Altra FWD VIA 2 vs New Balance 1080v15: which one?

These are my two favorite cushioned trainers right now, sitting first and second in my cushioned trainer rankings, and they answer the same brief in two very different accents.

Since they're my two top picks, I felt they deserved a little comparison post to help me explain the nuances between them.

Both are plush, neutral, high-mileage road shoes built for easy days, long runs and marathon base miles. What separates them is fit philosophy and foam temperament; Altra's roomy FootShape fit over a calm, stable EGO P35 ride, against New Balance's classic width-menu fit over the new, genuinely bouncy Infinion foam.

I've tested both, the Altra FWD VIA 2 and the New Balance 1080v15, across months of Florida road miles. Here's how to pick, in about five minutes.

The quick answer

If your toes have ever felt boxed in by a traditional trainer, or you want the calmest, most protective ride of the two, get the FWD VIA 2.

The FootShape toe box is the roomiest in the category, the EGO P35 foam is soft without a hint of wobble, and it's APMA certified. (Use code TRAIL10 for 10% off your order at Altra, which brings it under $150.)

If you want the livelier, lighter, more versatile shoe, get the 1080v15. The new Infinion foam is a real upgrade over the previous version: bouncier and more energetic than any 1080 before it, at just 9.1 oz for a 40mm shoe, with the deeper width menu if you need a precise fit.

Both are true to size. The honest split is that the Altra is the comfort specialist, the New Balance is an all-rounder.

Key specs, side by side

Altra FWD VIA 2 review: Smooth miles, maximum comfort

A max-cushioned road shoe with smooth EGO P35 foam for daily miles, recovery runs, and marathon training comfort.

Alastair RunningAlastair Dixon

New Balance 1080v15 review: lighter, more planted, and the best yet

New Balance swaps Fresh Foam X for the new Infinion compound, and the result is a max-cushion daily trainer that feels familiar, faster, and more confident underfoot than any 1080 before it.

Alastair RunningAlastair Dixon

Fit and foot shape: the real decider

Start here, because for a lot of feet this section ends the comparison.

The FWD VIA 2 runs Altra's Original FootShape fit, the roomiest toe box the brand makes, with genuine space for your toes to splay on long efforts while the midfoot and heel stay locked in.

If you've spent years sizing up in traditional trainers to buy forefoot room, this is the shoe that makes that stop, and the APMA certification is the receipt.

The 1080v15 fits the classic way, and fits it well with an accommodating toe box, a slightly more tailored midfoot, and the answer to any fit problem being the width menu rather than the fit shape.

If you sit between widths or have a higher instep, New Balance would rather sell you a 2E than stretch the standard shoe.

So, splayed toes, bunions, or a love of natural room, the Altra wins outright.

A narrow or precise foot that likes a dialed, tailored wrap, the New Balance is the better option.

The drop gap is smaller than it reads. At 4mm and 6mm both sit in the low-drop zone; the Altra just leans a touch more natural without asking for the zero-drop commitment.

Foam and ride: calm vs lively

The FWD VIA 2's EGO P35 is soft without being mushy, and its defining trait is composure.

Landings are gentle, the platform stays planted even on tired legs, and the subtle rocker keeps things moving without steering you. It's the shoe that disappears on recovery days and back-to-back long runs, and it never asks you to go faster.

The 1080v15's Infinion is the more exciting foam.

The supercritical compound returns noticeably more energy than the Fresh Foam X it replaced, so each stride has a bouncier, more alive quality, and the whole shoe feels more agile at 0.7 oz lighter despite carrying 3mm more heel stack.

Neither is unstable; both are among the more planted neutral cushioned shoes I've tested. The difference is temperament: the Altra soothes, the New Balance encourages.

Pace range: the 1080 stretches further

The FWD VIA 2 is honest about its lane. Easy runs, recovery days, marathon base mileage, and long runs at steady effort are its whole world, and it's excellent there. Ask for tempo and it politely declines.

The 1080v15 covers all of that and then handles light tempo and fartlek work better than a max-cushion shoe should, mostly because of the weight cut. It's still not a speed trainer or tempo shoe, but if you want one high-quality daily trainer to carry the entire week, the 1080 is the one of these two that can.

Breathability and seasons

Worth a section because they genuinely diverge. The 1080v15's perforated mesh is one of the best uppers in the category: soft, stretchy, and properly breathable through hot summer miles.

The FWD VIA 2 runs warmer. Its denser knit is an asset through winter training, but on hot, humid days it can feel stuffy. If most of your running happens in the humidity/ mid-summer heat, that's a real point for the New Balance; if your training season peaks in the cooler months, it's a point for the Altra.

Durability and grip

Both grip confidently on wet and dry pavement, with different layouts: the Altra runs generous rubber coverage that adds sure-footedness on relaxed miles, while the New Balance uses segmented pods with a lot more exposed foam through the midfoot to keep the ride flexible and the weight down (that means it's also less durable).

Neither has given me durability concerns, but the Altra's fuller coverage is the safer bet for shuffle-prone gaits that scuff the midfoot.

Which one should you buy

Buy the Altra FWD VIA 2 if:

• Your toes want room: wide feet, bunions, or a preference for natural splay
• You want the calmest, most protective ride for recovery and base miles
• Most of your training happens in cooler months
• You want the cheaper shoe once my code is applied

Use code TRAIL10 for 10% off your order at Altra

Buy the New Balance 1080v15 if:

• You want the bouncier, more energetic foam and the lighter build
• One shoe needs to cover easy days, long runs, and the odd brisker effort
• You need a precise fit from a proper width menu, or run orthotics
• You log serious summer miles and breathability matters

My verdict

I rank the FWD VIA 2 first and the 1080v15 second in my best cushioned daily trainers roundup, and the gap is comfort philosophy: nothing else in the category treats your feet as well as the Altra does, and its calm, planted softness is exactly what a cushioned trainer exists to deliver. If the FootShape fit works for you, it's the pick.

But the 1080v15 is potentially the better all-rounder and the shoe I'd hand to anyone who wants one trainer for everything, because Infinion gives it a range the Altra doesn't have on this shoe. There's no wrong answer here, just two intended use cases.

Want max cushion with more firmness and road feel? The Nike Vomero 18 leans that way. And if the Altra fit appeals but you want a lighter, lower daily trainer, the Altra Experience Flow 3 is the sibling to look at.

Altra Experience Flow 3 review: the daily trainer to beat

Smooth, stable, and comfortable for easy miles and long runs, with a roomy toe box, naturally low drop, and an Achilles-friendly heel that disappears on the run.

Alastair RunningAlastair Dixon

Whichever way you go, my best cushioned running shoes roundup shows where both sit against the field, and my best New Balance running shoes guide maps the rest of NB's lineup.

The Best Cushioned Running Shoes, Right Now

Comfortable, cushioned running shoes built for daily training, recovery runs, and keeping your legs feeling fresh across all distances.

Alastair RunningAlastair Dixon

If you haven't already, signup for my free newsletter, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for all the latest running shoe reviews. 👉🏼 And for an inside look at what comes into my studio with unboxings, lace up reels, behind the scenes, and short form reviews, follow me on Instagram, and TikTok. -Alastair

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