I've spent a great deal of time looking for the best racing flats, but the saucony kilkenny xc9 spike is generally the particular one I recommend to anyone just starting out or even looking for a reliable, no-nonsense workhorse for the cross-country season. There is definitely something incredibly classic about the Kilkenny range. It's been around for ages, even though other shoes are becoming thicker soles or carbon plates that cost a fortune, this spike remains true to what cross country will be actually about: obtaining muddy, running fast, and not overthinking your gear.
When you first pull the saucony kilkenny xc9 spike from the box, the first point you notice is how gentle it feels. It's almost weightless in your hand, that is exactly what a person want when you're staring down a 5K course full of hills and tall grass. I've worn plenty of spikes that feel stiff or heavy, require have the certain "barely there" quality that makes them feel like action of your feet rather than piece associated with equipment you're dragging along.
The particular Comfort Factor and the Upper Mesh
Let's talk about the top for a second. It's a lightweight textile fine mesh that's surprisingly smooth. Sometimes, racing surges can feel the bit "scratchy" on the inside if the components are very plastic-heavy, yet Saucony did a good job producing these feel comfortable even if you're the type of runner who favors thin socks—or no socks at most, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend that will for a dull race.
The fit is pretty snug, which is usually standard for any race spike. You need that lockdown feel so your foot isn't sliding around when you take a razor-sharp switch on wet lawn. However, despite getting snug, the saucony kilkenny xc9 spike doesn't experience suffocating. It breathes really well. If you've ever finished the race and felt like your feet were going swimming in sweat, you'll appreciate how very much air flows via these. This assists with drainage. In case you hit a huge puddle or the water feature on the course, you aren't going to end up being carrying three lbs of water intended for the rest of the mile. This squeezes out fairly quickly.
Overall performance for the Course
Now, the part that truly matters: exactly how they handle the dirt. The saucony kilkenny xc9 spike includes a four-pin plate. Now, several higher-end "pro" spikes might have 6 or even eight pins, but regarding most senior high school or collegiate runners, 4 is actually the particular sweet spot. It gives you plenty associated with "bite" into the particular ground without producing the bottom of the shoe feel excessively rigid or weighty.
When you're sprinting across a set grassy section, you are able to really feel these pins digging within and giving you that extra little bit of propulsion. It's a confidence enhancer. You don't have to your foot slipping out from under you when you're seeking to kick past someone in the final 400 meters. Even on loaded dirt or gravel paths, the rubber outsole provides plenty of secondary traction that you don't think that you're walking on ice.
The particular midsole uses the standard compression-molded EVA. It's not the "super foam" you see in convention shoes, but it doesn't need to become. It's firm plenty of to give you a good "pop" off the floor, yet it has simply enough cushion to save your hip and legs from the beating of a hard-packed course. It's a very "honest" feeling shoe—you return precisely what you put into it.
Sizing and Suit Advice
A single thing I often tell people about the saucony kilkenny xc9 spike is to end up being careful with the sizing. Like almost every racing spike on the market, these operate a bit small when compared with your own everyday training shoes. If you're within the size 10 in your daily cushioned trainers, you might find that a 10 in these is definitely a bit too tight for comfort.
I usually suggest going upward a minimum of a fifty percent size. You need it to be limited, sure, however you don't want your feet curling under by themselves. You need a bit of wiggle room at the front because, as your own heart rate climbs plus you're two miles into a race, your own feet are going to swell a little bit. Having that small bit more space can be the particular difference between the great race and a lost toenail.
Why It's Great for Beginners
If you're a parent purchasing these for the middle school or even high school sportsman, the saucony kilkenny xc9 spike is probably the particular best value get. Cross country will be a tough sports activity on gear. The particular shoes get caked in mud, moved on by some other runners' spikes, plus thrown into the particular bottom of fitness center bags. It doesn't make a lot associated with sense to spend $150 on a pair of top notch spikes for the first-year runner when these types of do the job just as well for the fraction of the cost.
It's a very "forgiving" spike. Some of the more costly models have extremely aggressive plates that can actually cause some calf or Achilles strain when the runner isn't utilized to them. The Kilkenny is much more approachable. It's versatile enough that it seems natural, that is a huge plus for somebody who is still used to the sensation of operating in spikes.
Durability and Maintenance
Let's end up being real: cross country shoes get low. It's part of the charm. However you want a footwear that may actually deal with being cleaned. The particular saucony kilkenny xc9 spike holds up well in order to the old "hose it off in the backyard" method. The particular materials are long lasting enough that they won't start fraying or falling apart following the first several races.
The spike wells (the little holes where you screw the metal pins in) are also constructed quite well. In some cheaper sneakers, those wells may stripped easily or even the plate can start to delaminate from your foam. I haven't seen much of that with the particular XC9. So long as you don't over-tighten your spikes or run miles on concrete with them, they should easily last a person a full season, if not 2.
Pro suggestion: Always take the particular metal spikes out after a particularly muddy or damp race. If you leave them in while the shoe dries, they can sometimes "rust" into place, making it a headache to change them later in the particular season when a person need fresh pins for a tournament race.
The Aesthetic Appeal
Okay, it's not the most important thing, but it's worth mentioning: these shoes look fast. Saucony usually places out some pretty bold colorways intended for the Kilkenny line. Whether you desire something bright and neon to remain out within the package or a more subtle colorway that matches your team uniform, there's generally an option. The particular saucony kilkenny xc9 spike has a sleek, aggressive profile that simply makes you seem like a "real" athlete the moment a person tie the laces.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the particular saucony kilkenny xc9 spike isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It's a solid, reliable, and affordable racing shoe that provides helped a large number of athletes get through their particular first (and fiftieth) cross country race. It provides the correct balance of hold, weight, and convenience without any of the unnecessary bells plus whistles that commute up the price of modern running equipment.
If you're looking for a shoe that's heading to help you tackle hills, get around through mud, and sprint through the finish line with no breaking the standard bank, this is a fantastic selection. It's been a staple on the particular starting line regarding years for a reason. It simply works. So, get some, screw in your pins, and go get a small dirty. That's exactly what they're created for, right after all.