At one point, Nike’s Vomero was a solid but unspectacular daily trainer. Not as storied as its Pegasus sibling, it was the kind of shoe you could run hundreds of miles in and while they may not be the most memorable, it would keep coming back for more. However, with the streamlining of Nike’s daily shoe silos, the Vomero line has pushed itself to the forefront of the Nike line.
All three of the shoes feature a tuned for cushion version of the ZoomX foam and as you move up the silo, the thicker it gets. The Vomero and the Vomero Plus offer 45mm of foam under your heel. Meanwhile the Vomero Premium gives 55mm. All of a sudden, the adidas Prime X looks rather short in stature.
We also find Zoom Air in the Vomero Premium. While this was a big miss in the messy midsole of the Pegasus Premium, has it worked here? Let’s find out!
Upper and Fit of the Nike Vomero Premium
What works for me
Max comfort is what the Vomero Premium is all about. There is no mistaking that from the upper which is provided. A thick, plush tongue lays across the top of the foot removing any lace pressure. Around the heel cup and ankle area, we find a thick layer of foam which helps to keep the bones protected and hold the foot in place.
The material itself is a very thin and breathable mono-mesh which harks back to the Air More Uptempo with the AIR motif acting to add a little more structure to the upper. The mesh is thin enough to see the colour of your socks through which also means that it has given me no issues with overheating even when we had a bit of a spike in temperature recently.
Due to demand and supply issues on release date, I had to purchase the Vomero Premium half a size down. However, with the roominess of the toe box, this hasn’t been a problem. As ever, do try this before buying. Our feet are all different shapes even at the same size so it is always worth checking.
For a shoe which contains so much of Nike’s top of the line technology, the lace chain is refreshingly simple. Step in, tighten up and run. On the subject of stepping in, the comfort there is excellent. The upper envelopes the foot and leaves you in no doubt as to the purpose of the shoe.
Overall, the Vomero Premium is a shoe which pushes everything to the max, comfort is chief among them. It gives all you need for many a mile coated in comfort.
What doesn’t work for me
To be honest, it’s a very comfortable shoe. I have worn it over a range of distances and in a variety of weathers. Nothing to complain about.
Midsole and Ride of the Nike Vomero Premium
What works for me
Rumours of a monster brewing in Nike’s basement began with images of Conner Mantz running in some mighty midsoles over a year ago. Then we saw some close ups. Nike Proudly proclaiming in print on the rear of the midsole that they are, “Not approved by World Athletics”.
Nicknamed the “Alter-G” shoe, it was Mantz’ shoe of choice to help him recover from stress fractures. As he has just beaten the American Marathon record, I’d say they worked pretty well.
Now we can all get our hands on them, we can really see why. 15mm above the legal limit set by the governing body for competition, they also dwarf all but the adidas Prime X EVO. But, this is no svelte racing shoe. Coming in at a mighty 351g in Nike’s sample size, it is unlikely to be on the feet of any of the elites even if it were road legal.
That said, I have found that this is a shoe which runs lighter than the scale says. I have run around 100km in it since it arrived on my doorstep and I have really enjoyed all of them. Often, these monster stacked shoes pack all the goodness in the heel. One example of this is the Brooks Glycerin Max. However, Nike have balanced the midsole well. Forefoot strikers have plenty of joy while those who strike further back will find endless cushion underfoot.
Where the mix of ZoomX, Nike ReactX and Air Zoom made for a weird, sloppy and strangely firm ride in the Pegasus Premium, the Vomero Premium nails cushion. The road surface is an afterthought, you are aware it is there because your foot lands on it but it has no impact on the legs. That said, the mix of elements makes it quite lively. I have enjoyed it very much for some track based strides before a session. Speaking of which, running 10k of volume in a pair of Dragonfly and then stepping into these for the cooldown is quite the experience. Well worth trying at least once!
Most of my miles in the Vomero Premium have been from moderate to very easy pace. They have handled it all well and more importantly, they have babied my legs beautifully. Post hard cross country run, slip them on for some recovery miles and life is great. Put them on for the morning run and bounce away down the road. While they do lack a little of the versatility of the Vomero Plus for my taste, they are still a good shoe for most of your running.
What doesn’t work for me
Nothing about the Vomero Premium comes into the not working category. However, it does have some limitations for my running. It is not an agile shoe. For flat pavements, roads and sweeping corners they are lovely. If you are running on more uneven surfaces, that 55mm stack height is always in the back of your mind. I have landed awkwardly on the edges of a couple of potholes and it is a long way down for the ankles from up top.
Also, while I said that the weight isn’t really an issue for me, it is still a heavy shoe. Very light runners may find this to be a chore over longer distances and it will reduce its versatility. Depending on legs strength, it may be that this is just a shoe for those days when pace doesn’t matter and a soft plod is the order of the day. £209.99 is a lot of money to pay for such a privilege.
Outsole of the Nike Vomero Premium
Grip and Traction
I’ve run through some pretty grimy autumn slop in the Vomero Premium so far. Wet days, muddy pavements and drenched road haven’t caused an issue for them. The coverage on the outsole is very full which adds both stability to the soft foam and weight to the package.
In the wet, the Vomero Premium does have one of the strangest sensations I’ve ever felt in a shoe. Underneath each airbag is a little rectangular cutaway. When the pavement is wet, there is a noticeable sucking sound and sensation. Whether this is caused by the shape of the cutaway or the expansion and contraction of the ZoomX foam, I don’t know. But I do know that there isn’t another shoe which has felt like this.
Durability
After 100km or so, I could probably scrub the road dirt away and sell them for nearly new. The rubber is not worn, the foam is barely creased and the ride has become more pleasant as the miles have rolled on. I am now up to nearly 300km in my Vomero Plus and I would fully expect the Premium to match them for miles. The one caveat is always the risk of sharp debris putting paid to the Zoom Air bags.
Conclusion
Value for Money
This is the biggest complaint about the Vomero Premium. It is a max comfort, max cushioned shoe which comes with a maximal price. I paid £209.99 for mine which makes it one of the most expensive daily trainers on an already inflated market. Value is always subjective and with so many shoes available, finding the right one for the right price is getting easier.
If you want a shoe which will offer incredible comfort but a low range of uses outside of different distances, you won’t find a better option. However, if you are looking for a do it all shoe for a tighter budget, leave this on the shelf.
In the plus column are the build and comfort factor. These, along with the expected durability, make it a more attractive proposition. Although, however you look at it £209.99 is a lot of money.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
The Vomero Premium fits in the daily to recovery runs. If you have strong legs and don’t mind a little extra weight, it can take you to more endurance paces and even smash out some short, bouncy strides. I doubt many people will choose this to be their workout or race shoe but I have seen some very impressive times run in it via social media.
Final Verdict
This is everything that the Pegasus Premium isn’t; comfortable, easy to run in and a good running shoe. Nike set out to create a shoe which protects the runner from the shocks of the road and they have done this impressively. For me, the Vomero Premium is the pinnacle of daily comfort cruisers. It offers more versatility than competitors in the area and is a unique feeling shoe. That said, at £209.99 and offering less versatility than the Vomero Plus, perhaps it is worth looking slightly lower down the range to get a lot more for your money.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Nike Vomero Premium vs. Nike Vomero Plus
There are a couple of big differences between the two shoes. Firstly, we have a 9mm higher heel stack in the Vomero Premium. Then, we see the two very obvious Zoom Air bags in the ZoomX foam. Personally, I also think that the ZoomX in the Premium is softer than that in the Plus. Finally, we have a £55 difference in the price. The Premium is a heck of a lot of shoe for the money but having this much midsole also seems to lower the versatility of the shoe.
If you want an all out comfort cruiser, then pick the Premium. However, if you want a shoe which can do a wider range of running tasks, the Plus is probably your better option. Outside of the fastest reps in your training, it will have you covered for a much lower cost.
Nike Vomero Premium vs. New Balance More v6
Although I said above that the Premium does lose out on a bit in the versatility stakes, over the first 100 miles of running in them, I have found them more versatile than the More v6. Despite the weight disadvantage, they are a much livelier shoe than the New Balance. Obviously, the New Balance wins by quite some margin in the price stakes. On the other hand, I find the ride of the Vomero Premium to be a lot more enjoyable especially over longer distances as the ZoomX foam gives more back.
Nike Vomero Premium vs. Nike Pegasus Premium
A no contest really. One is a very enjoyable running shoe while the other is a wobbly brick. Despite having a lot of the same components, the midsole of the Vomero Premium comes together in a harmonious package. Meanwhile, the Pegasus Premium has an odd firm yet wallowy ride to it which ruins it as a running shoe for me.
Despite the price differential, there is not much to recommend the Pegasus over the Vomero in the Premium flavour. The one saving grace of the Pegasus Premium is that it probably looks better as a casual shoe than the Vomero. Although, if you have been height frauding on dating apps, the Vomero Premium does give you that extra couple of inches in the streets.
Nike Vomero Premium vs. adidas Prime X 2 Strung
Perhaps similar shoes may be a bit of a stretch here but there are likenesses. The biggest similarity lies in the midsole stack height. Both have a super foam but it is used for very different purposes. One has a pair of airbags while the other has a collection of carbon rods and plates. They both come at a similar price.
While their use cases do differ greatly, the adidas Prime X probably does shade the Vomero Premium in the versatility stakes. For my running style and tastes, the Prime X does a better job as a recovery shoe than the Vomero Premium does as a faster paced shoe. That said, they are probably not really each other’s direct competitor. Both are excellent shoes in their own right.
