Adidas XCS XC Spikes - AW2024 Review
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Time to read 3 min
According to Adidas these are "Cross-country running spikes made in part with recycled materials. Own the course, and crush your time goals in these adidas running spikes. Made for cross-country athletes, they lock in your foot with a lightweight upper, and cushion your strides with the enhanced comfort and flexibility of a Bounce midsole. The spiked rubber outsole grips grass, dirt and mud to help you stay on pace."
Adidas win the award for "most useful information on the website" for their entry on the XCS spikes, which goes beyond the usual marketing speak to provide some genuinely useful information. It tells us that the shoes weigh 177g and that the heel drop is 5mm, a stat which has a big influence on how a shoe will feel. It also says that they run small (also true) and are made out of at least 20% recycled materials (good to know).
The light, quick-drying, all-mesh upper. Image: www.xcstore.co.uk
The shoe definitely runs small. I'd go up a whole size in these and swap my usual UK 9 for a UK 10 to avoid pushing toes through the mesh uppers. Adidas XC spikes have always run small, seemingly operating on a different size scale even to Adidas's own track spikes, so even if you know your summer size, winter is likely to need something different.
Race Shoe
Size issues aside, this is the most Serious Race Shoe I've tested yet this year. The 5mm heel:toe drop means the downhill issues experienced with some of the more shoe-like spikes don't kick in, allowing XCS wearers to fly downhills with reckless disregard for their own verticality. Plant the spike plate though. The upper is all mesh with limited inner reinforcement from heavier materials, unlike the Asics Resurgence which backed a lot of its mesh with a thicker upper underneath.
Adidas XCS with 15mm spikes. Image: www.xcstore.co.uk
The pattern on the sole on cross country spikes isn't the most important aspect as there's not a lot a moulded grip of this depth can do against the power of British mud. The knobbly Adidas sole provides some traction, but it's intended to be supplemented by the metal spikes protruding from the sole it's never going to be a dealbreaker. Adidas ship this spike with 9mm spikes, which is a sensible and welcome move from the traditional 6mm pins, although for any UK course from October to March they'll want upgrading to longer spikes. The five pin pattern gives more room for the thicker mud to clear on the fly without compromising the shoe's grip level.
Water Absorption
The Adidas XCS set a new benchmark in our water absorbency test. Tipping the scales at 170g (UK 9, with laces, no pins) it was lighter than Adidas's own marketing state. It's 3g heavier than the heftier-feeling Asics despite having less material in the upper.
A reminder of how this test works: we weigh the dry spike with laces but no pins, put it in cold water for 15 minutes, give it a quick Taylor Swift then back on the scales.
After its turn in this punishing(?) testing environment, the XCS weighed in at 242g, an increase of 71g, or 42% of its initial weight.
It's a clear leader in this test when compared to the other 2024 xc spikes, which all gained closer to 50-60% of their weight.
Image: www.xcstore.co.uk
Track Spikes Off Road
My enthusiasm for the Adidas XCS has nothing to do with its name and how I abbreviate xcstore.co.uk to "XCS" when it suits me. Great minds perhaps, but also independent ones. I do wonder if Adidas will issue a cease and desist for that abbreviation, but again this positive review is wholly unrelated (and in any event, what other letters do I have).
It has a lot more to do with the feel of the shoe underfoot. It's upper gives a sock-like fit and the closest thing to wearing track spikes on the country, but more comfortable and durable. I don't know how many years this season's Adidas XCS will last in use of course, but a clubmate was still using his green 2013 pair after 7 years of regular use, so the model has a history of durability.
Ignoring the history, which spike would I race in tomorrow? This one.
Summary
- Shoe: Adidas XCS
- Dry weight: 172g (UK size 9)
- Wet weight: 242g
- XCS Weight Differential: 42%
- Sole: 5 spikes, "Bounce" midsole, no carbon plate
- RRP £65 but selling widely for under £50
