ALTRA Men's Via Olympus Sneaker

I have been recovering from plantar fasciitis and needed a shoe that was neutral, stable, zero drop, and cushioned. After reading lots of reviews and based upon my own experience with Altra shoes, I chose this Via Olympus for a great price on Amazon. I read lots of reviews claiming the shoe ran small, ran narrow or had a big arch support, and yet I still ordered my usual size 9 Medium width. I can attest that the shoe fits perfectly with thin or lightly cushioned socks. It's no more or less narrow than the several other pairs of Altra shoes I've had over the years. In fact, it might be a tad roomier. I can't understand the arch support claim, as there is actually very little arch support in these shoes or the inserts that come with them (I use a PowerStep orthotic in mine new Altra shoes, which provides me with just the right support for helping with the plantar fasciitis problem). These shoes have lots of stack height, yet the cushioning is firm while still being comfortable, and the shoe is stable. It claims to have a "rocker" design, encouraging good toe-off, and it does that, too, although it's not terribly noticeable. The shoes fit very comfortably for all-day wear. I loosen up the laces near the bottom a lot, then tie a half not around the tongue loop that the laces pass through. This isolates the forefoot of the shoe from getting tighter, so I can tighten the top of the shoe snugly (see attached photo). Lacing the shoe this way allows for free toe movement, while retaining overall stability. Great shoe!

I bought the Altra Men’s Via Olympus for my husband, and he hasn’t stopped raving about them. He says they’re incredibly comfortable right out of the box—no break-in period needed—and they provide excellent support for his feet and ankles, especially on long walks and hikes. The cushioning is top-notch, yet the shoes still feel responsive and not bulky. He also loves the wide toe box, which gives his feet plenty of room to move naturally without feeling cramped. The grip on the soles is great too; he’s worn them on trails, pavement, and even some slippery surfaces, and they’ve handled everything well. Durability seems solid so far, and they still look great after months of use. These shoes have quickly become his go-to pair for everyday wear, running, and outdoor adventures. Highly recommend for anyone who values comfort, support, and performance in a quality shoe!

These replaced an old pair of Altra Via Olympus. Shoes are just as described. Very comfortable. Shipping was a little slow but for the sale price I really can’t complain.

The first day i wore these to work -- hospital RN, literally running all day -- I thought, oh no, what have I done! Because, obviously, i could only test them out walking on carpet at home. But every day since they have gotten increasingly more comfortable as I break them in. My previous work shoe was Hoka Bondi 7s which I wore into the ground over two years hospital nursing. I switched a few months ago to Vibram 5-finger shoes for outside-work wear and subsequently found that my Hokas were beginning to feel intrusive on my toe width, and the 4mm heel drop putting extra burden on the balls of my feet and was giving me lower back pain. That's why i decided to try zero-drop wide toe box shoes. I did not notice a big difference in fit between the men's and women's Altras I tried on. I bought these because it was a better color selection than what was offered in women's. The cushioning is great, my toes love the wide toe box, and i am happy with the distribution of weight across my foot, thanks to the zero drop. Zooming around (speed walking to running), 12-hours or more at a time on long shifts, and my feet are happier now. These were significantly cheaper than on the Altra website. It appears Altra sells on Amazon their overstock or uses it to test trends. IN searching for an Altra (or actually any) shoe on AMZ, I found price varies widely by size (within the same model) and by color (of the same model), so shop around to find what you want at your price point.

I had to order a size up for the men's Altra Olympus. These are very comfortable for walking if you have plantar fasciitis. I also have osteoarthritis and wear inserts. These shoes have more cushioning than some other models and the wide toe box is good for my toes. They are a bit wider than I need and my heel slips a bit, but still comfortable to wear.

These are my 3rd pair of Altra's. The first 2 were quite comfortable, but after recently buying a pair of New Balance and Brooks shoes with fairly thick soles that provide an amazing cushion experience while walking/running I assumed these would be somewhere close to that when you see how thick the soles are on these. Unfortunately, the sole may be thick, but it is almost too rigid and solid. It provides very little to no cushioning while walking, especially compared to the 2 other shoes I mentioned. Overall the shoes "look" really nice. I almost bought a pair at a local store that sells a decent selection of Altra shoes, and these looked almost exactly the same...giving me the impression the cushioning would be just as soft as the pair I almost bought. These were on sale here at amazon which is why I went this route. Had I known how stiff they would feel, I seriously wouldn't have bought them. For me, comfort is king and if you can make my walking around a good experience, I'm likely to wear them a lot and maybe even buy another pair. Unfortunately, I will not be buying another pair of Altra's without trying them on FIRST. These weren't too expensive (as far as what I tend to buy on average) but still, I expected more comfort. They are remarkably far too rigid for my taste. I am terribly disappointed...and considering how uncomfortable they are, I won't be wearing very often.

I have tried so many running shoes it’s cost me a small fortune! I started wearing these almost a year ago and what a difference it made. I’m a waitress and also work another job on the side. I usually do 15k -20k steps a day. I was having shin splints and my feet would ache so bad I would soak them at night in cold water. I always order these before a wear out the current pair so I never run out. Expense yes but worth every penny! I figured it cost me about 5 dollars a shift. Not bad at all. LOVE THESE SHOES! Something else I worked with was the perfect fit. I have had broken toes and sprained ankles so many times and I have a high arch and instep, I have worn women’s wide and larger sizes all my life but finally I tried a men’s 9.5 and it works perfect for me!

I've been faithful to Altra for years, but get tired, injured feet with Lone Peak and Superior. Had Olympus in the past and liked them but they were really expensive. Then Olympus was on sale so I got it. Made a huge difference immediately! I was able to increase my miles, and together with Runna app about to do a marathon for the first time. Running since 2007. I'll stick with the thicker sole Olympus and hope any future changes are for the best.