Article by Sam Winebaum
Altra FWD Via 2 ($165)
Introduction
The FWD Via 2 is Altra’s most cushioned road trainer with a 37mm heel / 33mm forefoot stack height. You read that right. Via is a 4mm drop shoe and a non zero drop shoe. It shares the 4mm drop and a new EGO P35 foam with the lower stack height (32/28) Experience Flow 2 (RTR Review). RTR did not test and review the original Via. Sitting at what I would categorize in 2025 as a “min max” trainer, was eager to see how the P35 foam, an unusual Polyolefin Elastomer, would run in the Via after very pleasant if less cushioned experiences in the Flow 2.
Pros:
Original Foot Shape broad anatomical front fit: for broad feet and my narrower to medium volume foot a secure delight
Fit doesn’t end with the toe box: smooth secure and comfortable toes to heel
Soft and responsive P35 foam: training forgiving, never mushy with noticeable "elastic" rebound
Deep durable outsole also keeps the 4mm drop honest given the soft foam
Smooth, fun to run and stable: moderate max cushion 37/33 stack height, reasonable weight, not overly broad platform and rising soft midsole side walls
Cons:
None to date
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.65 oz / 274 g US9 women’s US8
Sample Weight: men’s 9.42 oz / 267g US8.5
women’’s oz / g US
Stack Height: 37 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
Upper
The upper is plush, easy fitting and also not overdone.
We have the classic Altra “Original” Foot Shape anatomical toe box, Altra’s broadest, in a very refined engineered mesh upper that for my narrow foot works just fine in terms of hold not only in the toe box but at midfoot and at the heel.
I am close to true to my usual size, maybe a touch long in length and might try a half size down for my narrower lower volume feet. Broader higher volume feet should stay true to size.
With the fit of the Via being so adaptable, and even here in their Original broadest fit, Altra can now be said to challenge wider toe box anatomical fit upstart Topo, something they did not always achieve either being too restrictive in their “Slim and Standard” fits or sometimes sloppy as in their “Original” fits.
Midsole
At a spec 37mm heel / 33mm stack height we are at a moderate for 2025 stack with many trainers now having heels well beyond 40mm. The platform width is also moderately but no excessively broad at 90 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot.
The shoe may appear taller yet but the foot sits down in the midsole side walls at the rear. The sidewalls are the same soft foam as the midsole and give the Via a touch of unobtrusive light stability.
The “35” in the naming of the EGO P35 midsole stands for the Shore A firmness measurement and 35 is, relatively speaking, a soft foam. The "P" stands for a Polyolefin Eastomer (POE) compound formed by compression molding and that is apparently not supercritically foamed.
Altra claims P35 is 19% softer and 15% more responsive than the v1 foam, a PEBA blend supercritical foam. Interestingly, P35 is apparently not a supercritical foam yet delivers in the Alta Via 2 and Experience Flow 2 many of the supercritical foams characteristics of ride energy (an “elastic” supple return here rather than a big bounce or spring) and softness. While 9.65 oz / 274g US9 is a very respectable weight, one might imagine a supercritical would make it lighter but also more expensive than the $165 here, noting higher stack competing supercritical foam trainers such as the Nike Vomero Premium and ASICS Megablast are $200+.
Outsole
I am struck by the copious rubber here.
Deep and in all the right places, the outsole points to excellent potential durability and also, due to its depth at the heel, keeps the Via stable and an honest 4mm drop given the soft foam.
Using another Altra “classic” technology, the outsole’s front pattern matches the bones of the toes which allows for a smooth stable flow while unseen in the midsole we have “Inner Flex” a series of top cut grooves (similar in appearance to tennis strings) to give the Via some flex.
Ride and Initial Conclusions
My first run in the Via was a 6 miler on pavement here in Park City that was decently hilly (315 feet) and of course at altitude. There is something special about the full splay of the toes on push off in an Altra and here it is full on, yet I was never swimming around in the broad toe box.
The ride was smooth and flowy if a bit stiff initially at slower paces (11:00+ miles). As the shoe broke in a bit, and my pace picked up (at the end down below 10 minute miles my usual slower daily training paces), I could really feel the “elastic” return of the midsole. I say elastic return in contrast to “bouncy” (TPU based foams) or “springy” and more taut (PEBA based foams).
The overall smooth comfort and room in the upper, broad yet secure toe box, and clear training energy of the midsole had me smiling if not flying that fast.
So far, I am seeing the Via as an excellent daily trainer for, of course, those who value and need a broad toe box but may have been worried about moving from a higher drop shoe to a zero drop one. Even with a narrower lower volume foot as I have, you should get a good true to size fit if for sure a more comfort than high performance one, same for the ride. All should experience a well cushioned energetic ride with enough inherent stability and an elastic fun rebounding feel. All of these attributes also should make the Via 2 an excellent walking and standing all day on your feet option
Full multi tester review with comparisons coming soon.
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Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:43 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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