One of the selling point of Runnr Store at Bonifacio High Street is that they are the first store to offer Newton Shoes in the Philippines. I finally got hold of Newton Shoes (racer shoes-stability) last week but was only able to road test it just last night at Bonifacio High Street for 10km. However I did use it previously not for running but for walking to “feel” the shoes. First impression? Weird. While walking, it almost feels like you have a bar under your forefoot, but the awkwardness goes away pretty quickly. Now lets check its vital stats 
 The first time I used this while walking around the office, my boss asked me where I got my McDonalds shoes! |
 You will notice that Newton shoes have a negative heel (the forefoot is higher than the heel), this is because of the actuator lugs below the forefoot section of the shoes. |
| During my road test, I did notice a significant drop in heel striking, but as a mid foot runner, I don’t get much of that anyway. The shoes have a nice roll on the forefoot section which seemed to improve my posture but I also noticed it gave me a sensation of running on slight downhill. I’m not sure if its just my mind but I also noticed increased foot speed and my legs weren’t dragging as much. Having said that, I was able to run 10km faster without ever stopping and felt very good and satisfied at the end of the run even though their website and even blogger runners warn that I might feel some pain on my calves due to an increase usage of calf (which I didn’t experience at all). On the last kilometer of my run, I was able to sprint the entire 700 meters even if I’m only used to do it on the last 300 meters. Was it the shoes? I would attribute a little to them because they helped me maintain my position even when I’m tired as well as keep me on my forefoot to help me stay in my natural sprinter form. |
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| This shoes is very light compared to other shoes I’ve tested. They are very breatheable due to the completely see through mesh that covers the toe box and side walls of the shoes. As I have very sweaty feet (which makes me very susceptible to annoying and running-career-destroying blisters, I’m sure this will keep my wet socks dry faster during runs and help keep odors away. |
 Obviously, this shoes was inspired by Sir Isaac Newton and his Third Law of Motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. |
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 Actuator Lugs |
| The main selling point of this shoes are those four red actuator lugs above. As you land on the ground, those actuator lugs presses against a hollow chambers connected via an elastic membranes that absorb shocks and stores energy. Energy is released back to you as you lever your foot forward. These lugs will thrust out of the midsole chambers with a burst of energy that helps your forward propulsion. |
| An interesting question that might pop-up is if Newton shoes can be used by any runner. The answer is no. They are designed specifically for people who are already mid-foot/fore-foot runners, or for people who are working on transitioning from a heel-strike stride to a mid-foot/fore-foot stride. I suggest that you head over Newton Website to see a couple of videos and interesting facts about fore-foot running. |
| Aside from the cost (this shoes cost php 7,400+, the most expensive running shoes I’ve tested), the other draw-back I noticed during my short road-test of this shoes is that the corner of the heel counter section seems to worn out easily. See pictures below: |
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I don’t know if its the road condition of BHS, my running form (maybe I’m a terrible heel striker after all!) or both but I’m really curious if this just happens on me or others as well. Any Newton runners reading, please send in your comments if you notice the same. Hopefully, its just me.
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wilson
on Jun 25th, 2009
@ 1:26 am:
looks like fast shoes to me. i sense that PR setting races coming up for you! are these already considered racing flats? also heard that you’re running the Milo full, would you be using this pair?
r
on Jun 25th, 2009
@ 10:07 am:
nice review.
i have a pair of newton gravity trainers (neutral stride) which i’ve been using for racing for the past 5 months.
the wear pattern on my shoes shows more wear on the actuator lugs and forefoot. no scuffing on the heel like what you experienced. you may be heelstriking (on the outside of our heel) without knowing it. did you get a gait analysis at runnr when you got your newtons?
admin
on Jun 25th, 2009
@ 2:19 pm:
Yeah they are racing flats. I forgot to include that I felt some pain on my plantar after using it*laughs*. Yeah im running full on july 5. Ill be using my LunarGlide+
admin
on Jun 25th, 2009
@ 2:21 pm:
Yeah I actually tested the one with out black rubber outsoles thats why the heel section fades easily. I noticed some brands of Newton shoes are tougher. I believe that one I got is meant for speedsters doing 5 to 10k.
Andie Piehl
on Aug 18th, 2009
@ 2:11 pm:
I got Newtons to help me change my form from heel striking, so I was already conscious of my propensity to wear out the heels of my shoes early. I am 59 year old female who has taken up running late in life after losing over 80 lbs, so my comments may be of no use. I got my stability trainers in May and have logged just about 200 miles since then, and I have yet to wear the heels of either shoe. Every week or so, I look closely at the shoes and am amazed at the way the wear pattern is so different from all my other shoes. I have not sustained a single injury in either foot since using these shoes, and I always get laid up with foot problems or pulled muscles or sore knees – NOT SINCE THE NEWTONS! I love these shoes and tell my husband that every time I come in after doing 4 miles in the mornings before work. I hope you’ve kept using the Newtons since June; if you have, I imagine you love them.
admin
on Aug 19th, 2009
@ 1:44 am:
Hi Andie,
Unfortunately, it was just a loan shoes and I didn’t bother to buy that expensive shoes again*laughs*. Maybe someday if I got enough cash to spare, I’ll by one. Here in the Philippines, the cost of that shoes is like buying two nice regular running shoes either of Nike or Adidas brand.
geoffrey
on Sep 4th, 2009
@ 2:51 pm:
I just bought my first newton racer and have just run 20k and the heel has already worn out so quickly .The staff at runnr told me that it has no carbon fiber on his heel that is why it gets worn out easily .Had i known about this earlier i would not have bought this shoes.
admin
on Sep 6th, 2009
@ 11:15 am:
Hi Geoffrey,
Yeah its for short distance run and you should run the way Newton advises runners to run, that is forefoot. if you run heel strike, the shoes heel section will fade easily.
not3bad
on Oct 24th, 2009
@ 12:13 pm:
i bought a pair of newtons 3 months ago as i had heard so much about them and the theory of forefoot running – and i was always being told at the tri club to improve my running form. I was initially very impressed and felt that they encouraged me to run in a better style – runnging taller, lifting my feet more , controlled falling etc. they also felt fast due to their light weight. I did feel that i was landing more on my fore foot, though i am not a bad heel striker by nature. the problem i had with them was that the actuator lugs wore out very quickly at the front – within 220 miles they were quite worn down. I carried on as normal but after one hard interval session on tarmac i developed pain at the front of both feet – kind of where the toes meet the ball of the foot. They were sore on the sole of the foot and the top of the foot at this point. i havent run for 10 days though they are getting better now . i can only attribute this to the lack of protection due to the wear on the newtons, and if thats the life span then they arent worth it for me. this is a pity as i thought it was a great shoe until 10 days ago. heading out the door now to get a pair of asics ds trainers – the old favourites ! anyone else had similar problems ?
Tim McGrath
on Aug 1st, 2010
@ 10:55 pm:
I don’t like the Newtons. I think that the lugs make the shoes unstable. They make my feet and ankles hurt. Still using a forefoot strike, I went back to regular running shoes and the pain went away.
joel ampiloquio
on Aug 15th, 2010
@ 7:56 am:
Already noticed the fading of the heels of my Newton’s after only being used for two weeks. These doesn’t show on my half year old Asic Kayano’s. Bummer….
dave gahan
on Apr 11th, 2011
@ 11:26 pm:
Has anybody noticed the distance racer is large fitting compared with the issac trainer> usually a racer is a more snug fit. Blisters where lovely after my race.Not to mention injury from the racers. I found the trainer much better. I might chance the gravity trainer now. Has anybody used that?
Annette
on Sep 15th, 2011
@ 3:23 pm:
I got a pair of Newtons and saved them till about a month ago so I could wear them for my first Marathon Twin Cities less than 3 weeks away! I wore them on a few shorter runs and they felt great, I never got extra tight calves or anything. Just finished a 22 mile run in them and they were pretty much awesome. I did feel my ankles and feet getting more tired than usual, but 22 miles is as far as I have ever gone…. my heels have not wore down too much, the first to “lugs” are pretty wore down and I have about 150 miles on them. I think they are still fine, just more adapted to my stride? Anyone know any other shoe that is comparable and more affordable? I do like that the outside wears down before the inside so I know whey then need to be replaced and I can really see how I run. I’m curious to see how long they last.
José Sagot
on Oct 8th, 2011
@ 7:00 pm:
They work great for me i changed from asics to newtons and i’ve made a half marathon everything Month since i got them. No pain, but i did made a slow transition reading and with you tube vídeos