes that small but important edge.
However, the benefits don’t apply the same to everyone. Some studies suggest that women might get more out of these shoes than men, and the shoes seem to help more in longer races. Factors like an athlete’s size, running style, and the type of shoe can also affect the results.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, 32 world records were broken, with athletes pushing their limits. In such a competitive world, every little detail counts, including the shoes.
So, are athletes today naturally faster, or is it all about better shoes? The answer isn’t simple. But one thing is for sure: combining new shoe technology with athletic skill is pushing runners to new levels, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
