Nike Vomero Plus Review: A Softer, Lighter Take on the Vomero Formula

Introduction

The Nike Vomero Plus occupies an interesting spot in Nike’s lineup: it is essentially a softer, slightly lighter version of the Vomero 18, with a full ZoomX midsole and a very generous stack. It sits in that familiar max-cushion territory, which raises a fair question: is this a genuinely improved trainer, or simply a reworked version of the earlier Invincible Run formula?

Having spent time with the shoe, the honest answer is that it lands somewhere in between. It is better than the standard Vomero 18, with a smoother and slightly more enjoyable ride, but it is not a versatile daily trainer and it carries a few design quirks that deserve scrutiny before you spend your money.

Specs and Platform

The numbers tell most of the story. In a UK 11 / US 12, the shoe weighs 338 g (11.9 oz). That is a meaningful saving over the Vomero 18, which came in around 356 g (12.6 oz), and the lighter feel is noticeable on foot, though not dramatic.

The stack is substantial: 48 mm in the heel and about 40 mm in the forefoot, for an 8 mm drop. The forefoot measures 12.4 cm at its widest point and the heel 10.6 cm, almost identical to the Vomero 18, so this is an extremely wide platform. That creates a stable, planted feeling, though some of that width comes from foam that splays out slightly around the edges.

The midsole is completely full of ZoomX with no other foams in the blend, finished with a fairly thick paint coating. Out of the box it feels a little muted rather than explosively bouncy, and it does soften slightly with break-in. The rubber outsole sits at around 67 on the durometer scale, essentially the same compound as the Vomero 18.

Upper Fit and Feel

The upper gives off strong retro-runner vibes, with stripes wrapping around the shoe in a way that recalls the classic Air Max 97 aesthetic. It is plush but noticeably less so than the Vomero 18, and there is a genuinely wide toe box, which is not always a given with Nike. There is no internal gusseting on the tongue either.

Breathability is average. In warm conditions around 30 degrees it did not feel overly hot, but if you want a slimline, airy shoe, there are better options on the market.

Fit guidance is straightforward: go true to size. The length is spot on and toe box height is reasonable, with a slightly more present taper on either side of the toe box. Lockdown is a bit better than the Vomero 18, though the upper still feels overdone, with plenty of rigid overlays adding weight without obvious benefit.

One caution worth highlighting: the lace loops. They need to be cinched quite hard to get a good lockdown, and there are reports of them breaking after a few uses when laced enthusiastically. If you pick up a pair, take it easy with the lacing.

Midsole and Ride

The ride is where the ZoomX promise lives. It is soft, compressive and reasonably bouncy once broken in, but there is a catch: a spongy lasting board sits on top of the foam between it and the insole, which nerfs some of the ZoomX liveliness. That is why the shoe feels a little muted compared to the best versions of the full-ZoomX max-cushion trainers of the past.

That said, the ride is smooth and reasonably consistent across the whole footstrike, and it is genuinely more fun than the Vomero 18, which felt clunky and controlling by comparison. There is a bit more pep and return here, and slightly more versatility, though only within limits.

Where it falls short: for anything beyond short 200 or 400 metre reps, it simply feels like a lot of shoe. The 48 mm stack and 338 g weight make quick turnover hard work, so this is not a shoe for speed training or racing. It is better understood as an easy-pace or recovery trainer, more directly comparable to Puma’s Mag Max in intent, with the advantage of being a bit cheaper.

Outsole and Durability

The outsole is the weakest link. After roughly 11 miles, the rubber was already showing visible wear. Some competing trainers go 100 miles or more before showing anything comparable, so this is standard Nike behaviour: middle of the road, neither terrible nor impressive.

Grip is okay on dry road and pavement, but it felt slightly slippery on very recently wet pavement, and this is not a shoe for light trails. Stick to man-made surfaces. Coverage is good, with only a few exposed midsole foam areas that could be vulnerable to thorns, and the thick paint coating should help protect those spots.

Also worth noting: the heel features a significant bevelled edge that some runners may not love, and the reflective overlays positioned near the toes seem like an odd design choice.

Value and Verdict

Retail pricing sits at £155, though it was available for around £135 with a discount at the time of testing. Compared with rival max-cushion options like the Glycerin Max or the Mag Max, the price is relatively realistic, and it is considerably cheaper than the Super Blast 2, which remains the better shoe overall if budget allows.

For Nike loyalists, this is probably one of the better max-cushion options the brand has offered in a while. If you want a more balanced daily trainer, the Pegasus Plus remains the better bet in the ZoomX range, and the Evo SL is far more nimble, though roughly 80 g lighter.

The overall verdict: the Vomero Plus earns its place as a solid easy-pace and recovery shoe with a comfortable, wide, stable platform. Just be gentle with those lace loops, and temper expectations for anything faster.

Conclusion

The Nike Vomero Plus succeeds at what it sets out to do: improve on the Vomero 18 with lighter weight, a full ZoomX midsole and a smoother ride. It is a comfortable max-cushion trainer best suited to easy miles and recovery runs, and it prices reasonably for the category. The trade-offs are early outsole wear, fragile-feeling lace loops, a muted step-in feel from the lasting board, and a weight that rules out faster work. If easy miles are your main goal and the retro styling appeals, it is a worthwhile consideration. If you need one shoe to do everything, keep looking.