Nike Max Cushion: Get Familiar With The Nike Vomero Family

Since the earliest days of lacing up track spikes at the University of Oregon, the beating heart of Nike has been running. So while the brand will certainly celebrate and supply the revitalized life of a shoe like the Vomero 5 as a lifestyle shoe, what propels the line forward is precisely that: kitting runners in cutting-edge tech for miles to come.

With Nike Running simplifying their offerings into three distinct cushioning categories, Vomero is now synonymous with maximum cushioning, delivered across three price points and silhouettes: “Icon,” “Plus,” and “Premium.” You’ve no doubt seen each of those on social media feeds and on store shelves, but we’re setting out to get you intimately familiar with the Vomero family as we look ahead to crisp morning runs and training sessions.

Find out exactly what Vomero has to offer below, where you’ll also find our selections for the most stylish and eye-catching recent releases under the banner. Or feel free to peruse the whole catalog for yourself via Nike.com. The Vomero 18 clocks in at $155 while the Vomero Plus retails at $180.

The Vomero line as a whole has rocketed to its staple status within Swoosh running for its tech combinations, initially rising to the surface as the first daily runner to bring together Zoom Air and Cushion, again breaking ground by pairing Lunarlon and Zoom Air in the 10. In turning the page from the 17 to the 18, Nike reached for its current pinnacle cushioning; ZoomX and ReactX create a dual-density setup that’s equal parts cushy and responsive, built for all manner of recovery runs and long-distance treks.

Even if robust foam is the prompt for the Vomero 18, don’t let that dissuade you from grabbing a pair with some serious edge. An “Indigo Burst/Blue Void” sneaks fiery red onto a stealthy purple foundation, while a women’s “Bright Crimson/Hyper Pink” carries the hi-vis attitude we expect from the flashiest runners. If you’d prefer something more cleaned-up, we’d opt for a “Glacier Blue/Hyper Blue,” hinting at a South Beach arrangement but majoring in classic black-and-white.

We’d argue that “maximum cushioning” reaches its pinnacle with the Vomero Plus. That’s evident from first glance, as a massive sole unit of ZoomX foam is its defining characteristic. While attention-grabbing in its own right, don’t count out its earnest performance benefits, as the proprietary foam blends both energy return and shock absorption, particularly effective in the heel and forefoot, as the chunky platform is at its thickest in either section.

Reach for a tried-and-true look in “White/Volt,” carrying the torch of the Swoosh’s most iconoclastic running innovations into a new era. For the ladies, maybe a “Sapphire/Violet Mist” is more your speed, emphasizing the silhouette’s cushiest aspects with a delicate tri-tone look. Or, to really make a statement, look to a “Barely Volt/Hot Lava,” showcasing the runner’s sturdy design possibilities with a marbled printed upper.

The highest tier of the Vomero family is the viral Premium edition, a mega-stacked cushioning giant that boasts one of the tallest stack heights, full-length ZoomX foam, embedded Zoom Air units taken from the brand’s top-performing track spikes, and an irreverent design that nods to a Nike great. The Vomero Premium was quick to capture hearts of runners and shoe-stans alike, and this February, Nike will unleash several new styles that will very likely disappear from stock fast.

Starting off is the “Realtree” edition that spreads the camouflage pattern across the bottoms; those will be available on February 5th. There’s also the “Alabaster” and “Chalk” editions that will be scooped up quickly by the running community.