I just got it and have been walking around with it since yesterday. Trying to make my way to the zero drop shoes, usually wear 6 and 8, so to see Altra releasing a 4, with that shoe box that is what I need, I had to try. So far I like it a lot and I agree with your insights. Hoping I will be cleared to run soon, that will be the real test. Thanks for this review!
@@RunMooreit’s good to have music, but avoid any cues with heavy instrumentation on the more treble end of the spectrum. Regardless, love your content! Just ordered these. PRAYING they fit my wide feet.
I used to carry Altra at my old shop Runnergy and have been wearing Altra's since before "Icon" and I can say this Via Fwd is fantastic. Honestly I barely notice the 4mm and I said a year ago the Via Olympus should have been the shoe with 4mm's as medical likes this shoe, but they need some kind of drop for their clients. I said 10+ years ago that the zero drop should not be their main theme, it should be the toe box. Great video! Also, that pressure on top of your big toe joint would have refrained me from selling them to you. I find them to be a little narrow/shallow and think the Via would benefit from offering a wide width even thought it is an "original" fit. In my opinion I think it fits a little narrow/shallow even compared to last years Olympus.
It's nice that Altra is updating their foams and the weight isn't bad for a cushioned daily trainer. The competition is pretty fierce out there these days though (good for the consumer), with racing tech trickling down into daily trainers.
Thank you for the video! Much needed. New to Altra. Just got my first pair - Forms. Wore first time this morning. Love them! Never thought I could find a roomy toebox like this! Thank you again! PS - In Utah now - Born and raised in Baltimore County! :-)
Thanks for watching! The Experience line from Altra is by far my favorite. My feet just don't mesh well with the zero drop. Glad to hear you love the Forms!
@@RunMoore this is a forward, not a via......via olympus was supposedly "road olympus" only made sense in that they were both bulkiest, otherwise not so much as the via had extreme "stability side" sidewalls unlike the olympus, which never veered as stability as the later paradigms
a test ver of torin 8 has the same terrible funk on the bunion or whatever you are pointing at. the official t8 seem to have fixed it. wearing thin smartwool btw 44.5 where as the vanish and mont blanc models had none such issues
I still prefer the zero drop but if it gets people in lower drop and wider toebox it is still an improvement for many people. I wear CorrectToes in them.
Nice! There are still plenty of die-hard Altra fans that will only stick with the zero drop geometry. The 4mm is a perfect transition heel drop for people to get into zero drop shoes.
the best way to get people into these shoes is to make a less inside pointy last, which altra knows since they tried the other way around with torin 7.5 (not official). timp5 models, certain outroads(i forgot which) very much looks like enlarged converse (symmetrical toetip)
Great review Steve, well done. I'm a long time Altra wearer and this shoe interests me. I think I will give it a try. I'm finishing up with my Via Olympus 1 which I have enjoyed, and want to try the 2. You partially answered my question about there being a Via Olympus 3, or if this is the next iteration of that line. Where would you put the firmness of the FWD Via midsole, maybe in between the VO 1 and 2? For me, a 4mm drop is barely noticeable. Thanks.
Hallo! Great question! Honestly we are arent too sure at the moment. We do know the Via Olympus 2 will be around at for a bit and will live mostly on Altras website. So we wouldnt be shocked if Altra released a 3rd zero drop Via exclusive to their website. Right now this in addition to the Via Olympus line.
Will there be a waterproof version of this shoe? This will be my first Altra. I was trying on the Hoka Bondi 8 as I like the wide toebox. Altra is much wider IMO. It will be my daily walker.
Hi Steve, How is the new foam (EGOFLO) compared to fresh foam X found in NB MORE V5 (your shoe)??? is it as plush or it is way firmer? is it as good on the legs for easy/recovery runs? Thank you.
The More V5 is much softer compared to the new midsole foam in the new FWD Via. I feel the FWD Via is a little more versatile than the More V5. Which is more of that LSD (Long Slow Distance) kind of shoe. The FWD Via is still good as that easy recovery type of running shoe though, its just a bit firmer than the More V5.
This pretty much is a 4mm heel drop Via Olympus. The weight drop is mainly from the midsole foam. The nitrogen infused EGO FLO foam is substantially lighter than their EGO MAX foam. This brought the weight of the shoe down from 11.4oz on the men's side to 9.5oz (9.6oz to 8.3oz on the women's side).
Are they true to size, or should I go up half a size/ full size (from 41 to 42)? Does the width of the toe box run the same as the Via 2, aka the altra road shoe with the roomiest fit?
Looks like an exciting shoe! I'm a fan of the 4mm drop Altra shoes and I really hope this new foam trickles down into the Flow and Wild. I have to say it is slightly annoying that Altra isn't consistent with their naming. Why not call this shoe the Experience Via like the rest of the 4mm drop line? Why go back to FWD after dropping that name from the FWD Experience (which was a terrible name)? Now both FWD and Experience are used to signify 4mm drop. Not a big deal, but just mildly annoying that they're not consistent with their naming.
We are also curious as to why they brought back the FWD naming system for the 3rd iteration of the VIA. It definitely breaks the consistency. Plus, EXP VIA would work just fine if they didn't want to use the full "Experience".
It's still one of the best. Another option to consider would be the newest iteration of the Gaviota from Hoka. It has a very similar rounded off toebox that runs quite wide. Plus, like the Paradigm, it is available in both a standard and a wide. The most notable difference between the two shoes is that the Paradigm is similar to a flat soled shoe with added cushion and support while Hoka has their MetaRocker technology that gives you a little bit of pep to your step. The Gaviota also has a little bit more cushion compared to the Paradigm.
most other brands u are looking at a very pronounced 8 shape no matter how wide they are. when they say wide they only consider the front, even altra. a lot of brands are making obnoxiously wide front and back with still insanely thin mid section, which is just obnoxious and none intuitive and absolutely no go for i would categorized as flat foot like mine. there needs to be more brands delving into designing ethos for a shoe that fits but doesn't cramp even on the thinnest sock. and don't "feets are different" me..not every last has to be a race ready or race influenced last....stuff like city marathons are completely none inspiring and just sidebar since forever ago, it's a thing, like farmers market, it's not "the thing". i don't know if it's just the economy widing down that running is cheap to consider a major hobby but they make it such a big deal the past decade everywhere in the world it's offputting everyone not running......government waste millions just to clear up the weather before races citywide just to get sunny days and i'm here like "who asked". all the marketing in the world won't make everyone up and go do races......
the signature side profile of all the flo/forward/fwd/experience/exp are identical. aggressive double section beefy vamp towards the back(midfoam design plays into it and varies by models), gradual but slightly longer section vamp towards the front. the other models use shorter vamp sections..
How is the heel counter on this shoe? I have a bit of Haglunds that can get irritated by more rigid heel counters. But more than that, my heels just seems to chew through heel collar foam far faster than other parts of the shoe. Doctors of Running included the Via Olympus in their list of Haglund friendly shoes, but the early reviews for this shoe sound more appealing. thought I'd ask b/c a previous Altra Torin (4.5 Plush) was great in the heel, but subsequent iterations have disappointed.
The FWD Via has a 4mm heel to toe drop vs the 0mm drop that Via Olympus has. The FWD Via has a also features a super critical (more bouncy) midsole than the standard EVA of the Via Olympus.
What is supposed to be the advantage of a zero drop shoot? I know people who use them love them. I've never tried a pair, but I also wear custom orthotics with all my shoes.
Zero drop shoes don’t elevate your heel above your forefoot, which allows your calf and Achilles to get a fuller range of motion. Be careful while transitioning, especially if used for running, because this could cause some strain if those areas are weak. Zero drop also allows a more barefoot style running form
0 drop just means level, so your posture stays more aligned and the shoe is less likely to mess with your preferred motion pathways in running. Your orthotics were molded on a level platform, so a 0 drop will keep them in that position so it's a truer fit to your arch geometry. 0 drop is just foot positioning though, cushioning, flex, rocker etc affect the loads on the feet way more.
if all you do is stand around u should do fine with a 3-5mm shoe provided it has a bit of sag.. if u rely on heel sag to provide you with leveled support since the feet is longer arch toward the front of the leg-ankle axis..., which is naturally unbalanced front vs back esp just standing around, then yeah.
Steve. I have hallux limitus (big toe arthritis). I have wide and also flat feet. Can you think of a shoe that has little to no forefoot flex, also with little to no toe-spring, that fits wide in the midfoot and toe box and maybe provides a 2e option. ? As you can see I have problem feet.
We recommend checking out the Beast GTS. It is a very supportive, vey stiff shoe that has almost no flex at all. It is available in three widths, medium (D), wide (2E), and extra wide (4E).
Does this shoe has an original foot shape fit (the widest in Altra)? I just tried this and the via olympus 2. They both fit quite different in size 8.5. The via olympus 2 fit looser at the mid foot and has a wider toe box as far as I can feel.. The via fwd is a lot tighter on the mid foot. via olympus 2 feels way comfortable IMO. Any idea why? I was planning to get the via fwd but I might change my mind to get the via olympus 2 instead..
Do they (and altras in general) loosen up while trying them at home for a few days or does the loosening effect only happen when you really wear them on the street ? I have some altras that are a bit tight in the mid-foot and I fear they won't loosen up
All shoes will break in a little bit, but it tends to be much less than people think. I find some shoes to take about one to two wears to really break them in. It does, however, very much depend on the shoe.
I tried this on and honestly could not feel a whole lot of difference between it and the Flow. I know it has more stack and the drop is a little different but that's about it. What are you hearing?
The drop is the same 4mm as the flow. Aside from the higher stack giving it more cushion, there is a difference in the midsole foam being used. The FWD Via has the new EGOFLO midsole foam, which is nitrogen infused to give it a softer, lighter feel. The Flow ironically does not have the EGOFLO midsole foam, but a non branded EVA blend. The other big difference is the width. The FWD Via is the Original fit, giving it a nice, wide, roomy feel. The Experience Flow is their Standard fit toe box, making it a smidge narrower than the Via.
The midsole from the original FWD was a bit to hard for me, not really efficient on higher paces. I loved the fit tough. Maybe this is a nice alternative for the Tempo, wich I absolutely adore.
This review might be a tad misleading for many Altra wearers. I have a handful of runs in the FWD Via and there's a ton of similar complaints already out. This is by far the firmest, harshest, and stiffest "max cushion" shoe on the market. Absolutely nothing max cush about this shoe besides the stack height. This shoe runs like an Altra standard fit and definitely not their original fit as advertised. If one needs the original fit this isn't it.
We're confused too. They removed the FWD part of the ALTRAFWD Experience to make it the Experience line of shoes, and then bring the FWD back solely for the Via.
I just got it and have been walking around with it since yesterday. Trying to make my way to the zero drop shoes, usually wear 6 and 8, so to see Altra releasing a 4, with that shoe box that is what I need, I had to try. So far I like it a lot and I agree with your insights. Hoping I will be cleared to run soon, that will be the real test. Thanks for this review!
Thanks for the review. Please turn off the annoying background noise. Thanks
Yeah, it kind of sounds like there's mice running through the rafters 😀😃.
At least they sound like they’re having a fun time! 😉
I agree with you. The music is annoying
We will let our video guy know for future reference. 👍
@@RunMooreit’s good to have music, but avoid any cues with heavy instrumentation on the more treble end of the spectrum. Regardless, love your content! Just ordered these. PRAYING they fit my wide feet.
I used to carry Altra at my old shop Runnergy and have been wearing Altra's since before "Icon" and I can say this Via Fwd is fantastic. Honestly I barely notice the 4mm and I said a year ago the Via Olympus should have been the shoe with 4mm's as medical likes this shoe, but they need some kind of drop for their clients. I said 10+ years ago that the zero drop should not be their main theme, it should be the toe box. Great video! Also, that pressure on top of your big toe joint would have refrained me from selling them to you. I find them to be a little narrow/shallow and think the Via would benefit from offering a wide width even thought it is an "original" fit. In my opinion I think it fits a little narrow/shallow even compared to last years Olympus.
It's nice that Altra is updating their foams and the weight isn't bad for a cushioned daily trainer. The competition is pretty fierce out there these days though (good for the consumer), with racing tech trickling down into daily trainers.
We're also glad to see Altra incorporate an updated foam for the new FWD VIA. Something we wish they had done with the Olympus 6.
That weight is for a men's 10.5US... a men's 9US like other companies report weight at is probably like 8.5oz or something.
Thank you for the video! Much needed. New to Altra. Just got my first pair - Forms. Wore first time this morning. Love them! Never thought I could find a roomy toebox like this! Thank you again! PS - In Utah now - Born and raised in Baltimore County! :-)
Thanks for watching! The Experience line from Altra is by far my favorite. My feet just don't mesh well with the zero drop. Glad to hear you love the Forms!
@@RunMoore is the experience confidence confirmed or just a concept, very simlar to form
@@RunMoore this is a forward, not a via......via olympus was supposedly "road olympus" only made sense in that they were both bulkiest, otherwise not so much as the via had extreme "stability side" sidewalls unlike the olympus, which never veered as stability as the later paradigms
a test ver of torin 8 has the same terrible funk on the bunion or whatever you are pointing at. the official t8 seem to have fixed it. wearing thin smartwool btw 44.5 where as the vanish and mont blanc models had none such issues
via was not for thin guys like us lol, not sure who enjoyed it
I still prefer the zero drop but if it gets people in lower drop and wider toebox it is still an improvement for many people. I wear CorrectToes in them.
Nice! There are still plenty of die-hard Altra fans that will only stick with the zero drop geometry. The 4mm is a perfect transition heel drop for people to get into zero drop shoes.
spacers?
the best way to get people into these shoes is to make a less inside pointy last, which altra knows since they tried the other way around with torin 7.5 (not official). timp5 models, certain outroads(i forgot which) very much looks like enlarged converse (symmetrical toetip)
Hi. A good news. Like from Spain. Have a great day.
Thanks for watching! I was just in Spain not too long ago.
Supercritical foam on the Experience line would be great
Great review Steve, well done. I'm a long time Altra wearer and this shoe interests me. I think I will give it a try. I'm finishing up with my Via Olympus 1 which I have enjoyed, and want to try the 2. You partially answered my question about there being a Via Olympus 3, or if this is the next iteration of that line. Where would you put the firmness of the FWD Via midsole, maybe in between the VO 1 and 2? For me, a 4mm drop is barely noticeable. Thanks.
Thanks for the Video! Does This Shoe replace the via olympus or is it an Addition to the roster?
Greetings from Germany
Hallo! Great question! Honestly we are arent too sure at the moment. We do know the Via Olympus 2 will be around at for a bit and will live mostly on Altras website. So we wouldnt be shocked if Altra released a 3rd zero drop Via exclusive to their website. Right now this in addition to the Via Olympus line.
@@RunMooreit’s replacing the via Olympus. I contacted Altra about it so the via Olympus will not be a thing anymore
Will there be a waterproof version of this shoe? This will be my first Altra. I was trying on the Hoka Bondi 8 as I like the wide toebox. Altra is much wider IMO. It will be my daily walker.
Currently, there are no plans from Altra to make a waterproof version of the FWD Via.
Hi Steve, How is the new foam (EGOFLO) compared to fresh foam X found in NB MORE V5 (your shoe)??? is it as plush or it is way firmer? is it as good on the legs for easy/recovery runs? Thank you.
The More V5 is much softer compared to the new midsole foam in the new FWD Via. I feel the FWD Via is a little more versatile than the More V5. Which is more of that LSD (Long Slow Distance) kind of shoe. The FWD Via is still good as that easy recovery type of running shoe though, its just a bit firmer than the More V5.
This feels like a 4mm via Olympus, I'm still intrigued with the weight drop.
This pretty much is a 4mm heel drop Via Olympus. The weight drop is mainly from the midsole foam. The nitrogen infused EGO FLO foam is substantially lighter than their EGO MAX foam. This brought the weight of the shoe down from 11.4oz on the men's side to 9.5oz (9.6oz to 8.3oz on the women's side).
@@RunMoore but what about comparison to egopro?
Are they true to size, or should I go up half a size/ full size (from 41 to 42)? Does the width of the toe box run the same as the Via 2, aka the altra road shoe with the roomiest fit?
I have found that they fit true to size. A couple of our staff also agree that they are fine in their normal size.
Would you recommend this or the Via Olympus 2 with regards on taking pressure off the big toe area ?
there is no altra shoe that has issue with big toe area tbf..
@@lyrilljackson It was mentioned in the video that the upper can put pressure on the top of the big toe knuckle.
@@Kayrunningandcoffeeaddict that's not the big toe area that's the bone structure
Looks like an exciting shoe! I'm a fan of the 4mm drop Altra shoes and I really hope this new foam trickles down into the Flow and Wild. I have to say it is slightly annoying that Altra isn't consistent with their naming. Why not call this shoe the Experience Via like the rest of the 4mm drop line? Why go back to FWD after dropping that name from the FWD Experience (which was a terrible name)? Now both FWD and Experience are used to signify 4mm drop. Not a big deal, but just mildly annoying that they're not consistent with their naming.
We are also curious as to why they brought back the FWD naming system for the 3rd iteration of the VIA. It definitely breaks the consistency. Plus, EXP VIA would work just fine if they didn't want to use the full "Experience".
there's more than 2 signifiers. and this was designed earlier was probably why. there might be multiple designers or design teams..
Is the Altra Paradigm 7 still the best wide toe box high cushion stability road shoe?
It's still one of the best. Another option to consider would be the newest iteration of the Gaviota from Hoka. It has a very similar rounded off toebox that runs quite wide. Plus, like the Paradigm, it is available in both a standard and a wide. The most notable difference between the two shoes is that the Paradigm is similar to a flat soled shoe with added cushion and support while Hoka has their MetaRocker technology that gives you a little bit of pep to your step. The Gaviota also has a little bit more cushion compared to the Paradigm.
@@RunMoore Thank you !
most other brands u are looking at a very pronounced 8 shape no matter how wide they are. when they say wide they only consider the front, even altra. a lot of brands are making obnoxiously wide front and back with still insanely thin mid section, which is just obnoxious and none intuitive and absolutely no go for i would categorized as flat foot like mine. there needs to be more brands delving into designing ethos for a shoe that fits but doesn't cramp even on the thinnest sock. and don't "feets are different" me..not every last has to be a race ready or race influenced last....stuff like city marathons are completely none inspiring and just sidebar since forever ago, it's a thing, like farmers market, it's not "the thing". i don't know if it's just the economy widing down that running is cheap to consider a major hobby but they make it such a big deal the past decade everywhere in the world it's offputting everyone not running......government waste millions just to clear up the weather before races citywide just to get sunny days and i'm here like "who asked". all the marketing in the world won't make everyone up and go do races......
How would this compare to the Torin 7? I have been waiting for the 8. Maybe I will try this out.
the signature side profile of all the flo/forward/fwd/experience/exp are identical. aggressive double section beefy vamp towards the back(midfoam design plays into it and varies by models), gradual but slightly longer section vamp towards the front. the other models use shorter vamp sections..
How is the heel counter on this shoe? I have a bit of Haglunds that can get irritated by more rigid heel counters. But more than that, my heels just seems to chew through heel collar foam far faster than other parts of the shoe. Doctors of Running included the Via Olympus in their list of Haglund friendly shoes, but the early reviews for this shoe sound more appealing. thought I'd ask b/c a previous Altra Torin (4.5 Plush) was great in the heel, but subsequent iterations have disappointed.
The heel counter on the FWD Via is on the stiffer side. You would most likely be better off in the older Via Olympus 2, specifically for Haglund's.
What's the difference between this MEN'S FWD VIA and the original VIA Olympus?
The FWD Via has a 4mm heel to toe drop vs the 0mm drop that Via Olympus has. The FWD Via has a also features a super critical (more bouncy) midsole than the standard EVA of the Via Olympus.
What is supposed to be the advantage of a zero drop shoot? I know people who use them love them. I've never tried a pair, but I also wear custom orthotics with all my shoes.
Zero drop shoes don’t elevate your heel above your forefoot, which allows your calf and Achilles to get a fuller range of motion. Be careful while transitioning, especially if used for running, because this could cause some strain if those areas are weak. Zero drop also allows a more barefoot style running form
@@ders. oh I don't plan to use them. I was just curious. the shoes and Orthotics I use right now for running work great for me.
0 drop just means level, so your posture stays more aligned and the shoe is less likely to mess with your preferred motion pathways in running. Your orthotics were molded on a level platform, so a 0 drop will keep them in that position so it's a truer fit to your arch geometry. 0 drop is just foot positioning though, cushioning, flex, rocker etc affect the loads on the feet way more.
if all you do is stand around u should do fine with a 3-5mm shoe provided it has a bit of sag.. if u rely on heel sag to provide you with leveled support since the feet is longer arch toward the front of the leg-ankle axis..., which is naturally unbalanced front vs back esp just standing around, then yeah.
Steve. I have hallux limitus (big toe arthritis). I have wide and also flat feet. Can you think of a shoe that has little to no forefoot flex, also with little to no toe-spring, that fits wide in the midfoot and toe box and maybe provides a 2e option. ? As you can see I have problem feet.
Original Olympus via is your shoe.
We recommend checking out the Beast GTS. It is a very supportive, vey stiff shoe that has almost no flex at all. It is available in three widths, medium (D), wide (2E), and extra wide (4E).
Does this shoe has an original foot shape fit (the widest in Altra)? I just tried this and the via olympus 2. They both fit quite different in size 8.5. The via olympus 2 fit looser at the mid foot and has a wider toe box as far as I can feel.. The via fwd is a lot tighter on the mid foot. via olympus 2 feels way comfortable IMO. Any idea why? I was planning to get the via fwd but I might change my mind to get the via olympus 2 instead..
You should get a commission. I also bought a pair of Flows and Vias as well.
Do they (and altras in general) loosen up while trying them at home for a few days or does the loosening effect only happen when you really wear them on the street ? I have some altras that are a bit tight in the mid-foot and I fear they won't loosen up
All shoes will break in a little bit, but it tends to be much less than people think. I find some shoes to take about one to two wears to really break them in. It does, however, very much depend on the shoe.
I tried this on and honestly could not feel a whole lot of difference between it and the Flow. I know it has more stack and the drop is a little different but that's about it. What are you hearing?
Actually the drop is even the same now that I read it.
The drop is the same 4mm as the flow. Aside from the higher stack giving it more cushion, there is a difference in the midsole foam being used. The FWD Via has the new EGOFLO midsole foam, which is nitrogen infused to give it a softer, lighter feel. The Flow ironically does not have the EGOFLO midsole foam, but a non branded EVA blend. The other big difference is the width. The FWD Via is the Original fit, giving it a nice, wide, roomy feel. The Experience Flow is their Standard fit toe box, making it a smidge narrower than the Via.
我爱altra！❤
Thanks for watching! We love Altra too!
The midsole from the original FWD was a bit to hard for me, not really efficient on higher paces. I loved the fit tough.
Maybe this is a nice alternative for the Tempo, wich I absolutely adore.
Tempting...
If you give it a shot let us know what you think!
This review might be a tad misleading for many Altra wearers. I have a handful of runs in the FWD Via and there's a ton of similar complaints already out. This is by far the firmest, harshest, and stiffest "max cushion" shoe on the market. Absolutely nothing max cush about this shoe besides the stack height. This shoe runs like an Altra standard fit and definitely not their original fit as advertised. If one needs the original fit this isn't it.
Great. Now they're making shoes with FWD.
We're confused too. They removed the FWD part of the ALTRAFWD Experience to make it the Experience line of shoes, and then bring the FWD back solely for the Via.
@@RunMoore
I don't know ... the words "sport" and FWD don't fit. RWD and AWD yes, but no FWD, especially without a LSD.
I would rather run with Hoka, than a non-zero drop Altra.
that makes no sense - Hoka are not zero drop and they push your toes into strange positions