Nike Vomero Plus Review: Designed by Women, Built for Everyone

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

According to Nike, the Vomero Plus was created by an all-female team of footwear designers and product line managers, with female runners being top of mind. While the creation and wear test process was focused primarily on women, the goal was to create a shoe for all runners dedicated to increasing their mileage without sacrificing responsiveness for cushioning.

With a comfort-focused design and a thick stack of Nike’s ZoomX foam, the Vomero Plus looks ready to eat up some serious miles. But can it deliver? Our reviewers put it to the test to find out.

“These shoes are the definition of peppy and springy and I am in love,” Mandy gushes. “I didn’t know that it was possible for Nike to strap two trampolines to my feet, but they somehow managed to do this.”

While I wouldn’t put the Vomero Plus fully in the trampoline category (that’s reserved for the Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly), I do think it feels springier than most of its max-cushioned competitors.

Brandon noted that it feels bouncier and more energetic than the Vomero 18, which apparently is where the “Plus” title comes from (and the added cushioning, of course).

“The full-length ZoomX midsole makes this a winner for me,” he says. “It’s what I have wanted in the original Vomero [which uses a blend of ZoomX and ReactX foam] for so long.”

The only thing reviewers didn’t love was the outsole. Despite the waffle shaped grooves, Mandy felt the shoes became a bit too slippery on slick surfaces.

“As winter approaches, this is not the shoe I would pull out if there was ice or snow on the ground. There was a section of my long run that was on a gravel trail, and the outsole combined with the high stack height [a measurement of the shoe’s outsole, midsole and insole] had me walking this section to prevent rolling my ankles.”

I didn’t have a problem with grip and traction in the Vomero Plus, but I hardly ever find myself running on gravel.

Nike shoe designers were clear that they wanted the Vomero Plus to deliver comfort above all else, and that extended past the cushy midsole all the way up top. The upper material is made of engineered mesh, delivering a soft, smooth, foot-hugging feel.

It’s hard for me to get a feel for how breathable running shoes are right now, as I’m constantly running in 80- to 90-degree weather and my feet inevitably become drenched in sweat. With my Feetures socks and Squirrel’s Nut Butter, though, I didn’t experience any blistering or hot spots in the Vomero Plus.

Brandon and Mandy both noted that the Vomero Plus fit true-to-size, with the toebox being slightly more spacious than expected. I didn’t notice too much extra room in the toebox, but my feet are ever-so-slightly wider than average.

The tongue and heel collar are incredibly plush and padded, with a handy pull-tab on the back. Extra eyelets around the ankle make it easy to cinch down the fit with the marathon loop, although I found I didn’t need it in this shoe despite having narrow heels.

If you’re not sure about the width of your feet, your best bet is to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

The Vomero Plus is like the big sister to the Vomero 18, which is quite cushioned in its own right. While the stack height alone doesn’t bring this model from “original” to “plus,” it’s the midsole material that gives it a more energetic ride and a lighter weight.

The Vomero Plus uses a full-length ZoomX midsole, while the Vomero 18 uses a dual-layer midsole with ZoomX foam on top and ReactX foam on the bottom. I found both shoes to feel cushioned and comfortable, but the Vomero Plus is definitely an elevated experience. It delivers a touch of pep that’s just not present in the Vomero 18.

And, while we’re comparing the Vomero Plus to other Nike running shoes, it’s worth mentioning the Nike Invincible 3 played a major role in inspiring the Vomero Plus. As Nike streamlines their running shoe silos, the Invincible line has been discontinued. Nike wants runners to immediately understand which experience to expect from each of their three key franchises — maximum cushioning from the Vomero line, supportive cushioning from the Structure line, and responsive cushioning from the Pegasus line.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the Vomero Plus stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The Nike Vomero Plus, the Brooks Glycerin Max and the HOKA Bondi 9 all offer sky-high stack heights for runners seeking maximum cushioning for their daily miles. While the Nike Vomero Plus is primarily designed for comfort above all else, the use of responsive ZoomX foam puts this shoe right on the line between a smooth experience and a springy one.

The Brooks Glycerin Max is a shoe I feel comfortable labeling as “springy,” thanks to Brooks’ nitrogen-infused DNA Tuned cushioning. DNA Tuned feels much more responsive than it does soft, something I enjoyed for uptempo paces but not so much for easy and recovery runs.

On the other hand, the HOKA Bondi 9 sits firmly in the smooth category, with one reviewer even comparing it to a giant pillow (however, I found it to deliver a really nice blend of softness and firmness).

The Nike Vomero Plus is an excellent choice for runners who don’t shy away from cushioning! Thanks to a thick slab of ZoomX foam, it delivers a smooth ride with just enough spring to keep you engaged during the back half of your long run or those zone-two easy runs that might feel a bit boring.

While the Nike Vomero Plus was designed with females top of mind, men can enjoy this shoe too — just ask Brandon.

“If you’re looking for maximum cushioning with a lightweight yet plush ride, this shoe is for you,” he says. “The Vomero Plus is great for long runs and easy runs.”