evoSPEED Distance Nitro Elite+ 4

For most runners, yes, it is true to size in length, but it fits like a race spike should: low volume and snug through the midfoot and toe box. If you are between sizes, size down for a locked-in feel rather than up. Wide or high-volume feet may find it tight, so try before you buy. The close fit is deliberate, keeping your foot planted on the plate when you sprint.

Yes. This is a middle and long distance spike, and the Nitro foam is what makes it work over the longer efforts. Compared with a bare-bones spike, the extra spring and comfort help protect your legs across many hard laps, so you can hold form to the line. It is happiest from 1500m up to 5000m, and stronger runners will take it to 10000m on the track.

Probably not as a first spike. This is a firm, narrow, neutral racing tool built for efficient runners with a quick, aggressive footstrike. A newer track athlete is usually better served by a more forgiving, cheaper spike while they build strength and form. If you are racing seriously on the track and can drive the plate, it rewards you. If you are just starting out, save your money and your legs.

Both are premium distance spikes aimed at the same 1500m to 5000m runner. The Nike Air Zoom Victory 2 leans on a taller, bouncier Air Zoom platform, while the Puma pairs Nitro foam with a Pebax plate for a slightly firmer, snappier feel. Neither is clearly better, it comes down to fit and preference. We would try both on if you can, because fit is the deciding factor with spikes.

Like all track spikes, this is a specialist racing shoe, not a high-mileage trainer, so treat it that way. The Pebax plate and Nitro foam hold up well across a season of racing and sharp sessions, but the thin upper and race outsole are not built for daily training miles. Keep it for the track, rotate in a trainer for warm-ups and easy runs, and replace the pins as they wear.