Editor rating:
10/10 on
TRAVIS TRAMPE
User's rating:

PROS

  • Premium daily trainer
  • Excellent stability and support
  • Premium cushion for responsive transition and smooth ride
  • Flymesh and Flywire upper provides comfortable and secure fit
  • Handles high mileage in comfort

CONS

  • None which are prominent

OUR VERDICT

The Odyssey offers durable stability while still delivering the performance of a premium daily trainer.

The first edition of this shoe combines a comfortable upper with the durable, plush cushioning that runners are looking for in a stability shoe to deliver a smooth transition and ride.
SHOE INFO
Brand
Zoom Odyssey
Model
Type
11.20 oz. (318 gr.)
Weight
150 US$
MSRP
12 mm
Heel Drop
Sep / 2015
Release Date
WHO IS IT FOR
The Nike Air Zoom Odyssey is targeted for runners who are seeking a premium stability shoe that assists with mild to severe overpronation which also offers all the comforts of a soft and smooth ride.

Nike Zoom Odyssey General Info

The first edition of the Nike Air Zoom Odyssey was highly anticipated by me along with many other runners to find out exactly what Nike had designed for their newest stability shoe.

It is always exciting and interesting anytime you get a brand new shoe as you never know what it will feel like and will it perform as intended per all the hype leading up to the shoes’ release.

The Odyssey is designed for those runners who are looking for a shoe that provides durable stability combined with a responsive cushioning underfoot. Nike is filling out its “stability” lineup with the Odyssey.

I see the Odyssey as being one of Nike’s core stability shoes for runners seeking moderate to maximum protection, with the Nike Structure be for those who have mild to moderate and the Nike LunarGlide for those who have mild overpronation (or even neutral runners).

The shoe blends the plush cushioning of the Nike Vomero with a midsole, updated to provide maximum stability and control, similar to that found in the Nike Structure.

When the Flymesh and Flywire upper are added to the comfortable sole, this unique combination allows the shoe to deliver on being a premium maximum stability shoe while still offering a very comfortable and smooth transition.

The first time I tried on the Odyssey, the fit was true and I could “feel” the comfort underfoot immediately.

The shoes did not have the normal feel of a standard stability shoe where you notice the medial side being too firm. I came away very impressed as the shoe performed well during longer daily training runs or quicker tempo workouts.

The Odyssey is going to go compete directly with the top go-to stability shoes such as the ASICS GEL-Kayano, Brooks Adrenaline GTS, Saucony Omni, Nike Air Zoom Structure and the Nike LunarGlide along with many others.

The blend of a soft, durable cushioning and comfortable upper combined with the stability and control throughout the midsole allows this shoe to be solid choice for runners seeking reliable stability.

Nike Zoom Odyssey Sole Info

The Odyssey is designed with a triple-density midsole along with a Dynamic Support system which delivers durable stability for moderate to severe overpronation support while incorporating and benefits of plush cushioning.

This new design is comprised of 3 different materials which include Lunarlon foam heel-to-toe, a firmer Cushlon foam in the heel with a softer rubber Crash Rail which wraps the lateral side to provide soft and durable cushioning.

The Cushlon foam in the heel provides more durable and firm cushioning while the Lunarlon foam throughout is more flexible allowing the shoe to have a smoother transition during entire transition.

Zoom Air pads added in the heel and forefoot areas enhance comfort and provide for a more responsive feel during entire ground contact.

The Dynamic Support system provides stability from overpronation through the use of a new “posts” which run the entire length of the medial side.

The Odyssey’s “posts” are extended from heel to forefoot for even enhanced control and stability while also adding to the comfort.

This sole unit cushioning and stability is very similar in design to that found on the Nike Structure 18 which has similar posts from heel to midfoot area.

I have not worn the Structure series yet but the Odyssey is taking the Structures sole unit and extending the medial “posts” to forefoot which allows the shoe to deliver enhanced control and stability.

I would expect those needing maximum support to run in the Odyssey while those needed mild to moderate support while choose the Structure.

To be honest, my first view of these medial “posts” had me questioning if they might be too firm since they were extended from heel-to-toe however once I put on the shoe and went for the first run, I was pleasantly surprised.

The stability and control was noticeable underfoot but the comfort was smooth throughout my entire foot strike. This was due in part to the design of the sole as well as the seamless upper which I will discuss in the next section.

When I compare the stability and cushioning with other quality stability shoes, the Odyssey has as much stability and control as the ASICS GEL-Kayano 22 and Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 models that I have run in however I really felt that the Odyssey’s cushioning was more soft (not bouncy) underfoot giving it a slight edge in overall comfort.

The Kayano and Adrenaline still have good cushioning while their stability can “feel” more firm during runs.

When you compare the Nike LunarGlide 7 with the Odyssey, they target different runners however both shoes offer quality cushioning and very comfortable seamless uppers.

The Odyssey is targeted for those runners needing more stability and wanting more cushioning for those longer runs while the LunarGlide is meant for those needing mild control for overpronation and can be used more for a quick daily training outings.

I found the Odyssey’s triple-density midsole combined with the full-length medial posts in the Dynamic Support system to provide a soft cushioning and stability as well as responsive performance underfoot.

The outsole incorporates Duralon rubber in the forefoot with a durable high abrasion rubber in the heel for reliability while the use of Flex Grooves, which run throughout the forefoot, enhance flexibility through a runner’s stride during ground contact.

The Odyssey has a 12 mm heel-to-toe drop which is similar with other stability models.

Nike Zoom Odyssey Upper Info

A Flymesh seamless upper which wraps the entire foot combined with Flywire make for a very comfortable upper in the Odyssey.

The upper of the Odyssey is very similar to that found in many other Nike models such as the Structure 18, Vomero 10 and LunarGlide 7.

For those runners who are getting use to running in Nike shoes that use of Flymesh and Flywire, they will enjoy these same benefits in the Odyssey as they seek out a stability shoe to fit their needs.

The use of a Flymesh material is designed in a way to allow the shoe be more lightweight and breathable while providing for a snug fit. I could “feel” this the moment I put the shoe on as it was very comfortable during all my runs.

The Odyssey has flattened out Flywire cables incorporated which allow each runner to adjust for a more adaptable fit around the midfoot for enhanced strength and comfort.

A thin, plastic heel counter wraps heel to delivers stability by locking locking the heel firmly in place for increased support. I found that my heel was comfortable and snugly kept in place during each run.

From the very first time I laced up for a run, the entire upper provided a secure and comfortable fit.

The seamless, Flymesh upper wrapped the entire foot which and was easily adjusted via the Flywire for a customized, snug fit while the heel counter kept my heel securely in place.

Nike Zoom Odyssey Conclusions

I was convinced after the several runs that this new stability shoe from Nike is going to a quality shoe that runners demanding durable stability for moderate to maximum overpronation and reliable cushioning are going enjoy.

The shoe will compete head-to-head with the heavyweights of the stability category like the ASICS GEL-Kayano, Brooks Adrenaline GTS, Brooks Transcend, Saucony Omni, Nike Structure 18 along with many others due to its overall quality blend of stability and control with comfortable cushioning allowing for a smooth ride and transition.

The triple-density midsole design offers enhanced cushioning for a smooth and soft ride during entire ground contract during stride.

The seamless Flymesh upper fits like a glove and combined with Flywire delivers a comfortable and secure fit from the first run.

The Odyssey is a premium daily trainer for those runners who are looking for a quality stability shoe which offers the proper blend of support for moderate to severe overpronation combined with a soft, cushioned ride.

We thank the nice people at Nike for sending us a pair of Zoom Odyssey to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Nike Zoom Odyssey Price Comparison

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