Nike Victory 2 introduction:
Andy: As we move out of the Paris Olympics and look forward to the remains of the summer track season, we can reflect on which shoes made the most impact at the games. Without doubt, the Nike Victory 2 spike was the biggest noise on track. It took 6 gold medals, 3 silver and four bronze. No other shoe featured on the podium more throughout the games. During its prototyping phase, it was worn by 5 World Record breakers. It has featured from the 800m to the 10,000m. It is clearly a very good shoe. Its pedigree cannot be doubted and it is the favourite footwear of some of the world’s best athletes.
However, I am not one of the world’s best athletes. I am a regular runner who has recently gained access to a track and will be competing, to the best of my ability, in track races. If I am going to play track, I want to look track. Therefore, I have been experimenting with spikes over the past couple of years. The original Nike Air Zoom Victory spike was one of the first I tried. I can still feel the pain in my calves when I look at that pair.
This iteration has had a fair few changes. Is it now a more accessible spike or is it still for those deities who glide over the track at unfathomable speeds.
Nike Victory 2 upper:
Andy: There isn’t much to talk about here. Literally! As a racing spike, there is very little added that doesn’t need to be there for structural integrity. The AtomKnit upper is more hole than material and there will be no issues with breathability here. Structure is added by a few ribs of stitching down both lateral and medial sides of the shoe. The Victory 2 has a small reinforcement around the toes to help hold things together.
At the rear of the Victory 2, we find a small sliver of padding which helps to secure the heel. There is more material reinforcement to add a little structure to the hindquarters of the spike. As would be expected, the fit is snug. It grips the foot and holds it tightly to the midsole unit. The tongue has no padding to speak of but there is a line of thicker material down the middle to reduce lace pressure a touch.
That said, it is not an uncomfortable shoe. The hold is tight and the aim is to get finished and get the shoes off as fast as possible. It’s a race after all! Fit wise, due to the snugness and the width of my foot, I wear half a size up than my usual. I would suggest trying on a pair first if you are unsure of how spikes fit your feet.
Nike Victory 2 midsole:
Andy: Glancing at the Victory 2, you cannot miss the two gigantic airbags under the forefoot. They take up about a third of the total length of the midsole unit and are devoid of any foam surround. The Air Zoom units are sandwiched between the spike plate on the bottom and a carbon fibre Flyplate above. Nike’s ZoomX foam takes over cushioning duties in the rear two thirds of the shoe and the very forefront of the midsole.
How does it work for a regular person? The main updates have come here and they have made a massive impact on the way the spike rides. The first version was very round feeling in the base and really taxing on the ankles over distance. In this second iteration, the base is wider and flatter, this is very noticeable and really adds to stability. The Victory 2 overall feels a lot more flexible too. In my experience so far, it has been a lot less taxing on the legs while still feeling very fast on foot.
The ride is definitely very firm. No sinking into deep foam. Just an explosive feeling from the power put into the track exploding back and forcing you forward. It is undoubtedly a fast shoe. I have used it for reps of between 1 km and 100m strides. The stiffness and explosiveness are apparent and they make me feel like I’m flying. However, I am not one of those ultra elite Olympians and I think that the mile distance would probably be my limit for a race in these.
I feel that they would take their toll were I to try a 25 lap 10,000 in them. As much as I like to feel fast, I also like to be able to walk in the following week. The longest session I have used them for so far was about 7 km of total volume and I was very happy to slide into some thick road shoes for the cooldown.
Nike Victory 2 outsole:
Andy: In the Victory 2, Nike have changed the spike configuration. Instead of being a 6 spike shoe, it now has only 4. Along with the aggressive, hard plastic protrusions on both forefoot and heel ensure that you remain stuck to the track. If I am entirely honest, I cannot tell any difference in traction between a 4 spike set up and the six spike original. Perhaps I don’t run fast enough to notice!?
Nike Victory 2 conclusion:
Andy: Nike have made the Victory 2 a much friendlier spike. It retains the same explosive feel of being on a bungee ball at a fairground but it doesn’t feel like it has shredded your calves afterwards. The speed and propulsion is entirely apparent and while my lap times may not put me among the elites, they feel mighty fast when tearing around the tartan.
Would I recommend this as a starter spike for someone who has never used them before and wants to dabble? Probably not, there are way more accessible and comfortable spikes out there for weekend warriors who want to have fun. Are they worth purchasing if you want to make some serious attempts at track PBs? Absolutely. If it’s good enough for Faith Kipyegon, it’s probably good enough for me too!