Nike Vomero Plus vs Puma MagMax Nitro 2: Which Max Stack Trainer Wins?

Introduction

The Nike Vomero Plus and Puma MagMax Nitro 2 are both max stack cushion daily trainers with impressive foams in the midsole, suggesting they should be more versatile than your classic cushion shoe, almost moving towards the super trainer realm. Both are fairly expensive, but they probably offer a little more value than many cushion shoes on the market right now.

The MagMax Nitro 2 is priced at £170 or $180, while the Vomero Plus sits at £155 or $180. So the Nike is cheaper in the UK and the same price in the US. After substantial mileage in both, the comparison comes down to one thing above all: how the midsole foam translates that big stack into an enjoyable ride.

Design and Build

The Vomero Plus features a mesh upper with plenty of padding around the tongue and collar. It’s a reasonably thick upper all round, though not the most breathable, and slightly less breathable than the one on the MagMax Nitro 2. Underfoot sits a ZoomX midsole, a big slab of the bouncy foam Nike has used for years, tuned here for softness and spring. A waffle tread outsole provides good coverage across the length of the shoe.

The MagMax Nitro 2 uses an engineered mesh upper that is still pretty padded but not quite as plump as the Nike. Its midsole is Puma’s Nitro foam, one of several formulations Puma uses across its range. It’s a responsive, energetic foam, though not quite as soft as the ZoomX on the Nike. The outsole is Puma’s own Grip compound with good coverage, a material known for fantastic grip in wet conditions in particular.

Specs: Weight, Stack, and Drop

The MagMax Nitro 2 is the lighter shoe, weighing 277g (9.7 oz) in a UK 8.5 / US 9.5. The Vomero Plus comes in at 300g (10.6 oz) in a slightly larger UK 9 / US 10. Nike uses a 10mm drop with a stack of 45mm at the heel and 35mm at the forefoot. Puma goes with a slightly lower 8mm drop and a taller stack of 46mm at the heel and 38mm at the forefoot, so you get a bit more foam at both ends of the shoe.

Fit and Sizing

In the Vomero Plus, a UK 9 / US 10 fit with no concerns at all: a nice amount of room around the toes and good hold around the heel and midfoot. The generous padding and material in the upper might run a little hot in warm conditions, but overall it’s a very good fit and an enjoyable upper.

For the MagMax Nitro 2, half a size down worked best, going UK 8.5 / US 9.5 against the Nike’s size. Puma shoes can come up a little long, sometimes torpedo-like, with a fair amount of room in front of the toes. If you’re between sizes, go for the smaller one with the MagMax Nitro 2. If you’re nearly always one size in running shoes, you can probably stick to it, but expect the Puma to feel a bit more roomy than the Nike in the same size.

Ride and Performance

Both of these are max stack cushion shoes with a bit more pep than your average cushion shoe. Both are tuned to give a little more responsiveness and energy return, so they work as versatile daily trainers, straying slightly towards super trainer territory thanks to very good foams and big stacks. That said, both sit firmly in the easy day shoe camp first and foremost, with a little extra pop you might not expect from such a big shoe.

The Vomero Plus is the standout here. Even though it’s the heavier shoe, the ZoomX midsole has such bounce that the shoe really comes alive at faster paces. At easy paces you get a very soft cushioned feel, a quick transition onto the forefoot, and nice energy return. Push the pace and it just gets bouncier and bouncier. That bounce isn’t enough to overcome the weight for flat-out track sessions or intervals, but for steady runs and tempo runs it works surprisingly well. For newer runners, it would make a really good all-round shoe that could even cover your first races, because it delivers a lot of bounce while focusing primarily on comfort, with a huge wedge of foam at the heel.

The MagMax Nitro 2 is the lighter of the two, but it feels a little less lively at anything above easy paces. The Nitro foam in the midsole doesn’t have the same level of bounce and energy return as the Nike. It’s a decent, well-balanced foam in a stable, comfortable shoe, light enough that you can pick up the pace without being held back, but it lacks that feeling of life and energy the Vomero Plus delivers when you go through the gears. The ride feels slightly duller all around.

In a back-to-back short run, the difference became even clearer. The Vomero Plus is one of the bouncier shoes on the market, not just bouncier than the Puma but genuinely bouncy in absolute terms. The MagMax Nitro 2 is a good cushion shoe with a more traditional feel, and despite its lower drop it moves heel to toe just as smoothly, but the Nike’s extra pop off that midsole is noticeable the moment you run in them together.

Which One Should You Buy?

The Vomero Plus is the preferred pick here, and that’s not really a slight on the MagMax Nitro 2. The Vomero Plus stands among the favorite cushion shoes on the market because of its very bouncy, genuinely fun ride. It’s also good value in the UK, where it’s cheaper than the MagMax Nitro 2, and the same price in the US.

If you’re looking for a cushion shoe right now, the Vomero Plus is the recommendation regardless of what you’re after. Slot it into a rotation as the easy day option, perhaps picking up some easy to steady runs too, and pair it with faster shoes for speed work. For a newer runner who wants one big cushion shoe to do everything, or any runner who likes that style, the Vomero Plus is the better option: loads of bounce, loads of fun, excellent for easy runs and long runs, with enough pep for slightly faster efforts.

On paper the Puma is lighter and positioned closer to a super trainer, but in practice the MagMax Nitro 2 feels like a pretty straightforward cushion shoe. It’s enjoyable and protective for easy miles, but the Vomero Plus simply does that job better thanks to its superior midsole foam. The MagMax Nitro 2 is a solid shoe; the Nike just wins this one.

Conclusion

Both shoes deliver comfortable max cushion rides with more versatility than typical easy-day trainers, but the Nike Vomero Plus takes the win on the strength of its exceptionally bouncy ZoomX midsole, better value in the UK, and a more fun ride at every pace. If pure cushion is the goal, either works; if you want the more lively experience, go Vomero Plus.