Newton MV3 Review: Feel the Need for Speed

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Introduction

When Newton sent us the Energy NR to review, they were kind enough to also send us the MV3 to review, too. This yellow racing flat with the red Newton logo is definitely eye candy, and we could not have been more excited to try this zero drop racer with Newton-unique specifications.

Jordan Describes the MV3

The MV3 is a difficult shoe to review for many reasons. It's not just any shoe, but it's a shoe from a specialty shoe company (with which we here at Vagabond Running have had good experiences) making what could broadly be called minimalist shoes. Further, this specialty shoe company is making a racing flat which is itself a specialty shoe but within the tradition of conventional shoes. Do you see where I'm going with this? It doesn't fall nicely into a single category of shoes which imply a certain criteria by which to judge it. There are so many nuances running around in my head, nevertheless I'll forsake them and dive in.

 

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As a racing flat this shoe departs from some of the qualities that Newton has made a priority in its other models, namely accessibility. The shoe has a super snug and narrow fit through the midfoot that runners accustomed to this niche market will find familiar, but nevertheless manages not to constrict the toes. However, for runners like myself who really enjoy the Newton approach, I was expecting something a little different, more in line with the Newton Energy NR, Distance or the SCOTT Race Rocker in terms of fit. The narrowness of the shoe even merited a comment or two from members of my local running group.

Image courtesy NewtonRunning.com

What Newton Says About the MV3

Here is what Newton has to say about the MV3:

"At a mere 5.4 ounces, the MV³ is the lightest Newton Running shoe ever produced. Our Race line offers lightweight performance products crafted for fast-paced running. Ultra-lightweight and designed for speed, the MV³ is a racing shoe with a zero-drop profile. It’s designed for short- or mid-distance racing and weekly speed workouts.

Image courtesy NewtonRunning.com

Note that the MV³ is designed for a race fit. If you are a Newton Running customer and are looking for a snug fit in both length and width, stay with your current size. If you are looking for a comfortable, everyday fit, you may want to go up a half size over your current Newton Running shoe size."

Weight • 5.4ozHeel-to-toe drop • 0mm

THE GOOD

Jordan - Despite my expectations, I found the MV3 to be an exceptionally fast shoe. It is light weight and strikes a very nice balance between flexibility and responsiveness. The outsole rubber is strategically placed where you need it and features Newton's iconic forefoot lugs. The lugs functioned exactly as advertised and were consistent with my experience with the Energy NR i.e. I get a very good sense of the ground yet never feel unprotected. In fact, while running hard, outdoor track, mile repeats I found myself making tons of micro-adjustments to my form on the fly similarly to the way I would if I was running barefoot or in truly minimalist footwear. The upper is a two layer mesh and is feather light. Along with the rest of the upper construction, Newton managed to make shoe that was everything you need and nothing more.

Image courtesy NewtonRunning.com

In the looks department, Newton scored huge with me. The aesthetic of the shoe is loud and proud (a Newton hallmark at this point), but maintains simplicity. Unlike the Distance or Gravity trainers the MV3 achieved a more cohesive, streamlined, and minimalist aesthetic that did not sacrifice pop. Overall they came out with a look that I really like.

Joshua - I'll admit it, I am a sucker for the design and colorway of the MV3. This shoe screams, STFU I'M RUNNING FAST! Like the Energy NR, the MV3 has a unique feel to it. In fact, I believe the MV3 has a negative heel-to-toe drop. It's supposed to be zero drop, but I'm pretty sure the five lugs up front make the front of the shoe a bit higher than the heel of the shoe. It's important to remember that Newton describes this as a "lightweight performance racer," so you will want to use this shoe primarily for tempo runs, intervals, and hard repeats. 

Compared to other racing flats that I've tried in the past, the MV3 has a true barefoot feel to it in my opinion. The ground feel on this shoe is pretty spectacular. It's so light, so snug (think slipper), and so comfortable that I forget I am even wearing a shoe when I'm running in it- which is an important characteristic for me. In terms of durability, I've only logged about 30-35 fast miles in these shoes, but they seem to be holding up well.

For my style of running, I would not run more than a half-marathon in these, but I've seen people run up to the marathon distance in them. For me, I use them in either a 5k or 10k for now. In fact, I'll be racing in them for my indoor track 10k on the 28th of December! I'll post an update on how they felt doing lots of laps on a 200m track :-).

Also note, this shoe grips really well on both the track and the road, especially wet road. I feel a bit more confident running fast in wet conditions in this shoe compared to the Energy NR. I've run a sub-6 min mile in these on the road, and it felt great.

THE BAD

Jordan - I originally got the MV3 in the same size as the Energy NR, but while the forefoot lugs were in the optimal place, I found the fit to be  too small and narrow. I was hoping that the sizing would be consistent across Newton's line. I am the same size in the Energy as I am in the Distance so I expected the same to be true for this shoe. It was not. The two shoes pictured below are the same size.

As you can see the MV3 runs shorter and more narrow. I sized up a half size and found the fit to be better over all except the forefoot lugs felt too far forward, more underneath my toes and less on my forefoot. So while I benefited from the snugness of the shoe and the openness of the toe box and all of the other great features, I never felt like I got the "ah-ha!" moment in the MV3 that I got in the Energy NR where everything clicked. Before my last 5K I had to decide which racing flat to wear and at the end of the day I could not bring myself to race in the MV3. 

Joshua - I had a similar experience to Jordan. The MV3 runs about a half-size small compared to the Energy NR. Nevertheless, I ran in the men's 8.5, but felt like my heel was constantly slipping out. Luckily, I got to use Jordan's, which is a half-size larger, and the fit was perfect! I'm struggling with a little bit of shin-splints at the moment as the weather begins to get fairly cold in Boston, so zero drop running I do for my easy runs, which makes logging miles in the MV3 not happening as often because this shoe is really only meant for fast running in my opinion. Also, I might not use this shoe on a super hilly 5k or 10k course. It might be a bit expensive at $125.00 for a speciality shoe.

Conclusion

Like the Energy NR, Newton did it again and produced another amazing shoe with the MV3 racer. This shoe should be durable, and it is pretty snug. If you only feel comfortable wearing shoes that are wide in the forefoot, then this shoe might not be for you. If you want the experience of a racing flat, which is usually a bit more narrow, then I recommend this shoe. Remember, shoes are tools, and each tool has a different function. In this regard, the MV3 should be used for days when you are running intervals, hard mile repeats, or heading to the track. Do your warmup in the Energy NR or some trainer, and then put on the MV3 to run FAST!! Well done, Newton!!!