Newton Running Shoes

they've got big, responsive, cushy blocks under the forefoot, and not much of anything on the heel.  So, they punish you if you heel strike and reward you for running mid to forefoot.  If your goal is to change your foot-strike, they're a useful tool.  If you're already running fore-foot, you might really like them.

If you're not already running fore-foot, and aren't having any problems with your current shoes, then this will be a pretty big switch.  Ask yourself if you want to go through a whole train-up program with them for a few months, for the honor of paying $175 for shoes in the future.  

They're not without their benefits.  In fact, I really liked them- but they were harder on my achilles and calf muscles, which are a few of my weak links.  Since I wasn't having any other issues with my running, I took advantage of their 30-day money back guarantee.  

Certainly- they have a following, and not without reason.  But they're not necessary for everyone.  Ask yourself why you want to change over to something like these.  Do you have a reason?

Thanks for the info, I do hate the idea of spending $175 on them but from I've read they do last a considerable amount longer than traditional shoes. I'm currently a heal striker and have been considering switching to a forefoot strike, from what I've read it mimics running barefoot the most, not sure if that's true or not.

Give this some very serious thought before deciding.  Lots of risk for what many believe is an unproven reward.

Cheaper than Newtons:  Get a playlist on your ipod of songs at 180bpm.

run with a cadence of 180bpm, and you'd be hard pressed to have your foot striking too far out in front of you.  

You can go to a store that specializes in running (not a foot locker) and get a gait analysis. They throw you on a treadmill with cameras all over the place. They analyze the output and can tell what kind of striker you are as well as if you pronate. It was a really cool experience and I'm glad I did it.

Last year I was struggling with my run and plantar fasciitis. After a bunch of shoe and run research, I switched to Newtons about a month before my last race of the season. I started with the Sir Issac, which is their trainer. I've run in Newtons since and recently moved to the Distance model. I really like the way the shoe run and have switched over to a high cadence, forefoot strike. I'm routinely doing 2ish hour long runs and haven't had any of the injury issues, plus I've shaved about 45 seconds off my mile time. Anything less than an hour I also go sock-less with these shoes.

If you are willing to invest the time and effort to optimize your run to the shoe, I believe there are benefits to running in Newtons, but that's just my $0.03.

I am in the process of converting to POSE right now. I have been a heel striker from the start and for 13.1 it wasnt really a problem. But at 26.2 the added effort of running inneficiantly takes a toll on me (or at least that is what I am telling myself). So after putting it off till after my goal race for the year, I am changing my stride. The newton sir issacs facilitate the gate change. At the moment, I am not having fun. But it is also 100 degrees. I am committed to giving POSE and newton 6 months before I reasses. 1 down, 5 more to go. I miss my nikes and my overstriding ways at the moment.

I just don't see Newtons as a good transition shoe to Newtons. They are big, clunky, and give no feel for the road. I run around a very popular lake in Dallas every Sunday, and I see more people running in Newtons "wrong" than "right" including a friend of mine that's trying to transition to midfoot running.

If you're going to transition to midfoot running, you should build up to Newtons. Try thinner shoes for shorter distances until you "naturally" run with a midfoot strike. I used the Saucony Kinvara as a transition shoe which is half the price of Newtons but have a short life. I then bought Newtons which have a huge forefoot cushion for longer distances.