The Altra Via Olympus 2 is a max-stacked, zero drop running shoe that aims to deliver “plush cushioning and exceptional performance” in an “easy road-running experience”. There’s a few tweaks in this second-gen shoe, to improve the fit but the headline here is a new midsole foam – now with a softer version of EgoMax, Altra’s top-end midsole platform. But is a softer Olympus an improvement? Run Tester Kieran has logged the miles to find out. Here’s our full Altra Via Olympus review.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
0:00 – Intro
0:28 – Design Details
0:56 – Shoe Whip Round
1:51 – Fit
2:18 – The Run Test
4:26 – Verdict
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Altra Via Olympus 2 (Sportshoes.com):
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Hey people welcome to the Run testers And our review of the Altra via Olympus 2 now according to ultra this Max Stacked zero drop running shoe shoots For plush cushioning and exceptional Performance in an easy Road running Experience changes from the past gen Include a few tweaks to improve the fit But the headline here is a new midsole Foam that's now with ego max ultra's top End midsole foam of which alra says we Went softer so you can go harder but is A softer Olympus an improvement well Watch on to find Out Now the stack height stays the same as The original VR Olympus with 33 Ms in The forer and obviously 33 Ms in the Heel for alra trademark zero drop when It comes to weight the outra vi Olympus Tips scales at 305 G or 10.75 o in my UK 8 A2 test size price-wise they're also Staying the same at £45 in the UK or $165 in the US now let's have a quick look at what's New with the shoe then start starting With the midsole you've got an updated Midsole that still uses altra's ego Max Phone but alra says this version has Been engineered to deliver a softer Underfoot feel that cushioning is Enhanced by a soft cradling ortholite X55 footed there's also a rocker to Encourage propulsion and a more
Efficient toe off and the 4ft platform Here as you can see is quite wide and You get that trademark alra toe box here And altra's original foot shaped fit up Top the uppers are quite dense and mesh Here there are medium padded heel Collars and a medium padded tongue That's not gusseted the heel security Has been looked at too with a refined Molded heel collar here to improve the Hold flip them over and there's a Generous covering of out soole Rubber And you've got the flex Groove design That follows your metat tassels for What's supposed to be a more natural Ride as you kind of land and Tow Off now when it comes to fit I ran in my Regular outra running shoe size which is Uk8 and a half and the fit was B hang on True to size for me you've obviously got That nice roomy toe box from Altra but What I really like is that the whole Midfoot is really nice and secure and The plush colors I think hold the heels Really well there's plenty of wiggle Room in the toe box as well across the Top and towards the end of the shoe so For me I would recommend going true to Sizing These so then in testing I've covered Well north of 50 kmers in the outra v Olympus 2 all the usual test conditions Some long some slow miles mixed in with Some faster uptempo efforts to test the
Versatility of the shoe most of that has Been on road some of it was on light Off-road and overall stepping Comfort is Good here you got balanced padding with A decent roomy fit that help a lot if You're coming from big cushion shoes From other brands the sensation Underfoot might initially feel a bit Stiff and firm but once you get moving I Think that softens up it's a long way Off the pillowy kind of um soft rides That you might get from some other big Sort of daily trainers but there's Enough softness here to take the edge Off the road and none of the the squid That I think can plague some of those Over cushion daily trainers now the Rocker in really helps make for a smooth Natural transition it's also helped by That ego Max phone that compresses Nicely with a timely return this is Definitely an easy day shoe I think and One to reach for when you're targeting a Consistent slower Pace good for when you Just want to roll through the miles it's Not an entirely effortless ride you're Still having to work here but I Personally quite like that I want my Legs to do a bit as well and I did 90 Minutes on feet in the v Olympus 2 Without any trouble at all sort happy Clip along what's also good here is the Stability towards the end of that 90 Minutes on pretty tired legs with
Increasingly ragged sloppy lazy form Yeah you heard right I found these Helped a lot they're not a stability Shoe but they are nice and stable you've Got a nice wide platform to run off into The heels and from the forefoot there That makes for Reliable Landings overall Speaking of which I know some might be Put off by zero drop but I think the Rocket Ride almost nullifies that for me And I didn't really notice it even Coming from much higher drop shoes that I've been testing prior to these shoes Or sort of in combination with it now When it comes to the grip of that out Sole I put it through some more testing Slippy Cobble sections along the river Temps where I run and I found the Traction was pretty reliable it did Quite well on that I also think the Durability is looking pretty solid here There's no worrying signs for me at the Moment uh worrying signs of tear from The miles I've put into them and I think The ego Max foam should also retain its Resilience Nicely ver then well if the V Olympus Were too firm this second gen now offers A much more cushion dried but one that Retains a bit of stiffness and firmness So if you like that you're going to like These what you get here now is a good Easy long run shoe that's smooth and Good for the slower end of things
There's a lot of what I tend to look for In an easy mile shoe that includes a Good roomy toe box with plenty of volume Up front balanced cushioning that's soft But not soggy with a touch of Bounce and Gives the shoe a lighter feel than their Weight would suggest you're not getting A ride that's as soft as and cushioned As the likes of like a nimbus or a new Balance 1080 those kind of shoes and It's maybe not as agile with something Like the sakon ride 17 or an oncloud Eclipse but as an easy day option with Bags of stability and a predective Rolling ride I would say it sort of Ticks all of the boxes and there also Aren't many Max cushioned zero drop Shoes on the market so if that's what we After then this is a very competent Offering that's going to give you that There are definitely more versatile Shoes out there so if you're after a More doit all shoe I'd look at things Like the ride 17 maybe even the Triumph 21 from saky as well of the Hoka Bondi Style shoe who've considered going zero Drop might like what they see here as Well and if you've never gone zero drop I think this shoe could be a good first Step if I had to sum them up in a few Words I'd basically just describe them As kind of plush cruisy comfort so there You have it that's been our look at the New Altra Olympus 2 hope you found it
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