Do I REALLY Need High Jump Spikes?

Hey,

I get this question a lot, partly because at lower levels no one seems to jump with high jump spikes, partly because good spikes are expensive and hard to find. Let me see if I can't provide a decent answer and solution.

The short answer...yes, you do. At least, if you want to jump your highest.

"Why?" Because high jump shoes are designed to help you jump as high as possible (that is why they are called 'high jump shoes' not 'low jump shoes'). High jump spikes have a stiff sole and set of heel spikes that allow you to take a ton of speed, plant hard, and transfer as much of your speed into upward motion as possible.

"But aren't they expensive?" They can be, yes. My first pair of spikes, however, were $10 on a clearance rack and a local sporting goods store.

"Did you instantly jump higher with them?" Actually, yes, but it was more of training coming together than actual shoe assistance. Soon after buying the shoes I hit a 4" PR.

"I've heard girls don't need high jump shoes as much as men do?" Well, that is partly true. High jump shoes are designed to transfer speed and power into a solid plant and upward drive. Girls tend to fall a little bit lower on the raw power scale when they high jump. Girls jumping in high school are usually OK with just regular track spikes.

"Where can I get shoes for cheap?" I would try Eastbay.com or eBay.com. I got my current shoes from Eastbay and loved their service. They sent the wrong size and were really nice about replacing them (not to mentioned they were $80 shoes for $25).

"Are there any other options?" Yeah, there is something called a J-Heel. A J-Heel is simply a set of heel spikes that can be strapped on any pair of normal track spikes. Pretty nifty, but kinda pricey for what you get.

Hope that helps, if you continue jumping in normal spikes, you might be ok, but I hit a point where I tore the heel completely out of my normal spikes and almost killed my ankle before I wised up and got the right equipment. Best of luck!

Gregg

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My Shoe Recommendions

Shoes are something I get asked about a lot. While you can absolutely jump in traditional spikes to some point, the harder you plant the bigger risk you have of injury due to the forces placed on the heel that sprint spikes aren't designed for (I once tore the heel out of my shoe before upgrading to high jump spikes). You can still find strap-on J-Heel spikes now and again, but these are my recommend shoes for the 2025 season.

Puma Men's evoSPEED
These have great reviews, are reasonably priced, and I love having a velcro strap for a little bit of extra squeeze over my arch.
Price: $63-93
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Asics High Jump Pro 3
I've always loved Asics shoes. My first pair was Asics and they always fit my feet well without feeling too stiff like other brands.
Price: $170-180
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Nike High Jump Elite
While Nike's were never my favorite, I have jumping friends who love Nike high jump shoes and right now these are the best they've got.
Price: $110-$150 (usually)
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