What Kind of Shoes Should I Wear for Spartan Race?

During an obstacle race, your shoes are the most essential piece of equipment. Here are the best trail running shoes you could wear at a Spartan Race.

You can't just wear any types of shoes at a Spartan Race; otherwise, you are putting your self at risk of a severe injury. The best kind of shoe to wear at an obstacle race must have enough traction and stability to navigate through the obstacles without slipping or falling. Plus, most Spartan Race courses involves trail running, and therefore, there are no better shoes to wear than actual trail running shoes.

Best shoes for a Spartan Race

Salomon Speedcross trail running shoes

In my opinion, Salomon trail running shoes are the perfect footwear for obstacle racing. They have all the right features and benefits I need to run a Spartan Race confidently.

Here's why I have been running with multiple generations of these Salomon Speedcross for over 10 years.

Highlights:

• Arch and ankle support
• Heel counters
• Aggressive traction with 6mm arrow-shaped lugs
• Drain water and dry quickly
• Anti-debris mesh
• Lightweight and breathable
• QuickLace / One-pull tightening shoelace system
• Weight 9.2-10.9 ounces
• Heel drop 10mm
• More control and stability
• Flexible
• Durable outsole

Considerations:

• Feel tight on the feet
• Not a wide feet option
• Not suitable for flat feet

Suitable for:

• Obstacle Race
• Spartan Race
• Spartan Stadium race
• Spartan Sprint
• Spartan Beast
• Trail running
• Beginners
• Athletes
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Peroneal tendonitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Heel Spurs
• Blisters
• Black toenails

Features:

Midsole cushioning: The Salomon Speedcross is equipped with a lightweight midsole cushioning. Design for maximum comfort, the EVA Midsole will get you through the harsh terrain and obstacles.

Traction: The Contagrip outsole is built with a durable rubber, covered with 6mm arrow-shaped lugs, that can handle every challenge in your way.

Overall fit: Design to wrap around the foot, the precise foothold of the shoes provides all the necessary comfort. The Sensifit system gives a fabulous fit and a better level of stability than the competition.

Upper: Salomon know how important it is to keep the debris out of the shoes, and therefore, they covered the upper section of the Speedcross with an anti-debris mesh fabric.

Styles: This is one of those brands that does quality products with a stunning design. The Speedcross is available more than 20 color schemes for men and women.

Size: With size varying from 5 to 14, I'm pretty confident they have a shoe for you.

For all the details check the Salomon Speedcross Shoe on Amazon here.

Is Salomon Speedcross 4 waterproof?

Be careful when buying a pair of Salomon trail running shoes, because they also have the waterproof version. The Gore-Tex option is not suitable for obstacle racing. It's more intendant for hikers have don't deliberately jump in deep water puddles.

Is Salomon Speedcross 4 good for wide feet?

No Salomon Speedcross is not a good fit for runners with wide feet. If you are looking for a wide option of trail running shoes, I suggest the Inov-8 Men's Roclite 290.

How to choose the right running shoes for a Spartan Race?

During every Spartan Race, I'm always surprised by the enormous difference in shoe types that runners are wearing. I've seen it all, from the gym trainers to the cool-kid Vans and the open-toes sandals.

Don't make those rookie mistakes and treat your feet with decent trail running shoes. Here are the essential features to look for when choosing the right shoes for a Spartan Race.

Materials

The design and the materials are what make the difference between the real trail running shoes and cheap sneakers.

Obstacle racing is tough on the feet and also on your shoes. After you see all the features and technology in a proper trail running shoe, you'll understand why It's worth every penny to invest in well-built running shoes.

Traction

Throughout a standard obstacle race, the trails are irregular and full of rugged mini-obstacles such as roots, rocks, loose sand, mud, and water. Consequently, you'll need an aggressive traction system to face multiple terrain variations.

Also, the rubber outsole works as a shock absorption shield, which is quite helpful while running downhill in a trail full of rocks and dirt.

If your current running shoes have a flat outsole with only a waffle-like texture, you're at risk to slip and get injured. Even with the best support and cushioning, your gym shoes are useless during a muddy obstacle race.

Water drainage

Water drainage and quick-drying abilities are vital features to look for when choosing a good pair of shoes for your next Spartan Race.

However, waterproof shoes made from Gore-Tex must be avoided because they also block the water from going out. Additionally, those shoes are heavier because of the substantial overlay.

During an obstacle race, such as a Spartan Race, it inevitable to step in a deep water puddle. Instead of trying to prevent the water from coming in (which is impossible when your feet are submerged in water), get the shoes with a decent water drainage system.

Your feet will dry faster, and you'll have less chance of developing painful blisters.

The only Spartan Race without water or mud is the Stadium edition, and even during such event, rain could be pouring onto your feet.

Breathable fabric

The breathability of your shoes is necessary. The air should circulate easily in and out of the lining.

A reliable ventilation feature prevents blisters by blocking the accumulation of moisture around your toes. It also drastically improve your overall comfort, especially during a long Spartan Race such as the Beast (13 miles / 21km) or Ultra-Beast (30 miles / 50 km).

Lightweight

The perfect shoes for an obstacle race would be so lightweight that you'll forget you are wearing them.

Your muscles and joints are put to the test during the race, and you don't need the extra weights. Heavy shoes mean heavier steps, which translates to more stress on your legs.

Bottom line, you'll save energy with lightweight running shoes.

Flexibility

Your feet need the ability to move freely and quickly adapt to any types of surface. Therefore, the flexibility of your shoes is crucial for performance, and it's even more critical to avoid injuries.

On the other hand, the sturdiness is also beneficial to dodge possible injuries. A shoe with too much flexibility can lead to a twisted ankle or foot fracture.

A good pair of trail running shoes will have that ideal balance between flexibility and sturdiness. The toe box is flexible enough to adapt to the rugged trails and obstacles, while the rest of the shoe is robust and shock absorbent.

Upper

With a course filled with dirt and gravels, it's essential to wear a shoe built to prevent such annoying debris from penetrating. The regular running shoes are made of breathable mesh that let such intruders accumulate inside the shoe.

Therefore, look for the trail running shoes with an anti-debris upper that blocks such invaders.

Also, mudguards and toe bumpers, are beneficial to preserve the integrity of the shoe.

Cushioning

Running put so much pressure on your foot, especially during a Spartan Race. Imagine your whole body running, and jumping, while your tiny feet have to absorb all the weights.

Help your feet by getting the right running shoes with enough cushioning. Not only you'll protect your feet, but also the muscles and joints.

Midsole cushioning

The midsole cushioning improve the overall support of your feet while reducing the chances of stress injuries to the heel and ankle.

Heel counter and shock absorption

The possibilities of developing injury or foot issues are extremely probable for every runner. Especially for the beginners and anyone who tend to land on their heels.

During a road race, it's much more easy to control our foot stride and avoid heel-striking. However, during an obstacle race, we run uphill, downhill, and climb over tall obstacles. It's inevitable; your heels will be put to the test.

Consequently, it's critical to get running shoes with enough shock absorption, especially under the heel. Otherwise, the pain can travel up to your lower back and stop you from completing the race. A solid heel counter will protect your foot, but also your knee, your lower back, and your spine.

As you get better at obstacle racing, you'll decide if you can go with a more minimalistic cushion, but at the beginning your safer with a good counter cushion under the heel.

Heel-to-toe drop

The heel-to-toe drop can vary depending on the brands and models of shoes. This ramp angle in the shoe sole affects your foot strikes.

A high drop (10–12mm) encourage heel striking, while a low-drop (0-8mm) supports a mid-foot or forefoot runner.

The advanced runners are choosing the low-drop options for a more natural stride. However, the zero-drop is not for anyone, and it could be potentially dangerous for the beginners. The heel strikers could quickly develop a heel spur without this extra heel cushions.

Upper padding

Extra padding around the collar and tongue area reduces the friction on top of your foot. It also, protect the tendons from being tightly squeezed against your shoelaces.

Definitely an essential feature for the runners dealing with pain, such as extensor tendonitis.

Support

No doubt, your feet take much of the beating while running a Spartan Race, and on top of the cushioning, you'll need the proper support. Without this extra help, you could develop painful injuries or simply overwork your feet.

Heel support

The heels of a runner taking lots of stress during a race, and it's a matter of safety to get the proper heel support. Furthermore, if you been experiencing plantar fasciitis, the heel support will prevent more pain. Running with poor heel support can develop or worsen the injury.

Arch support

Your whole weight is putting pressure through your foot at every stride you take. This pressure is transferred and absorbed by the arch of your feet. Therefore, it's imperative you get the proper arch support.

However, if you're suffering from foot pain, you might need more or less arch support. For example, the arch support will minimize the unwanted rolling of the arches, especially for the runners with low arched feet.

On the other side of the medal, the high arched feet need more support. Their arches should be snugly supported by the inbuilt cushioning.

Overall fit

The perfect running shoes would wrap your feet with just enough firmness to avoid unwanted movements and painful rubbing. During a Spartan Race, your feet are in constant motion, and without the proper fit, you are risking a rolled ankle or other foot injuries.

Takeaway

The best kind of shoes you could wear at a Spartan Race is the trail running shoes. They are equipped with much-needed features, such as traction, stability, and shock absorption cushioning.

When it comes to trail running, Salomon is the go-to brand for many runners, including me. More precisely, these Salomon Speedcross has got me through many obstacle races and numerous hours of training.

You can't be wrong with the Speedcross.

Your feet will thank you!

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