Details
Brand
Newton
Heel To Toe Drop
3 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• 4-lug system cushions landings, creates a smooth ride, and grips uneven terrain• Closed mesh upper allows air flow and keeps dirt and snow out• Toe bumper protects the toes in cold weather• EVA foam cushions well and helps absorb shock• Biomechanical sensor plate smoothens transitions and propels the foot forward with its Acton/Reaction system• ETC sockliner has anti-microbial properties for a soft and odor-free fit• Vinyl overlays add structure and lock the foot down, and vinyl ripstop adds extra durability by preventing tearing in the upper• Lacing system has reinforced eyelets for durability• 3mm drop helps stabilize the foot• Laser-perforated synthetic suede saddle creates a snug fit around the midfoot
Upper
The durable and breathable upper creates a snug and protective fit. The entire upper was treated with a water-repellent coating. The closed mesh keeps snow and dirt out of the shoe but is breathable enough to run comfortably on a hot day. The lacing system creates a snug fit and has reinforced eyelets to prevent tearing. The vinyl ripstop adds even more durability and vinyl overlays add structure to the shoe. The interior is lightly padded for support and the toe box is roomy. There is also a rubber toe bumper that protects against accidental stubbing on rocks or tree roots. The heel tab and logo are covered in reflective material for visibility in low-light conditions. The laser-perforated synthetic suede saddle hugs the midfoot for a comfortable fit. The webbing, laces, and PET mesh are all composed of 100% recycled materials.
Midsole
The midsole uses excellent technologies to soften landings, propel the foot back into the air, protect joints, and kill odor and bacteria. The lightweight EVA foam provides good cushioning, support, and shock absorption, as well as light flexibility and responsiveness. Most of the shoe’s responsiveness comes from the Action/Reaction system and biomechanical sensor plate that detect when the foot lands, smoothens the heel-to-toe transitions, and bounces the foot back into the air. The 3mm drop helps stabilize the foot, which is great for going on trails, and the midsole provides a neutral amount of arch support. The ETC sockliner in the midsole and upper is soft and has anti-microbial properties to kill bacteria and odor for a comfortable ride. The insole top cover uses 100% recycled materials and the midsole itself accommodates orthotics or arch supports.
Outsole
The outsole uses 10% recycled rubber. The forefoot uses a four-lug system with softer and lighter rubber for cushioning. The multi-directional lugs throughout the shoe have harder rubber to grip uneven terrain and create a smooth ride. The four lugs run across the shoe in toe-shaped strips near the ball of the foot and the multi-directional lugs are in the toe and heel areas of the shoe. The outsole is also durable, responsive, and slightly flexible.
Breathability
The BoCo AT is very breathable according to testers. The upper has a water-repellent coating to help keep water out of the shoe so that the foot stays dry. The closed mesh allows the shoe to ventilate so that the foot stays cool on hot days, and also is tightly woven enough to keep dirt or snow from falling into the shoe. The anti-microbial properties of the sockliner help keep the foot dry, cool, and odor-free. The overlays and stitching do not affect the shoe’s breathability.
Comfort
The Newton BoCo AT provides a comfortable fit with a good amount of cushioning. It has a wide toe box with plenty of room and a snug fit around the heel and midfoot. The sizes run true to Newton’s standards, but some reviewers stated that it ran a half size small compared to the size they normally wore. This shoe comes in normal width and does not have wide size options. The relatively low weight, breathability, protective features, and responsiveness all make it more comfortable to wear. Testers rated this shoe as highly cushioned. The blown rubber in the four-lug system and the EVA foam create nice and soft landings, especially for heel strikers. Some testers who normally experience plantar fasciitis or pain in the balls of their feet stated that they felt little to no pain after wearing this shoe.
Style
The BoCo AT uses bright colors with reflective materials in order for wearers to stay visible, and many of the shoe’s components use recycled materials. It has an interesting design with dots, triangles, and different weave patterns on the mesh. The men’s shoe is available in either Silver/Blue or Green Black, and the women’s shoe is only available in Pink/Grey. Some testers did not like the bright colors, while others liked the colors or the fact that they would remain visible on the trail.
Durability
This shoe has great durability for the most part. The outsole uses hard rubber on its multi-directional lugs so that it can continue to grip well for a few hundred miles. Even the softer four lugs in the forefoot have great durability. The upper does a good job of keeping the foot locked in and comfortable for many miles. The vinyl ripstop and reinforced eyelets make the upper more durable in areas that are prone to tearing. The recycled materials seem to be very durable. A few testers experienced some wearing down of the EVA foam after a couple hundred miles, but other than that it’s a very durable shoe.
Protection
The BoCo AT is very protective. The upper is water-repellent. The closed mesh protects against heat on hot days, snow on cold days, and debris year round. The midsole protects the wearer’s joints and muscles by cushioning landings and absorbing shock with the EVA foam, and smoothening transitions with the Action/Reaction system. The toe bumper protects the wearer’s toes against rocks, tree roots and debris. The reflective materials protect runners by making them visible in fog, early mornings or evenings.
Responsiveness
Testers found that the BoCo AT has excellent responsiveness. Transitions are very smooth, thanks to the multi-directional lugs in the outsole and biomechanical sensor plate and Action/Reaction system in the midsole. The four-lug system in the outsole and EVA foam and Action/Reaction system in the midsole give a light spring to the wearer’s step. Testers rated this shoe as “very high” on energy return, which makes it ideal for training and longer runs.
Support
The BoCo AT is lightly supportive. The sole unit gives some neutral support to the bottom and arch of the foot. The upper is lightly padded and gives a little bit of support, especially around the midfoot where the saddle gives a snug fit around the arch, top and side of the foot. Reviews found that this shoe was not supportive enough to go over highly technical terrain, especially in over-pronators or heavier runners. However, the shoe does have room for insoles or orthotics for neutral runners who need them.
Terrain
As its name suggests, the Newton BoCo AT was design to go over all types of terrain. It does well enough on dirt, roads, and hard indoor surfaces, but the multi-directional lugs make it shine on trails. The shoe was tested by Newton on trails near Boulder, Colorado, so it can go on paths, light trails, and even technical trails (although some reviewers had trouble with support and stability when going on up and down hills with rough terrain). The outsole was also designed to go on snow and the upper was designed to keep snow and moisture out of the shoe.
Price
When it was initially released, the BoCo AT was at the high end of the average price range for a running shoe. Because it was discontinued, it now sells for anywhere from 18% off to almost 75% off depending on the size and retailer. Some colors/styles and sizes are no longer available, although the next edition, the BoCo AT II, is widely available.
Drop
The forefoot height is 25mm and the heel height is 28mm, creating a drop of 3mm. Some testers had some trouble getting used to the low drop, which gave those people a longer than usual “break in” time. The lower drop does not have the forward push that the standard 10mm-12mm drop does (although the shoe has plenty of features that make it responsive), which helps stabilize the foot and is especially nice when going downhill or over technical terrain.
Stability
This shoe has very few stability features and as such is fine for neutral runners but not for over-pronators or runners who are prone to injury. The drop helps keep the foot stable by providing a flat surface to land on. The outsole and midsole are more designed for responsiveness than stability, and the arch support is not enough to stabilize the foot from turning inward. The upper provides a snug fit but not enough to stabilize the foot from over-pronating, only a little stability to allow neutral runners to go on trails without rolling or sliding.
Flexibility
This shoe is very flexible for a trail running shoe. The outsole has grooves between the lugs on the forefoot to allow the toes to push off in order to pick up speed. The midsole’s EVA foam is flexible enough for the foot to move freely and the sensor plate and Action/Reaction system help the shoe transition between takeoffs and landings. The upper is also flexible enough to allow the foot to move in any direction and although it provides a snug fit, it is not so tight or heavy that it prevents movement.
Traction
The BoCo AT has great traction on many different surface types. Its multi-directional lugs allow it to grip soft surfaces and technical terrain going uphill and downhill when following a trail. It gets decent traction on snow and can also grip dirt or paved roads during daily runs or on part of a longer trail run.
Bottom Line
The BoCo AT is a great shoe choice for neutral runners who want to be able to run on all kinds of terrain, especially in the snow, as most trail shoes are not designed for snow. It is lightweight, flexible, and responsive with lots of energy return and smooth transitions, which allows wearers to pick up speed for faster long distance runs. It allowed some neutral runners who normally have pain to run without any problems. This shoe is also environmentally friendly, as it uses recycled materials, and has a very reasonable price. Over-pronators and injury -prone runners should choose a more stable and supportive shoe, as this one could cause them to get hurt when going on trails or hills. Overall, the BoCo AT or its sequel the BoCo AT II are nice neutral trail shoes for all types of weather or terrain.
