What are Sole Spikes?

Sole Spikes by Goat Head Gear for action traction while wading, trail or winter running, ice fishing, etc.

Sole Spikes – Engineered for Performance

Goat Head Sole Spikes™ are carefully designed traction spikes that screw directly into the soles of most any outdoor shoe. Unlike clumsy strap-on devices that rob the feel and agility of your performance shoe, you'll hardly notice your Sole Spikes except for the earth-gripping traction you gain.Sole Spikes close up
  • Each cup contains 30 quality Sole Spikes made from cold-forged, heat-hardened, corrosion resistant stainless steel for maximum durability as well as a 1/4" magnetic socket bit for EASY installation
  • 28 biting edges on each head for superior traction with fewer spikes
  • Serrated flange “locks” the spike into the sole to prevent back-turning and fall out
  • Easy to install in just about any shoe as our needle point screw tip allows goes right in without pre-drilling or other methods
  • Short tip and beefy flange prevent accidental push through to the foot
  • Bright finish makes it easier to find if you happen to drop a spike in snow or gravel
  • Use of Sole Spikes™ can increase the life of your shoe sole (like a hobnail)
  • Small gauge of the tip leaves minimal impact to your sole if you remove the spikes later. Not much more than if you stepped on a goat head thorn
  •  Most importantly, they can help keep you safe!
  • Patent pending design

Sole Spikes - Diamonds for the soles of your shoes

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Sole Spikes

 

 

 

 

  • Q: What are Sole Spikes made of?
    • A: They are made of cold forged, heat hardened, stainless steel. They also receive a surface electroplated coating.
  • Q: How do stainless steel Sole Spikes compare to carbide spikes?
    • A: Carbide tends to be brittle since it is such a hard material and some of the most expensive brands are prone to breaking and shearing off. Sole Spikes have a medium-high hardness that wears evenly and nicely for the life of the spike.
  • Q: Why not just buy sheet metal screws?
    • A: That is certainly an option but what you will quickly find is that sheet metal screws are made of soft alloy and have a solid head construction that rounds off very quickly.Sole Spikes patent pending split head construction will not round off and will wear down evenly maintaining their 28-biting edges for the life of the spike. Even though sheet metal screws are very inexpensive and you will find that you will have to change them out frequently. This damages your sole over time and makes difficult for screws to stay in. It is a better idea to purchase a product that is engineered for the job.
  • Q: Do Sole Spikes only work with Redington Boots?
    • A: No. Sole Spikes work in just about any outdoor footwear. They are especially well suited to Redington’s sole design and configuration but have been used successfully in all major brands of wading boots. They are also great in sandals, running shoes, work boots, snow boots, and on and on.
  • Q: Do Sole Spikes work in felt soles?
    • A: YES! Sole Spikes are particularly effective in felt soles and have a very strong hold when installed.
  • Q: Do Sole Spikes require me to pre-drill pilot holes?
    • A: No. As you can see in this image, Sole Spikes are engineered with a sharp point for easy installation. Simms and Orvis cleats are blunt tipped and require some sort of pilot hole whether built into the boot or drilled in by the customer. Drilling can be risky with boots because you are physically cutting out sole material which immediately weakens the sole’s ability to hold cleat.
  • Q: Will Sole Spikes fall out?
    • A: It is possible for any type of screw-in cleats to fall out. There are some sole materials that hold better than others. The best materials for holding screw in cleats are felt and harder/high carbon rubber soles such as Redington’s rubber outsole and Vibram. Softer foam rubber soles and out soles with deep siping cuts tend to be not as reliable for holding screws.Some customers have foundfallout to be a bigger issue with running shoes and some types of snow boots. In such cases they have found that a little dab of Aquaseal, Super Glue, etc. will greatly increase hold. Check out our installation page.
  • Q: Is there a single recommended pattern for installing Sole Spikes?
    • A: There are just about as many installation patterns as we have customers. Our “How to Install” page shows many different installation configurations. We encourage customers to experiment a little to find the right pattern that works for them and we also do provide an example image on the inside of the cup.
  • Q: Will Sole Spikes push through to my feet?
    • A: We have not had a single reported case of push through. Some customers who wear them with minimal running shoes or sandals with soft soles report feeling “hot spots” when Sole Spikes are placed directly under heavy strike places of your foot such as a big toe, ball of foot, or heel. It is easy to move Sole Spikes around to places where this risk is greatly reduced.
  • Q: Will Sole Spikes ruin the soles of my boots or shoes?
    • A: No. Sole Spikes don’t require pre-drilling so you need not cut out any sole material to make them work. They can be easily unscrewed and reinstalled if need be.Customers using Sole Spikes in running shoes will need to take care to avoid air or gel bladders in the soles of the shoes. These are typically located in the high pressure areas of the stride where we recommend against installing Sole Spikes. We actually find that Sole Spikes will increase the life of your boot sole as they are harder and take the brunt of the wear, greatly slowing outsole wear. Check out our installation page.
  • Q: Can I use Sole Spikes in boot foot waders?
    • A: Generally speaking most boots have fairly deep soles and foot beds. Unless your boot sole is severely worn you will likely be able to use Sole Spikes with boot foot waders. You can get a sense of how deep the sole is by placing one hand on the sole and the other inside the boot. Many boots have over an inch of sole and foot bed. If your boot is severely worn you should likely get a new pair of waders. Check out our installation page.
  • Q: How many Sole Spikes do I get?
    • A: We get asked these questions frequently: how many Sole Spikes do I get? How many Sole Spikes do I need? Are there enough Sole Spikes to spike both shoes? The answers are easy. With each cup of Sole Spikes you get 30 (compare that with 20 from our competitors). Thirty Soles Spikes should be more than enough for your two shoes/boots. Generally speaking, people use between 8-12 Sole Spikes per shoe which means you will have 6-14 Sole Spikes left over for replacement or in case you feel the need to add more. I wear a size 12 and usually put 12-15 Sole Spikes per wading boot. Check out our installation page.