Newton Gravity shoe review
Quick summary: An efficient, neutral-gaited runner’s dream trainer. The upper is perfect (very breathable; you can see toes through the mesh), and the midfoot cushioning suits me perfectly. Most comfortable shoe I’ve ever run a marathon in. Cons? Too expensive ($175), but I’ll make sacrifices.
2009 Gravity: I’m a fan of the red
Current Shoes
I often have mixed feelings regarding the running shoe industry. On one hand, I love running shoes (gear nerd), and encourage new runners to get properly fitted at a local specialty running store rather than picking the most expensive pair at a big-box sporting goods store. Without training or supervision, inefficient running strides can quickly result in injury, and beginner injuries usually result in people dropping the sport. However, I tend to believe that shoe companies often over-engineer their shoes, producing something akin to a cushioned foot brace. I’ve actually been hurt by over-supportive shoes. I currently train mostly in the Asics Gel-Landreth 4, and I race in the Asics Gel-Speedstar 3. These are both neutral, cushioned shoes, with the Landreth being my trainer of choice ever since the Landreth 2.
Landreth 4, 2009 Gravity, Speedstar 3I have very healthy foot arches, and I naturally have an efficient gait. I am, however, a relatively tall and heavy guy, and I have always focused on my foot strike to minimize impact. The soles of my shoes naturally wear mostly just behind the ball of my foot, particularly on the shoes I use for races and speedwork. The faster I run, the more I land on my forefoot. You may often hear faster runners complain about how sore they are after a slow run. It’s true, because they often modify their stride to more of a heel strike when they slow. Stay a little faster and landing mid-foot, and the foot’s natural shock absorption can do its job.
Speedstars: Note the midfoot wearNewton Running
Newton Running builds shoes specifically for midfoot running, the mechanics of which are similar to barefoot running. However, these are not part-time shoes like the Nike Free. Newtons have rubber lugs under the balls of the feet, and the heels are relatively low. Because of this design, midfoot running is trivial as there is no massive heel to drag. The lugs are designed to act as a cushion on strike, and then as a lever as the body leans forward into the next stride. In theory, perfect for me.
First Impression
At this year’s Boston expo I stopped by the Newton booth and tried the neutral trainers (”Gravity”). I loved the breathable uppers, but was especially impressed with the cushioning. I expected the shoes to feel like racing flats with wedges in the forefoot, but they felt more like super-soft racing trainers. After a quick jog around the corner I was sold, despite them feeling a bit narrow on my right foot. (The booth folks were very cool, by the way, throwing in a promotional pair of socks and a visor to soften the price shock a little.)
Fast forward a few weeks. Newton Running has never claimed that its shoes will “fix” your gait; indeed, they caution that you will likely need to adapt to the shoes, not the other way around. I fully expected calf soreness and perhaps some ankle weakness after my first runs in the shoes, but I noticed very little soreness at all. My gait requires little modification to suit the shoes, though I did notice the shoes encouraging me to focus on my stride throughout the run, particularly as I tired toward the end of longer runs. A slower heel-striker with massive pronation issues would likely have a completely different experience, but the adoption phase for me was nonexistent.
As you can see, there is a little wear on the lugs, and a tiny bit of wear on the edge of the heel.
Newtons: Note wear at front of the lugs (as expected)Results
I’ve worn the shoes on training runs from 6 to 20 miles, a few 5K’s, and now in a marathon. For short races like a 5K I still prefer the grip of my Asics Speedstars. I blackened two toenails at Boston while running a 3:17 in Asics Landreths, but a few weeks later my feet felt superb after pounding 2:56 downhill in the Pocono Mountains Marathon. Indeed, my feet have not felt better in any of my 14 marathons. The midfoot cushioning of the lugs is perfect for long races, and the breathability of the uppers is incredible. I will be trying the neutral racers soon.
Do I recommend the shoes? Absolutely. If you are a runner wanting an aid to improve the efficiency of your gait, and want possibly the world’s most comfortable midfoot running shoe, you will not be disappointed. Unfortunately, I find that the price makes them a very hard sell to friends, despite the wonderful return policy. I wish Newton could price their shoes closer to the upper end of the larger manufacturers’ price ranges, but personally I’ll just try buying half as many shoes as I was before.
For more information, I recommend checking out the Newton Running website. They have a number of useful videos linked, including:
- What is forefoot running?
- Stop! Look! Listen! Running tutorial
- Barefoot running, landing on balls of feet and lifting with hamstrings
4 Responses to “Newton Gravity shoe review”
So glad to hear that you are liking the shoes! Thanks for your support!
-Sir Isaac
Another Real Person Review | The Running Front - June 9, 2009
[...] Read the rest of Bo’s review here. [...]
I have used the asics speedstar 3 as a training shoe. Been racing in Zoots. I used them b/c of tri technology. I have been interested in Newtons. What size Asics and newtons are you? I am looking into getting a pair.
thanks
I wear 13 in the Speedstars, and I have 13 in my Newtons, but the Newtons seem to be a tad longer. I have 12.5 in the Newton racers, and honestly I can’t tell any difference. I’d recommend staying with the same size as your Speedstars, unless you have a ton of extra length. The Newtons are a hair narrower in the toe box.
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