Customer Reviews Altra Via Olympus

I'm 5'8 260. I work as a surgical tech on feet for 10 hrs. Perfect shoe for me. Was worried the rocker might feel like i was leaning forward or something but its undetectable. The width is great for me. I have been curious to try their original foot shape and it is good, better than other shoes, but i have the Torin 5 and that foot shape is perfect for me. This shoe however is more plush and is immediately the best shoe ive worn for a 10 hr shift. 1080's have been great, more v3, and brooks addiction walker2 all fantastic. This is my new fav. Would like more colorways, but it could be worse.

1st it's great to have the old size back! These feel great. They are not soft like they look but very solid underfoot. They almost have a rocker like my Hoka's but not as pronounced. For shoes of this price, the finish quality stinks. see pics. Tongue isn't finished and seams weren't done. Altra, you can do better or stop charging premium prices for mediocre work.

I wear these as my walking shoes. I walk 20-25 miles per week. I really like the wide toe box and the zero drop and even though not listed a a stability shoe, I feel it is helping to correct my feet from rolling in.

This is my first pair of Altra's and I've been an avid runner for a large part of my life. These particular Olympus Via offer exactly what I need at this stage in my life. The cushioning on these shoes offers a lot of extra protection for my knees, joints, and low back with the Altra Ego Max midsole foam. There is a stack height of 33mm which allows for some serious shock absorption on my runs. My legs have felt less fatigued during my runs, and also less fatigue afterwards. I have really enjoyed the Altra Original Footshape Fit on these shoes as I finally feel I have a shoe that allows me to have a wide and comfortable toe box. The look of these shoes from a bird's eye view isn't the most attractive because of the big/boxy look, but the comfort and fit is fantastic. I'm also impressed by the Balanced Cushioning platform, which I was unaware of before today. This platform allows my heel and my forefoot to be on an equal distance from the ground, so my foot feels flat and planted instead of being angled downward. The Olympus Via has this unique Rocker Shape design, which took a moment for me to get used to. It's a nice little aid to propel my foot forward and encourages an efficient toe off for optimal stride. The heel cup is comfortable and fits well, along with the tongue being comfortable as it feels padded as well. Overall I am so glad to have been introduced to this shoe. The ultimate in cushioning and absorption of impact. I have tested many brands of shoes in my 30 years of running, and this might be my new go to shoe.

Have a been a big Hoka Bondi fan the last 3 years, but the Via Olympus is my new favorite despite the size feeling somewhat small - still comfy during short runs.

I've long been a fan of the Olympus for trail running and have at times used them for road runs when I've wanted a bit more cushion and structure. At long last a true Altra road shoe that's perfect for the occasion. They were a bit stiffer than I'm accustomed to for an Altra shoe, but they came into their own after a couple runs and I've loved them since (~60 miles on them now). Looking forward to seeing how they fare for miles ahead and the evolution to this addition to the product line.

I use the Altra products for long walks and all activities during the day, including working out. I have been an Altra shore buyer for many years; however, I had never found an Altra shoe model with a truly firm/stiff sole (no bend). I have Hallux Rigidus in my big toe and foot joint-- think no cartilage and a ping pong ball collection of bone chips from the bending of the toe in what is the toes normal motion. A shoe having a wide toe box and a stiff sole that does not bend is the nirvana for my condition. Well...I found it. The VIA OLYMPUS. Emphasis on VIA. I wish more Altra models had this firm sole including the model I use for hiking on rugged trails. The VIA OLYMPUS shoe is a maximum cushion shoe, so it is soft and comfortable, but the lack of bending (stiff) in the sole is what makes it an absolute charm for me. What a relief! Altra, make more shoes with this stiff, non-bending sole. It is a blessing!

Just went on a 4 mile run in them. I came from NB 880's and i felt like they where sort of bottoming out if you will. I wanted the more v4's but the running shop I went to didnt have them in my size in, but they did have these. I gotta say the upper is for sure the beat part of these shoes i wish all shoes used this last its perfect. On the run they felt good, it felt like i was getting the vibration and shock reduction id want. I'm a forefoot striker so the low drop was a nice change. I cant imagine if you weight less than 205 lbs or are heavier but dont do weight training, having a good time with this midsole. I wouldnt call it stiff but i wouldnt describe it as plush either. I like it so far and have 21 more days to return it so ill update if i decide to trade them in. If altra reads this you should make two versions of this product one for heavier runners and one for lighter runners like maybe a 205 plus and a 200 and below model with the 205 plus model using this compound or a just slightly softer foam and the 200 and blow using a vastly softer foam. Maybe use a different fabric cover on the insole also include a longer set of laces i replaced the laces with longer laces so i could use all the lace holes with a runners knot and ive never felt like my foot has been so locked into a shoe

I've been wearing Altras since 2014, I usually wear superiors and usually do anywhere from 5-10 miles about every other day. I'm having to spend a long period out of town helping family and have had to start running more pavement and I was experiencing a little metatarsal pain at the end of my runs, so I decided to buy a more padded road shoe. I landed on the olympus via because for some reason it's the only road shoe that I could find offered in the wider foot shape and in my opinion that's what's always made Altras great. I regret buying these, I can't make it two miles in them without worse metatarsal pain than I was getting in my superiors after ten, weird hot spots under the balls if my feet, and numbness in my toes, they feel like running in platform shoes, my stride feels clunky and unnatural, and unstable from the crazy amount of stack height. Everything I was afraid of about these shoes turned out to be true, I can't run in these things, and they're too goofy looking to even want to wear casually, I feel like I completely wasted my money on these things, and they were the most expensive Altras I've ever bought.

This is my 7th pair of Olympus, and this newest version, the VIA, is excellent. I work 12-hour shifts in a busy hospital and the VIA is slightly better than the regular Olympus mainly because it's quiet on the hard floors. The roll feature is noticeable and nice. The laces are cushy and work well. No complaints. Will be buying pair #8 before long. Way to go Altra!

Have ran an worked out in Hoka's for 4 years, but have found a NEW FAVORITE in Altra! I've been looking for a wider shoe that helps support my calves and shins when running/working out and these did the trick! Hoka's are made too narrow and these Altra Via's fit and support perfectly. Highly recommend!

These new shoes are a blessing for people with wide forefoot, like me. Altra's shoes have been getting more narrow over the last few years. I was really concerned. My favorite, the Paradigm, used to fit perfectly but no longer. So, when this Via Olympus came out, I was cautiously optimistic. But, my fears were unfounded. They're perfect!

Upon first glance when I saw the shape of this shoe, I was not so sure about how it would fit. The shoes feel great after wearing them for several days and the unique toe box is actually a feature I appreciate. The cushioning is superb thank goodness. I am very particular due to my low arches and previous plantaar fasciitis. I will be checking out other Altra model shoes in the future thanks to these.

I run about 25 miles a week and added these to my rotation for distance runs. The support and comfort are top notch. They were really firm at first and after 10 mile seem to be really well broken in. The upper is soft, snug, could offer a bit more breath ability. The outsole seems to wear really fast which is typical to all Altras I have had in the past. After the first 25 miles there was noticible/ excessive wear. If these were made with a continental rubber sole I would own 5 pairs.

Coming off the Torin in the same size, I assumed the wider foot shape would give me more room. Shoe feels as tight in toe box as the Torin and as narrow. Also, the shoe is not more comfy/cushy than the Torin (yet), just taller. Curious why a 15 in the Via Olympus is SO MUCH smaller than the Lone Peak in the same size. The quality is here, but I feel like what they advertised (cushy/distance comfort) and foot-shape is not what's been delivered like they have prior.

I purchased these with high hopes that I would like them as much as I like my trail Olympus. They were not comfortable from the time I put them on because they were stiff and very hard. Unresponsive.

I guess I'll go back to barefoot running if this is where Altra is headed. Good riddance.

EGOMAX is just thick hard EVA. Obviously no one on the design team needs a genuinely highly cushioned shoe! I started running in 1976. I've run in a FEW different shoes and was on a FEW D&D teams.

Great fit - good amount of toe space, the double eyelet options in the mid food to properly move the lace tension onto the mid foot and not only be around the ankle is such a great design choice and is necessary for mid sized feet with wide toes, foam provides good cushioning for heavier runners.

First pair for me. I love them. Wide toe box let's my toes move naturally. I bought them because I have bad knees. They helped realign my feet to where my knees feel better. I will definitely buy again.

I'm on my feet all day long and walk around on flat surfaces. I'm and out of a freezer and this is the perfect shoe in terms of comfort. It feels like I'm walking on clouds! The wide toe box is great and leaves nothing to be desired. 10/10 shoe

Bought my first pair last year, AMAZING! buying again now only due to the stench of my feet odor (working on that) wish they had more color options... you'd think they'd offer more after the reviews