- Weight: 325g (men’s), 263g (women’s)
- Stack height: 46mm (heel), 36mm (forefoot)
- Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm
- Type: Road
The max-cushioned running shoe is certainly having its moment – and now, with the Vomero 18, Nike hopes to top the charts when it comes to softness, comfort and a super-sized stack height.
The latest iteration of Nike’s mega-plush Vomero range, this pumped-up road shoe promises supreme comfort for even the longest training runs and races, not to mention the tallest midsole so far and a level of responsiveness not previously seen in the Vomero family.
Indeed, the Vomero 18 quite literally takes the midsole to new heights with its 46mm stack in the heel, while the all-new dual-foam compound of ZoomX and ReactX offers both peppiness and support – and these are just some of the unapologetic changes that Nike has made to the transform the Vomero 17 into its long-awaited successor.
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We caught up with Marian Dougherty, Senior Director, Global Running Footwear and Ashley Campbell, Running Footwear Product Line Manager to discover more about the striking Vomero 18 – which we then took for several spins ourselves. Here’s how this stacked shoe stacks up.
Luxuriously soft – but not slow
As mentioned, one of the most obvious new features of the Vomero 18 is its increased stack height, which comes in at 46mm at the heel versus the Vomero 17’s 40mm, leading to next-level cushioning and protection from ground impact forces. This is complemented – if not countered – by a heel-to-toe drop of 10mm and pronounced rocker geometry, designed to generate a silky smooth and energetic toe-off.
In fact, despite being so unashamedly maximal, this is not a shoe that Nike sees as being all that slow. Yes, it is a running shoe that prioritises comfort, durability and dependability over speed – and no, it is by no means an all-out aggressive racer like the Alphafly 3. But, the Vomero 18 is a shoe that Nike quietly hopes will give you a bit of well-supported oomph on the run.
In addition to the rocker, just look at the foam itself. While the Vomero 17 featured a combination of ZoomX (Nike’s softest, lightest and most responsive foam, best known for being moulded into the brand’s carbon plate shoes) with less-bouncy Cushlon 3.0, the Vomero 18 marries a shoe-length layer of ZoomX on top with a bottom layer of ReactX (Nike’s most sustainable foam, which also offers a high energy return) in the heel and forefoot. The result is an ultra-cushioning double foam stack that Nike believes will serve any runner – of any experience level and ability – who is looking for a comfortable yet lively everyday running shoe.
‘We heard from runners that when they think of maximum cushioning, they envision a soft, plush experience that alleviates feeling the impact of the ground underfoot,’ says Campbell, who also celebrates the shoe’s reimagined engineered mesh upper, which is soft, stretchy and provides better breathability around the tongue and toe area. ‘The Vomero 18 has been purpose-built to give every runner – from the everyday to the elite – the ultra-comfortable ride that is both supportive and easy on the body and equips runners to achieve their goals.’
Obsessive detailing
That extra midsole foam comes at a cost, however, with the Vomero 18 out-weighing version 17 and hitting the scales at 263g/325g (women’s/men’s) versus its predecessor’s measurement of 220g/272g (women’s/men’s). However, according to Nike, this heavier running shoe is also the more stylish and ‘aesthetically beautiful’ option, with its soft, flowing lines and teardrop-shaped detailing on the midsole designed to reflect natural forms and the euphoric ‘flow state’ that can be experienced on a run.
As for such details, Nike is quick to confirm that it’s team obsesses over them, whether it’s for the Vomero 18 or any other shoe or piece of apparel that it puts to market. Why? Because this brand wants to offer the best – and it wants to be the best.
A 50-year-old global sportswear brand that long reigned supreme in its field, Nike has more recently received criticism for being complacent – for drifting behind its ever-innovating competitors. With that in mind, Nike now wants to make it clear that it is still here to front the pack – and making bold, unabashed changes to its running shoes is one way that the brand hopes to achieve that.
‘In every aspect of the product line, from racing, to road running, to even trail running, we want people to feel like Nike is alive again,’ says Campbell.
‘As for the Vomero 18, we’re starting this new era of max-cushioning for – a road running reset,’ she continues, returning to the new shoe at hand. ‘We felt like it was the right time to introduce new design language. If you look at the history of the Vomero, cushioning has always been there – but it has never really expressed maximum cushioning to the point that we thought it should. I think the new look and feel of the Vomero is going to catch people’s attention and hopefully deliver the message that we’re not back – we’re better.
‘It takes a village and almost two years of work to create a Nike shoe and perfect its details,’ adds Campbell. ‘A lot of that obsessing over detail comes early in the process when we’re initially designing, engineering and choosing materials for the shoe. The first six to eight months of a project are very intensive – it’s when we’re really getting granular, pinpointing the patterning of the upper, how we’re going to tune the foam and so on.
‘It’s a complicated process, but we do obsess the details.’
A rejuvenated road running line-up
The Vomero 18 is quite a shake-up on the 17 – but that’s not the only change that a reenergised Nike has been working on behind closed doors.
In conjunction with the release of the Vomero 18, the brand is also restructuring its whole running shoe line-up. The aim of this, Nike says, is to make choosing the right shoe more intuitive and less time-consuming for runners, helping them to pick the perfect pair (or, of course, pairs) according to their individual needs and goals. This is particularly helpful for new runners, who may feel intimidated by high-spec running shoe jargon and simply want to know what they need in an accessible, fuss-free manner.
The refreshed line-up will consist of three clear categories that derive from Nike’s mainstay franchises dedicated to cushioning: Pegasus, Vomero and Structure. Each category will offer a distinct benefit and three running shoe options.
The first option is the ‘Icon’ model, which will anchor the category. Then, there will be the ‘Plus’ and ‘Premium’ silhouette models, which will be more expensive takes on the original Icon and offer the respective benefit in a bigger way. As such, runners will be able to choose from a mix of Nike technologies and price points in a more simplified fashion than before.
Pegasus
- Delivers responsive cushioning for ample energy return, making it ideal for runners who want to push the pace on the roads.
Vomero
- Offers maximum cushioning for top-tier comfort, making it a prime choice for runners who seek a pleasant, plush ride for long, easy runs.
Structure
- Supplies supportive cushioning, making it a great fit for those who want to feel more stable and guided on the run.
The Vomero 18 will stand as the Icon model for the Vomero category, while the Plus and Premium Vomero models – which are yet to be revealed – will take maximum cushioning to even greater levels.
‘We know that runners just want a shoe that feels right for their daily runs,’ says Dougherty, who emphasises how Nike bases its decisions and developments on insights from the running community – especially with more runners now taking to the roads and trails. ‘They don’t want to overthink it. That’s why we’ve streamlined our offerings and created a clear distinction between them so runners can easily find what they need. It’s all about finding that sweet spot so runners can just lace up and hit the road.’
The shoe will be available in a range of bold and neutral colourways during its lifespan, with the ‘Atmosphere Pink’ option – to symbolise the ‘illuminating joy a runner feels on a long run’ – fronting the pack for the first season. What’s more, Nike is also adding the Vomero 18 to its children’s running shoe line-up, meaning that the next generation of running enthusiasts can get their first-ever taste of ReactX foam, alongside their adult counterparts.
Nike Vomero 18 review by Rachel Boswell, Senior Content Writer
I am slightly confused by this shoe – and that’s not a bad thing.
I’m confused because the Vomero 18 seems to hit a lot of conflicting criteria. A slick-looking running shoe that operates well at both faster and more leisurely paces, it envelops the foot like a proper hug – it’s soft, snug and secure, but not stifling or slow.
In fact, the Vomero 18 is accommodating in many ways – fit being one of them. Wearing my usual women’s UK size 6, I’ve found the length to be spot on, while the standard width offers my narrower foot a tiny bit of room to expand. Our feet do swell slightly when we run, after all.
The tongue is thickly padded, while the heel and opening feel almost reinforced with plush but dense cushioning. Although this does add weight to the shoe, making it a less sprightly choice for long runs and races, it does create a supremely soft and springy ride that I’ve enjoyed a lot more than I expected. Plus, despite all this plump cushioning around the midfoot, it is not a stuffy shoe by any means – the breathable zones across the mesh upper help to keep the feet relatively cool on the move, while my toes have a decent amount of wiggle space in the toe box.
The outsole also features a set of waffle lugs that hark back to the ones used in the earliest Nike running shoes – a good sign that the brand is innovating with its heritage in mind. On a more practical level, though, these lugs provide an excellent amount of grip. I ran in this shoe several times on a track-like, concrete surface that was marred with small potholes, cracks and even bits of moss and gravel – and yet, thanks to the shoe’s robust traction and cushioning, I barely felt or was phased by these gnarly obstacles underfoot.
The Vomero 18 also accommodates all types of runs, from easy plods to tempo sessions. Thanks to the marriage of soft ZoomX foam and snappy ReactX foam in the midsole, the Vomero 18 has many gears and can fluidly move between efforts. Want to dial it back for an easy run? No problem – this shoe has the cushioning you need to glide along nicely, without any jarring ground impact forces. Want to put your foot on the gas? Not an issue – I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness of this shoe, with the pronounced rocker geometry assisting a quicker turnover and zippy toe-off. Just because it’s soft to the touch, it doesn’t mean that this shoe is a complete teddy bear when it comes to speed.
As such, the Vomero 18 accommodates every type of runner. New runners can take their first, comfy steps in this shoe, then continue wearing it as they build up their confidence and pace. More experienced runners can equally enjoy this shoe for most training runs of the week, while even the fastest runners can wear this max-cushioned number for recovery runs. In my eyes, this running shoe could pass as a lifestyle trainer, too, and be worn for hours at a time around town.
Having happily run in this shoe for up to an hour each time, I can tell that it would serve me well for even the longest runs in a marathon or half marathon training block. It’s almost, dare I say it, disappointing that I’m currently tapering for a marathon, as I’d love to wear the Vomero 18 for a 30km or so effort. (I’ll just have to wait for the next training block.)
In summary, when I wear the Vomero 18, it feels like I’m not wearing a shoe at all. It moulds naturally to my feet, adapts seamlessly to my workout intentions and simply works well for the whole running process. This Swoosh-emblazoned shoe gets a tick from me.
