Altra FWD Via 2 Review: Getting There, But Still Needs More

Introduction to the Altra FWD Via 2

AUSTIN: Although I didn’t review the VIA Olympus in 2022, I owned a pair, along with the VIA Olympus 2, FWD VIA, and the recently released FWD VIA 2. In short, I hated the VIA Olympus, loved the VIA Olympus 2, and hated the FWD VIA. Notice a pattern emerging from one model to the next? The sequence suggests that I’ll love the FWD VIA 2. Love is a stretch, but this is definitely the best update yet. Think new midsole compound, a plush upper, and a peppy ride. Are the revisions sufficient enough for you? Let’s go.

For those who are new (or old) to the Altra world, the FWD Via deviates from the zero-drop legacy of Altra, offering a 4 mm drop for those who don’t want a totally flat heel to toe geometry. For whatever reason, it’s the only drop shoe in the Altra lineup that doesn’t use the “Experience” name. Why? We’re not sure, but such are the ways of shoe company naming conventions.

The FWD Via 2 is designed for max comfort and max cushion, with new midsole changes and updated upper and tongue, comparable to other trainers like the New Balance 1080v14, Brooks Glycerin 22, and Asics Gel-Nimbus 27. 

Are the revisions sufficient enough for you? Let’s find out via this review.

BRADY: I, too, have owned my share of Altra throughout the years, with the Altra Experience Flow 2 being the last one I reviewed. I thought that shoe was a solid jump forward for the brand, holding its own against its narrow-toed competition consisting of bouncy, lightweight options. It’s pretty clear what Altra’s been trying to do lately– with each new line – the Olympus, FWD Via, and Experience Flow (formerly the AltraFWD Experience)– they’ve been taking customer feedback seriously and softening the ride across the board for version two.

Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I’ve actually started to appreciate a bit of firmness in a midsole. I never officially reviewed the original FWD Via, but I didn’t mind it. I used it for most of my easy long runs leading up to the Coast Guard Marathon earlier this year and racked up about 300 miles in them. The ride was moderate, maybe a little on the firm side, but it did its job through a long, cold winter of training. So now the question is: Has Altra gone back and improved on that first version– giving us the bouncy long-run companion we’ve been waiting for? Let’s find out.

What we like about the Altra FWD Via

AUSTIN: According to Altra, Ego P35 is 19% softer and 15% more responsive than Ego Flo. I’m sure some runners liked the super firm Ego Flo, but Ego P35 is a much better blend of soft and bounce. Ego P35, along with the rocker geometry, provided a fairly effortless experience. Truly – I enjoyed returning to this shoe every few days.

Step-in comfort shines as well. The FWD Via 2 incorporates Altra’s Original FootShape Fit, which provides the widest amount of space. I encountered some midfoot lockdown issues (see below), but the spacious toe box, secure heel lock down, and generous tongue padding offset those discrepancies. Two other observations I like in the FWD Via 2: the addition of a heel tab and the omission of the Altra logo. I’ve noticed other brands forgoing the logo on some of their models and emphasizing the name instead. Subtle and classy.

Most of my runs in the FWD Via 2 were on dry sidewalks and narrow shoulders, but I encountered some heavy rainfall during two jaunts. The porous mesh upper dropped puddle water quickly and the rubber outsole navigated the wet surfaces well.

BRADY: My favorite Altra of all time, and honestly, one of my favorite shoes ever, is the Altra Vanish Tempo. I love it so much that I’ve got two pairs stashed away for the day it finally gets discontinued. Interestingly, that shoe uses Altra’s “Slim” FootShape last. The FWD Via 2, on the other hand, is built on their Original FootShape last, which has felt a bit roomy for me in the past – but this time around, the fit was spot on right out of the box.

To keep my reviews consistent, I always use the same setup: a runner’s knot and Injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Socks (because once you go toe sock, you never go back). With the FWD Via 2, I never had any issues with heel slip or fit, and the plush tongue prevented any lace bite. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I ever had to stop mid-run to adjust or re-lace – always a good sign.

In regards to feel, they are definitely bouncier than the original FWD Via, sharing more of what I liked about the Altra Experience Flow 2 and Via Olympus 2. I would choose these over the latter if you are “between two shoes” simply because the 4 mm of drop is enough to encourage some toe-off in your stride. Are they the most propulsive shoe I’ve ever worn? Well, I’ll touch on that later.

What we don’t like about the Altra FWD Via 2

AUSTIN: Like its three predecessors, the FWD Via 2 retains Altra’s Original FootShape fit. This is their widest offering, so narrow feet like mine tend to have trouble with midfoot lockdown. Despite some movement in the first two runs, I opted for my thickest socks and ran without any issues thereafter.

I like the gray/blue color I received, but the other colors (men’s and women’s) are likewise muted (light gray, light blue, all black, black and white, tan). I want to see some bright, flashy noise emanating from the shoebox upon opening that crinkly paper.

BRADY: Unlike Austin, I received a pair that was both bright and flashy, so I have no complaints about the looks. The shoe feels comfortable, and both the outsole and midsole seem like they’ll hold up for many miles, but I did feel like it lacked a bit of “kick.” Just before writing this, I weighed my men’s size 10, which came in at 10.3 oz. That’s far from the heaviest shoe out there, but it does make the shoe feel a bit more sluggish on the road.

For comparison, the Experience Flow 2 weighs 8.7 oz in my size, and I’d lean toward that one for long runs where you need to pick up the pace, even though the former has 5 mm more stack height. I like the added stack height in the FWD Via 2, but to keep weight down for version three, Altra might need to trim some elements from the upper.

Final thoughts on the Altra FWD Via 2

AUSTIN: The FWD Via 2 is the only Altra shoe with a 4 mm drop not in the Experience Family. The Experience Flow 2, Experience Form, and Experience Wild 2 provide a range of experiences for the road and trail, and the generally positive reviews say as much. Incidentally, the Experience Flow was the AltraFWD Experience before the name change. So, all that to say this: I’d like to see Altra rename the FWD Via 2 to the Experience Via. And then keep that name permanent.

This model has undergone lots of name changes and modifications like any shoe, but adding Experience to the name and moving it under the Experience Family umbrella will help curious runners locate all their lower drop options in one place.

I also think Altra should look at increasing the stack height of the FWD Via 2 (Experience Via!?) to above 40 millimeters. At 37/33, it’s respectable, but they’re competing with the Bondi, Triumph, and Nimbus (all 40 mm or more in the heel; the New Balance 1080 is 39). A 41/37 or 44/40 stack of Ego P35 sounds amazing for long runs!

For now, the FWD Via 2 is worth a look. The Ego P35 upgrade, mesh upper, plush tongue, and rocker geometry all contributed to solid runs. Forward!

BRADY: Altra has made a name for itself over the years by making foot-shaped shoes for road runners, trail runners, and thru hikers alike. When they shifted into the world of (albeit meager) drops to compete with other brands like Topo Athletic, some questioned if they were “selling out,” but they have built on their reputation, responding to customer feedback, and have proven themselves yet again.

While the original Experience Flow and FWD Via models were serviceable, I think the second iteration of each is worth considering for any runner, regardless if you need a “foot-shaped” shoe or not. 

You can pick up the Altra FWD Via 2 for $165 by using the buttons below.