The Zoom Vomero has been redesigned for 2017 while keeping the same promise of delivering soft and plush cushioning along with a responsive ride.

This years version includes a redesigned upper that features bootie construction. The flymesh design has also been redesigned to improve upon an already fantastic system.

The cushioning keeps many of the same characteristics of the previous Vomero model and utilizes a mixture of both Lunarlon and Air Zoom technologies.

This is the first version of the Nike Vomero that I have has the opportunity to test but I have tested other Nike shoes to include many versions of the Pegasus and last years Nike Lunar Epic flyknit low.

Upon receiving the shoe I first tested its flex to see how flexible the midsole material was. The shoe has many grooves across the outsole that allow the shoe to flex nicely.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 – Medial Side

I put the shoe on and immediately feel the plush comfort of the upper. The shoe is thick and plush in the heel and tongue area and I can feel the internal bootie comfortably hugging my midfoot.

The upper reminds me a lot of the Brooks Glycerin 14. The cushioning feels soft and I can immediately notice it is thicker in the heel compared to the forefoot.

The forefoot of the Vomero almost has a thin feeling to it compared to the heel. More so than I usually notice. This years model has moved from a 12mm offset to a 10mm offset.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 Sole Unit

The midsole of the Vomero 12 utilizes Nike’s lunarlon cushioning along with Air Zoom units to add some spring to the ride.

Lunarlon cushioning traditionally is comprised of a soft foam core that is encased in a more supportive firmer foam casing in order to provide structure.

In addition there are two Nike air zoom units within the midsole and inside the Lunarlon cushioning in the heel and forefoot.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 – Sole

All of this technology packed into the Vomero’s midsole makes for a very soft and responsive ride that really did impress me. I found this shoe to be very comfortable to run in no matter the distance.

It provided a very comfortable ride on all types of runs and provided the type of plush soft cushioning that I prefer when running in a cushioned shoe.

Although it doesn’t look wide the Vomero also feels like its got a base that’s slightly wider than usual which makes this shoe feel very stable.

The outsole of the shoe has been modified to include a lighter and more durable traction pattern. I am not sure how the previous Vomero model was in terms of durability.

This version has me a little concerned due to the feeling of the rubber used on the outsole. It doesn’t feel very durable and almost just feels like a thicker more dense type of foam rather than rubber. That being said, I’ve only seen normal signs of wear and tear on the outsole.

There are many different grooves in the outsole that travel along the length and across the shoe.

This gives it some really nice flexibility from the midfoot forward which adds some feel and responsiveness that is traditionally hard to do with a highly cushioned shoe.

This is actually one of the things that impressed me the most about the Vomero. It has great ground feel from the midfoot forward but it never feels like there is cushion missing.

You notice that the cushioning feels thinner in the forefoot but when your foot strikes the ground it feels great. They’ve really reached a good balance with the lunarlon foam/nike air zoom combination.

The ride of this shoe is just outright pleasant. It outperforms a lot of shoes in its same category. This includes shoes like the New Balance 1080v7 and the Nike Lunar Epic flyknit. It has got a softer ride than both.

It is not as soft as a shoe like the Hoka One One Bondi 5 but that’s not necessarily a fair comparison because the Bondi is just a different type of shoe. I did enjoy the responsiveness in the Vomero 12 compared to the Bondi 5.

I’ve really yet to experience a shoe with this much ground feel that maintains softness. It reminds me a lot of the Brooks Glycerin 14.

In comparing the two I think that they are about the same in terms of softness with the Vomero maybe being slightly softer.

I would also say that the Glycerin 14 has a smoother transition from foot strike to toe off with the Vomero having more responsiveness.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 Upper Info

There are two major aspects of this upper that make it extremely comfortable. The first is the internal bootie construction. The second is the redesigned flymesh/flywire system.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 – Top

To top it off this shoe also has plush cushioning in the tongue and wrapping around the heel. It is extremely comfortable.

The internal bootie construction is comprised of soft fabric that is attached to the sides of the upper that travels all the way up to the toe area and holds your foot. The internal bootie material is thick and soft.

I tested this shoe in the winter with thick socks on and it felt like it was breathing pretty well. There are many shoes utilizing this type of upper design and that is for good reason.

It’s like having an amazingly soft sock inside your shoe that holds your foot. It eliminates a lot of potential problems the most important of which is rubbing at the toes.

With a bootie inside the shoe like this it makes everything inside the shoe smooth which means there can’t really be any areas where the mesh could rub against your foot creating friction for blisters.

The only time this could be an issue in an upper would be if you had trouble securing the shoe to your foot. Which is what makes the flymesh/flywire design so important.

Last years version of the Vomero had an upper that included flywire technology. This meant that there were 5 straps that attach to the base of the shoe that your laces went through.

This allowed you to really synch down the shoe to the sides of your foot. The new version has the same type of technology but now incorporates a thin flywire cable (durable string) that weaves through the straps that attach to the base of the upper.

The idea is that the cable and the straps give you the ability to lockdown your fit even more. It is a necessity to be able to lockdown a shoe with this much cushioning and weight to your foot.

The Flywire design does a great job at this without causing any pressure areas or irritation on the medial or lateral sides of your foot.

One complaint some will have about this upper is that the shape should be modified to include some more room in the toe box. When last years Vomero 11 was reviewed that was the one major complaint and it still holds true with this new version.

Generally when more toe room is desired its usually because of the big toe feeling like its being constricted. This shoes upper actually has plenty of room for the big toe and 2nd and 3rd toes to splay.

The toe box is shaped in such a way that I actually would have liked a little more room on the lateral side for my 4th and 5th toes. I want to be clear that this was not a huge problem (or even a problem at all) for me personally.

I have an average width foot and I found it to be very comfortable. This will however be a complaint for some people who prefer more room in the toes which is why I bring it up.

The good news is that the shoe comes in a narrow, regular, wide and extra wide version for those requiring even more room.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 Conclusions

This is a very comfortable shoe that impressed me in many ways. It is clear that Nike has put a lot of effort into the redesign of one of its most highly cushioned shoes.

Nike Zoom Vomero 12 – Medial Side

Having researched previous versions of the shoe I think they’ve managed to keep the foundation of what people like in the Vomero and build upon it to improve.

It is for those reasons that I think most fans of previous versions will be happy with this new version.

The combination of a soft midsole and a very comfortable upper with the ability to lock down the fit are what make this shoe really great.

I find that some shoes I test have the midsole and upper comfort up to par but the flywire technology adds another element.

It’s an actual attempt at changing and/or altering the standard way of lacing a shoe to provide another dimension to the fit. I liked the flywire in the pegasus 33, the lunar epic and it’s even better here with the Vomero 12.

To me this shoe is a really good workhorse for high mileage daily training. It is a little on the heavy side but doesn’t feel all that heavy while running.

It’s got great responsiveness and ground feel compared to a lot of shoes in its category. I think it could easily be used as a multipurpose shoe for training and racing for those preferring cushion over lightweight.

We thank the nice people at Running Warehouse for sending us a pair of Zoom Vomero 12 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.