Nike Running's Vomero Premium Takes Comfort to Another Level

If you read House of Heat°'s "A History of Nike Vomero Running Sneakers," you'd know one thing has remained consistent since the franchise launched in 2006: supportive cushioning. In the lead-up to the line's 20th anniversary, the Vomero series has been completely overhauled to meet the needs of modern athletes, resulting in not only the widely-popular Vomero 18, but also the more elevated Vomero Plus and Vomero Premium offerings.

Rumored and teased ad nauseam over the last year, the two latter styles were recently unveiled by the Swoosh. Touted as the "next era of maximum cushioning," both newcomers to the storied Nike Vomero line marry the brand's legacy of innovation with years of research, development, and real-world results. The same ZoomX foam featured in racing models like the VaporFly 4 appear on both the Plus and Premium. In comparison to the standard Vomero 18, however, the former features the responsive foam across the entire midsole. The Vomero Premium doesn't couple ZoomX with the ReactX found in the Rejuven8 slip-ons, opting instead for exposed Air Zoom units.

In the world of running, the combination of ZoomX foam and Air Zoom technology is exciting. Back in October 2019, the same setup debuted on the original AlphaFly, the model worn by Eliud Kipchoge in his successful sub-2-hour marathon attempt.

More recently, the combination of cushioning solutions has been a success in the Pegasus Premium, a running shoe that's been approved by even the biggest Nike naysayers.

Both the Vomero Plus and Vomero Premium feature stack heights of over 40 millimeters, a current indicator of cushioning prioritization. The new additions offer the brand's plushest rides at the moment. The increase in midsole cushioning enhances impact protection and jumpstarts recovery before a run is even completed.

Faith Kipyegon, the current record holder for the fastest woman miler, has been using the Vomero Premium in her training for Breaking4, her attempt to go under 4 minutes for the mile.

"Everything we do begins with listening to the voice of the athlete," says Deepa Ramprasad, Senior Director of Nike Running Footwear. "We always put the runner first — from our elite Nike athletes to runners embarking on their first runs. Their voices drive every step of our footwear creation process, shaping the innovations we build and the details we obsess. The Vomero Plus and Vomero Premium aren't simply two new shoes within our maximum cushioning line. They are created from deep insights and testing, offering distinct benefits that serve as powerful catalysts to help you get out the door feeling confident and cushioned, no matter where you are in your running journey."

The Vomero Plus will be available via Nike.com and select retailers on Thursday, Aug. 7. The Vomero Premium is scheduled to release via select shops on Thursday, Oct. 2, with a global release taking place on Thursday, Oct. 16.

For more performance footwear news from the Swoosh conglomerate, check out a first-look at what's rumored to be the Air Jordan 40 basketball shoe.