Nike unveiled the next models in its revamped running shoe lineup on Monday with the Nike Vomero Plus and Vomero Premium — part of an expanded Vomero nameplate — that brings a pair of super-plush trainers into a crowded campaign to fend off major inroads made by New Balance and Hoka, among others.
The result is a focused strategy built specifically around the Pegasus, Vomero and Structure models along with their upmarket classmates. When each shoe is finally released, nine models will be the litmus test of how effective the lineup revamp resonates at the retail level. For now, all eyes shift to the Vomero Plus and Vomero Premium’s combination of beauty and super softness underfoot.
VOMERO PLUS
The Vomero 18 popped up on social media last November with Nike making it clear the model was key to it’s mainstream running shoe plans and by February the shoe debuted to widespread praise. However, the Invincible line — just three iterations old — appeared to quietly fade to make way for the new positioning of the Vomero as the wildly soft and stacked daily driver.
The Plus version takes that formula into consideration and dials up the style, foam softness and detachment from the ground.
According to Nike, the Vomero Plus is upfront about being a max cushion vehicle of comfort, protection and a solid recovery option. The Plus version borrows heavily from its “regular” Vomero sibling in terms of styling and stack even though Nike has not released details on the upcoming show. However, the Vomero Plus will ride on a full ZoomX midsole (the Vomero 18 is ZoomX and React) and likely be a easy choice to pull from in non-running duty. An assortment of colorways will ensure that Vomero Plus is a functional and fashion worthy model that will also cost more than the $155 charge for the “entry-level” Vomero 18.
When the Vomero Plus arrives on August 7 it will join the existing Vomero 18, Pegasus 41, Pegasus Plus and Pegasus Premium as part if a nine shoe plan to pull the attention of runners back to the brand with serious contenders. The revised Structure 26 — and it’s Plus and Premium variants — also join the party this year.
VOMERO PREMIUM
The Premium variant takes things up a few notches with ZoomX foam paired exposed Air Zoom units in the heel and forefoot that immediately reference the Pegasus Premium. With this sneak peek at the Vomero Premium, it’s clear that the entries at the top end of Nike’s revamped lineup are in their own lane and simple borrow the built in prestige of the Pegasus, Vomero and (eventually) Structure namesakes.
And if the Vomero Premium is close in ride quality to its Pegasus Premium stablemate as it is in looks, then expect to feel removed from the feel of ground contact. This is a positive thing, as the feeling of floating in the Pegasus shoe should translate well to whatever adjustments made it to the Vomero version. The beefed up Vomero should feel posh on walks but real world testing on actual roads will determine if the shoe feels as bouncy — but lack the feeling of being nudged forward — as the Pegasus Premium displayed.
The general public of runners will have to wait until early October to give the Vomero Premium proper test drives, but the sharp attention to styling is enough for the hype to summer for a few months. The Vomero Premium will be a head-turning max cushion ride on air that will catch plenty of glances in the right colorways. And the expected $200+ price point nudges the shoe noticeably close to carbon racers built for speed and volume mileage — quite the positioning away from Vomero Premium. But the runners grabbing the shoe are firmly aware and we expect to see the Vomero Premium doing more duty as a style statment than a high mile consumer that could impact its fashion looks.
