While I am critical of the MaxFlys in this video, the most recent research suggests that they provide an advantage over traditional spikes and that the advantage is larger for faster athletes. "The results revealed a statistically significant increase in maximal sprinting speed (MSS) by 1.21% on average when using advanced spikes technology. Notably, 87% of participants showed improved MSS with the use of advanced spikes. A cluster analysis unveiled that athletes with higher MSS may benefit to a greater extent." www.researchgate.net/publication/373373930_Advanced_spike_technology_enhances_sprinting_speed
Love the video! Talking sense and not just parroting "knowledge": sharing a proper stiffness test and covering the less reactive problem of the Maxfly. That's what we need!
Best review on spikes I've ever heard! Wish I would heard this 8 months ago before buying the Maxfly's. I would agree with your take on them. Would he interested in hearing your take on Adidas line.
Thank you! I admit I am pretty critical of the MaxFlys here--and that truly was based on my experience thus far. Check out my pinned comment. There is some research showing most people actually run faster in them. As for adidas, I've never owned a pair, so I'd be starting from scratch there!
awesome video, love how in depth and how genuine you are with your opinion. Love the different stiffness test ha. This helped me decide I wanted some ja fly 4's.
I am still sticking with them. Since this video, I have added other spikes to the mix: Nike Superfly Elite 2 and Adidas Prime SP3. The Ja Fly 4 has won out. I finished last track season with SBs of 11.03 and 22.56 in them at 40-years old.
thank you so much very helpful and i’m glad you added personal performance it really provides information to help viewers. i was planning on getting maxflys but i heard they aren’t super durable but now i know more than just durability on them. thank you
Glad you found it helpful. I should note that I haven't had any durability issues with mine. The bubbles are still in tact. Also, look at my pinned comment. While I personally haven't been any faster in them, there is some research suggesting the others are.
Thank you for your review it really opened my eyes up to practicality and price range because many of my teammates rave about how good the max flys are but I didn’t really know what to purchase. I’ve always ran in the rival s but have wanted to try something more stiff and aggressive due to the fact that I will be running collegiate hurdles next year and want something stiffer and more aggressive.
Glad it has helped! Note that I pinned a comment to this video where I point out that the research implies MaxFlys might provide an advantage at top speed. I personally haven't felt it, but others may like them. Do you usually stick with Nikes? I wish I could speak more to the other spikes. Puma still has models that use the same plate that Bolt used to set all of the records 15 years ago!
@@tracktuary my first pair of spikes were actually ASICS distance spikes however at the time I didn’t know the difference but since then yes I have been a Nike spike user
Thanks for the reviews. I'm running sprints now in my freshman year of college. I've never done track before, always wanted to in high school, and was given an opportunity now so I thought I might as well take it. I'm probably gonna go with the Ja 4, good enough price and quality, seems good enough for beginners too. Gonna ask some team mates first though.
Hope it helped! Long story short: I don't think MaxFlys are worth the money. Basic Rival S works fine. If you want to spend a little more, the Nike Ja Fly 4 is a great choice. Good luck this season!
@@tracktuary I was thinking about getting a pair of Max flys but after your review I think I’m going with the newer Nike 4s, also what is the best affordable trainer shoe?
good one! i currently run in the maxflys in preparation for the indoors and i like them in the 100 as they make me feel! fast due to the bubble i guess;-) but when i run them at the european championships (m50) in sept, i didn't sprint any faster than i would have in my cheapest 30 eur adidas. so yes, maybe these are overestimated....I can also agree that in the 200m the maxflys just don't feel right , they are too "wobbly" in the curve, for sure. lastly, i also run the superflys but don't have them with me right now due to 6 week travels. i would love to compare after being in training for about a month. the superflys on my feet fit and feel the best for me, no doubt! i just purchased the adidas adizero prime sp2 to see how they will go....
It sounds like your experiences are right in line with mine! Yes, the MaxFlys can feel good when running straight as a function of the bubble (they feel springy). But the clock just hasn't shown them to be advantageous for me. The traditional spikes just feel the best. You can really "rip" around the curves.
Planning to finally buy some spikes. I currently sprint on concrete using some ancient flat Mizuno Wave shoes (super light like 4-5 oz) but no spikes and little traction and perhaps too much flexibility. I wonder what I can expect or experience from upgrading to sprinting on a track with real spikes?
Repeat of my comment in the other thread: I really don't think they matter that much. Find something that feels comfortable and stick with it. I've trained in Puma Cross Country spikes for years. Even when on Field Turf, I've run some pretty fast times (relatively) in them. Like I said in this video, I'd stay away from those MaxFlys. The Nike Ja Fly 4 is a great option. You can spend more and get the Nike Superfly Elite 2s, but they feel nearly the same as the Ja Fly 4 to me. But even if you just end up with the Rival S, you'll be just fine.
I'm loving them. In the last couple months since turning 40, I just equaled my all-time bests in both the fly 10m (0.94) and fly 20m (1.92) in the Ja Fly 4s!
Superfly elite 2 is a great spike. I just bought a pair and they are very similar to the Ja Fly 4. You could try the maxfly for the 400m. I personally don’t like the feel, but I think they might start to be helpful the farther in distance you get.
@@ivanmack21 I think the superfly elite 2 is a little stiffer, but it's not a big difference if any. I have loved the Ja Fly 4 on the tracks where I train. However, they felt a little slippery on the two mondo tracks I raced on this indoor season. Now, I don't know if that's the track or the shoe. I'll have to try the superfly elites on those one of these times.
Great point about foam in the pocket in the Max Fly making no sense. Designers of the Adidas Prime SP2, which employs similar technology, claim the foam is inserted for energy return, which I don't buy. Perhaps some sprinters prefer the extra foam cushioning for comfort but elite sprinters only care about improving their speed.
While they feel "weird" to me, I can see them be comfortable to some. When I was coming off of a sprained ankle, the MaxFlys were easier on the body. But when it comes to racing, I want to hit the ground and come off quickly. I just don't see a place for an air pocket there.
@@tracktuary When I was still in high school I thought Nike shoes with clear/visible air pockets were the coolest thing. Yet when I realized they did nothing to make me run faster or jump higher I started only buying shoes with minimalist designs. The more I felt like I was running barefoot the better. This is why with running shoes I'll opt for shoes such as the Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit which allows for this. Of course with track spikes, you still need a spike plate--so the lightest most rigid spike plate should be the goal.
@@grimreality451 I hear you there. As I've been doing more of my training barefoot (e.g., deadlifts, bodyweight circuits, etc.), I prefer the foot to do the work of being a spring. I used to get my spikes a half size down, but prefer more room for the toes to spread and work. I just picked up a pair of the Adidas Prime SP (not the new SP2 with foam). That is the stiffest plastic plate I've ever come across. It's the same one Tyson Gay and Wayde Van Niekerk used in their prime years.
Great video! Really helpful as i've always worn superflies, then switched over to the Adidas Prime SP2, with a hanging regret that I should have got the maxfly - so thanks for reassuring that i'm not missing out! That being said, if you're going to chuck the maxfly's in the closet - name your price 🤣
I haven't tried them yet. The plate looks like that on the bottom of the MaxFly from what I could tell. You check them out? I just got a pair of the old Adidas Prime SP (no foam). That thing is super stiff.
They are good spikes. A good amount of pros still use them. The plate is stiff (stiffer than the Ja Fly 4) and has great grip. The upper is a sock-like mesh, which gives your foot room to move. I personally like a more rigid upper, but that's just me.
@@tracktuaryI’m almost impressed by your appearance, one thing though I have flat training shoes for gravel sprinting. Out of curiosity, how much would you say spikes make difference wise versus just using bendy non spike training shoes?
@@chadify007I really don't think they matter that much. Find something that feels comfortable and stick with it. I've trained in Puma Cross Country spikes for years. Even when on Field Turf, I've run some pretty fast times (relatively) in them. Like I said in this video, I'd stay away from those MaxFlys. The Nike Ja Fly 4 is a great option. You spend more and get the Nike Superfly Elite 2s, but they feel nearly the same as the Ja Fly 4 to me. But even if you just end up with the Rival S, you'll be just fine.
@@tracktuary I appreciate the response , I guess I’ll find out myself once I try em out whether it makes a huge difference or not time wise. I also don’t own any blocks so I probably should look into buying some.
Yeah, I caught a nice deal on a pair. I've used them once, and they feel great. Both the Ja Fly 4 and the Superfly Elite feel much more natural to me than the MaxFlys.
For thr stiffness test, I'm pretty sure that the energy return from the foot takeoff is what we are looking at. Not the initial contact. Otherwise, interesting view
I've tried to picture what they're testing. I just can't see why stiffness upward says anything. To me, it would be about loading the spring downward and then having it recoil. I could be missing something, though.
@tracktuary I'll explain it like this Step 1: Unloaded spike touches ground (Mind you, sprinters hit with the ball of the foot.) 2: force is applied 3. Elastic force + 13 lbs of force from the plate springs your foot back up 4. Repeat. The force is mean to be a small push increasing stride frequency and length Basically, the stiffness is meant to return the force during toe off and increase the efficiency. So, you land on the ball Your weight still holding it down You spring up And the shoe provides some few lbs
While I am critical of the MaxFlys in this video, the most recent research suggests that they provide an advantage over traditional spikes and that the advantage is larger for faster athletes.
"The results revealed a statistically significant increase in maximal sprinting speed (MSS) by 1.21% on average when using advanced spikes technology. Notably, 87% of participants showed improved MSS with the use of advanced spikes. A cluster analysis unveiled that athletes with higher MSS may benefit to a greater extent."
www.researchgate.net/publication/373373930_Advanced_spike_technology_enhances_sprinting_speed
Love the video! Talking sense and not just parroting "knowledge": sharing a proper stiffness test and covering the less reactive problem of the Maxfly. That's what we need!
Thank you Calvin!
Best review on spikes I've ever heard! Wish I would heard this 8 months ago before buying the Maxfly's. I would agree with your take on them. Would he interested in hearing your take on Adidas line.
Thank you! I admit I am pretty critical of the MaxFlys here--and that truly was based on my experience thus far. Check out my pinned comment. There is some research showing most people actually run faster in them. As for adidas, I've never owned a pair, so I'd be starting from scratch there!
awesome video, love how in depth and how genuine you are with your opinion. Love the different stiffness test ha. This helped me decide I wanted some ja fly 4's.
I am still sticking with them. Since this video, I have added other spikes to the mix: Nike Superfly Elite 2 and Adidas Prime SP3. The Ja Fly 4 has won out. I finished last track season with SBs of 11.03 and 22.56 in them at 40-years old.
@@tracktuary 11 seconds at 40 is crazy, can't wait for my ja flys to come. Had a look at your plyo/jump circuit and got many tips also.
thank you so much very helpful and i’m glad you added personal performance it really provides information to help viewers. i was planning on getting maxflys but i heard they aren’t super durable but now i know more than just durability on them. thank you
Glad you found it helpful. I should note that I haven't had any durability issues with mine. The bubbles are still in tact. Also, look at my pinned comment. While I personally haven't been any faster in them, there is some research suggesting the others are.
Thank you for your review it really opened my eyes up to practicality and price range because many of my teammates rave about how good the max flys are but I didn’t really know what to purchase. I’ve always ran in the rival s but have wanted to try something more stiff and aggressive due to the fact that I will be running collegiate hurdles next year and want something stiffer and more aggressive.
Glad it has helped! Note that I pinned a comment to this video where I point out that the research implies MaxFlys might provide an advantage at top speed. I personally haven't felt it, but others may like them. Do you usually stick with Nikes? I wish I could speak more to the other spikes. Puma still has models that use the same plate that Bolt used to set all of the records 15 years ago!
@@tracktuary my first pair of spikes were actually ASICS distance spikes however at the time I didn’t know the difference but since then yes I have been a Nike spike user
Thanks for the reviews. I'm running sprints now in my freshman year of college. I've never done track before, always wanted to in high school, and was given an opportunity now so I thought I might as well take it. I'm probably gonna go with the Ja 4, good enough price and quality, seems good enough for beginners too. Gonna ask some team mates first though.
I was thinking about getting those, although I think you should go with the rival multi, or s
Thanks for this review I’m looking for a good pair of spikes to bye before my sophomore season looking to run a 50 flat!
Hope it helped! Long story short: I don't think MaxFlys are worth the money. Basic Rival S works fine. If you want to spend a little more, the Nike Ja Fly 4 is a great choice. Good luck this season!
@@tracktuary I was thinking about getting a pair of Max flys but after your review I think I’m going with the newer Nike 4s, also what is the best affordable trainer shoe?
@@AveryOcon Nike Pegasus is a solid choice for a general training shoe. That's my go-to, and I know many others who use them.
Thank you for sharing! I just bought a pair of Nike Rival Sprints for 100 so this really helped!!!
good one! i currently run in the maxflys in preparation for the indoors and i like them in the 100 as they make me feel! fast due to the bubble i guess;-) but when i run them at the european championships (m50) in sept, i didn't sprint any faster than i would have in my cheapest 30 eur adidas. so yes, maybe these are overestimated....I can also agree that in the 200m the maxflys just don't feel right , they are too "wobbly" in the curve, for sure. lastly, i also run the superflys but don't have them with me right now due to 6 week travels. i would love to compare after being in training for about a month. the superflys on my feet fit and feel the best for me, no doubt! i just purchased the adidas adizero prime sp2 to see how they will go....
It sounds like your experiences are right in line with mine! Yes, the MaxFlys can feel good when running straight as a function of the bubble (they feel springy). But the clock just hasn't shown them to be advantageous for me. The traditional spikes just feel the best. You can really "rip" around the curves.
Planning to finally buy some spikes. I currently sprint on concrete using some ancient flat Mizuno Wave shoes (super light like 4-5 oz) but no spikes and little traction and perhaps too much flexibility. I wonder what I can expect or experience from upgrading to sprinting on a track with real spikes?
Repeat of my comment in the other thread: I really don't think they matter that much. Find something that feels comfortable and stick with it. I've trained in Puma Cross Country spikes for years. Even when on Field Turf, I've run some pretty fast times (relatively) in them. Like I said in this video, I'd stay away from those MaxFlys. The Nike Ja Fly 4 is a great option. You can spend more and get the Nike Superfly Elite 2s, but they feel nearly the same as the Ja Fly 4 to me. But even if you just end up with the Rival S, you'll be just fine.
Impressive stuff man thanks for the review.
No problem. Hope it helps with any future spike purchases. I just raced in the Ja Fly 4 today!
Kindly update on the Ja fly 4s
I'm loving them. In the last couple months since turning 40, I just equaled my all-time bests in both the fly 10m (0.94) and fly 20m (1.92) in the Ja Fly 4s!
@@tracktuary ohh that’s nice, hopefully I made a good choice by ordering them
should i consider getting the Nike Zoom Superfly Elite 2 as a high school runner. Also for the Max Fly would it be a good pick for a 400 runner.
Superfly elite 2 is a great spike. I just bought a pair and they are very similar to the Ja Fly 4. You could try the maxfly for the 400m. I personally don’t like the feel, but I think they might start to be helpful the farther in distance you get.
Do you like Superfly Elite 2 or Ja Fly 4's better? Which plate is stiffer? Debating between the two.
@@ivanmack21 I think the superfly elite 2 is a little stiffer, but it's not a big difference if any. I have loved the Ja Fly 4 on the tracks where I train. However, they felt a little slippery on the two mondo tracks I raced on this indoor season. Now, I don't know if that's the track or the shoe. I'll have to try the superfly elites on those one of these times.
Great point about foam in the pocket in the Max Fly making no sense. Designers of the Adidas Prime SP2, which employs similar technology, claim the foam is inserted for energy return, which I don't buy. Perhaps some sprinters prefer the extra foam cushioning for comfort but elite sprinters only care about improving their speed.
While they feel "weird" to me, I can see them be comfortable to some. When I was coming off of a sprained ankle, the MaxFlys were easier on the body. But when it comes to racing, I want to hit the ground and come off quickly. I just don't see a place for an air pocket there.
@@tracktuary When I was still in high school I thought Nike shoes with clear/visible air pockets were the coolest thing. Yet when I realized they did nothing to make me run faster or jump higher I started only buying shoes with minimalist designs. The more I felt like I was running barefoot the better. This is why with running shoes I'll opt for shoes such as the Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit which allows for this. Of course with track spikes, you still need a spike plate--so the lightest most rigid spike plate should be the goal.
@@grimreality451 I hear you there. As I've been doing more of my training barefoot (e.g., deadlifts, bodyweight circuits, etc.), I prefer the foot to do the work of being a spring. I used to get my spikes a half size down, but prefer more room for the toes to spread and work.
I just picked up a pair of the Adidas Prime SP (not the new SP2 with foam). That is the stiffest plastic plate I've ever come across. It's the same one Tyson Gay and Wayde Van Niekerk used in their prime years.
can i use the nike ja fly 4 for my training and during competition? is it durable enough to do that?
Yes. I use mine for two sprint training days per week, and they are holding up just fine.
What is your current age and 100m times? Did you ever try the ASICS metaspeed sp?
How long would you say that the carbon plate in the Nike Ja Fly 4 lasts?
There is no carbon fiber plate in the Ja Fly. It's just like the Superfly Elite, where it has a hard plastic plate.
Great video! Really helpful as i've always worn superflies, then switched over to the Adidas Prime SP2, with a hanging regret that I should have got the maxfly - so thanks for reassuring that i'm not missing out! That being said, if you're going to chuck the maxfly's in the closet - name your price 🤣
Think I could use the Zoom Rival S for the 800 or the 1600, or even the 3200?
I don’t know distance running too well. I definitely think they are usable for the 800. Beyond that, I don’t know what runners like.
Does anyone know if the honeycomb shaped sole is designed not just for weight reduction but also for flexibility underneath the plate?
Nike ja fly 4 or Adidas sprintstar which one is best
I’ve never run in Adidas before so I can’t say much there. You won’t go wrong with the Ja Fly 4.
thanks, just got the rivals
Have you tried them yet? I've gone back and tried the MaxFlys a few times after this video and still don't like those.
what’s your opinion on the newly remodeled nike rival s?
I haven't tried them yet. The plate looks like that on the bottom of the MaxFly from what I could tell. You check them out? I just got a pair of the old Adidas Prime SP (no foam). That thing is super stiff.
@@tracktuaryI just ordered a pair so I’ll see how they hold up.
What is your opinion on the super fly elite 2s?
They are good spikes. A good amount of pros still use them. The plate is stiff (stiffer than the Ja Fly 4) and has great grip. The upper is a sock-like mesh, which gives your foot room to move. I personally like a more rigid upper, but that's just me.
Thank you
40?? Bro you barely look 30 damn
It's just the lighting in the room. Get me outside in sunlight, and I definitely look like the 40-year old dad that I am!
@@tracktuaryI’m almost impressed by your appearance, one thing though I have flat training shoes for gravel sprinting. Out of curiosity, how much would you say spikes make difference wise versus just using bendy non spike training shoes?
@@tracktuaryI’m considering the JA’s or maybe the Max flys but perhaps the JA’s are what I need
@@chadify007I really don't think they matter that much. Find something that feels comfortable and stick with it. I've trained in Puma Cross Country spikes for years. Even when on Field Turf, I've run some pretty fast times (relatively) in them. Like I said in this video, I'd stay away from those MaxFlys. The Nike Ja Fly 4 is a great option. You spend more and get the Nike Superfly Elite 2s, but they feel nearly the same as the Ja Fly 4 to me. But even if you just end up with the Rival S, you'll be just fine.
@@tracktuary I appreciate the response , I guess I’ll find out myself once I try em out whether it makes a huge difference or not time wise. I also don’t own any blocks so I probably should look into buying some.
Have you used the Nike super fly elite 2 now? If so how did they feel.
Yeah, I caught a nice deal on a pair. I've used them once, and they feel great. Both the Ja Fly 4 and the Superfly Elite feel much more natural to me than the MaxFlys.
For thr stiffness test, I'm pretty sure that the energy return from the foot takeoff is what we are looking at. Not the initial contact. Otherwise, interesting view
I've tried to picture what they're testing. I just can't see why stiffness upward says anything. To me, it would be about loading the spring downward and then having it recoil. I could be missing something, though.
@tracktuary I'll explain it like this
Step 1: Unloaded spike touches ground
(Mind you, sprinters hit with the ball of the foot.)
2: force is applied
3. Elastic force + 13 lbs of force from the plate springs your foot back up
4. Repeat.
The force is mean to be a small push increasing stride frequency and length
Basically, the stiffness is meant to return the force during toe off and increase the efficiency.
So, you land on the ball
Your weight still holding it down
You spring up
And the shoe provides some few lbs
You look great for 40 bro
It's definitely the lighting in the room. Under direct sunlight, I definitely look like a dad in his 40s.