Altra FWD VIA Review
By David Salas and Matthew Klein
Altra FWD ViaPrice: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.5 oz, 269 g (men's size 9), oz, g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 37 mm / 33 mm
Drop: 4 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Training ; Max Cushion
Pros: Good rhythmic rocker, decent weight for cushioning
Cons: Forefoot width and volume less than the traditional Altra experience.
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Altra FWD VIA is a cushioned daily training shoe with Altra's original footshape fit. This premium trainer is a new piece of the FWD lineup, meaning it has a 4mm drop. The Altra FWD VIA features a supercritical midsole with the name of Altra EGO FLO. The FWD VIA provides a rockered profile with some gentle guidance. The shoe overall is a fairly simple workhorse trainer for eating up miles.
SIMILAR SHOES: Topo Phantom 3
PAST MODEL: New model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Altra FWD VIA fits slightly long in my normal men's US size 10. The upper is slightly thicker throughout the length of the shoe with a anatomic toe box and a slightly wider heel and midfoot. The volume is slightly lower although the mesh has plenty of stretch and does not compress the toes. The toe box is rounded and anatomic and transitions into a wide but not traditionally wide Altra fit. The forefoot is a tiny bit snug for an Altra although it is still wide compared to others. This was offset slightly by the longer fit for me. This transitions into a slightly wider midfoot with a moderately thick, gusseted tongue. I did have to tighten down the laces to get a secure fit but did not have to lack lock the shoe. The heel also fits a tiny bit wide with a stiffer flexible heel counter and moderate heel collar padding. I did notice the counter but the slightly longer fit helped my foot sit away from the heel. Those with heel sensitivities will not do great in this shoe while those who want a stiff counter will do great. The inner liner of the upper is really comfortable except for the hard toe guard at the front. While going sockless was mostly comfortable thanks to the longer fit, the toe guard did cause some abrasion on the end of my toes. Thus I would suggest keeping your socks on for this otherwise decent, wider fitting, anatomic shoe.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
David: The Altra FWD VIA fits true to size in my men's 9.5. However, I will say the upper volume and forefoot width feel a little less than I would normally associate with the Altra fit. The upper material is on the thicker end and feels decently comfortable and durable. I would say the general feeling is consistent with a premium trainer and a more plush upper. The tongue does have a good amount of padding and I had no irritation from the laces. The width in the heel and midfoot are normal with the forefoot slightly wide. The fit came off as snug initially but it did break in well. I am not the most sensitive with forefoot width, so I did not have any issues. Thinking about those that have come to associate Altra with very roomy forefoots may find a more snug offering here though. There is a moderately stiff heel counter with a mild amount of padding. I had no irritation in that region and felt the heel did fit well. The upper also integrates well with the platform and my foot does feel secure. There was no irritation or hot spots near the sidewalls. I do think I would like to see a little more volume to the shoe though, as I did feel it was oddly snug for a plush shoe.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Somewhat
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Below Average - Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Altra FWD VIA is a higher-stack daily training shoe. The midsole material (EGO FLO) is firm with decent shock absorption but not much bounce. The ride feels protective and stable but not bouncy, making this a good daily trainer and easy run shoe when you want protection but not mushiness. This also makes this shoe feel oddly moderately stack rather than the listed and advertised higher/maximal stack. It also makes the 4mm drop more apparent and easier on the calf/Achilles tendon. This is smoothed out by a really well placed posterior lateral heel bevel that makes heel transitions firm but smooth. This moves into a fairly stiff midfoot that takes some time to break in. This ends with a slightly stiff toe off thanks to the long but not aggressive forefoot rocker. The slightly long fit is offset by the small amount of toe spring, which is not common for Altra. Those with mild toe mobility issues may be fine here but those need a stiffer, neutral forefoot rocker may need to look elsewhere.
Due to the firmer foam and slightly stiffer transition, the FWD VIA works best for easier and slower runs when you want a firmer platform. The stiff midfoot makes the shoe feel clunky when trying to pick up the pace and I don't find the midsole foam bouncy or soft enough for longer runs. The FWD VIA works better as a protective, "natural feeling" high stack height for those that want that combination or want a break from super foams/shoes. Despite the daily training nature, I found the durability to be fairly poor. At 27 miles I have already chewed through a great deal of the outsole extending from the lateral heel all the way to the lateral forefoot. This shoe is best for those light on their feet as it cannot take much wear and tear. Traction wise, the shoe is also best for only road surfaces as the outsole grooves easily pick up small rocks and the exposed midsole can easily be punctured. Thus, for those wanting a firmer, daily training shoe with good protection for road use who are not hard on their feet, the FWD VIA might be an option.
David: I enjoyed my experience with the FWD VIA. For being a maximum cushioned shoe, I did feel the initial step was a tad underwhelming. I was expecting the foam to feel softer, especially given its supercritical nature. Despite that though, there was still plenty of protection underfoot and the supercritical foam shows itself more in the ride. The midsole is named Altra EGO FLO. The supercritical foam has what I would call a firm bounce. The foam feels resilient and does bounce through the push off, but the foam doesn't feel like it has all that much give to it. Because of that, the ride feels firm and protective (due to how much foam there is), but still lively.
The FWD VIA does use a rocker profile. The heel bevel is done pretty well and does have a posterior-lateral bias. There are a lot of basic guidance measures integrated into the heel and midfoot. There are tall sidewalls of EGO FLO in the rearfoot that extend into the midfoot. The shoe transitions pretty quickly through the heel and spends a little more time through the midfoot and forefoot. The shoe does have a decent amount of forefoot stiffness, but there is definitely some flexibility to the forefoot when it is loaded. That is probably in part due to some of the flex grooves that are integrated into the platform. I did find the platform to be a smooth rocker for daily paces. The shoe is light enough to pick up the pace a little, but I found this to be a solid shuffling shoe. The outsole traction is pretty good as well. I had no issues with grip or slipping, and there is enough coverage for basic off road running as well. I do feel the Altra FWD VIA is comparable to other rockered premium shoes on the market.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Altra FWD VIA is technically a neutral training shoe but checks off enough boxes to be stable neutral. The midsole is firmer, there are large sidewalls, mild sole flare and the shoe is rigid enough to provide some centeredness. There are large sidewalls in the heel that extend slightly into the midfoot. These are not obtrusive but are noticeable when rolling either direction. These are further support by medial and lateral sole flare at the heel. There is slightly more lateral than medial, which may explain why I chewed through the lateral aspect of the shoe so quickly. The shoe is also fairly stiff, particularly in the midfoot. Combined with a wider midfoot makes for a stable but stiff center. This may work well for individuals like myself with excessive mobility here, but may feel clunky to others. Finally, the wider forefoot features mild sole flare that combined the mild rocker provides a stiffer stable transition forward. So while not a traditional stability shoe, it is fairly stiff with sidewalls and centering methods that work decently for mild stability needs once broken in.
David: The Altra FWD VIA is a neutral training shoe, but did do some things well to help stabilize. The most noticeable would be the tall sidewalls along the medial and lateral rearfoot. This gives the heel and midfoot a bucket and guidance sensation as you transition. The upper has good foot security and holds its structure well. I would like there to be a little more volume and space, but it does its job. Outsole traction is pretty good and should do its job for reasonably runnable terrain. The firmer nature of the shoe does still give some ground feel as well, which is not always the case for maximalist shoes. There is a decent amount of sole flaring through the forefoot as well, which makes for a good forefoot base to push off of.
Thoughts as a DPT: Proprioception
By David Salas PT, DPT, CSCS
When we do anything in life, our body is constantly reading the environment and giving us feedback. We have many receptors to help us with governing our senses. These can range from sharp/dull, vibration, temperature, pain, and even speed and position of our limbs when we are moving. One of these type of receptors that will get mentioned from time to time are our proprioceptors.
Proprioceptors are responsible for our awareness of our joints position in space. Definitions have been gotten muddy over the years, as there are many things that can contribute to that information. As we move, we have multiple components within our muscles that give us live time feedback on things like stretch and tension. This feed back helps us with positional and anticipatory decisions on what is next. This is very important with running. We take many steps when we run. As much as we would like to think of things being autonomous, they really aren't. The movement of our limbs, our visual system, and the literal contact with the ground help shape every single one of our steps. What would happen if we closed our eyes though? Without vision you are literally left to your senses. Even without your eyes, you will still have a general idea of where the ground is, how fast you are moving, and what direction you are moving. This would essentially boil down to our proprioception.
The reason why this is so important for running is because these signals have a direct impact on how we move. Our feet are landing and propelling off of the ground with multiple times our body weight with each step, and so these little things matter. They are constantly getting feedback and sending it to the brain to be integrated. When we have interference to this signal, that can cause micro delays in our decision making. One frequent culprit of this is ankle sprains. When we sprain a joint, these proprioceptors freak out for some time. It can take time for them to come back around and start providing accurate feedback again. This is why those who sprain, often sprain again, and again. Another thing that can impact signaling are literal barriers. When you add a thick slab of foam under someones foot, that decreases the amount of feeling that they can get from the ground, and can also create some accessory movement. This is why there is so much reactionary movements when you stand on a balance pad. This is why I like to maintain some ground feel when running in maximalist shoes, and why I like these types of shoes to have guidance measures implemented.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Altra FWD VIA is different from other shoes in this stack height. It is lighter than many other trainers while further differentiating itself by being firmer and not soft. That said, I would expect more bounce and durability from a firmer shoe especially in this price range. My suggestion is to soften the midsole but firm up the outsole. This may help the transition, especially in the midfoot and improve the cushioning to make this feel better for more people for longer distances. Additionally, this much wear at 27 miles is concerning, so the outsole should either be firmed or switched with something that has much better abrasion resistance.
David: My main recommendation for the Altra FWD VIA is to add some space and volume to the upper. I normally associate wide forefoots and roomy offerings from Altra, though I found this to feel more traditional fitting compared to other companies. The forefoot is slightly wide, but the lower volume makes things feel like they are getting squeezed a tad. I am not the most sensitive to that, but I do know that there are some people that may not like the lower volume construction of this shoe due to some of the toe pressure.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Altra FWD VIA is a daily training shoe for those that want a firmer, protective higher stack shoe that provides a stiffer, stable neutral ride. Those wanting a slightly wider fit will do best, especially if previous Altra models fit too wide. The ride will work best for those that want a firmer and stiffer ride that works best for daily mileage. The slightly long fit and stiffer ride make this shoe a bit clunky and the poor outsole durability make this a less versatile shoe. However, the lower but not zero drop sole and firmer ride do provide something unique. It is the rare combination of firmer and wider in a market of narrow and mushy, so perhaps someone will find their match with this shoe.
David: The Altra FWD VIA is a daily training shoe that is for someone that wants a firm but protective rocker experience. The shoe does have a good amount of foam underfoot, but does come off on the firm side. The shoe is neutral, but does have some guidance features that can aid those that need mild stability as well. The general fit is on the snug side, thanks to lower volume. This will not be a speed demon, but it will be a predictable and smooth rocker for eating up daily miles. This is a bread-and-butter daily training shoe.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Wider but not sloppy fit in forefoot. Slightly wider fit overall. Slightly long fit that offsets toe spring)
Performance: B- (Firmer riding, stiffer shoe with below average outsole durability. Best for daily miles)
Stability: A- [Stable Neutral] (Sidewalls, wider sole, sole flare and stiffer ride great a slightly clunky but centered ride)
Value: B- (Comfortable shoe for walking and short to moderate distance runs but $160 price tag challenging with low versatility and poor outsole durability)
Personal: B (I really like the ride as it provides that 4mm drop sweet spot with firmer cushioning to offset some of the softer shoes I am testing. However, the poor durability and slightly long fit prevents me from rating this shoe higher. )
Overall Design: B
David
Fit: B (Relatively snug fit throughout which takes away from the wider forefoot experience, but otherwise good lockdown with plush upper material)
Performance: B+ (I was expecting a little more out of a supercritical foam, but the shoe does give a nice balanced rocker for hitting daily miles.)
Stability: A (I actually did feel that the FWD VIA did a good job of stabilizing the foot and creating some guidance for the gait cycle)
Value: B+ (Hard to separate this shoe from other rockered shoes at the price point, but still good value)
Personal: A- (I like firmer shoes with mild guidance, and so this platform did work well for me.)
Overall Design: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORAltra FWD VIAPrice: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
On's newest super shoe.
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