Nike Vomero 18 Introduction

Nike is not normally known for naming shoes after locations but the Vomero was named after the Vomero district of Naples in Italy. This hilly area is known for its challenging terrain and its picturesque views. Nike named it the Vomero because it was designed to have the ability to handle various distances and terrains.

The Vomero and the Pegasus are Nike’s two main, neutral training families. The Vomero has always been a softer, more luxurious trainer than the Pegasus. It’s a more expensive, more premium version of the Pegasus and I’ve always preferred the Vomero (except for version 14, which was a disaster).

The Vomero 17, which was launched in 2023 was my favourite Vomero to date. I loved that they removed the lumpy Zoom air bags and added a thick layer of ZoomX foam. It was lighter than previous versions and it had a softer ride. It was stable, had a balanced ride and it was a great workhorse.

The Vomero 18 is another significant update and it gets ReactX foam for the first time in the franchise history. It also gets a $10 price drop for the first time which is a very, very rare occurrence these days.

The stack height of the Vomero 18 gets upsized by a generous 7 mm in the heel and 7 mm in the forefoot. It still has a 10 mm drop but it gets 24 grams (0.8 oz) heavier. Now at 325 grams (11.5 oz) for a men’s US 9, it’s the same weight as the Pegasus Premium, two of the heaviest trainers to be launched this year.

Nike Vomero 18 First Impressions

My first run in the Vomero 18 was an 8 kilometre easy run. The ride felt vastly different to the Vomero 17. The increase in weight was noticeable and I found it difficult to pick up the pace.

It didn’t feel as energetic as its predecessor but cushioning felt much deeper thanks to the increase in stack height. It felt really comfortable from the first kilometre and it needed no break-in period.

The shoe that it reminded me of most was the Nike InfinityRN 4. Both Nike trainers use ReactX in the midsoles. The Vomero 18 felt like a softer, plusher version of the InfinityRN 4.

Nike Vomero 18 Upper

The Vomero 18’s upper is luxurious with generous padding that makes it feel like a max-cushioned trainer. The engineered mesh is thick and warm so it’s best suited to cool climates.

It has a fully gusseted tongue with wide wings that hold it in place. I find foot lockdown to be excellent although I have to use a runner’s knot. There are tiny reflective strips on the heel and toe box for safety.

The fit is true to size and it’s much roomier than other recent Nikes like the Pegasus Premium, Pegasus Plus and Vaporfly 4. The Vomero 18 is suitable for runners with wide or high volume feet.

Nike Vomero 18 Sole Unit

The Vomero 18 now feels like a max-cushioned trainer for easy/recovery runs and not like a do-it-all daily trainer like its predecessors. This is because of its new midsole composition.

If you examine the Vomero 17’s midsole, about 50% of its midsole was ZoomX, and 50% was Cushlon. The Vomero 18’s midsole consists of about only 30% ZoomX, 70% ReactX. The proportion of the cheaper, less responsive foam is much higher in the Vomero 18 and this reduces its fun factor.

ZoomX, which is a PEBA foam, is much more energetic than ReactX (TPE + EVA) and in the Vomero 18, the ZoomX feels watered down. You don’t get as much bounce or energy return as in the Vomero 17 and it only feels comfortable when I’m doing relaxed paces above 6 minutes per km (9:40 per mile).

As a max-cushioned trainer for slow runs, the Vomero 18 is great. It’s soft without being mushy, it has plenty of cushioning depth and the Vomero 18 also has a wide base so it feels very stable. It’s an excellent trainer for heavy or big runners because of how sturdy it is.

With 46 mm of stack height in its heel and 36 mm in its forefoot, the cushioning feels like an overkill for a light runner like myself (60 kg). It feels cumbersome and sluggish on runs, and is comparable to juggernauts like the Hoka Bondi 9, Puma MagMax and ASICS Nimbus.

This is good news if you plan on using it for recovery runs but if you want a daily trainer that can do everything well, the Vomero 18 is not your shoe.

The Vomero 18 has an old-fashioned 10 mm drop so it feels very built up in the rearfoot. This is a shoe that was designed for heel strikers and if you’re a midfoot or forefoot striker, you won’t get the full benefit of the gigantic 46 mm of heel stack height.

I would prefer the drop to be 8 mm. The modern day sweet spot for all types of foot strikes is in the 5 mm – 8 mm range. Even Brooks has reduced the drop on the new Ghost 17 which has always been 12 mm.

The outsole of the Vomero 18 wears down quickly and there’s a lot less rubber than the Vomero 17. I’ve done 104 kilometres in my pair and the outer lateral heel areas are already smooth on both shoes where there used to be small nubs. The rubber is softer than the rubber used on the Nike Pegasus 41 so its outsole is not as durable. I’ve found traction to be good on wet surfaces because of the small nubs.

There’s a deep, wide, central groove under the rearfoot that extends into the midfoot. This reminds me of the channel under the original Novablast but it isn’t as deep in the Vomero 18. This new feature is one that I like; it reduces the weight and it makes the ride feel more energetic.

Nike Vomero 18 Conclusions

The Vomero 18, once a versatile trainer capable of handling various paces and terrains, has been transformed in both its design and functionality. The shoe’s original intent, as envisioned by Nike, has been compromised by changes that have resulted in a narrower use case.

The increased stack heights and increased weight of the Vomero 18 have impacted its versatility, making the shoe feel sluggish and cumbersome when running at anything faster than an easy pace. 325 grams (11.5 oz) is just too heavy for a trainer in 2025.

This increased bulk and lack of responsiveness hinder the shoe’s ability to handle speed or agility, limiting its effectiveness for tempo runs, interval training, or any hard workout.

As a result of these changes, the Vomero 18 is now suited for only easy or recovery runs at a relaxed pace. While it still provides plenty of cushioning and comfort for these types of runs, it no longer offers the versatility and adaptability that it once did. Runners who require a shoe that can handle a variety of paces and terrains will need to look elsewhere.

It now competes with other max-cushioned trainers. For $150, it’s good value for money because it’s cheaper than the ASICS Nimbus, Hoka Bondi and the Nike Invincible Run but if you’re training for a race, you’ll still need a speed trainer in your rotation to do workouts in. The Vomero 18 will stay in my rotation but I’ll only use it for recovery runs.

I personally prefer the Vomero 17 to the 18. It felt snappier and more energetic than the 18. Although it had less cushioning, it had a more fun ride thanks to the thick layer of ZoomX in its midsole.

Hopefully, the Vomero Plus which will have a full ZoomX midsole will be lighter and more versatile. It launches later this year.