The Nike Vomero Plus is a max-cushioned trainer that brings bounce and comfort to the brand's reworked daily trainer lineup. The Vomero Plus borrows the geometry of the Nike Vomero 18 but features a full ZoomX midsole, resulting in an exceptionally cushy ride that still has some fun bounce. This PEBA-based ZoomX foam rises up around the heel to cradle the rearfoot, which creates an optical illusion that the midsole is even taller than it already is; it also enhances this shoe's step-in comfort. The outsole on the Vomero Plus features full rubber coverage, so the shoe does still have some ground feel despite the soft, tall stack of foam. While it's most obviously suited to slower recovery runs, it has enough bounce to pick up the pace, even if it's clearly not optimized for speed.
Our Verdict
The Nike Vomero Plus is a decent choice for running a marathon, despite not being a racing shoe. The deeply cushioned midsole keeps your legs well protected over long distances, while still returning enough energy to keep you bouncing along late in the race. But if you've hit the wall and are experiencing muscle fatigue, you'll feel the weight of this shoe.
ZoomX foam provides great cushioning.
Too heavy for competitive racing.
The Nike Vomero Plus isn't adequate for short- to middle-distance racing. While the ZoomX midsole provides good energy return, the shoe is too heavy to reach top-end speed.
Too heavy for competitive racing.
No plate in midsole.
The Nike Vomero Plus does a good job of returning the energy you put into each stride. The PEBA-based ZoomX foam provides a fun, bouncy sensation that makes the shoe feel surprisingly lively for its weight.
Bouncy sensation from PEBA-based midsole.
The Nike Vomero Plus has truly impressive impact absorption. The deeply cushioned, full ZoomX midsole keeps your legs feeling surprisingly fresh, even after long runs. Heavier runners will particularly appreciate the Vomero Plus' plush and supportive cushioning.
ZoomX foam provides great cushioning.
Thick stack of foam mutes ground force impact on legs.
The Nike Vomero Plus has decent lateral stability for such a tall shoe. The outsole has a wide platform that provides a solid base, and the forefoot is firm enough to allow stable toe-offs. On the other hand, the heel can feel a bit squishy, making landings less stable for heel strikers with longer ground contact between strides.
Wide platform offsets tall stack height.
No plate in midsole.
Soft foam can feel unsteady underfoot.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Dec 04, 2025:
We've updated the Popular Comparisons section following the release of the Nike Vomero Premium.
- Updated Oct 28, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9, which adds a Forefoot Long Run Cushioning test to our performance section. Read more in our changelog.
- Updated Oct 09, 2025: Review published.
- Updated Sep 18, 2025: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Nike Vomero Plus in men's US size 9, as indicated on the label for our pair, in the Black/Metallic Dark Grey/Cool Grey/Dark Smoke Grey colorway. The shoe is also available in numerous other colorways, depending on your region. The Vomero Plus is available in regular and extra wide sizes for both men and women. The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect the other size and gender variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Nike Vomero Plus is a versatile max-cushioned trainer that brings soft, bouncy fun to everyday runs. With its deeply cushioned midsole, it's an obvious choice for recovery runs, but it also has enough energy return to keep going strong through long runs. Nike isn't necessarily doing anything cutting edge with the Vomero Plus, but rather providing a compelling alternative to maximalist trainers like the PUMA MagMax NITRO or Mizuno Neo Vista 2. The Vomero Plus is tucked in the pack just behind these shoes in terms of cushioning, but it can out-kick either of them with its superior energy return.
The Vomero Plus is part of Nike's overhaul of its daily trainer lineup, which is being organized around three legacy series: the Pegasus, Vomero, and Structure. Each series will have an 'icon' that serves as the standard bearer, as well as Plus and Premium versions; the former features a full ZoomX midsole, and the latter has AirZoom units in the midsole. In the case of the Vomero series, the standard Nike Vomero 18 features a similar geometry to the Vomero Plus, but with a dual-density midsole, comprising a firm base made of ReactX foam and a top layer of ZoomX. The Nike Vomero Premium is the tallest and heaviest running shoe in Nike's lineup, with two AirZoom pods in a thick ZoomX midsole. Of all these Nike trainers, the Vomero Plus is one of the more versatile options, as it offers enough bounce for uptempo runs while remaining comfortable enough for easy runs. The Premium-tier trainers, on the other hand, are a bit more niche and specifically tailored to recovery runs.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best Nike running shoes, the best running shoes, as well as the best running shoes for men and the best running shoes for women.
The Nike Vomero 18 and the Nike Vomero Plus are sister shoes in Nike's lineup that share a similar geometry. The two trainers have very similar uppers but start to diverge in the midsole. The Vomero 18 has a layer of softer, bouncier ZoomX foam on top of a layer of denser, more stable ReactX foam, resulting in a stable, balanced ride. The Vomero Plus, meanwhile, has a full ZoomX midsole, meaning that it's all bounce, with no stiffer foam to stabilise the ride.
The Nike Pegasus Premium and the Nike Vomero Plus are both designed for comfort-focused daily training, but achieve it differently. The Pegasus Premium uses a triple-layered midsole of ZoomX foam, a Zoom Air pod, and ReactX foam that offers the runner a deep cushioning and a chaotic, fun feel, while the Vomero Plus gives a softer, bouncier, and more responsive ride thanks to its full ZoomX midsole. The Pegasus only provides comfort and soft rebound at lighter loads, making it suitable strictly for easy miles. Whereas the Vomero Plus delivers a muted and more protective ride that works better for moderate efforts, long mileage, and recovery runs.
The Nike Vomero Plus and the ASICS SUPERBLAST 2 are two versatile, maximalist trainers that can handle lots of different runs. The Vomero Plus features a full-length midsole of Nike's premium foam (ZoomX), whereas the SUPERBLAST 2 has a dual-density midsole that combines a performance-oriented foam (FF Turbo+) and a denser, more stable carrier foam (FF Blast+ ECO). The result is that the Vomero Plus feels much bouncier. Both shoes have impressive range, but the SUPERBLAST 2's significantly lighter weight makes it a better candidate for the fastest of workouts.
The ASICS MEGABLAST and the Nike Vomero Plus are both highly cushioned shoes that stack lots of premium foam underfoot. The midsole compound in the MEGABLAST is a more advanced Aliphatic TPU that allows it to absorb impact better than the Vomero Plus' PEBA-based midsole, while still being more responsive. The tradeoff is in stability, as the Vomero Plus feels more like running on solid ground, with a firmer heel and forefoot.
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
Despite having a wider base and slightly taller stack height than the Nike Vomero 18, the Nike Vomero Plus actually weighs about 17 g less than its sister shoe, thanks to the full ZoomX midsole, which weighs less than the dual-density midsole of the Vomero 18.
The Nike Vomero Plus has good energy return, and this is most noticeable in the springy heel, which ensures smooth heel-to-toe transitions.
The energy return from the forefoot of the Nike Vomero 18 easily outshines similarly stacked shoes like the ASICS SUPERBLAST 2 or the PUMA MagMax NITRO.
The impressive heel cushioning in the Nike Vomero Plus softens the impact of even the heaviest heel strikes.
The Nike Vomero Plus's forefoot cushioning is also great, but it's less absorbent at faster paces than the ASICS SUPERBLAST 2 or the PUMA MagMax NITRO.
The Nike Vomero Plus's heel isn't very firm, which is unsurprising for such a deeply cushioned midsole. Still, it firms up under heavy forces better than many other max-cushioned shoes, making it more stable during heel landings and roll through.
The Nike Vomero Plus has a decently firm forefoot and provides a satisfactory platform for toeing off, although it's much less firm than the Nike Vomero 18.