I am now seeing 3 or so different runners, per week in a pair of the $175
Newton Running shoes in Central Pa
rk. Believe it or not if I spot a runner in this shoe I will often run adjacent to them and conduct my own interview. I am intrigued and curious of the obvious question, are they worth it? Like here in this article from
Ultra Adventures they explain the Newton shoe has ‘actuator lugs’ under the forefoot that are intended to absorb impact more effectively than simple foam. There are a number of minor features of Newton shoes, such as light weight, highly breathable, but it is the forefoot that is the reason for buying them. Initial impressions running in the Newton is very different to other shoes. The forefoot is much thicker, so you naturally land on your forefoot. Standing in the Newton puts your toes slightly higher than your heal, the opposite of most shoes. I am a
midfoot runner, but the Newton shoes make me a pure forefoot runner. I enjoyed my first few short runs (3 miles or so), but I found that my calves were not used to the strain. I also felt that the Newton shoes had a forefoot that was too thick, making me feel a little unstable. This is make worse by the fact that the ‘actuator lugs’ are not the full width of the forefoot, increasing the feeling of instability. A cheaper alternative? Having run in the Newton shoes for a while, I got to thinking how I prefer the Nike Free [the shoe on the right], but like most shoes, the Free has a thicker heel than forefoot. So I found an old pair of Frees and took a knife to them, hacking off the heal and part of the
midfoot. This gave me a very
ligh
t weight shoe with a similar feel to the Newton, allowing me to run on the forefoot very easily. The free is much more flexible and lower than the Newton, which I greatly prefer.
I think that forefoot running is much more natural form of running, and removing the heel excess heel from the shoe makes forefoot running much easier. However, taking a knife to an old pair of shoes is rather cheaper and maybe more effective. [END]. This is actually the best review of this shoe I've ever seen. I've been running for over 30 years - I'm "old school", we do things like this - radically alter a brand new shoe and perfect it for us. Us old school runners drill pencil size holes in our shoes' soles right out the box so the shoe retains less water and drains (running in rain), we drill screws in the shoe for winter and icy roads / better grip and traction, we cut off the ankle collar of a brand new pair of shoes rubbing and causing friction - we do all sorts of unconventional things to shoes, to "perfect them for us". The guy who wrote this is an "old school" runner and I have love for that! Now having said that - on to the Newton Shoe. I am a forefoot runner and most runners are not aware how fatiguing it is to race a 5K forefoot/toe striking. You have to be very strong - I've worn lots of shoes that "nest" the heel cup lower than the forefoot, this is a common design of New Balance racing flats, the NB RC 750 and NB950 shoes are like this, even the classic NB 150 was like this - it's a great design - however you have to be strong to race middle distance in these shoes, exceptionally strong to go a Half or full Marathon in these shoes, properly, forefoot striking the whole distance - few can do that. I suspect the Newton shoe is best suited for the less than advanced runner - if the words of this reviewer are valid. Meaning - seasoned advanced runners don't need a shoe to force us to forefoot strike - we'll do that in whatever shoe we wear. As I said last week, I can get a pair of
Asics Ohana racing flats for $70 landed - that's a mighty hard value to top. However having said that - the Newton shoe might be a fit for you - and I say anything that enables you to run better is worth it - I just am not sure this shoe enables the advanced runner to run better, in other words, for the advanced runner, the shoe may not be a solution as it presumes a problem that does not exist for that runner - however I am guessing that runner accounts for less than 3% (people who train in
flats and light weight trainers) of the running shoe market and the vast majority of runners need correction of
some kind - just an opinion.
midfoot runner, but the Newton shoes make me a pure forefoot runner. I enjoyed my first few short runs (3 miles or so), but I found that my calves were not used to the strain. I also felt that the Newton shoes had a forefoot that was too thick, making me feel a little unstable. This is make worse by the fact that the ‘actuator lugs’ are not the full width of the forefoot, increasing the feeling of instability. A cheaper alternative? Having run in the Newton shoes for a while, I got to thinking how I prefer the Nike Free [the shoe on the right], but like most shoes, the Free has a thicker heel than forefoot. So I found an old pair of Frees and took a knife to them, hacking off the heal and part of the midfoot. This gave me a very ligh
t weight shoe with a similar feel to the Newton, allowing me to run on the forefoot very easily. The free is much more flexible and lower than the Newton, which I greatly prefer. I think that forefoot running is much more natural form of running, and removing the heel excess heel from the shoe makes forefoot running much easier. However, taking a knife to an old pair of shoes is rather cheaper and maybe more effective. [END]. This is actually the best review of this shoe I've ever seen. I've been running for over 30 years - I'm "old school", we do things like this - radically alter a brand new shoe and perfect it for us. Us old school runners drill pencil size holes in our shoes' soles right out the box so the shoe retains less water and drains (running in rain), we drill screws in the shoe for winter and icy roads / better grip and traction, we cut off the ankle collar of a brand new pair of shoes rubbing and causing friction - we do all sorts of unconventional things to shoes, to "perfect them for us". The guy who wrote this is an "old school" runner and I have love for that! Now having said that - on to the Newton Shoe. I am a forefoot runner and most runners are not aware how fatiguing it is to race a 5K forefoot/toe striking. You have to be very strong - I've worn lots of shoes that "nest" the heel cup lower than the forefoot, this is a common design of New Balance racing flats, the NB RC 750 and NB950 shoes are like this, even the classic NB 150 was like this - it's a great design - however you have to be strong to race middle distance in these shoes, exceptionally strong to go a Half or full Marathon in these shoes, properly, forefoot striking the whole distance - few can do that. I suspect the Newton shoe is best suited for the less than advanced runner - if the words of this reviewer are valid. Meaning - seasoned advanced runners don't need a shoe to force us to forefoot strike - we'll do that in whatever shoe we wear. As I said last week, I can get a pair of Asics Ohana racing flats for $70 landed - that's a mighty hard value to top. However having said that - the Newton shoe might be a fit for you - and I say anything that enables you to run better is worth it - I just am not sure this shoe enables the advanced runner to run better, in other words, for the advanced runner, the shoe may not be a solution as it presumes a problem that does not exist for that runner - however I am guessing that runner accounts for less than 3% (people who train in flats and light weight trainers) of the running shoe market and the vast majority of runners need correction of some kind - just an opinion.
15 Comments:
I'm curious, what would turn up in a survey of training shoes worn by, say, entrants in the US Olympic Team Marathon Trials? Any Newtons? What's worn by the people who put up the most miles, for whom running is their livelihood and who basically have an unlimited shoe budget? Do they wear whatever their sponsor hands them, a stock shoe or something custom? Other than avoiding injury, to what extent would the claim that the shoes they wear help their performance, if at all?
Lance I think the gimmick in the newton is the forefoot lug which changes the footstrike so your feet and muscles absorb most of the impact. I think it is a gimmick and the shoes are B.S. I think lighter cheaper shoes are better and that runners should condition their feet to run in light shoes.
Definitely some different ideas there!! Well I am a member of high school athletics team, got 15 pairs of New Balance running shoes from our school for all the team members.
I never heard of Newtons before Labor Day weekend, 2008. We had family gathering and a number of the runners in the group (from all over the country) wanted to check out the new running store at the bottom of my street, so we walked down. I just turned 50, have been running since 1974, and have a variety of foot problems. In the past decade, I have worn orthotics in every shoe and boot I own. Before that, I would where orthotics in my work shoes (I worked on my feet a lot, on a hard floor) and my feet would "hold up" fine for tennis and running. I've run in most brands of shoes and recently had been using Brooks Glycerin. I'm not an advanced runner in spite of running for many years. Right now I'm running 6 miles, once per week, walking 4-5 miles once per week, and before the weather grew bad I was swimming and biking a bit. My latest decline was due to not training enough, running races too hard, and developing plantars fascitis (which was on top of my other foot problems, or beneath them, or actually behind them). The fittest I've been in recent memory (forgetting about, say high school or my 20's), was when I ran 4 times a week and did 42:20 for a 10K on July 4th in terrible air quality, heat and humidity.
So, the guy at the store, obviously a serious runner, said he had put 600 miles on his Newtons. He predicted that I would not need orthotics in them. I scoffed at this idea! I can barely walk without orthotics. But, remembering that the global economy hadn't collapsed yet (to our knowledge), we as a group tried them our, running around the block, etc., and some group dynamic led to a total of about 5 pairs being bought by me and 4 other extended family members.
I don't know how the shoes are working for the others, but for me they have been great. I do not need orthotics. A lot of my trouble was that I was a forefoot striker but forefoot striking caused lots of pain etc. without orthotics, and with orthotics, no shoe could combine flexibility and support in an ideal way it seemed, so I was forced into an unnatural heel strike.
So, for me, these shoes really work. I certainly congratulate those who get better results for less money. There was a racing version of the Newton that was less padded in the forefoot and may be better for the "advanced runner" than the bulkier model. My information dates to Labor day- I don't know the latest. Anyway, I'm running pain free, getting faster and looking forward to adding a few more days of running per week.
Best wishes, Jim
Sorry about the spelling mistakes above (where, wear, etc.): I was rushing because I had to take my son to a guitar lesson, but it turns out the lesson was canceled and my son didn't tell us. He's only (almost) 16...
Anyway, I don't see any reason to conclude that the shoes are BS.
First, the "heavy" Gravity, which I have, weighs 10.2 oz, which compares quite favorably to the 11.9 oz of my shoe for a number of years, the Brooks Glycerin (taken from the Glycerin 6, from the roadrunnersports website; actually I have older models of the shoe).
Second, as you may or may not know, the Newton shoes are pretty new to the running world but the company has been supplying gear to triathletes for some time. Check out their site http://www.newtonrunning.com/ if you want to see who's wearing them (it is a very "modern" website, so you'll need Java enabled or the screen will be blank... kids today...).
I also have many good things to say about the mesh-like material that the shoe's upper is made from. It conforms to the foot and keeps the foot stable, with no chafing or blisters ever in my case, but does not restrict or pinch in any way.
Furthermore, the shoes with 600 miles on them did not look noticeably different from brand new ones, and those 600 miles included lots of road miles.
If you do go to the Newton website, you'll see a number of models, including an all-weather shoe, a distance model, one for motion control, and the racer.
Two weeks ago, it was 18 degrees F when I ran my Sunday 6 miler. I don't have good circulation in my feet, and cold feet and numb toes are unpleasantly familiar, but I had no problems at all (please note that it was not icy- I do not run on the ice- and it also was not windy, so it was about as pleasant as 18 degrees can get).
I have no interest in creating converts or validating the crazy price I paid- if you like your shoes, leave them alone; if you don't like 'em and want to carve them up, fine with me. But, if you need a change, and it is a fiscally-reasonable option for you (which it wouldn't be for me, today), I would consider the Newtons. I'm very happy with them. Now I can save my orthotics for my other shoes and boots, and they'll last longer.
As a final note, I have a torn meniscus in my left knee which I have chosen not to have operated on, and the Dr. told me not to run on hills. I wouldn't give up running hills for anything, however, and with one exception on a particular weekend, my knee has felt pretty good in the Newtons.
Run in peace! Jim
Just an FYI....although sponsored by Newton, Craig Alexander of Australia WON the Kona Ironman 2008 and wore Newtons on his 26.2 'cool down'. He's obviously a mid or fore-foot striker (or is now because of Newton). Not everyone can run like this for various reasons, and you have to build up to this style if your gonna do it for the long haul. I do not think Newtons are BS, just not for everyone!!
here is another good review of these shoes:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1525839/review_newton_running_shoes.html?cat=50
I'm a neutral runner with injuries. For the past year I've gone through several other running shoes such as Adidas Microbounce, Nike Pegasus, New Balance somethings, basically all for heel strikers, which I am not. I'm also in the Army and people keep telling me that the "natural progression is heel to mid and forefoot" when running and striking the ground. I also have a knee injury and honestly, I have been unable to run without terrible pain since November 08. I tried everything- shoes, training, you name it. I was just about resigned to having to walk my semi annual APFT instead of running it, when as a last desperate attempt I bit the bullet and bought a pair of Newtons. I don't mean to sound crazy but they changed everything. I bought them on Sunday and by Monday morning I'd put 6 miles on them, mostly pain free. Okay, a little pain but nothing compared to the crippling agony I'd been in! They don't "force" me to be a midfoot/forefoot striker, they "allow" me to, and their design seems to help distribute the force evenly so that my foot can soak it up instead of passing it up to my knee. I love my Newtons so much, I could have CRIED when I hit the top of the hill on our morning run and I still had some running left in me. I felt great and now I cannot wait to go running again after work. I think it's wonderful that a lot of people can use the other shoes that are so plentiful on the market- I wish I could! But please don't knock these shoes and please don't discourage others from trying them. They work for so many of us and hopefully the main manufacturers such as Adidas and Nike will someday also help get that design mass produced. It's great to be able to do a simple run without pain so great that I'm grunting up a hill. Maybe someday when I'm more healed I'll be able to run in cheaper shoes, but for now I'm grateful that Newtons even exist.
Dee said it better than I did. I hurt my right foot a while back and the Newtons are the only shoes I can wear now, period. My two pairs of orthotics in combination with numerous shoes were awful, and maybe I need new shoes and new orthotics (the sum total of which would be far more costly than Newtons), but I'm wearing my Newtons to work right now while I re-hab my foot, and I'm pain free.
I think that this shoe will work better for a triathlete; a person that has already used their leg muscles swimming and biking. We use forward seat posts to change the way we exert force on the bike and need to save leg strength for the run, which is something i think this shoe does beautifully.
As far as regular single sport runners, it might not be the best option. Just something to think about.
n
Nick, no offense, but that comment doesn't make much sense. A triathlete runs same as a non triathlete runs.
My understanding is that the focus of shoe distribution was focused mostly on triathletes because of their willingness to accept and try new technologies and because they are far more likely to look for products which will help them become more efficient.
By not heel striking, a runner becomes more efficient and less prone to injury.
My story with these shoes echoes Jim's pretty much. I had lots of ankle problems and was a heavy heel striker and over-strider. It took me a little time to get used to the stride and the landing. My calves gave me some problems, but stretching them every day and staying with it - I know longer have injuries. This after trying virtually every shoe on the market for a couple of years, over 2 years with PF and 5 pairs of custom orthotics. Now, I just use the shoes, no orthotics.
Is it only the super flowery positive posts that misspell simple words like no->know. A paid PR rep would never misspell a simple word after taking 1 hour to draft a press release.
My guess is that if you're buying $170 Newtons than you have more knowledge than I do.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/08/22/cheating-the-app-store-pr-firm-has-interns-post-positive-reviews-for-clients/
I've been using my Newton Gravity shoes for over a year now and still love them, and still have no foot pain. The latest model has a more durable sole (I'm just using the first and only pair I have). I've even done two (mini) triathlons in them, and a bunch of road races (I'm not fast).
If you haven't done a triathlon, I recommend a (short) one just for the feeling of trying to run after climbing off the bike... like stepping on land after after developing sea legs.
My biggest problem is that none of my other shoes are as comfortable...
Peace!
I have no idea why, but these Newtons have made my vague "metatarsal" pain disappear. I am a forefoot striker to begin with. I can't explain it, but won't wear anything but Newtons again, with the exception of the trail. When trail running I wear the New balance 100 which is basically a running flat with some grip on the bottom. Why my sissy feet, that always hurt in padded shoes, feel better in a more minimalist shoe is beyond me. Anyone have an answer for me? I too, don't want to talk anyone in to buying them (what a price tag!), but they have been great for me.
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