Altra FWD VIA review

The Altra FWD VIA could be your next shoe if you:

• Want an ultra-roomy toebox with plenty of space for natural toe splay.
• Enjoy past Altras but want extra foam underfoot and prefer to avoid a 0 mm drop.
• Need a lightweight daily trainer for casual runs and everyday wear with a foot-shaped toebox.

We believe the biggest drawback of the FWD VIA is its disappointing energy return. In our lab tests, the supercritical EVA foam felt lifeless and overly firm—far from the lively, bouncy midsoles we see in options like the ASICS Novablast 5 or New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5, both of which cost less and deliver a far more energetic ride.

Additionally, we think its drop won’t appeal to those who prefer a classic Altra feel with a more natural midsole geometry. In our experience, the Altra Torin 8 is a much better choice for that crowd because it maintains the classic zero drop and also offers improved energy return.

Despite being one of the most stacked Altras to date, we measured only run-of-the-mill shock absorption in our lab. The heel came in below average at 122 SA, while the low-drop geometry helped the forefoot reach 113 SA.

This is one of those sharp reminders of why you shouldn’t take running shoe marketing at face value. We enjoy Altra especially for its famously roomy toeboxes, but here they’re promoting something that simply doesn’t match reality.

On the FWD VIA's product page, they state: "Altra EGO™ FLO, infused with nitrogen, is lightweight and designed for a responsive, comfort-driven underfoot feel." Yet when we tested it with the ASTM F1976 standard, we found just 48.6% energy return in the heel, which is well below the average running shoe and far from a responsive ride.

Altra has released some maximalist models like the Olympus 6 for trail running, but at 35.9 mm, thie FWD VIA is no longer considered max-stack by today’s standards.

We see this shoe as roughly average in heel stack height, and that’s the experience you can expect if you’re accustomed to recent models from other brands like the Hoka Clifton 10.

Thanks to the FWD VIA’s low-drop geometry, the forefoot feels like it has more foam than usual underfoot. We measured 29.4 mm here, reinforcing the usual Altra design philosophy of making shoes that promote a midfoot or forefoot landing technique.

It’s no secret that Altra has moved away from its zero-drop exclusivity, now offering many models with an official 4 mm offset like the Altra Experience Form. This is one of them, though our measurements showed 6.5 mm, which is more than expected and likely disappointing for die-hard Altra fans.

To be honest, the EGO FLO foam turned out to be far from what we expected. This shoe was heavily promoted as plush and bouncy, but we found it to be neither. Energy return was clearly below expectations (as we tested earlier) and the foam’s feel leans more toward a firm-and-stable ride than a cloud-like one, registering 22.5 HA.

Runners who enjoy a firmer, more grounded sensation will appreciate it, of course. However, we think this shoe would benefit from a different underfoot character if Altra wants it to steal sales from shoes like the Nike Vomero 18.

The rocker design is indeed quite unconventional for an Altra. The forefoot rocker appears mild, meaning the transition up front is gradual and doesn’t push you aggressively forward. However, the heel rocker is noticeably more pronounced than what we usually find in the brand’s lineup.

This stronger heel curvature will likely make heel-to-toe transitions smoother and more forgiving, especially for midfoot strikers. It’s a design shift that broadens the shoe’s appeal, making it more democratic in terms of running styles... though it also makes it feel less like the classic, flat-profile Altra many purists expect.

Here is where the FWD VIA can truly stand out against many other competitors thanks to its FootShape fit. After the letdown with the foam, we tested a gel mold of the shoe to verify if it carries the famous roomy-toebox design seen in every Altra.

And indeed, it does. With 100.0 mm at its widest, it’s impressively spacious in the ball of the foot, delivering a comfort-driven fit that makes the forefoot area feel exceptionally open and accommodating.

We took a second measurement in the toebox to fully gauge how wide this shoe is, and it’s impressively spacious.

At 84.5 mm, there’s outstanding room for toe splay, offering even very wide-footed runners a high level of comfort. This is, without doubt, the FWD VIA’s biggest appeal.

The toebox height delivers impressive space at 29.1 mm, making it a delight for runners with high-volume feet. Neither horizontally nor vertically will your feet feel compressed, ensuring complete freedom of movement without restrictions.

We tested the FWD VIA with our custom-built traction machine to assess grip in wet conditions. It scored 0.48, indicating excellent grip on dry surfaces and dependable traction even in challenging weather.

The outsole of the FWD VIA is built with multiple segments of durable blown rubber, featuring fantastic coverage. The forefoot lugs have diagonal grooves with a mix of rectangular and trapezoidal shapes, while the heel lugs feature a sharper, angular design.

Exposed EVA foam is visible in the midfoot, framed by rubber pods that add extra structure and an engraved Altra logo. As with all shoes from this brand, the outsole is segmented to mirror the alignment of human bones.

Some time ago, Altra was synonymous with flexibility and a natural ride, but that’s no longer the case. The FWD VIA measured 14.5N in our 30-degree test, showing moderate stiffness and limited flex.

Another notable feature of the FWD VIA is its low weight. We found it impressive that the shoe registered just 9.0 oz or 255g on our scale, giving it a lighter feel that makes the ride more agile.

The all-black colorway we purchased (the only one available in US 9 at the time) doesn’t look breathable, which is quite common. To verify, we connected our machine to the shoe with a custom 3D-printed piece and waited for the smoke to emerge.

While airflow isn’t outstanding, the FWD VIA performs decently, earning a 3/5. Combined with this colorway, it could be uncomfortable in hot weather and direct sunlight, but in other colors or cooler conditions, it shouldn't be a major issue.

We also discovered that the upper uses engineered mesh with variable density, allowing light to pass more easily through certain areas.

Under the microscope, we confirmed this variation in density. We think it's key to preventing poor results in our breathability test.

The upper is generously padded and tuned for comfort, which should also benefit casual wear.

Although it belongs to Altra's neutral lineup, the FWD VIA can suit runners with moderate stability needs. Its massive width, supportive sidewalls, and rigid build help control lateral motion and keep the foot securely centered.

The FWD VIA offers some lateral flex, which is a welcome touch. Still, we rated it 4/5, and we believe longtime Altra fans may find it slightly clunky.

We found the heel counter to score a balanced 3/5, yet it stood out for comfort thanks to the generous foam Altra packed in. This created a plush cushion that softly hugs the heel.

The FWD VIA makes a big visual statement right out of the box, so we were eager to measure it for comparison with its peers.

In the forefoot, it comfortably exceeded the average at 118.0 mm, yet remained under the 120 mm mark that many modern maximalist shoes now reach.

At 95.9 mm, the heel is notably wider than an average daily trainer. Paired with the broad midfoot that gives the shoe a boxy profile, this design contributes to its overall sense of stability.

The FWD VIA scored a solid 3/5 in our initial wear test. It’s not an outstanding result, but it’s good enough that you can largely stop worrying about premature wear in this area.

The heel padding scored only 2/5 in our Dremel test, which is a major concern for runners who often wear holes in this area. If that’s not an issue for you, it’s still useful information to keep in mind.

Durability doesn’t appear to be one of the FWD VIA’s main strengths, which came as a surprise. With 1.6 mm of rubber worn away in our Dremel test, we think it needs a tougher compound for better longevity.

The rubber isn’t particularly durable, but Altra did provide 3.1 mm of thickness. This should be enough for a reasonable lifespan, though we still feel the earlier result was not very encouraging.

The insole measures 5.0 mm thick, which is about average for shoes designed for daily runs and casual wear.

The EGO FLO foam is still EVA-based, so we didn’t expect outstanding performance in cold conditions. As anticipated, it became 30% firmer after just 20 minutes in our freezer.

You can remove the stock insole provided by Altra, though finding a third-party option with such a wide toebox shape won’t be easy.

We always appreciate finding reflective elements in running shoes, and the FWD VIA delivers. That said, they could have been a bit larger for better visibility.

It’s clear that Altra designed this shoe with more than running in mind, expecting many to wear it for daily life as well. A plush tongue enhances the step-in feel, and with 9.0 mm of padding, it fully delivers on comfort.

The lacing setup is somewhat unconventional, blending punched eyelets in the lower section with fabric loops higher up to allow smoother lace movement and a more adaptable fit. We also found a reinforced top toop keeps the tongue neatly centered.

The tongue is semi-gusseted and attached to the midsole, which is great for preventing it from sliding to the sides—a common issue in shoes with roomier toeboxes.

Considering how competitive the daily trainer category is right now, we can’t say the FWD VIA’s price is one of its main strengths. However, for runners seeking a roomy toebox, we’re confident it offers excellent comfort worth the investment.

The heel has a horizontal finger-loop tab securely stitched to the upper, with added reinforcement to help prevent early tearing.