Adizero Distancestar 1 vs evoSPEED Distance Nitro Elite+ 4

The Adizero Distancestar is a track distance spike built to cover everything from the 1500m up to the 10,000m, which makes it one of the more versatile racing spikes you can buy. It sits below the specialist end of the Adizero range, so if you want a single spike for a whole season of track efforts rather than one event, this is the honest pick. A glassfibre plate underfoot gives you a firm, snappy platform without the aggressive geometry of a pure middle distance spike, so it stays comfortable across longer reps. At £90 it is one of the more accessible spikes on the market, which matters if you are a club runner buying your own kit. If you want something sharper for pure 1500m to 3000m work, the Adizero Avanti is the more aggressive sibling. For most distance track athletes, though, the Distancestar does the lot.

The Puma evoSPEED Distance Nitro Elite+ 4 is a middle and long distance track spike, built for the runner who lives for the last lap of a 1500m, 3000m or 5000m. This is not a road racer or a daily trainer, it is a stripped back racing shoe with one job: turn your fitness into fast lap splits. Puma pairs its Nitro foam with a Pebax propulsion plate, so you get a light, springy platform that still holds a spike plate underfoot for grip through the bends. In our view it sits with the sharpest distance spikes on the market, a genuine rival to the Nike Air Zoom Victory 2. At the top of the specialist spike price bracket, it is aimed squarely at serious track athletes. If you race on the oval and want a light, propulsive spike that rewards a fast turnover, this belongs on your shortlist.