Unfortnately many brands are tied to their signature “technology.” My guess is Newton will never make a shoe that does not have lugs.

I had the same thought that David expressed about Newton being locked into a design and unwilling or unable to branch out. I tried on the Kismets and absolutely loved their fit and looks. But when walking in them all I could notice were the lugs. After having run in them on the store treadmill for a very short test my left arch ached the next day. So for an activity that already taxes your feet, why produce a shoe that further taxes the foot? They make a great shoe and could expand their market by getting over themselves and providing a model with no lugs, a POP zero. Having said that I still might try the Aha or EnergyNR II since I like the fit or the Kismet so much.

I think Pop 1 would have been more exciting, but Pop 2 was a better choice since running isn’t my main squeeze anymore.So all I’ll say is that they were a good ride and I’m psyched to have them. If you have pain from anything Newton offers and still like the shoe…I’d suggest cross training.

This is my comment of praise: What a nice shoe to role into.

Just heard the same thing myself from a specialty run store owner who spoke with Newton. Fate and Kismet are supposedly replacing the Isaac, and the Aha and Energy II are the neutral and stability versions of their entry level, minimal lug feel shoes. MV3 is a racing flat so would make no sense to replace it with the Aha.

In response to Mark, not so on the idea of the Fate as an Energy replacement and Aha as MV3 replacement. Aha is an entry level Newton, SOFT and the lugs are hardly there. Fate is more like a slightly less aggressive Distance 3. I run for Newton Running Elite and work in the industry. Either Mark misheard his rep or the rep was off. Having run in Distance 3, Motion 3, Gravity 3, MV3, Energy, and now the Fate, I can really say there is NO connection between Fate and Energy. Especially as there is an Energy 2 coming out. What makes that a ‘stability’ shoe is an increased amount of ground-feel under the medial bridge near the arch, connecting rear foot to fore foot more smoothly. That’s my two cents. Thanks

Thanks for the info Mark! The Energy was a great shoe for me, but only when I swapped out the included insole for something thinner. Out of the box it had way too much heel slippage. Didn’t know they were planning to drop it. Should have the Kismet soon myself, looking forward to giving them a try!

No idea, what size do you wear?

Nice article, as always.

Any idea on when Newton are going to support larger sizes?

Had a chance to get the ear of a Newton rep at a scavenger hunt put on by my local running store and take both the Fate and Aha for a spin.

Fate is designed as a replacement for the Energy and comes in about 9oz for a Men’s size 9. Being someone who returned his Energy’s after about 25 miles due to pain under my 4th and 5th Met Heads I started out a skeptic but after a few miles in them they felt GREAT. The toe box and lug platform is much wider than the old Energy and the rep even acknowledged that they knew the Energy had problems right after release and my symptoms were fairly common. Biggest changed I felt was the Fate is now MUCH more flexible underfoot with considerably deeper flex grooves. The Newton pop is still there but the forefoot transition is much smoother and they just felt like real winners.

The Aha is really more targeted as a replacement for the MV3 and has a lot more EVA than I have ever seen on a Newton. Rep claimed the weight will be in the low 7’s and they felt about that in a short spin. Platform is very similar to the Fate with a much wider toe box and a more stable platform. Although they are Pop3 the Aha felt a lot less snappy underfoot and the rep stated they wanted a shoe to go after a lot of the high school runners so they might not have the under lug air pillows as a cost/weight saving measure? Still seems like a nice shoe even if it ends up being more race day specific for some.

You and I had the same opinion on the Energy being a neutral shoe. RRS lists the current Energy as a performance neutral and the new Energy II as a performance stability shoe. I’m thinking the Aha is the “new” Energy and the Energy II is now a stability shoe.
Wow, Newton as all their bases covered!

Thanks for the info Mark! I was not a fan of the Isaac so hopefully these will be an improvement. I love seeing the terms neutral and stability thrown around, not sure I noticed anything about the Energy that would make it anything but a neutral shoe.