Altra FWD Through 2 Evaluation | Max Cushion that Does not Really feel Max

Our overview of the up to date Altra FWD by way of 2 with a 4mm drop, loads of cushion and all the time the vast toebox.

What does a 19% enchancment in softness and 15% enhance in responsiveness really feel like in a shoe?

Properly, now I do know (and you may too) when you strive the brand new Altra FWD VIA 2. Once I first slipped the sneakers on, they felt similar to the recent 4mm drop Altras I’ve maxed out mileage on previously. Nevertheless, after a number of runs within the sneakers, I believe I’m beginning to grasp why Altra is so enthusiastic about these stats.

For a few years, Altra caught strictly to zero-drop trainers. In 2023, they launched the primary deviation: a ground-breaking, 4mm drop shoe. The primary Altra FWD Expertise paved the best way for just a few completely different iterations, some now discontinued, and led us to the place we are actually. 

The FWD VIA 2 is thrilling as a result of it options the Altra EGO™ P35 foam. Designed to carry up for epic coaching days and lengthy runs, this know-how is a welcome improve to the unique technology’s EGO™FLO that many reviewers felt was a bit too agency. However are 19% and 15% actually that a lot of an enchancment? It took me a short while to resolve, and I’ll share my journey with you. 

The Altra FWD VIA 2 is a reasonable cushioned shoe with out a max stack peak. It’s a day by day coach street possibility for these searching for cushion and a large toe field with out a zero drop.

Altra FWD Through 2 Overview

The FWD VIA 2 has shortly turn into one among my high picks in my shoe lineup. Altra’s FWD VIA 2 options the beloved roomy toe field, broad base for secure touchdown and propulsion, and basic Altra outsole.

The 4 mm drop is sweet, too. For individuals who aren’t zero-to-low drop shoe connoisseurs (and welcome to the membership), a 4 mm drop is the distinction within the peak of the shoe from the forefoot to heel, equal to the peak of two nickels. It boasts a cloud-like foam, Altra EGO™ P35, and a thick cushiony base.

The FWD VIA 2 additionally features a super-soft and comfortable higher cloth, not like something I’ve ever skilled earlier than, and it’s supplied in a number of good colorways. Once I slipped on the sneakers for the primary time, I anticipated them to really feel like I used to be carrying mini mattresses on my toes that spring again with each step. Nope, incorrect!

My first impression of the sneakers is that they had been disappointingly stiff and inflexible, and that Altra missed the mark once more. Nevertheless, as a studious tester, I saved logging miles, and the shoe did break in, plus I began to consider it completely different.

Not as a max cushion, however cushion that strikes.

First, I don’t suppose I truly wish to run on foot-shaped mattresses. I would like my shoe to permit my foot to maneuver absolutely by all of the articulation factors essential to hold each stride comfortable and springy, however with out the shoe doing an excessive amount of of the work for me.

I additionally don’t wish to begin a run in a bouncy pair of sneakers and finish the run carrying bricks.

Altra’s new EGO™ P35 foam made its debut within the Expertise Move 2. Some cherished the comfy feeling of the froth; others described it as “mushy” and too gentle for velocity exercises.

Within the FWD VIA 2, I actually don’t really feel like I’m sinking into marshmallows that gradual my stride with their candy stickiness. I additionally don’t discover a dramatic quantity of power return, however that’s nice by me. These sneakers are gratifying to put on as a day by day coach, they put a little bit little bit of pep in my step, and so they present my toes a welcome little bit of aid throughout these intense coaching weeks.

I’m testing the Gentle Grey ladies’s sneakers, pictured all through this weblog. However does anybody suppose this description matches? Actually not me!

The field mentioned “Grey” and I truly assumed it was only a packing error as a result of these sneakers are a stunning, mauve-y, pastel pink ombre and white with two of the tiniest grey accents. They’re fairly and make me really feel a little bit additional fancy after I put on them. The aesthetic particulars in these sneakers are enjoyable. The pink pull tabs have playful speckled white dots, and there’s an oh-so-subtle distinction between the white tones of the higher and tongue cloth.

I can inform somebody had a number of enjoyable designing this colorway, and the artist in me says kudos! The identical speckled paint impact and nuanced shade choices present up within the different colorways so far as I can inform from footage on-line. 

Altra FWD Through 2 Match

For me, the FWD VIA 2 are true to measurement and in step with what I choose in the remainder of the Altra and Topo lineup. I benefit from the house to unfold out my toes, permitting my large toe to straighten out and ship me off sturdy in each stride. Even with the spaciousness, my toes really feel safe.

The midfoot, arch, and heel are additionally fairly comfy. The match is safe with out feeling constrictive. Each necessary level is padded and safe with out feeling too tight. Fortunately, Altra appears to have improved the laces, so I don’t need to do any particular methods to maintain them from coming untied. 

The tongue is plush and really gentle. I discover that I’ve to deliberately pull it up in order that it doesn’t scrunch up weirdly on the base of the laces. As soon as I get the positioning proper with a 2-second adjustment, it feels nice. 

General, the match is a bit softer, however not the form of softness that turns right into a flat, squished pancake after a number of miles. The shoe feels secure and nonetheless fairly agency, however with a little bit extra springiness and adaptability than I’ve skilled in prior generations of Altra 4 mm sneakers to this point.

Altra FWD Through 2 Really feel

Earlier than stepping into the texture of the Altra FWD VIA 2, I’ve to elucidate why I used to be so excited to see the lovable little cloud-shaped label showcasing the brand new foam after I opened the field. 

After logging many miles in Altra Escalantes, Expertise Move, and Expertise Agency, I used to be nonetheless craving the texture of the Escalantes in a low, however not zero-drop mannequin.

The Move and Agency finally felt too stiff for me. The froth wasn’t notably responsive, and it didn’t really feel just like the sneakers had been versatile sufficient for my toes to maneuver the best way they wished. (I additionally realized that stability sneakers aren’t for me, at the very least not proper now, however that’s one other story.) I wasn’t impressed to get one other pair of Altras simply but, so I gave Topos a strive. 

I really like each low drop, impartial Topo shoe I’ve tried, till a current expertise. I wore my Topo Phantom 4 sneakers for 2 back-to-back lengthy, hard-effort runs.

In direction of the tip of the run on the second day, the sneakers all of the sudden felt flat and rancid. It seems, I’ve logged a little bit over 300 miles within the sneakers, and so they could also be in the direction of the tip of their lifespan, at the very least when it comes to lengthy runs. Whereas I’ll nonetheless get pleasure from all of my Topos, I’m comfortable to have a pair of Altra street sneakers again in my rotation.  

The FWD VIA 2 is filling that spot of a street shoe with sufficient cushion to maintain the legs feeling good, however not so gentle that I’m dropping power and never a lot stack that I’m dropping the texture of my run.

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I’m excited to see what number of miles these sneakers can take, and I’m trying ahead to the place Altra goes from right here.

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