Altra Running Shoes: AltraFWD Experience Review 

Definitely a gateway shoe to get you into Altra. Some people may be considering Altra for the natural toe box shape but are unsure about zero drop if they've been used to a 8+mm drop. This shoe will be a great transition shoe for them until they feel comfortable to move to a zero drop shoes

As an Altra purist (11 pairs) since day one, this was the review I was waiting for. You convinced me to at least try it on despite the 4mm heel drop. Thanks as always, Chris.

My first Altra and so far I’m really impressed . It’s like I’m running with nothing on but with a rocker . Got Achilles tendon issues and the heel is excellent as it doesn’t aggravate my tendon . I’m a front foot striker and I’m starting to think I should have been in Altras all along .

Appreciate the insights. I bought a pair yesterday, looking forward to getting some miles this weekend and seeing how it compares to the Torin.

You are absolutely right. They need a more soft/springy foam, and then it would be a perfect shoe. Topo are also really close. They are foam-wise somewhere between the Altra and "perfect", but insists (all models, all years!) on having a heel-cup made for really fat heals/ancles, that no matter how many ways to tie a shoe, they are always loose and sliding in the heal-area.

I've been running mostly in Altras for the past 7 years or so. I decided to pick this shoe up but have only walked around in it so far. Toe box is slightly less roomy than some other Altras, I decided to remove the insoles for a bit of extra space. Only thing I don't love so far is the padding on the outside of the heels. Seems excessive.....I really feel it pressing into my foot. But I think I can live with it. Will see how it feels when I start running in them.

I really like to firm underfoot feel on these. The rocker is nice too. It has a pretty decent energy return. It actually does better going a little quicker than slower. I did a couple of 20-mile runs in these and they're pretty solid. Gonna test these out for a 50-mile race next weekend so really gonna put these to the test for distance. Great review

I just bought a pair on the Amsterdam Marathon Expo just today. Apparently I'm the first one with the grey and blue colorway 😎. I run Altras exclusively and can definitely tell there is a small drop but the geometry is so focused on a smooth transition, so that's good thing. Going to use them from next week onwards.

I often run in Altra Eacalante Racers and use the Rivera sometimes for recovery runs. I've been looking for a.pair of more 'normal' shoes just to vary things a bit but because of my splayed toes (from years of wearing barefoot shoes) most brands are the wrong shape, so these actually sound great, and I enjoy firm.shoes anyway...

Love Altras! Just bought Paradigms again. Had I known this was coming… 😂

Loved the review, not normally a brand I’d consider. Any recommendations for a shoe for speed sessions / race day suitable for an over pronator which won’t break the bank? Cheers👍🏻👍🏻

Totally agree did some miles in them early August!

I loved Altras, ran about 1500 miles on multiple pairs but eventually got injured due to the zero drop. Now that they are making shoes with a drop, count me in!

Hi, do you think it is firmer than the via olympus? Altras footshape are fantastic, the space for your toes and the wider base gives also good stability, but I agree, Altra needs to update their foam, ego or ego max are very boring..... dead, no bounce at least this one is kind of lighter. Thanks. Price is now £129.90 at Startfitness.

Very good shoe. The only issues, and I have to dig deep for these, I don’t like the stretchy laces. They’re the same as on the Torin 6. And they run a bit short so you’ll probably have to go up .5-1 full size. Otherwise they are so comfy to run in. They are very Topo like.

I love the Altra Via Olympus.

How does this shoe compare to the Clifton 9?

I don’t mind the 4 mm drop I don’t run in altars anymore. They just kept adding more and more and more stack height really zero drop in a wide toebox does zero for you if you can’t feel the ground that the whole point was that your your toes can feel the ground and you could react to it and you know, but if you’re gonna throw in the same high stack height that everybody else has, there’s really no difference you know Audrey doesn’t meet on the original owners of alter don’t on and run the company anymore so yeah it is what it is arm maverick. I did everything that I had lower stack except for one of your trail. Shoes is gone used to have a shoe called the vanish are 14 mm. It was great, then the only thing left was the Escalante racer they’re removing that also so the big deal is for the people that really like a real wide toebox that’s really what ultras been only offering in the last so many years I didn’t love you videos

First Like from 🇪🇸. I have 2 running shoes with the drop 4mm: the Kinvara 13 and Nb ff Evoz 2. Have a great day.

So like the Kinvaras 14

How is the firmness compared to the original Via Olympus?

too firm and not really wide enough on the midfoot, was a bit disappointed with it to be fair. they need to do a dual midsole, original ego on top for better step in and then have this mix of eve (or even ego max, on the bottom to keep the rocker shape integrity.

eva midsole with 4mm drop, just like kinvara. it shouldn't be more expensive than kinvara

Im an ALtra shoe wearer who runs ULtras so your accent was bugging me at first in this video how you say Altra 🤣 I guess it didnt bother me enough to not sub though Fordy! Looking forward to following your channel.

4mm is more than zero but it's still a drop in the ocean

If you like the fit of the toe box, you'd like vivo barefoot! Ran Chicago in a pair of Altra Vanish Carbons and Boomshanka I loved 'em and there not too bad on the eye. But man alive them Torrin 7s are ugly as sin lol.