We’ve always believed that Newton Running shoes are the best running shoes on the market. But it's always nice to have independent testing to back it up. Knight Mechanical Testing (KMT) pitted our shoes against other running shoes.
The results showed that Newton Running shoe design can actively support you as you strive for a more efficient running motion. Our shoes encourage good body position and optimal step rate through a combination of firmer cushioning for protection, ground feel for connection, minimal heel-to-toe drop and lightweight comfort.
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Test Methods
Testing was conducted by an independent and certified mechanical test laboratory, Knight Mechanical Testing (KMT) in Fort Wayne, IN. KMT specializes in military, aerospace and medical testing, and has no ties to the running shoe industry.
KMT was contracted by Newton Running to develop a test protocol and computer-controlled, machine-actuated testing to replicate the forces of 130-, 150- and 180-lb runners at 7 miles per hour (90 foot strikes per foot). These tests use technologically advanced machines that are controlled with extreme precision.
Efficiency is measured as a percentage of energy loss during each foot strike measured against the distance run. We know –complex-sounding stuff, right? Efficiency results in less energy loss as you move. Research shows Newton running shoes lose less energy with every foot strike.
Test Details
Why Use the KMT Test?
The KMT test was developed to address deficiencies in the ASTM (American Standard for Testing Materials) test, which is the industry standard. The ASTM’s "Standard Test Method for Shock Attenuating Properties of Materials Systems for Athletic Footwear" was used as one of the source documents in developing the KMT test. A common method used in the ASTM test specifies a 1.8-inch-diameter metal cylinder dropped from 1.97 inches onto the heel of a shoe, and repeated 5 times (ASTM Drop Test). The ASTM Drop Test does not replicate foot shape, foot surface area, angle of impact, the driving force of the leg, leg speed, cadence or material degradation over time.
The KMT test has significant advantages over the ASTM test. KMT’s test takes into account and overcomes some of the inadequacies of the ASTM Drop Test. Unlike the ASTM Drop Test, the KMT test repeatedly and continuously impacts the shoe with forces simulating the speed and cadence of a runner. This test is typically conducted through 150 miles (about 100,000 foot strikes), which is approximately the functional life of a traditional running shoe’s EVA foam.
Discussion Of KMT Results
KMT ran endurance tests on several shoes up to 1,000 miles, far beyond the useful life of typical foam running shoes. Test results and analysis showed that the Newton Action/Reaction™ technology does not degrade significantly up to 1,000 miles, whereas traditional foam shoe technologies have rapid degradation that starts with the first step and continues through about 100 miles. The KMT test loads each shoe on the ball of the foot (midfoot) at an angle calculated to coincide with the maximum load on the shoe, which occurs in mid stance.
Additional Information
Most people load the heel portion of a shoe at some point during their gait cycle, and depending on their running style and shoe geometry, this varies from negligible to severe impact. Regardless of the heel load, significant midfoot forces are generated by all runners as their center of mass moves over the foot before push off. Maximum load on the foot and legs occurs in mid stance in a running gait. This is because a runner moves vertically as well as horizontally, and the maximum force (about 2½ times body weight) happens when you change your vertical motion from falling to rising – just like a roller coaster at the bottom of a dip. At this point, all runners are pushing off the ball of their foot.