Meet the FWD VIA: Altra’s High-Stack, Low-Drop Masterpiece

Few feelings are more electrifying than the rush you get hammering down the home stretch of an all-out road run. The only downside? Pounding asphalt can do a number on your joints—if you don’t get ahead of it with the right footwear.

Thanks to their ability to cushion high-powered strides and reduce impact-caused fatigue, high-stack shoes have soared in popularity over the last few years. In the past, Denver-based running brand Altra—a pioneer in flat-soled, or “zero-drop,” shoe construction—offered its own take on the mega-cushioned style. The high-stack, zero-drop VIA Olympus—a top-selling road shoe—is now in its third edition, and the similarly cushy Olympus trail line is in its sixth. But Altra hadn’t offered a version for runners who prefer a little more forward tilt—until now.

In June 2023, the brand released its first low-drop shoe, the FWD Experience. After much success connecting with runners who prefer a drop, Altra released the Experience Collection, which included the Experience Flow (formerly the FWD Experience), the Experience Form for road guidance, and the Experience Wild for trail running in spring 2024. Brand loyalists and new customers alike responded with overwhelming support. This year, Altra is building on that feedback by introducing a new addition to its low-drop lineup: the FWD VIA. The FWD VIA is fast and lightweight with the same maximal cushioning and luxurious out-of-the-box comfort as the VIA Olympus 2—Altra’s highest-stack road shoe. But the new edition also sports a 4-millimeter drop, making it the first time Altra has offered a low-drop shoe with this level of cushion.

So, why is the low-drop update a big deal? Low-drop shoes occupy the sweet spot between flat-soled zero-drop models and more traditional high-drop shoes. Most big-name-brand running shoes are high drop, with 5 to 10 millimeters of height difference between the heel and toe. That tilt ramps your foot forward. And while that tilt can help preserve forward momentum, it also tends to encourage heel striking, which increases the risk of knee and hip injury. Low-drop shoes, on the other hand, support a more natural gait. They’re ideal for folks who are zero-drop curious but want a bridge shoe to help them transition after years spent in conventional footwear. Plus, natural fit shoes like the FWD VIA allow your feet to stay in an innate position, encouraging balance and stability to help eliminate injury and promote all-day comfort.

If you’re already on the zero-drop train, it still pays to have a low-drop model in your rotation. Low-drop shoes can reduce stress on the Achilles tendon, helping you get back on the road sooner after injury or tendonitis. Varying the drop you use from run to run can also provide more varied training stimulus and reduce tendon overloading in your foot and ankle.

But low-drop isn’t the FWD VIA’s only comfort-boosting update. A new midsole foam—the Altra EGO FLO—ensures a cushy ride yet remains firm enough to maximize rebound and energy return at each step. The sole’s rockered shape has also been retooled for even smoother transitions and more efficient toe-off. And as with all Altra shoes, the FWD VIA features the brand’s signature roomy toe box, which keeps your feet in a natural position and lets your toes splay out for maximum injury-free comfort.

Ideal for training runs and neighborhood jogs alike, the FWD VIA makes a great daily driver for any runner who favors high-stack comfort and a smooth, cruisy ride. And it’s perfect for anyone who wants to go really hard on that final stretch of pavement, worry-free.

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Altra Running shoes feature a wide toe box with more room for your toes and zero-to-low drop to keep your feet in a natural position. Altra Running shoes are designed to keep you comfortable on any road, any trail, and any adventure. Stay Out There™.