To Newton or Not To Newton

Try them and if you don't like them send them back for a full refund.

I have 2 pairs. I bought my first at IMLP last summer. I had been struggling with achillies issues and plantar fasciitis on and off for 9 months. Since I started running with them I have been without the issue.

I got orthotics in January so I changed to the neutral shoe so  my orthotics can do their work properly.

I am a midfoot lander runner after converting from a heal striker so they work well for me.

I bought a pair last year, and to be fair I wasn't a forefoot runner before, but they aggrivated my ITBS something terrible. That being said there are people who swear by them. It's really about how you strike and if you can alter your gait to the shoe (you break into the shoe not the other way around).

I was a heal-striker before I got my first pair of newtons. I wont lie. i bought my first pair thinking they would just change the way I ran. All I would have to do is go run, and bam.

While they have changed the way I run, it was a painful process due to my mentality. My first run in them I went out for 6.5 miles and turned around at mile 2 to walk home.

What I can say is that after 300 miles in them I absolutly love them. I tell all my friends that you really have to WANT to improve your running if these shoes are going to work for you.

I just got my second pair of newts this week and when I put them on I realized why I bought another pair. Now that my form is so much better they feel so responsive and light.

I love my newts, but can agree with everyone else. They're not for everyone.

Good luck

Bryancd did a good write up on them after he bought a pair when he was at Arizona and spread the rewiew over quite a few runs and compared them to his regular shoes.  It is a good hands-on review but showed marginal to no improvement over his regular shoes.

To each their own though.  If you feel they benefit your gait and running style, go for it.  I just can't justify that much for a pair of shoes that I'd go through in two months personally.

I had always wanted to try a pair, but didn't want to plunk down the dough (my regular shoes cost enough, in my mind); however, someone bought me a pair as a thank you, and I am so very sorry that I love them as much as I do. I don't know what I'm going to do when they are done and I need a new pair.

In the meantime, though, I like their lightweight yet cushy feel. I was already a fairly efficient runner. I think the characterization between forefoot and heel striker (and that this shoe will "make" you a forefoot striker) is misleading. Everyone's foot rolls from the hell to the ball when running. The difference is really foot placement. When your foot hits the ground is it in front of you or is it in line with your hips and shoulders (hence the "leaning" or falling forward)? The latter is the more efficient running form, and it leads to a higher cadence.

Anyway, I feel smooth and fast when I run in them. I doubt I'm any faster, but if I am more efficient and economical, then I can work on running faster. Thus far, I've only used them for short to medium long runs. I will race in them this weekend. So, we shall see.

Sneakers IMO are like saddles, you have to try them and see if it fits for you. However as someone pointed out above, Newtons are not for anyone, don’t expect a pair of sneakers to change your mechanics and you shouldn’t get them under that premise. We all have different running mechanics and there isn’t one proper way for running. If they newtons fit your gait and your budget enjoy!

It's a running shoe. A pricey running shoe.

I have cheaper ways to improve your running form and stride mechanics and cadence.

Call me the eternal skeptic, but I have serious doubts about whether a shoe will make me more efficient/economical. I do know that wearing the wrong pair will make my feet hurt.

So far, my Mizunos seem to be doing a wonderful job. And they are less than half the price.

And for the record, heel striking in and of itself is NOT bad.  Overstriding is bad.  One does not necessarily beget the other. 

I am on my second pair, so obviously, for me, they work right now.  I have never run until I started tri-training,and my form was not good. The newtons help me to strike properly, thus saving me tremendous pain. Just as important as the product, is the company that sells it. If you are not happy, Newton will take care of you. Talk  with them to see.

Best of luck! 

If you are a terminal heel-striker having trouble 'on your own' converting to a mid-foot -- buy the newtons, for sure. 

If you can convert on your own to landing on your metatarsals, then I recommend (provided you have a mostly-neutral gait) Asics Speedstar II's.  They are more than half the price, are lightweight (8.8 oz!), comfy and cushiony (not so much if your a heel-striker) and easy to get on quickly (at least for me).  Speed, comfort, easy to get on, low heel, cushiony forefoot, more than 1/2 the price of Newtons...

Read some stellar reviews here: http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ASC1190/

I used this shoe to run my first and only marathon.  It's Asics best kept secret. 

Note:  Completely second hand stories here.

2 friends of mine bought them and I spoke to each of them about what they thought. 

Male about your build loves the shoes.  BUT only if you are "running" in them.  He says they kill him when he does LSD work.  So he uses them for tempo or anything above easy running.  He is a Nike Free guy and hates having a 'structured' shoe.  He conformed to the shoe, but didn't see any improvement other than making him lean forward more.

Female super fast runner:  She was a mid-fore foot striker any way and it killed her arch.  I would consider her a very efficient runner and it just wasn't a shoe for her.  That's all she said.

So the moral is:  When they come in, pay CLOSE attention to how your body reacts to them.  Keep a log and do some repeat runs (with and without the shoe).  See if there is a difference for YOU.

My 2 cents.

A couple of reasons, possibly...

1)Well, they have only been available for < 1 year now.  Not sure why the running magazines have ignored them, but if you search runnersworld.com shoe discussion forum for them, you'll find quite a bit of discussion about them, especially from spring of 07 when they became available.

2) Newton has targeted the tri community - apparently were early adopters of new stuff .