My Altra origin story began a few years ago, during the pandemic, when I was diagnosed with a neuroma (an inflamed nerve in my left foot) that was keeping me from logging the morning miles I depended on as sanity savers. I consider myself a seasoned runner (I’m a nine-time marathoner), but now I couldn’t do what I loved—and I was going stir-crazy. Desperate for a solution, I turned to the Altra Torin 4. Its signature FootShape fit helped ease the inflammation over time, and soon I was back to my normal self. I’ve been an Altra devotee ever since.
The brand has long been known for its zero-drop running shoes. This is a specific shoe architecture characterized by the heel and toe sitting level with each other to create the 0mm drop. Recently, however, Altra unveiled its first low-drop model, the AltraFWD Experience. With a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, this shoe sits in between the brand’s classic style and the average 10mm drop of typical running shoes. Having spent years running in zero-drop Altra models, I couldn’t wait to see how the new style stacked up.
“Offering a low-drop solution that elevates the heel slightly, while still providing a natural positioning of the foot through Altra’s FootShape, is something we’ve been working on for a while now,” says senior design manager Fernando Hernandez, who was the lead designer on the AltraFWD Experience. The shoe, specifically engineered for road running across various paces and distances, is meant to be accessible for the general running population. “It’s a great entry point for those who might not feel ready to make the jump to zero-drop shoes, but do wish to experiment with shoe styles outside the industry standard,” Hernandez says.
But with any new shoe model, stats, facts, and intentions only take you so far. The real question is: How does it run? To find out, I put the AltraFWD Experience through a week of my training schedule.
First Thoughts
Give A GiftFWD Experience was an immediate sense of familiarity with the FootShape technology, despite its being a new model. This feature, which provides security around the foot and space within the toe box, is one of the main reasons I’ve stayed loyal to the company through the years. Not having to worry about changes in the fit-tech I’d long depended on was a relief.
Next was the superb cushioning and breathability. The shoe utilizes an engineered-mesh upper and compression-molded EVA foam to create a breathable support network for the foot. This was also good news—one of my biggest running pet peeves is feeling weighed down by bulky cushioning.
I proceeded to run relatively short distances around my New York City neighborhood throughout the week, maxing out at five miles, and alternating between dirt trails in Prospect Park and city streets and sidewalks. The shoe handled both types of terrain well, and now I can’t wait to try it on the bigger trails I tackle farther north in the Catskills.
What Difference Did the Low Drop Make?
I found running in this shoe to be a different experience from that of a zero-drop. This one ran lighter and swifter than its zero-drop cousins, and my toe-off was noticeably smoother. It felt like my foot was rolling naturally forward—one of the design team’s goals when strategizing the AltraFWD Experience, Hernandez says: “We used the rocker-shape geometry of the low-drop model to encourage an efficient toe-off and a quick, smooth roll-through of your stride—while still supporting your foot in its natural placement. It wasn’t just about adding drop, but also providing more shape to the midsole for an efficient running experience.”
This sense of efficiency definitely came through for me. There was a dynamic fluidity to my roll-through afforded by that 4mm of elevation, to the point that after the test week came to a close, I found myself still wearing the AltraFWD Experience for my runs.
And that’s why I find it’s always good to experiment with new footwear styles and technologies: Because when it works out—as it did for me with the AltraFWD Experience—you might just find yourself something that sticks.
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AltraFWD Experience - Women's
