Goat Head Gear: Sole Spikes vs Lowe's Sheet Metal Screws

Disclaimer: I got these free from the company.  I'm not paid but I did get them free.  I'm not swayed by free gear.  Cash might sway me but not schwag. They did  send me stickers too.  Stickers are cool.

So let's compare.  On the left is the Sole spike.  On the right a sheet metal screw.

Size comparison.  Bigger isn't always better but some times it helps (insert dirty joke here).

The real difference is where the rubber meets the road.  Or in this case where the steel hits the trail.

As you can see the sole spike on the left has a Phillips style cross cut into it.  

Giving it 4 nubs.  The sheet metal screw is just a flat heat style single cut. The edges of the outer rim are raised a bit giving it a lip.  

Installation tools.  On the left is a driver handle that I used to force the sheet metal screws in. On the right is the actual nice proper driver that came with the sole spikes.  

Sole spikes also came with a magnetic driver to hold the spikes as you install them.  

Victim number one: old pair of Brooks Adrenaline ASR's

Victim number 2: Hoka One One Mafate's

Brooks got the Sole spikes

The Mafate's got the sheet metal screws.

The Sole Spikes cost $23.95 for a pack of 30 and that includes the driver.  Which is a pretty cool bonus.

Lowe's sheet metal screws were about 4 bucks for 30.  Of course that does not include the driver I used.

So let me be honest again.  I thought these were going to be bull. I'm a cheapo  and I thought that a screw is a screw (insert dirty joke here).  

These are beautiful screws (insert dirty joke here). They are really high quality and feel indestructible. 

Insertion was easy (insert dirty joke here). It was much harder to ram the big ones in (insert really dirty joke here).  

So after a bit of trail testing I can say that I really did fell a difference.  For both shoes I felt increased grip on trails, but I did notice the screws more that I did the sole spikes.  But that I mean the screws felt clunky and I noticed them hitting roots and things.  The sole spikes felt much more natural and almost felt like cross country spikes. 

I haven't lost a screw on either one yet and they feel pretty stable on both.  I really recommend the screw and glue method (there is a dirty joke in there somewhere).  Screw them in almost all the way then put some shoe goo or super glue around the threads and the base so they lock down for good. This way you have a permanent snow/ice/trail shoe.  As much as they say the screws will not harm the bottom of your shoes I would recommend that you use an old pair of shoes to convert. You do not want to be screwing these in and out all the time ( well maybe I do, dirty joke insertion).  

In conclusion as much as I want to say go with the cheap sheet metal screw solution the goat head guys have really made a superior product that is better than a normal screw.  Everyone wants a better screw ( yes this is where you put it, and yes that's a dirty joke insertion site). 

The reality is the better hardened stainless steel screws will be cheaper in the long run and will last longer.  They are purpose built for running and are not just a jury rigged solution. Plus the tool that comes with it really does make all the difference.  Way easier than my socket driver.  

So they are making this really hard for me (IDJH) but I have to say I recommend Sole Spikes from Goat Head Gear.

I will definitely harvest the sole spikes from this pair when I am done to reuse and will probably buy another set later too. 

But for now, I gotta run...

Addendum:  just want to say thanks to the guys from Goat Head Gear for the product and for being very classy.  I was totally ready for a negative review I was going to show that the cheapo solution was better but it turns out I was mistaken.  The product really does work as advertised and works better than the cheapo budget solution.

Happy Chrismahanziqua to all! And to all a good run!

Addenda:

Wore these at a disc golf tournament I played in and many people were asking about them. I had great grip on the dirt and had a bit of fun making random claw marks on trees with the cleats.  Looked like a pack of wild werewolves came through!