Trackspikes.co Infinity Carbon Spike Review: To Infinity? Not Quite

Introduction to the Trackspikes.co Infinity Carbon

KALEB: At Believe in the Run, we’re committed to reviewing the good, the bad, and the ugly. If we don’t review the shoes that make us go “eh,” we’ll have nothing to accurately compare with the shoes that make us go “wow.” Even so, it’s 2025, and the formula for a good shoe isn’t much of a secret. So it’s not often that something truly awful comes across my desk (ok, wait, I don’t have a desk, this stuff just gets chucked on my doorstep).

And I’ll be honest, when Robbe emailed me asking if I wanted to check out a spike from a website literally just called “Trackspikes.co”, I was… skeptical, to say the least. I mean, there are plenty of hidden gems in the shoe world, but having reviewed for Believe in the Run for over three years now, if I’ve never ever heard of a company, there might be a reason for that.

But hey, I’m trying to broaden my base of spike reviews because more reviews mean better comparisons and more reliable information on how a given piece of footwear stacks up to the market for you as the reader. So I said, “Sure, why not?” I may as well give the underdog a chance. Maybe they’ll surprise me.

The Infinity Carbon is advertised as a versatile long-distance spike, intended for a wide range of events on the track from the 800m up to the 5k. With a full-length carbon fiber plate and low-stack ride, the Infinity Carbon promises “unmatched performance” and “a superior lightweight design.” On paper, it’s got specs reminiscent of any great track spike, so when I received a sleek black shoe box from Trackspikes.co, I was rather optimistic.

I mean, anything with a carbon plate can’t be too bad, right? Right?

Yessiree, here at Believe in the Run, we’re committed to reviewing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Even when a shoe checks off two of those boxes.

What we like about the Trackspikes.co Infinity Carbon

KALEB: In fairness to the Infinity Carbon, the spike rides nicely as an old-school traditional racer. The carbon plate provides some nice leverage, and while there wasn’t any feeling of gaining energy, I wasn’t losing it either. Whatever foam is underfoot sure ain’t PEBA, but it’s firm and keeps the rocker shape of the carbon plate in place. With six pins and a Pebax outsole plate for grip, there is no slipping around the curves in this spike.

For some reason, Trackspikes.co sent 3/8-inch cross country pins to go into the spike holes. And honestly, with some future improvements, this spike could make a pretty decent cross country spike. The firm, low stack, the protective carbon plate, the built-up overlays, and the toe bumper would make sense on an XC course, whereas they don’t gel quite as well on the track compared to the competition. Unfortunately, the Infinity Carbon will need some work before it’s ready for the cross country course or the track as a true competitive racer…

What we don’t like about the Trackspikes.co Infinity Carbon

KALEB: I’ll try to keep my criticism constructive. Well, except for the aesthetics. The Infinity Carbon is ugly as all get-out. This spike looks like a serial killer turned Dora into a piece of footwear. I’d wear this spike if I were a five-year-old little girl playing dress up for the ball. I’d say this spike belongs in the Barbie Movie, but the plot of that is about imaginary things becoming real, and the way this spike looks, it should’ve stayed in someone’s imagination. I’m not sure I can accurately capture with my camera how much I do not enjoy looking at these spikes, because the photos do this spike infinitely less dirty than they ought to be.

Princess pink, shimmery green, eye-shadow indigo, and a hint of purple don’t belong together in these shades and quantities, and the see-through mesh windows (with SPARKLES, might I add), along with the plasticky look of all the overlays, make this spike look like a toy. Don’t get me wrong, I am NOT against pink, sparkles, or even unicorn-inspired footwear. But not like this. I like a loud piece of footwear on race day, but this thing doesn’t shout, it screams. And it screams in pain.

So anyway, not a fan of the looks. Which I could forgive if the performance of the Infinity Carbon blistered the track as well as my eyes. Unfortunately, some performance-detracting factors will need tweaks in future iterations if this spike wants to compete with the big boys.

Despite looking like a shoe made for seven-year-old Cinderella, this glass slipper unfortunately doesn’t fit perfectly. I normally wear a US M9, and Trackspikes.co was kind enough to send me an M8.5, which isn’t unusual — sizes are a little different from brand to brand.

Unfortunately, the Infinity Carbon is still too long. I had room past my toe and also behind my heel, and while I’d normally just say “get another half-size down,” width-wise this spike borders on too narrow as is. The proportions are just off (unless your foot is shaped like a butter knife), and in the future, a different last would fix that. This shoe does have positive performance traits, but they’ll never shine through if the shoe doesn’t fit correctly.

When people imagine a “carbon-plated spike,” they typically envision an explosive, propulsive ride. But in reality, it is most times the superfoam in a spike that brings the energy; the plate simply adds the pop needed to get the most out of the foam compound. The Infinity Carbon doesn’t have a real superfoam underfoot, so while the plate does provide a nice, firm leverage point that helps you power around the track, it’s not the effortless, energy-returning ride one would imagine.

And at $160 (normally $190!), this spike is essentially implying that it can compete with superspikes. It simply can’t. Right now, it has more of the feel of a sprint spike, but in a distance runner package. It’s a bit too disjointed to compete with the likes of the Dragonfly, Cloudspikes, and Endorphin LD.

On top of everything, the Infinity Carbon is pretty darn heavy, and it doesn’t need to be. At 5.5oz., it’s still way lighter than a trainer, but with such little foam underfoot, those ounces are just dead weight distributed across the shoe. The upper and outsole need to be trimmed back, and a lighter compound should be explored for the midsole: as it is, the weight of this spike isn’t justified by anything it’s giving back.

Final thoughts on the Trackspikes.co Infinity Carbon

KALEB: There are some spikes on Trackspikes.co that look legitimately interesting, and it’s really a shame that the Infinity Carbon was my first impression. In its current form, I just can’t recommend this spike to anyone — not just as a matter of conscience, but for fear of legal repercussions. If the fit gets figured out down the road, this could be a great option for people who prefer firm, traditional spikes over modern tech.

Trackspikes.co is a young new company; they have time to figure things out yet. Heck, we roasted Brooks shoes for years, and it’s been around since 1914. No one’s expecting bangers right out of the gate, and if the folks at Trackspikes.co bide their time and do its research, hopefully they’ll be pushing at the front of the pack with the greats.

So yeah, I’ll say it again. Believe in the Run is committed to reviewing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hopefully, by giving everyone a fair chance, we can provide feedback that eventually turns the bad and even the ugly into something worth running in.

You can pick up the Trackspikes.co Infinity Carbon for $189 from Trackspikes.co by using the buttons below.