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TEST & REVIEW: Altra Via Olympus / Vanish Carbon
If there was one brand missing from our long list of tested shoes, it was Altra! Renowned for its 0-millimeter drop. Now it's here! And it's a radical departure from our usual sensations. In this article, we detail our magical Altra combo, starting with the Via Olympus for training and then the Vanish Carbon for speed and competition.
Altra Via Olympus
295 grams
POIDs
0 millimeters
drop
170 €
price list
This is the true comfort model of the range!
Comparable to a ZoomX Invincible, Nimbus 25 or Cloudmonster. With a thick sole (33 mm) and foam for good cushioning and excellent shock absorption. On this model: the 0 drop is clearly felt when running, in addition to the shoe's striking comfort. Its 0 drop means that your heel is at the same level as your toes in the shoe. This makes for a much more natural stride, even if it took us several jogs to get used to this new sensation. It's a model we only use for training.
Mainly on our easy or long endurances where the sensations with it are hyper pleasant. It lacks a little dynamism and is slightly too heavy to run on its race pace. But it's ideal for chaining kilometers together with ease, while limiting muscle fatigue thanks to the shock-absorbing quality of the foam. It responds best on the road, although it also retains good grip and support on paths.
Verdict: This is a very good model for everyday running outside of fast training sessions. It's comfortable, hard-wearing (no rapid wear of the shoe) and it's a really nice feeling to switch to a 0 drop, even if it takes a little getting used to when you're used to running with a higher drop!
ALTRA
VIA OLYMPUS
Altra Vanish Carbon
225 grams
POIDs
0 millimeters
drop
250 €
price list
Make way for Altra's 100% competition and speed model!
It's in the same competitive range as a Salomon S-Lab Phantasm CF or a Rocket X from HOKA. Same observation as for the Via Olympus: the cushioning is fairly rigid, but on this model, this gives it excellent responsiveness when accelerating! Clearly not a jogging shoe. We loved them on our fast track and road sessions: they're light, not imposing on the feet, and the stride is natural, thanks in particular to the 0-millimeter drop. Muscularly, it's a real "hit" because it really pushes you to run on the forefoot. That's why you need to be an experienced runner to put your foot down and get the full benefits!
It's equipped with a carbon half-plate on the inside of the sole. It's less comfortable than a Via Olympus (logical, as it's not used for the same purpose), but the fine, lightweight mesh wraps the foot well, providing good support and stability during effort. There's no feeling of being on an imposing, unstable platform, as with the Vaporfly, for example.
Verdict: In our eyes, this is an excellent model for short, intense workouts. Whether on the road or the track, it's dynamic and makes you want to run fast. The feeling of forward rocking and propulsion is very much present. In competition: we'd take it as far as 10 kilometers. Beyond that, it's still no match for the top carbon-plate models on the market.
ALTRA
VANISH CARBON
Hello
I have a big problem of wear inside the shoe at the heel, it seems to me that you have changed the material.
This is my 5th pair of Altra Olympus, I've done 4 long outings (50km) with my last pair and I'm doing endurance walking. My shoe needs changing because I've injured my heel, but the grip is still in good condition.
Marie