- Weight: 320g (men’s), 264g (women’s)
- Stack height: 36mm (heel), 32mm (forefoot)
- Heel-toe drop: 4mm
- Type: Trail
The shoe
While still principally a road-running brand, Nike’s off-road credentials are going from strength to strength and it now offers a wide range of trail shoes for all scenarios.
The Zegama is marketed as Nike's all-day (and all-night) option for those looking to rack up big miles in relative comfort. It’s certainly not an out-and-out racer, but it might be something to consider if you’re focusing on longer trail runs or events where comfort is king.
How does the Zegama 2 compare with the Zegama 1?
The first iteration of the Zegama lost points for its outsole, which offered very little grip, particularly on the muddy trails most of us encounter in the UK. So, the Zegama 2’s new Vibram MegaGrip outsole is welcome news indeed. It offers significantly more traction across a wide range of off-road conditions, from muddy trails to gravel to sand. Weight-wise, they’re pretty much identical, though the toe bumper that was present in version 1 has disappeared.
What everyone's reading
How does the Zegama 2 fit?
The shoe fits true to size. I’m a UK size 9 in the vast majority of shoes, and I’m a UK 9 in the Zegama 2. It is, however, slightly on the narrow side, so bear that in mind if you’re someone with wider feet – unfortunately no wider fit is available.
The positives
The aforementioned outsole is the biggest positive here. But there’s plenty to recommend about the midsole, too. Made from Nike’s flagship ZoomX foam, it feels both cushioned and responsive on the move.
The Zegama 2 is also a good road-to-trail option, thanks partly to its rocker shape, which works particularly well on hard, flat trails and road sections.
As with most of Nike's running shoes, the Zegama 2 looks the part – though keeping it that nice shade of white will require some diligent post-run elbow work.
The negatives
The biggest negative – and it’s a fairly major one – is that the Zegama runs hot. The result of this, at least for me, was the development of hotspots under both feet. As a result, I’d be reluctant to wear the Zegama 2 for the purpose for which it’s designed: running all day on the trails.
It’s important to add that everyone’s feet are different, and many may be able to run in this shoe without encountering this problem. But equally, it’s worth noting as I doubt I’ll be the only one to experience this issue when running in the Zegama 2.
First impressions
The Zegama 2 is a shoe that gets so much right. Its updated grip holds up to a whole variety of off-road conditions; its rocker geometry works really well on the short road sections most of us will encounter when venturing to and from a trail; its ZoomX midsole is among the best out there. But the issues experienced in terms of hotspots would put this particular tester off buying them.
