Running enthusiast Sharon Choo reviews Altra’s latest release with host John Yeong in episode 12 of “Sole Mates”, a running shoes review series
As part of an ongoing collaboration with Singapore's premier running specialty iRun Singapore, SportPlus.sg has teamed up with local running content creators, Key Opinion Leaders and athletes to have them share their thoughts on the latest running footwear.
The Altra Via Olympus is a highly cushioned road running shoe that promotes maximum comfort. This pair is designed to allow your body to function naturally, with the rocker in the shoes to help with propulsion.
For those not new to the Olympus series, the Via Olympus features the same max cushion that is found in Altra’s Olympus trail shoe.
With a midsole stack height of 33mm, the Altra Via Olympus weighs in at 312 g and 255 g for men and women versions respectively. It incorporates unique features such as Altra’s Original Footshape Fit, Altra Ego MAX and Natural Ride System, you may wonder, just how effective are these features?
In this video, Sharon Choo shares her opinions on the pros and cons of the Altra Via Olympus. Sharon also aims to clock a new PB for her 10KM Lazada Run in July. Even if you have a different goal, every runner would have some kind of purpose they aim to use the shoe for.
Be it for long-distance runs, interval runs, or simply your everyday pair, read on to find out how you can achieve optimal results with the Altra Via Olympus!
Engineered Mesh Upper
This feature makes the shoe more breathable and lighter. The upper is built with breathable mesh in the forefoot, and reinforcements from the midfoot back to ensure plenty of support.
“Did not experience any blisters or discomfort with the collar”, says Sharon
The Altra Via Olympus ensures comfort for the user, giving the feet a ‘snug’ feel with its good heel lockdown. The plush angle collar also contributes to its comfort. The pair also has a ‘FootShape Original Fit’ which is the roomiest fit for Altra’s running shoes.
Altra’s signature FootShape comfort gives your feet more space to sit naturally and is designed to address biological differences in men's and women's feet. I believe that it provides just the right amount of space in the toe box for your toes to spread out, allowing for more natural foot movement.
Altra Ego MAX
As mentioned, the Altra Via Olympus is equipped with a high stack height of 33mm. Altra's luxurious and lightweight EGO Max foam incorporated in the midsole. The VIA Olympus offers a fantastic blend of bounce and impact absorption. Simply put, this pair goes easy on your feet!
This second feature of the Via Olympus gives runners a little extra bounce and added durability. The Altra EGO™ Max midsole foam technology might be the extra help I need to achieve that PB! It is definitely a substantial amount of bounce to propel me forward during my runs!
Altra’s Balanced Cushioning platform also positions my heel and forefoot at an equal distance from the ground, encouraging better alignment and form. I personally felt that the shoe delivers decent bounce, with a lightweight luxurious feel. Although assistance from the shoe is important for runners, I like that the shoe also encourages proper form as well.
Natural Ride System (NRS)
This Natural Ride System includes a more natural, foot-shaped design with a 0mm heel-to-toe drop. It has metatarsal-specific shapes in the outsole to assist in proper foot mechanics and allow for more natural foot movement. Talk about fancy, right?
Basically, think of it as a rocking chair that rolls back and forth. In this case, Altra’s rocker shape is designed to give the feeling of being propelled forward with each step of your run. It provides an efficient toe-off without taking away from your natural stride. For example, the pair allows my body weight to be distributed evenly across my feet. The Via Olympus has a steady, broad and durable base which are my plus-points of the shoe!
My Personal Experience and Suggestions
So far, I have taken the Via Olympus on 2 types of runs; a slow run and a tempo run. This allowed me to have two different types of running experiences with the pair as I had tried running at a slower and faster pace. Personally, I would recommend the Via Olympus for a slower run due to its foam being less responsive as compared to other pairs that I have used for tempo runs.
“This pair of shoes is a stable pair” says Sharon, when referring to the Altra Via Olympus.
The stability of the Via Olympus makes it more suitable for slower runs in longer distances whilst feeling comfortable. I am also still adapting to the zero drop height of the pair which can take some time to get accustomed to. This is a factor runners would need to consider when purchasing this pair.
For those with bunions, this pair is definitely suitable due to its roomy toe box area. While this is a good feature, the shoe may also be less suited for runners with narrower feet. For future iterations of the shoe, I hope that Altra would make a version that has a slightly narrower toe box. One possible consideration is for Altra to make a ‘Standard' and ‘Wide’ version of the shoe to suit even more types of runners.
Final Thoughts And Ratings
Overall, the shoe delivers in terms of what it promises. It feels natural, provides comfort and is also durable enough for you to use the pair in the long run, literally! This shoe can help you rack up those miles if you are an entry-level runner as well. I hope sharing my experience with the Via Olympus helps you understand each feature better and possibly decide whether this pair suits your running needs.
With that, here are Sharon’s final ratings for the Altra Via Olympus:
Sole Mates Overall Shoe Rating
Comfort: 3.5/5
Stability: 4.5/5
Responsiveness: 3/5
Grippiness: 4.5/5
Value-for-Money: 3.5/5
This would result in an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 soles for the Altra Via Olympus!
You can purchase the latest Altra Via Olympus at SGD $359 from any iRun Store or online at iRun.com.
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