Article by Peter Stuart, Ben David, Sally Reiley, Ryan Eiler Courtney Kelly and Sam Winebaum
Nike Vomero 18 ($150)
Introduction
Sam: The Vomero 18 has traditionally been Nike’s more cushioned, easier going daily trainer. With version 18, it joins the growing field of super max cushioned trainers. It grows in stack height to 46 mm at the heel and 36mm at the forefoot so 6.5 mm more at the heel and 6mm at the forefootm yet only gains 0.1 oz in weight. Still with top notch ZoomX underfoot the lower layer is now ReactX.
No sometimes rough and snug Flyknit upper here we see a new soft engineered mesh reinforcing the comfort story for the shoe.
And at the ground the outsole is more segmented and more strategic in coverage than usual for the Vomero (or Nike), contributing to great flexibility and lighter weight. And in a nice surprise, they actually drop $10 in price to a very reasonable price of $150 for a super max shoe with at least some supercritical foam. Let’s see how they perform as Peter, Ben, Sally and Sam put them through their paces.
Pros:
Deep stable reactive midsole: Sam/Sally/Peter/Ben
Competitively priced at $150, $10 less than v17 with far more cushion: Sam/Sally/Peter/Courtney
Comfortable, soft and easy and roomy fitting “un Nike like” upper: Sam/Sally/Peter
Very plush tongue could be helpful for those who need extra padding there-Courtney
Cons:
Could be lighter: wish midsole was all Zoom X to make the shoe lighter and yet more energetic: Sam/Peter/Sally/Ben/Courtney
A slightly lower stack height could lower weight add more zip: Sam
Some may miss the snugger more performance fit of prior Vomero, higher volume feet won’t: Sam
A somewhat blocky ride/transition: Ryan
A lot of shoe for a smaller frame runner to ride-Courtney
Compliance over responsiveness -Courtney
Most comparable shoes
Hoka Bondi 9
ASICS Superblast
Brooks Glycerin Max
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 10.35 oz / 293g US9
Sample Weights:
men’s 10.1oz / 286g US8.5 (prior version: 9.63oz /273g US8.5)
11.95 oz/ 338 grams US11
women’s 9.1 oz / 260 g US W8, 9.6 oz/274 grams US9
Stack Heights:
V18: 46mm heel / 36mm forefoot (10mm drop)
V17: 39.5 mm heel / 30mm forefoot (10mm drop)
Platform Width: 95mm heel / 70mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sam: The upper is made of a relatively simple, soft and pliable.and moderately thin engineered mesh. This upper is quite a contrast from the more rigid and supportive Vomero 17’s upper, or any recent Nike upper for that matter. The mesh has a bit of stretch so a wide variety of foot volumes should be happy here although wider feet may smile more about the fit
We have a nicely and softly padded tongue with gusset. The lacing slides smoothly and easily. The midfoot is well held for my narrow to medium feet but as with the rest of the shoe is more focused on comfort than high performance.
The heel counter is not totally rigid but solid and well padded as are the ankle collars.
The fit is true to size with volume overall typical of Nike but here with a softer more pliable and somewhat stretchier mesh and thus is more accommodating to different volume feet than usual from the Swoosh,
Peter: There’s a lot of upper here. The tongue is almost absurdly well padded.
It all works together but you can see a world in which they take a bit of padding out of the middle of the tongue and lighten the Vomero 18 up just a hair
Lacing and fit are easy and the midfoot is held well without having to mess with it.
The upper material is relatively breathable and looks good.
The ankle collar is well padded without going overboard. Definitely a max upper on a max trainer.
Ben: As someone who has struggled with Nike over the years, I was eager to give this newly designed Vomero a go. I want to believe that Nike will once more create a daily trainer that is accessible, exciting and widely loved (or at least loved by me). I hadn’t felt great affection for Nike trainers since a stretch of the Pegasus line (v 35-38 or so). I was enthused to receive the Vomero 18 and eager to try them out.
Upon step in, they feel great. The fit was generous and roomy, though no one is expecting a race-day type experience.
Depending on how you look at it, the upper is either very well cushioned and comfortable or cumbersome and overdone. This will also depend on how you intend to use the shoe.
I imagine that for a vast majority of us, this shoe will be for very easy days and daily training.
For me, therefore, I really appreciated all of the overlays and added padding, both along the upper and in the heel. I could see the robust upper giving some lockdown issues but I had none of that. The shoe feels very comfortable and forgiving from minute one.
Sally: Running used to be so simple. Buying a pair of running shoes used to be so simple. Lately all the running shoe companies have been offering us too many choices in footwear. How many shoes can we each have in our quiver?! How is one supposed to choose between the plethora of similarly designed shoes?
Nike has taken a bold new direction and is simplifying their running shoe lineup for all of us by creating shoes in three separate categories, all based on cushioning:
The Pegasus franchise provides responsive cushioning for all-day energy return.
The Vomero franchise delivers maximum cushioning for ultimate comfort.
The Structure franchise offers supportive cushioning for a stable ride.
Source: Nike.com
An “Icon” model anchors each category. For example, Pegasus 41 and the Vomero 18 are Icon models of the responsive and maximum cushioning categories, respectively. “Plus” and “Premium” silhouettes create distinction within their categories, offering an “elevated experience” within the category
This Vomero 18 is thus the icon model of the max cushioning category. It is incredibly different from the Vomero 17 (for starters, 6mm higher in heel stack!) and actually incorporates some features of the phased out max cushion Invincible and Infinity Run models.
At first look, the Vomero 18 is a classy good looking shoe, especially in my colorway of “sail/crimson/laser orange.”
But the real beauty is in the step-in feel: super cushy and comfortable, soft without being mushy. The fit is fairly accommodating for a Nike (in sharp contrast to the narrow pointy toe box of the new Pegasus Premium) and true to size. Of note, I need to size up half a size in the Vaporfly and Alphafly race shoes, but not so here.
The upper is well padded and breathable, and the lacing system has changed to string loops instead of the traditional holes.
There is a wonderful heel tab on the back of the heel to facilitate pulling the shoe on.
The heel hold is solid and overall foot hold is secure, and I never even thought to use the extra lace loop.
Ryan: Would anyone dare to reduce the stack height of a trainer these days? The marketing team would be livid. This Vomero 18 is no exception to that trend. In following the super shoe trend, taller, softer (and occasionally heavier) is the direction of the current pushing trainers these days.
The upper is now a pleasant and clean engineered mesh. It feels a bit thicker and more casual than its predecessor, and focuses on comfort over lockdown. As a couple others have mentioned, the upper feels a touch wider than is typical for Nike — especially in the midfoot. It’s relatively plush, too, especially with such robust padding toward the rear of the shoe.
Every aspect of the step-in seems comfortable, inviting, and built for high mileage running. There’s not much to knock here, aside from some breathability. And while the shoe’s weight has increased, I’m not one to knock trainers on this criterion — this is a trainer, not a racing shoe, after all and so I don’t mind if I have to work a couple percent harder to turn on recovery runs if it delivers comfort and protection.
Courtney: The highlight colors on the Vomero in bright crimson are striking, and with its incredibly padded, doubled layered upper, it stands out. It is so plush in fact, it almost looks like a lifestyle shoe from the top view. I was slightly concerned about the opening in the two mesh layers inside next to the tongue as the seams are noticeable and there is the potential for bunching, but it proved to be nothing to worry about during my runs. There is certainly a place for this shoe in the running world as more light is shed on the importance of slow running to improve overall fitness.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: The Vomero 18 is for sure a super max stack height trainer at 46mm heel / 36mm forefoot. Made up of a top layer of top end supercritical ZoomX with Nike's newer ReactX below, we have lots of cushion underfoot.
The Vomero goes way up in stack height with 6.5mm more at the heel and 6mm more upfront than the Vomero 17 that is in no way mushy and is highly impact absorbing with a moderately energetic rebound.
Speaking of reliability, we are also quite stable for such a big, relatively soft shoe although it is clearly not a pronation “control” shoe. The platform is broad at the heel (90mm) narrow at midfoot, as Nike’s often are at 70mm, and about as broad as one sees upfront at 115mm.
The broad heel stabilizes landings, the narrow midfoot and deep central groove facilitates transitions and the big 115mm forefoot provides a broad stable platform to toe off from.
Given the softer foam and narrow midfoot platform I was surprised how stable the Vomero 18, and this despite a relatively unstructured midfoot upper. Credit I think goes to the bulbous rear sides of the shoe which I think provide some adaptive stability as well as the solid heel hold
Super high stack height shoes often can be hard to turn over at slower paces on toe off, and especially so with lower drops than here but Nike wisely goes with a 10mm drop.
The 10mm drop ramp sensation is not overwhelming but it is there and along with the well segmented outsole we are also helped by very decent front flexibility at the 36mm forefoot. Beyond 36mm of stack upfront it is hard to get flexibility so such shoes must rely on a rocker. For example, the 6mm drop and 39mm forefoot Glycerin Max has to rely on a very pronounced front rocker way up in the front of the shoe. At slower paces or with pronounced heel striking, it is considerably harder to turn over than the Nike.
All in all for a reasonably priced super max shoe, the Vomero’s midsole’s careful design and choice of materials really has no compromises for training at a fairly wide range of paces and for longer distances given the cushion depth with moderate well tuned energy return, decent stability and relatively low weight.
For sure I would like the next Vomero to have all ZoomX maybe in dual density as here: top layer a little softer than bottom or be slightly lower stack height to be more agile. This likely would lead to a weight drop but the price might go up. Challenge on Nike!
Peter: The midsole Is a big old blob of ZoomX sitting above a lower layer of ReactX. I know this
because the back of the shoe has arrows to tell me what’s what!
The bulbousness of the ZoomX can be a bit of a hazard as it pokes out a little further than the rest of the medial side of the shoe. I definitely scraped my calf a couple of times here and there. Not a huge issue, but it can be a little bit annoying.
The platform is wide and very stable. This is a solid and stable feeling shoe even though it’s sitting on top of a big mound of foam.
Ben: With its roots as a stability shoe, I was not surprised to find the very broad base. As noted above, the ZoomX is very real and very present, as is the ReactX just beneath it. The combination is certainly not squishy, but not overly firm either (which I feared).
The combination also adds a lot of overall heft and bulk to the shoe but the weight remains reasonable. I also believe that this substantial midsole will lend itself to the shoe’s durability (as does the outsole). It’s a shoe that wants to be taken out and used for big miles, both daily and over the long haul.
Sally: I am glad that Peter also noted the arrows on the back of the shoe (I thought I was being so observant!), but how funny is it that Nike thought we might want a road map of what and where the different midsoles are?! I love Zoom X, the more the merrier, as it is their lightest and softest and most responsive foam, but I understand why the bottom layer is React X, bolstering the durability, adding some stability and keeping the price reasonable. The combination works very well and despite its heft, it feels smooth and responsive underfoot.
Ryan: I’m actually glad they didn’t opt to use ZoomX for the entire midsole here. While it would have been lighter, it would have almost certainly resulted in an unwieldy, hyperactive midsole, and would have essentially stepped on the toes of the ZoomX Invincible in Nike’s lineup.
The character of the Vomero’s hybrid midsole works well for its intended use case. I took one look at this bulging stack of foam and expected the rebound to be an unruly mess, but it surprised me with its relative stability.
I wouldn’t call it ‘responsive’, but for the amount of cushioning you get, the shoe is fairly well behaved. I credit the width of the heel and forefoot here, as such a broad platform with a generous cavity directly under the heel gives a sense of stability.
In the parlance of a wine snob: I am getting notes of ReactX with a ZoomX finish on this one. The foams work nicely in tandem to stabilize impact, and then to deliver upward propulsion in that distinctly ZoomX fashion. It’s a nice, albeit beefy, pairing that should easily endure hundreds of miles of running.
Courtney: As aforementioned, this shoe is a stacked sky high with dual layer foams delivering a highly cushioned ride but with stability that makes it a great choice for a daily trainer. Overall, I did feel this amount of cushion felt over the top for me as a smaller framed runner.
And even with the high drop of 10mm I couldn’t quite roll forward as quickly as other trainers I have tested. There could be a bit more collapsing in the arch as the platform tapers in medially which could contribute to that slowing of the roll forward.
Outsole
Sam: The Vomero outsole is much more segmented upfront with more exposed midsole at mid foot and towards the heel than its predecessor shown below.
The rubber is in all the right places so durability should be fine. I have not yet tested on the same wet and slushy roads as I did the Premium and will soon to compare traction.
Its design makes it more cushioned in feel and flexible up front and easier to toe off at slower paces if a bit less snappy and responsive there as the V17. The more strategic rubber coverage, common at other brands’ trainers but kind of new to Nike also helps reduce weight as rubber is the heaviest material in a run shoe.
Peter: The outsole on the Vomero 18 combines some old school Nike waffle on the heel and both sides of the forefoot with three segments of firm (ish) rubber pods.
The middle of the shoe has exposed ZoomX and in the rear there’s a cutout that’s wide enough and gently sloping enough that it shouldn’t pick up any rocks.
Traction has been excellent and the outsole should last a good long time.
Ben: Not much to add that hasn’t already been said. The outsole offers a lot of grip and is not in any way excessive or intrusive. It helps with the overall vibe of the shoe: comfortable and ready to go to work. It promises to be highly durable.
Sally: This outsole works well and checks all the boxes: the grip on wet surfaces is great, it looks as though it will be durable, and it is pleasantly quiet on the run. Nike has reduced the amount of the traditional waffle pattern coverage by retaining the high abrasion rubber waffle grip around the edges, but exposing some midsole and using a minimal amount of another rubber under the forefoot. My assumption is that this helps reduce weight.
Courtney: The outsole on the Vomero is designed with durability and traction in mind. I ran through ice and slush and although I slowed down considerably through the slick icy spots, I didn’t once lose my balance or slip. The outsole really does the job well!
The segmented rubber adds some flexibility in the forefoot while the rubber in the rear provides some stability. I do think the lug-like protrusions most likely add considerable weight to the shoe, but perhaps this is something worth the extra energy expenditure s we are looking at a training shoe after all.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Peter:The Vomero 18 shines on the ride. It’s a big, burly max trainer but it runs lighter than it looks. The ride is really enhanced by the flexibility of the outsole. The midsole foams are forgiving without being mushy and the outsole rubber helps firm things up just right. Based on the weight I was afraid that running in the Vomero 18 would be kind of a slog, but it’s actually pretty delightful. These aren’t race day or tempo shoes, but they don’t mind speeding up a little during a run. There’s some decent energy return and a very stable and enjoyable ride.
The Vomero 18, coming in at $150 feels like a great super-max trainer/recovery day shoe for anyone. It’s a fun, easy ride and should last for a long time. I put it up against some other shoes in the same category and it holds up great. See comparisons below for details.
Peter’s Score: 9/10 It’s a big burly shoe for easy days and recovery days with a very comfortable, flexible and enjoyable ride.
Ben: This is a sturdy, solid - if not somewhat bulky - daily trainer. It’ll work well for cruising easy miles and/or for recovery days. Nike is clearly trying to revamp its daily trainers and this latest iteration of the Vomero bodes well for that. I see this is a really nice daily trainer, in what is a highly crowded category, as others have noted. It is not a super trainer, nor is it trying to be that. I found it refreshing and fun, even surprisingly so.
9.4/10 with deductions for weight and lack of real pop.
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Sally: In a crowded arsenal of available running shoes, the Vomero 18 has quickly earned a coveted spot in my rotation. It is a delightful new take on the super high stack max cushioned trainer, plush and comfortable for long miles but smooth and responsive on the run. This is a perfect easy day cruiser when time on the feet is more important than the pace. Yes, they are a bit on the heftier side of things, but they feel lighter on the feet than the scale would indicate. They are stable and easy fitting, and roll nicely at most any pace. As I hit the peak training weeks of another Boston Marathon training block, I am often reminded to “run slow to run fast.” This is my shoe for that!
I am excited to see this new direction and focus for Nike, returning to the everyday as well as elite runner with some solid training day companions to their top tier race shoes.
Sally’s score: 9.4 / 10.0
Ride (50%) : 9.3 Fit (30%): 9.9 Value (15%): 10 Style (5%): 10
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Sam: Nike scores a solid win with the Vomero 18 by solving the puzzle of a decently lively, fairly light and reasonably priced super max cushion trainer.
Focused on a comfortable big cushion ride, it also succeeds in actually being able to move along at various places without me feeling bogged down, even when tired.
Nike has in recent years struggled to deliver mainstream modern everyday trainers either too aggressive for most (invincible Run) or dated “Icons” the Pegasus.
Here with the Vomero 18 they succeed with a solid all around super max cushion trainer which is in no way ponderous for a variety of runs with as a bonus at a very reasonable price. How could it be improved? An all ZoomX dual density midsole to liven the ride and lighten the weight even if it came in somewhat more expensive.
Sam’s Score: 9.3 /10
My deductions are the same as Ben’s: weight and lack of pop
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Ryan: The ride is certainly worthy of a high-mileage trainer made for casual/recovery paces. It provides enough stability with its hybrid midsole, but has that distinctive ZoomX pop to both protect your knees and to keep you springing along for 90+ minutes. One distinct characteristic I felt, which I also observed in the Invincible, is of a feeling of roundedness on both the lateral and medial side of the shoe during pronation. It doesn’t make the shoe unstable per-se, but it does make for a laissez faire kind of experience when your foot strikes the ground — the edges of the outsole aren’t very distinct.
On the flip side, it doesn’t have a smooth, buttery transition like a more uptempo trainer such as the Pegasus. This is likely due to its heftier use of materials — an overall weight gain, a thick, semi-lugged rubber outsole, and a fairly broad platform from heel to toe. While it’s great for locking into a comfortable long run pace, it certainly doesn’t doesn’t deliver the silky smooth ride that a more uptempo trainer might.
Overall, the Vomero 18 is a rock-solid, long distance workhorse. What you get here is tons of mellow comfort, along with deep, reasonably stable cushioning (thanks to a nice blend of midsole foams), for a palatable $150. I have to admit that I liked the 17 more though. I think the 18 has gone a bit too ‘big and burly’ as evidenced by the shoe’s transition to a super max trainer.
Ryan’s Score: 8.8 /10
Deductions for weight, turnover, breathability, and an overly-rugged outer
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Courtney: The Vomero 18, with its increased sky high 46mm stack can certainly be considered a max stack comfort trainer. Its highly durable outsole will keep you running for many miles. This shoe is not one for your workouts, but it will go the distance for those recovery to easy day miles for me. The Vomero is great for runners of any level and could also be a suitable walking shoe.
Courtney’s Score: 8.65/10
A solid daily trainer, but deductions for a heavier, clunkier ride.
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7 Comparisons
Pegasus Premium (RTR Review)
Sam: Take about the same platform width and stack height, as well as layers of ZoomX and ReactX, and between them insert an Air Zoom “plate” shaped similarly to Nike’s carbon Flyplate.
Use a lighter, more secure and precise but less accommodating non stretch mesh in the toe box (but close) upper and you get the Pegasus Premium. Its ride is somewhat firmer and faster riding off the front despite its 0.75 oz weight penalty. It is a more stable choice for long runs at somewhat faster paces with the Vomero a more well rounded all around choice for daily training.
See my detailed comparison review of Pegasus Premium to Vomero 18 HERE.
ASICS Superblast (RTR Review)
Sam: A direct comparative to the Vomero 18, the Superblast has a single density all supercritical FF Turbo midsole. At 8.6 oz / 243.8 g US 8.5, the SB is a big 1.5 oz lighter than the Nike. At 45 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot the heels are at the same height while the Superblast’s forefoot is 7mm higher. It is not only stiffer in flex but quite a bit harder to turn over and at slower faster paces for me and comes alive at faster paces and this despite its considerable weight advantage over the Nike. The Nike is a more practical max cushion daily trainer and a better value at $50 less than the Superblast.
Peter: What Sam said! Agreed.
Sally: The Superblast is well loved by many runners for its do-it-all-well versatility, but that comes at a price ($200). WIth a similar superstack height of 45 mm, the Superblast is lighter and I felt a better uptempo shoe, but the Vomero belongs in my rotation because it excels at the easy comfortable daily paces.
Ben: As noted above, the Superblast is lively and responsive, in a more nimble package. That said, the price reflects the upgraded ride. I think I’d still go with the ASICS.
Hoka Bondi 9 (RTR Review)
Sam: At about the same weight of 10.2 oz / 286g US8.5, on a very slightly lower heel platform of 43mm but much higher (+8mm) forefoot of 38mm and wider 100mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 100 mm forefoot platform, the Bondi gets there with an all supercritical EVA single foam midsole. Somewhat softer, more flexible and bouncier than the Vomero 18, its closest comparison, it is not quite as fast feeling but yet easier on tired legs. True to size for me and with comparable fits.
Brooks Glycerin Max (RTR Review)
Peter: Almost exactly the same weight. Running the Vomero 18 and the Glycerin Max back to back was interesting. The Glycerin is far less flexible and is firmer too. The Vomero rides more smoothly and easily and FEELS lighter than the Glycerin. It’s a reminder that stiff shoes with a rocker are not the only super-shoes out there. The Vomero feels like a more standard running shoe built with more modern materials. It’s kind of a classic ride. I prefer the Vomero here.
Ben: For me the Brooks is a joy to run in, though again at a hefty price. It’s smooth and has good responsiveness for a shoe of its bulk. I’d take the Brooks.
Sam: In agreement with Peter about the comparative rides . With a 45.25 mm heel / 39.25 mm forefoot and only 6mm drop vs 10mm for the Vomero and 36mm at the forefoot, the Glycerin is overly stiff at slower paces with its abrupt rocker really only activating at faster paces, unlike the Vomero easier flexing profile. At $200 it is $50 more. Similar fits. Easy pick of the Vomero here.
Sally: (W8 True to size in both) The Glycerin Max feels like so much more shoe underfoot, slightly heavier but much stiffer and clunkier with a seemingly softer heel. I much prefer the spunkier and smoother ride of the Vomero 18 to the Brooks Marshmallow, and the Vomero is $50 cheaper.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 (RTR Review)
Sam: Much lower in weight at 8.5 oz / 242g US8.5 and somewhat lower in stack height 40 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot,, the Salomon goes all supercritical foam with a springy eTPU foam is what I could call a “racier” daily trainer when compared to the Vomero. Its no seams on the inside, the very comfortable true to size upper is just fine but can’t quite keep up with its platform for me compared to the Vomero’s. If your needs and paces are faster the Salomon is a better choice. If you want a steady cruiser for slower miles or long runs the Vomero
Under Armour UA Infinite Elite 2 (RTR Review soon)
Sam: Basically take the Vomero”s wide platform and go with a lower stack height of 38/32 make the foam (TPU similar to Saucony PWRRUN+) bouncier and softer and add a higher volume upper and you get the Elite 2. I was able to get a decent lockdown for my narrow to medium volume feet but the UA’s upper clearly favors higher volume feet. In ferns of ride it leans more easier and recovery runs than the Vomero which leans daily trainer and long runs due to its quicker returning midsole and greater stability.
Hoka Clifton 10 (RTR Review)
Peter: While the Clifton weighs in at about an ounce lighter, the Vomero is the more enjoyable ride for me. It’s always interesting to switch shoes multiple times during a run to help figure this stuff out. The Vomero feels a bit more fluid and the fit is more accommodating. If I had to pick one it would be the Vomero.
Sam: Agree with Peter. The latest Clifton goes up in stack height (close to Vomero) and up in drop to 8mm but retains its old school CMEVA foam. While lighter than the Vomero it has a duller ride (its foam). It’s upper is more precise in fit and will favor lower volume feet. Hoka sort of missed the boat here by not using the livelier supercritical foam of the Bondi 9 in the Clifton.
Ben: The Clifton 10 has really grown on me. In the beginning I found it stiff and a bit harsh but it’s softened up over time. Like the Vimero, it’s certainly not a fast shoe. I imagine there are some who will appreciate Nike's more accommodating fit and upper. It’s a close one.
Asics GEL-Nimbus 27 (RTR Review)
Courtney: The Nimbus weighs a bit more than the Vomero at 10.65 oz for men’s sample weight and 9.6oz for women’s. Surprisingly, despite the weight, I felt the Nimbus runs a bit faster than the Vomero.
The upper on the Vomero is definitely a more plush experience with the uber-cushioned tongue and double layered mesh but fits a bit snugger to the foot and may be more ideal for lower volume feet. The Nimbus’s jacquard engineered knit conforms to the foot but with much less cushion, though in my opinion, is just as comfortable.
The Nimbus seems better suited to running in the elements with a bit more shielding than the Vomero’s perforated almost foamy upper. Though I love the white and neon pink orange colorway of the Vomero, I can already see some dirt marks.
Both shoes provide plenty of room in the toe box to accommodate any swelling and have executed the heel counter well to hold you in place.
The Nimbus’s blocky rear platform provides a lot of support, while the Vomero though supportive in its geometry and overlays, sports a more narrow midfoot especially on the medial side. Quite obviously, these high stack trainers provide plenty of underfoot cushion but both leave a little something to be desired in their responsiveness.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Peter lives in California and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:21 half marathoner in recent years.
Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 23 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who agreed against her better judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the past eleven Boston Marathons, three NYC Marathons, two Chicagos, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights (Berlin in 2025). With a Boston PR of 3:25:55 in 2022 (9th place in AG) and three consecutive 2nd place in Age Group awards in NYC, she has competed in several Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships and placed 6th in the world in W 60-64 when she ran an all-time PR of 3:24:02 at age 63 at the 2022 London Marathon. She also competes in USATF races of all distances with the Greater Lowell Road Runners team. To add meaning to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Team Eye and Ear and has raised over $320,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally stands tall at 5’2’’ and 105 pounds, and lives in Marblehead, MA where she trains outdoors year round. She blames her love of skiing out West for any and all Boston Marathon training challenges.
Ryan Eller A hopeless soccer career led Ryan to take up running, and after taking a decade-long break from competing, he is back racking up mileage whenever he can. He calls the 2018 Boston Marathon the hardest race of his life, where he finished in 2:40, barely remembering his name at the finish line. Rya more recently has a PR of 2:13:36 at the 2024 NYC Marathon and ran 2:14:23 at the 2024 Boston Marathon, finishing 3d American and 15th overall.
Courtney Kelly, age 37 is a college lacrosse player turned avid runner. She lives in Manchester, MA with her husband and two daughters ages 4 and 8. Courtney signed up for her first 1/2 marathon the morning of the race in 2022, winning second place in a time of 1:26. She decided to take running a bit more seriously, joining Wicked Running Club and trying some training plans. She ran her first marathon this fall in 3:04:27. In addition, she holds a half marathon PR of 1:25, a 5 mile PR 30:17, and a 5k PR of 18:20. She looks forward to getting some more strength and speed under her belt this next season, before taking a crack at the marathon again. She is 5’4”, 110 lbs.
Off the roads, Courtney is a painter and loving mother to her girls.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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1 comment:
How does the Vomero compare to Puma MagMax?
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