I was excited to try the Newton Gravity 12. For those who don’t know (and wow, that seems so long ago…probably because it was), the Newton Gravity was my first pair of running shoes. From about 2010-2014, I ran through about 20 teams. I only wore them because they worked for me. When I began working in the run specialty, I found other shoes that also worked for me.
Newton Gravity 12 Quick Facts:
Weight: 7.2oz
Heel Toe Drop: 3.0mm
Price: $185
Newton Gravity 12 Fit:
Newton designs Gravity 12 to fit women’s feet. Unlike many running shoes, they haven’t done a “shrink it to pink it,” and the Gravity 12 is designed to provide women’s feet. It’s not the first brand nor the first model they’ve done that. The anatomically designed 3-D engineered air mesh works well and breathes well. We’ve already had some warm days in the desert and you don’t have to worry about the shoe overheating. The plush, breathable seamless construction fits true to size.
The best running shoe uppers disappear off your foot, and for the most part the Gravity 12 does just that. The shoe feels secure without feeling tight. They are a good fitting shoe.
In running shoes I typic’s size 10-11 wide. The size 11 in the Newton Gravity 12 fits well.
Newton Gravity 12 Ride:
If you’ve never run in Newtons, starting slow is better. I mean working into these very slowly because they work your calves differently than any other brand. If you flip them over, you’ll see a series of lugs that help propel you forward. These lugs, combined with the 3 mm drop, affect your calves and how your body moves in the shoe. 3 mm drop is one of the lowest except for the 0 mm drop. Rushing into running in them can cause calf problems. Your calves will probably be sore when you lace up a pair of Newtons. I know mine was, and it took me about a month to work into my first pair of Newtons. I cannot emphasize this enough!
The Newton Gravity 12 uses a NRG™ and Hytrel® super foam combo plus a high-performance XPS plate. The high-performances plate isn’t a “carbon plate” and not designed for racing or running fast. The updated Gravity 12 has more cushion and energy return than previous versions. If you’ve run in previous versions, it’s much more responsive but it also feels like it has more cushion.
Plus, the Newton Gravity 12 is made from recycled materials. Newton says each pair of Gravity 12 removes 4+ water bottles from the waste chain. The shoe itself is designed to biodegrade faster and is “crafted for today’s run and tomorrow in mind.” I’ve reviewed many.” running shoes made from recycled materials lately and some you can definitely tell and they are lower-quality shoes (like the Nike Zoom Fly 5). Thankfully, the Newton Gravity 12 is not one of those shoes, and it just feels like previous versions and is “normal.”
Durability and Traction: The Newton Gravity has always had decent of both. In the era of early versions of the Newton Gravity, they claimed the shoe was more expensive because you could get twice the mileage. I’m not sure how true that is today because I no longer see the claim, but I find the Newton Gravity still very durable. I’m getting at least 400 miles on the most recent versions. I’ve put 200 miles on the Newton Gravity 12, and it still feels fine.
As far as traction, the lug system makes it hard to have full traction because you have a piece raised off the ground. It doesn’t have the best traction or the worst. I’ve used it occasionally in inclement weather and on the sand dunes with no issues.
The Newton Gravity 12 is designed to be an everyday trainer, and that’s exactly how it falls into my rotation. I haven’t had any issues with it. I appreciate that the latest version feels like it has more cushion and is just slightly softer. It makes me want to use it most for easy runs or longer easy runs. You can pick up the pace into more uptempo work but I prefer a designated workout or “fast shoe” for those types of runs.
Newton Gravity 12 Conclusion:
The changes with the Newton Gravity 12 aren’t drastic, and I’m a big fan of the shoe. If you liked previous Gravity versions, you’d probably like thiyou’dion too. If you’ve never tried Newton this is a great place to start, especially for a daily trainer.
Who should buy the Newton Gravity 12? If you’ve run in the Newton Gravity before and like previous versions. If you are looking for a new daily trainer that you can slowly work into with a different ride than anything else you’ve ever tried.
Who should not buy the Newton Gravity 12? If you’ve had to calve issues or don’t have the time to work into the Newton Gravity. If you’ve never run in Newton, it shouldn’t be “your only running shoe.”
My Current Shoe Rotat.”n:
Easy/Daily Runs: Antepes Muscle Runners, Tracksmith Eliot Runner, New Balance 1080v12, Newton Gravity 12, 361 Degrees Centauri, ASICS Superblast
Speed Work: Hoka Solimar, Altra Vanish Carbon, 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike ZoomX Streakfly
Long Runs: ASICS Superblast
Trail Running/Hiking: Brooks Caldera 6, Saucony Peregrine 12, Hoka Torrent 2, Hoka Zinal Shoe, Speedland SL: PDX,
Races: Nike ZoomX Streakfly, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Reebok Run fast Pro, Nike Vaporfly 3 Hoka Rocket X 2 ASICS Metaspeed Edge+
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Are you looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths about running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the Newton Gravity 12?
What is your favorite running shoe?
Did they do away with the forefoot lugs for a bit or am I just getting old and crazy and out of touch with running shoes. Newton was the HOKA of running circa 2009 – 2012 in the Chicagoland regions.
They made them less aggressive/noticeable!