The Nike Vomero 17 is a premium daily trainer. Sitting above the Nike Pegasus 41, this iteration of the Vomero includes a top layer of PEBA-based ZoomX foam in the midsole atop a bottom layer of Cushlon 3.0 EVA foam, offering a more cushioned feel and a tad more efficiency. With a relatively high stack, high drop, and a comfortable upper, it's a relatively stable, balanced workhorse for everyday running at a range of paces.
Our Verdict
The Nike Vomero 17 isn't really well-suited to marathon racing and isn't intended to be a racing shoe. While it has an acceptable amount of cushioning, it's not quite protective enough for running the full length of a marathon. Beyond that, it's simply too heavy and lacking in energy return for performance racing at longer distances. On the plus side, the stack height is quite substantial in the heel.
Decent cushioned in the heel.
Heavy.
Energy return is lacking for racing.
The Nike Vomero 17 isn't intended for high-performance racing at shorter distances. It's too heavy for racing and doesn't offer the most energy return. While it has a firm forefoot, its bulky build prevents it from feeling truly snappy as a daily trainer.
Firm forefoot.
Heavy.
Energy return is lacking for racing.
The Nike Vomero 17 has passable energy return. The heel is less responsive than the forefoot, which does return a reasonable amount of energy. While it doesn't offer the same level of rebound as more performance-oriented shoes, it still offers some bounce when toeing off.
Adequate forefoot energy return.
Disappointing energy return in the heel.
The Nike Vomero 17 has some underfoot cushioning. Its heel does a good job of absorbing energy, making for fairly plush and protected landings for heel strikers. However, its forefoot doesn't offer the same level of cushioning.
Decent cushioned in the heel.
Forefoot absorbs less impact.
The Nike Vomero 17 has very good lateral stability. Despite its high stack height, its softer ZoomX foam is balanced out by a bottom layer of EVA foam, which adds a bit of firmness and stability. It also has a fairly wide outsole, especially around the heel, creating a pretty stable platform.
Wide heel outsole.
Dual-layer foam is relatively firm.
High stack height.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Oct 24, 2025:
We updated the Energy Return, Heel Energy Return, and Heel Firmness boxes to align with the latest test bench and revised the side-by-side comparisons to keep the review accurate.
- Updated Oct 20, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.2, which updates our methodology for the impact force range used in our compression tests to improve their accuracy. This also affects all usage and performance usage boxes using those compression tests as score components.
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Updated Jul 30, 2025:
We revised the phrasing in the Cushioning, Marathon Racing, Lateral Stability, Heel Cushioning, and Forefoot Cushioning boxes to reflect the changes in the latest test bench.
- Updated Jul 30, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.8.1, which mainly updates the score components for the Marathon Racing and Lateral Stability usage boxes to improve accuracy.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We bought and tested the Nike Vomero 17 in men's US size 9. Our pair is the Black/Anthracite/White colorway, and you can see the label here. The shoe comes in a wide range of different colorways, depending on the region and gender, including but not limited to White/Black/Pure Platinum-white, White/Royal Pulse/Glacier Blue-white, Hyper Violet/White/Laser Orange/Black, and Hyper Violet/Black-white.
You can buy this shoe in standard, wide, or extra wide.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Nike Vomero 17 is a middle-of-the-road daily trainer. Though it doesn't stand out in any one area, it combines relatively premium materials and a dual-layer foam for a fairly versatile training experience. It's a bit less boring and more cushioned than the firmer Nike Pegasus 41, but it isn't nearly as bouncy or responsive as the Nike Invincible 3, which has a full ZoomX midsole. As far as daily trainers go, the Vomero 17 offers a balanced mix of cushioning, stability, and responsiveness in a durable, comfortable package. However, those seeking a more exciting max-cushioned experience will get more by stepping up to the Nike Vomero 18, which boasts a higher stack height and is considerably more protective, especially in the heel.
For more options, check out our picks for the best running shoes.
The Nike Vomero 17 is like a more premium, built-up Nike Pegasus 41. With more responsive ZoomX foam in its midsole, the Vomero provides more energy return and feels noticeably more cushioned, giving it a softer, plusher feel that makes it a better option for easier paces and longer runs.
The Nike Vomero 17 and the Nike Vomero 18 share a similar identity as comfort-focused daily trainers. The 17 has a bouncier midsole, but the 18 brings several key updates that shift its ride and feel. The Vomero 18 adds some stack height, especially under the heel, and introduces a ReactX carrier foam beneath the ZoomX layer instead of a cushion. This change makes the 18 way more cushioned and protective, though it also adds noticeable weight. The rocker geometry is more pronounced in the 18, leading to a smoother rolling transition. Fit-wise, the 18 has a roomier forefoot and a thicker, plusher upper, improving step-in comfort but leading to a less breathable experience. Overall, if you want more protection, better structure, and a smoother ride, the Vomero 18 is a clear upgrade.
The Nike Invincible 3 and the Nike Vomero 17 are both daily trainers in Nike's lineup, but they have different strong suits. The Invincible features a full PEBA-based ZoomX midsole, giving it notably better energy return and making for a softer, bouncier ride. The Vomero, on the other hand, uses a mix of ZoomX and EVA foam, making for a more grounded ride overall, at the expense of some energy return.
We've recently started buying and testing running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The Nike Vomero 17 is quite heavy, though about similar to other daily trainers in Nike's lineup, including the Nike Pegasus 41.
The heel has middling energy return. It's a tad bouncier than the Nike Pegasus 41, but ultimately lacks the responsiveness of more efficient shoes and racers like the Nike Alphafly 3.
The forefoot has slightly better energy return, thanks in part to the higher concentration of ZoomX foam in that area. While it's still somewhat muted compared to more exciting options, there's enough rebound for a fairly smooth ride when pushing off.
The heel is decently cushioned, offering some amount of protection underfoot across a range of forces. It has notably better impact absorption in the heel than some other daily trainers, like the Nike Pegasus 41 or the adidas Supernova Rise, which helps prevent the heel from bottoming out.
The forefoot cushioning is lacking. It offers enough protection in the forefoot for easier paces and short sessions, but it lacks sufficient cushioning for heavier runners or runners who apply a lot of force in the forefoot. After a few kilometers, the forefoot can feel harsh and leaving you wanting more between the road and your feet.
The heel is quite balanced. It's softer than many other daily trainers, including the Nike Pegasus 41, but not so soft that it becomes unstable.