Nike Vomero Plus Introduction

It was love at first run when I tested the original Nike Invincible Run back in 2021. It was one of the first training shoes to use a racing foam in its midsole so it had a ride unlike any other trainer on the market.

It had an extremely high amount of energy return and bounce, making it a really fun, engaging shoe to do easy or moderate paces in. It wasn’t perfect though- it had some serious manufacturing defects. 2 of my pairs had uppers that separated from the midsole.

The 2nd version of the Invincible Run was a minor update with the upper only getting a few changes. The 3rd version was a complete redesign and it didn’t feel as energetic or as fun as its predecessors. It was firmer and it had a new heel clip to improve stability. Version 3 was launched in 2023 and it hasn’t been updated since.

This year, we get the Vomero Plus, which is the spiritual successor to the Invincible Run. Just like the Invincible Run series, it has a full ZoomX midsole with no plate in it. The Vomero Plus has stack heights of 45 mm/35 mm, which is 5 mm more in the heel and 4 mm more in the forefoot than the Invincible Run 3.

The Vomero Plus is the mid-range trainer in the Vomero series. The Vomero 18 that I tested earlier this year is the entry level Vomero. I found it to be really cushioned and comfortable but it lacked speed and versatility. The top of the range Vomero Premium is coming later this year.

The Vomero Plus weighs 9.9 oz (281 g) for men’s US 9, which is 1 oz (28 g) lighter than the Invincible Run 3. They both cost $180 which is a competitive price considering it has a full, mega thick, ZoomX midsole.

Testing Details

• 12 km recovery run at 7:21 per km
• 12 km easy run at 6:19 per km
• 9 km easy run at 6:39 per km
• 14 km recovery run at 7:09 per km
• 14 km easy run at 6:43 per km
• 45 km long run at 6:25 per km

Nike Vomero Plus First Impressions

My first run was a 16 km easy paced run. I could immediately tell that it was a special shoe. There was so much energy return and so much cushioning- it made my run feel much easier.

It reminded me of the first and second versions of the Invincible Run but its ride was a tad firmer, more stable and more deeply cushioned. The upper was supremely comfortable and it didn’t feel overly padded.

I enjoyed that first run much more than the Vomero 18. The lighter weight made it feel more efficient and the full ZoomX midsole made it feel a lot more energetic.

Nike Vomero Plus Upper

Nike did a great job with the Vomero Plus’ upper. It feels premium, comfortable and breathable. It fits true to size and it has the perfect amount of room inside it. It’s also suitable for wide-footed runners.

The tongue is lightly padded (which I like) but it’s not gusseted or sleeved (which I would prefer). There isn’t much tongue slide because it has a lace loop in the middle of it but a semi-gusset or sleeve would make it feel even more premium.

There are reflective pieces on the back of the heel counter, the lace loop, side of the toe box and on the toe cap (which is unique). Heel lockdown is very great and there’s no tongue slide.

Nike Vomero Plus Sole Unit

When I reviewed the original Nike Invincible Run, I said that it felt like I had mini trampolines on each foot. The Vomero Plus feels similar but less extreme. It doesn’t feel as wild as those first two versions.

The one big difference is that the Vomero Plus has a foam strobel lining above the midsole. In the first 2 versions of the Invincible Run, your feet sat directly on top of the ZoomX foam, resulting in a softer and bouncier ride. The Vomero Plus has a firmer ride with better stability.

The thicker midsole and the increase in stability make it a better long run trainer. I did a 45 km long run in it, which was my longest run ever. It felt really comfortable, protective and efficient thanks to the mild rocker. My legs didn’t feel beaten up after the run and I was able to do another 30 km the very next day.

The ZoomX in the midsole of the Vomero Plus is TPE and not PEBA but it still feels like a premium, new age midsole foam. It has plenty of compression and the rebound is fast. The faster you go, the more bounce it rewards you with. The closest to it are the foams in the Adios Pro 4 and the Endorphin Elite 2 but those are $250 and $290 racers.

The sweet spot for me is moderate to easy paces, 5:00-7:00 per km (8:03-11:15 per m). It can also do recovery paces slower than 7 minutes per km but at those speeds you don’t really feel the bounce. I wouldn’t use it for racing or speed workouts because it’s far too squishy.

The signature Nike 10 mm drop feels old-fashioned and it feels like it was designed exclusively for heel strikers. I would prefer an 8 mm drop with more cushioning under the forefoot. Most of Nike’s trainers have 10 mm drops including the Structure 26, Vomero 18 Pegasus 41, and Pegasus Premium.

The soft midsole has very good outsole protection with almost the entire area being protected by rubber. The rubber is the soft, flexible kind so it’s not as abrasion resistant as the rubber on firmer trainers like the Pegasus 41. On my pair, the only wear is on the outer lateral heel where the rubber has become smooth. Traction is good and the rubber feels tacky on the wet road.

Nike Vomero Plus Conclusions

The Vomero Plus is an exceptional maximalist trainer and I can’t stop running in it. It’s the best Nike trainer that has launched this year. It makes running feel effortless and it has a fun, bouncy ride that’s reminiscent of the Nike Invincible Run versions 1 and 2. It’s decently stable for such a tall shoe and it has a very comfortable upper with perfect proportions.

If I could change anything about it, I would remove the strobel lining so that my feet sit directly on top of the ZoomX midsole. This would make it even plusher and bouncier. I would also change the drop to 8 mm so that the cushioning is more evenly distributed.

Compared to the Vomero 18, the Vomero Plus has a much more dynamic ride. It has a wider pace range and it’s more versatile. The Vomero 18 has a more stable ride and a plusher upper. The Vomero Plus is $30 more than the Vomero 18 but it has a greater fun factor so I would pick the Plus.

Nike positions the Vomero Plus as a HOKA Bondi, Brooks Glycerin, and ASICS Nimbus competitor but I see the Vomero as more of an ASICS Superblast, Brooks Glycerin Max and Mizuno Neo Vista competitor. These latter trainers have the ability to pick up the pace and feel more energetic than regular, old school, max-cushioned trainers.

At $180, the Vomero Plus is worth its price. It’s $10 less than the Pegasus Plus and you’re getting much more midsole foam. It’s $20 less than the Superblast 2, Glycerin Max and Mizuno Neo Vista 2. It has the highest level of energy return of any of these and it also has the best upper.