Cielo X MD 3 vs evoSPEED Distance Nitro Elite+ 4

The Cielo X MD 3 is Hoka's middle distance track spike, built for the sharp end of the 800m through the mile and up to 3000m. This is a specialist racing shoe, not a trainer, and it makes no apology for it. A PEBA midsole sits over a carbon plate on a low 19mm heel and 16mm forefoot stack, so you get a fast 2.7mm drop that keeps you up on the ball of the foot where a middle distance runner wants to be. Six removable pins bite the track and the plate snaps you through each stride when you are turning the legs over hard. At GBP 225 it is a serious investment aimed at competitive club and collegiate athletes, and it goes head to head with the New Balance SuperComp MD-X. If your races are longer, its sibling the long distance model suits you better.

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.