Nike Vomero 18 vs Vomero Plus vs Vomero Premium: Which One Should You Buy?

Introduction

Nike’s Vomero lineup currently spans three very different shoes: the Vomero 18, the Vomero Plus, and the Vomero Premium. All three sit firmly in the soft, cushioned cruiser category. None of them feel fast or nimble, and all use some amount of ZoomX foam in the midsole. That makes the choice between them less about speed and more about fit, cushioning depth, and value.

After running in all three, one shoe clearly stands out as the best all-rounder, while another feels more like a niche experiment. Here is how the lineup shakes down, category by category.

Quick Stats and Specs

The Premium is easily the heaviest of the three at 398 g (14 oz) in a UK 11 / US 12, and it is also the highest stacked. The Vomero 18 and the Plus are quite similar in stack height, though the 18 uses a 10 mm drop that can feel noticeable. All three use a bit of ZoomX foam, with the 18 adding ReactX into the mix.

The Premium is also the widest, while the other two are very similar in width. There is a large price gap between the Vomero 18 and the Premium, which matters when weighing what you actually get for the extra money.

Upper

The tongue on the Plus is the standout here. The 18 uses a bootie-like construction with masses of padding that feels a little warm and not as breathable, wrapping the foot like a coffin. It also carries suede pieces and overlays that add weight without much purpose.

The Premium uses thinner materials than both the 18 and the Plus, with much better lockdown over the top of the foot. Skipping the lace loops on the Premium should also help the upper’s longevity. That said, the Premium is covered in odd bobbles and decorative detailing that just add weight.

Upper scores: Vomero 18 gets 1 point, the Plus gets 2, and the Premium takes 3.

Midsole

None of these shoes are racers. You genuinely do not need all three in a rotation, as the midsoles overlap heavily. The Plus is the most versatile of the three and effectively replaces Nike’s Invincible, which appears to have ceased production. It offers good stability despite its height.

The Premium is significantly softer and squashier thanks to its full ZoomX midsole and air units, delivering the best impact protection of the three. But that comes with a bottom-heavy feel, extra weight, and a build that arguably demands strong ankles. It is noticeable that the Plus skips some of that bulk and feels livelier for it.

Midsole scores: 1 point for the 18, 2 for the Premium, and 3 for the Plus.

Outsole

The outsoles on the Plus and Premium are clearly better than the 18’s. Both have far more rubber coverage, and the grip is decent, including on cornering. The Vomero 18 has surprisingly little rubber through the midfoot, which is a concern for wet and wintry roads. Its reconstituted rubber shows white speckles and wore down quickly, with the forefoot already smoothing off.

On the Premium, the cutouts in the outsole and midsole walls invite rocks, muck, and grit inside, which is a questionable design choice. These are strictly road and pavement shoes; none of them suit trails or debris-strewn surfaces.

Outsole scores: 1 point for the 18, 2 for the Premium, and 3 for the Plus.

Value and Overall Scores

The Vomero 18 is not really a cut-down Plus or Premium. It is a run-of-the-mill daily trainer that does nothing especially well beyond easy, slow paces, and the 10 mm drop feels alien if you are not used to it. Two points here.

The Plus is the best all-rounder of the series: not as bulky as the Premium, stable despite its height, with solid outsole grip. It is the shoe that keeps getting picked first, both for runs and just for wandering around.

The Premium is a niche, expensive offering. It softens up with use, but strip away the stack height and the tech talk and it is a max-cushion shoe, with a fair chunk of the midsole being air units and empty space. One point.

Final totals: Vomero 18 with 5 points, Vomero Premium with 8, and Vomero Plus winning with 11.

Conclusion

If you can only have one Vomero, the Vomero Plus is the obvious pick. It has enough cushion for most runners, it is the most versatile, and it scored highest across every category. Paired with the Zoomfly 6 and the Alphafly 3, it rounds out a strong Nike rotation. The 18 only makes sense if you want a cheaper, slower easy-day shoe, while the Premium suits runners who prioritize maximum impact protection above all else and are happy to pay and carry the weight for it.