Altra VIA Olympus 2.0 Shoe Review

I was excited to try the Altra VIA Olympus 2. Admittedly, I was slightly confused because there is also an Altra Olympus 6 designed for trails. I thought, why are we regressing? The VIA Olympus 2.0 is a road shoe designed for comfort and performance. It’s one of the softest shoes in the Altra lineup. I thought maybe this is what the FWD Experience would feel like, but alas. The VIA Olympus has an EGO MAX midsole and an updated footbed, ensuring it feels soft right when you put it on. It also features Altra’s FOOTSHAPE design and a 0mm drop platform.

Altra VIA Olympus 2 Quick Facts:

Price: $164.95

Weight: 9.6 oz

Drop: 0mm

Altra VIA Olympus 2 Fit:

Like most Altra running shoes, the Altra VIA Olympus 2 uses an engineered mesh upper. It’s not really the most exciting upper but it does what you need it to do. To be honest, what more do you need in a running shoe upper? I just want a running shoe upper that fits well and breathes well, it doesn’t need to be fancy. The heel counter and tongue are a nice plush material, and it does feel like a high-quality running shoe. It used to be that running shoes that were $150+ used super premium materials. That’s not really the case now, but thankfully the VIA Olympus 2 does.

If you’ve never worn an Altra running shoe, they are “foot shaped”. They don’t love to be known as wide but shaped like an actual foot. This means there is a wider toe box area but a more narrow midfoot so you don’t feel like you’re sliding around. I’ve found the Altra VIA Olympus 2 to follow this style and I have plenty of room for my feet to splay.

Typically, I wear between a women’s size 10-11 wide in running shoes and have found the size 10.5 of the Altra VIA Olympus 2 to fit the best. I appreciate the shape of Altra and there is plenty of room in the toe box without being too much.

Finally, I’m not sure why I decided the all black of the Altra VIA Olympus 2 would be a good choice. I look like I should go work in a restaurant. LOL, I should have chosen all white instead, although I don’t think that was an option.

Altra VIA Olympus 2 Ride:

The Altra VIA Olympus 2 features a cushioned yet responsive EGO Max midsole. With the rocker geometry, you really feel like you are being pushed forward. I was interested in where the Altra VIA Olympus 2 would fall in my rotation. When you first look at the shoe, it looks and feels like a chunky shoe. I thought it would definitely be an easy run shoe.

Step-in comfort is awesome. Immediately when sliding the Altra VIA Olympus 2 on, I felt comfortable and it fit well. When I started running in it, I realized it was definitely an easy run or recovery shoe and I appreciated the softness and plushness. It’s a great easy run shoe and I really like how soft and plush it is.

Outsole:

There isn’t a lot of information on the Altra VIA Olympus 2 outsole. There is some rubber but a lot more exposed midsole than several other Altra running shoes. I’ve used the Altra VIA Olympus 2 in rain as well as sandy trails and haven’t had too much of an issue. I haven’t taken it out on ice though. I do worry that with the exposed midsole, it will wear out sooner. My guess is that it will last somewhere between 250-300 miles. I’ve put about 100 miles on mine, and there is some more than usual wear.

Altra VIA Olympus 2 Conclusion:

I actually think the Altra VIA Olympus 2 is my most favorite Altra running shoe to date. I must admit, I appreciate how plush the shoe is and I think I was expecting this from the Altra FWD Experience.

Who should buy the Altra VIA Olympus 2? If you are someone looking for a wider last, can handle a 0 mm drop, and want a plush ride, this is one of Altra’s best shoes to date.

Who should not buy the Altra VIA Olympus 2? If you have calf or Achilles problems or don’t run with a 0 mm drop. If you are someone looking for a faster racer, Altra even has a carbon plated shoe out now.

My Current Shoe Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Altra VIA Olympus 2, Antepes Muscle Runners, Tracksmith Eliot Runner, New Balance 1080v12 , Newton Gravity 12, 361 Degrees Centauri, ASICS Superblast 

Speed Work: Hoka Solimar, Altra Vanish Carbon, 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike ZoomX Streakfly

Long Runs: ASICS Superblast

Trail Running/Hiking: 361 Futura, Brooks Caldera 6, Hoka Tecton X2 Shoe Review Speedland SL: PDX, 

Races: Nike ZoomX Streakfly, New Balance Fuelcell 5280,   Reebok Run fast Pro , Nike Vaporfly 3 Hoka Rocket X 2 ASICS Metaspeed Edge+

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.

Questions for you:

Have you tried Altra running shoes?

What is your favorite running shoe?