Best Nike Running Shoes

Nike Vomero 18

The Nike Vomero 18 is the first entry in Nike’s new Maximum Cushioning pillar. In fact, its 46mm heel/36mm forefoot gives it the highest stack ever in a Vomero. The combination of a thin ZoomX layer on top and a beefy hunk of ReactX foam underneath make for a ride that feels more like a hybrid of the Vomero 17 and the InfinityRN 4 rather than a true Vomero (minus the InfinityRN’s polarizingly prominent arch); the Vomero 18 loses some of the uptempo versatility of Vomeros of yore as a side effect. While all that extra cushion also means a significant weight increase that won’t escape notice, performance doesn’t actually suffer. The Vomero 18 successfully resists feeling at all clompy or bulky thanks to the improved rocker geometry and smooth ride. The result is a shoe that may be less inclined toward pacy stuff but that’s highly capable of keeping you turning over in comfort through even your longest of marathon training runs.

While lacing and the mesh upper are different from the Vomero 17, the added heel tab is the only significant upgrade regarding the upper. As for the outsole, there’s thick durable, waffle-patterned rubber where it counts and a less dense, boxy pattern in less high-wear areas to save a bit of weight. The waffle pattern gripped well on multiple surfaces, and, while durability may not be at the quite same (extremely high) level of the Vomero 17’s outsole, it should be in the typical 300-500 mile range. The fit is true-to-size in length; however, we’d suggest most wide footers opt for the wide version, as the standard Vomero 18 isn’t particularly accommodating. Ultimately, the Vomero 18 may sacrifice some speed in favor of cushion, but it’s a reliable, easy day and long-distance cruiser with a smooth, efficient ride – and it comes in at a surprisingly competitive price. See the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 10mm, Price: $150

Nike Pegasus Premium

The Pegasus Premium takes its place as the – you guessed it, Premium – model at the top of Nike’s Responsive Cushioning pillar. While Nike isn’t officially touting it as a max cushion model, it comes in at 45mm in the heel and 35mm in the forefoot. But the biggest buzz around this shoe isn’t its measurements. The Nike Pegasus Premium harkens back to shoes like the Nike LeBron 10 and the Nike Zoom All Out Flyknit and looks to give us what so many models couldn’t: a full-length, visible Zoom Air unit that doesn’t have our ankles working overtime to keep us stable. To achieve this, the Pegasus Premium showcases the first sculpted (or “scooped”) visible Air Zoom unit in Nike’s history, which also attempts to return more energy to the runner by mimicking the curve of a carbon plate.

The Zoom unit is paired with ReactX in the heel and fluffy ZoomX as a top layer. While there is still some mild instability at the heel, Nike has largely managed to address stability needs from a performance perspective. The forefoot bounce also exceeds any Zoom Air-packing running shoe to date, so the shaping of the Zoom bag seems to be working as Nike intended. The downside of all that glorious midsole tech is that Zoom Air is generally heavy, and the Peg Premium outweighs the majority of road shoes on the market. For that reason, along with less than ideal traction, it could end up being best suited to casual wear for those sensitive to weighty trainers (though the minor heel instability could become magnified during extended casual wear). While we weren’t crazy about the poofy, top portion of the tongue, the upper is highly breathable with good lockdown, and we’d anticipate strong durability overall. While the Peg Premium is more wide-foot friendly than many Nike Models, we’d still recommend most wide footers try them on when available. Overall, the level of cushion is what we’d expect for a super trainer at this (albeit “Premium”) price point, and the Pegasus Premium is definitely made with a performance-first mentality. But seeing as it still gets outperformed by lower-priced shoes like the Asics Superblast 2 ($200), Brooks Glycerin Max ($200), and Puma MagMax Nitro ($180), the $210 price tag might be a tough sell for many runners. But one thing is for sure: the fantastic aesthetics will make the Pegasus Premium a sought-after lifestyle option. See the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 10mm, Price: $210

Nike Zoom Fly 6

Nike finally has a distance training partner worthy of the Alphafly’s legendary race day performance. The Zoom Fly 6 may also be Nike’s long-awaited competitor to supertrainers like the well-loved Asics Superblast 2 ($200). In fact, the Zoom Fly 6’s $170 price tag is only slightly higher than many “regular” daily trainers that often sit in the $160 range.

While the shoe’s length feels very short at first, our testers were ultimately happy going true-to-size. The fit is surprisingly accommodating at the forefoot (for a Nike shoe), but true wide footers may still need more room, particularly through the very snug-fitting midfoot. Other cons include laces that easily come untied if you don’t have enough length to double-knot them, as well as the fact that everyone will hear you coming as you hit the pavement. But our testers loved the run experience. The Zoom Fly 6 sports a dual-layer cushioning setup of ZoomX and SR-02, with a full-length, carbon fiber Flyplate sandwiched in between. The result is a protective and responsive ride with a firmer feel. While we wouldn’t recommend it for anything other than road surfaces, the Zoom Fly 6 is more stable underfoot than expected given its midsole setup, and the well-performing, breathable upper especially shines in warm weather conditions. The Zoom Fly 6 is a versatile training option whose energy return keeps propelling you forward at any pace. It can take you through more relaxed daily runs as well as through uptempo and longer efforts without ever losing its fun factor. See the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $170

Nike InfinityRN 4

The Nike InfinityRN 4 is technically a stability shoe. However, the stability features are unobtrusive and won’t affect you if you don’t need the help. The very noticeable arch on previous Infinity Runs is also found on this version though it’s somewhat toned down. If you don’t like a lot of arch support, you should still stay away. If an ever-present arch doesn’t bug you, the InfinityRN 4 is a highly comfortable daily training shoe that’s ready for lots of miles while also packing a ton of casual appeal. Read the full review.

Fit: Go up a half size, Drop: 9mm, Price: $160

Nike Alphafly 3

The Nike Alphafly 3 is the best Alphafly to date and its super bouncy nature makes it easy to maintain marathon pace. It’s more accommodating and comfortable than previous models and includes a less pronounced arch (but it’s still ever-present). It’s still not a very stable shoe around corners and a lot of the heel material is cut away so hard heel strikers will have better options. The price is high, but if you miss the original Alphafly magic, you’ll get most of it back by wearing the Alphafly 3. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $285

Nike Vaporfly 4

The Nike Vaporfly 4 is not the Vaporfly you’re used to, but it’s just as ready to race. It offers plenty of super shoe Pros, such as it being the lightest Vaporfly yet, a bouncy and poppy ZoomX midsole, a more streamlined on-foot feel, and a highly breathable and comfortable upper.

While the Vaporfly 4 is a solid value for the price, its Cons include a lack of support, a low-volume and not super accommodating race fit that isn’t wide-foot friendly, and an underfoot feel that may cap out at the half marathon for some runners.

The Nike Vaporfly 4 is best used for road races from the 5K to the marathon (though, again, some may need more support for the full marathon distance) as well as track work, long pace workouts, intervals, or anything else that requires driving those knees forward. For a more detailed rundown of the Nike Vaporfly 4, read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 6mm, Price: $260

Nike Pegasus 41

The Nike Pegasus 41 changes the previous Pegasus’ midsole geometry to a more modern rocker, adds 4mm of stack height, locks down well, and is highly durable. That makes it a good running shoe. But it’s priced about $10 too high, provides a level of ground feel in the toes that’s going to be a bit much for some runners, and isn’t wide foot friendly (though an extra wide version is available). That mixed bag of pros and cons keeps the Pegasus 41 as an honorable mention. How you feel about the specific pros and cons will determine whether or not you’ll like running in the Pegasus 41. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 10mm, Price: $140

Nike Invincible 3

If you want the plushest ride you can get from a Nike running shoe, you’ve found the right shoe. The Nike Invincible 3 features a thick midsole comprised entirely of Nike’s super bouncy ZoomX foam and it functions like a suspension system for your feet. While stability is improved versus previous versions, it still might be too unstable side-to-side for some.

The outsole features ample rubber for serious durability and the traction is on point even in driving rainstorms. The plush upper is solid but more streamlined and not as comfy as previous versions. Other reviewers experienced bad heel slip but our reviewers didn’t have that issue…but keep it in mind as a potential drawback of the fit. So while the upper took a step back, the midsole took a step forward and we end up with another Invincible that’s not perfect but whose squishiness will garner plenty of fans. Watch the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 9mm, Price $180

Nike Pegasus Plus

Our nostalgia keeps telling us we should love the Nike Pegasus Plus. We do love the looks and will rock them casually (a lot). But running in them regularly is a different story.

Once the upper’s break in period ends, it’s comfortable. But the firm-ish midsole that’s light on squish is just a mediocre experience. The Nike Pegasus Plus is slightly above average, but it could have been so much more. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 10mm, Price: $180

Nike ZoomX Dragonfly

This shoe is so popular among Track professionals that even competitive brands are letting their athletes wear blacked-out versions of the Dragonfly in important track meets. The ZoomX midsole is really, really comfortable across distances from the 800m to 5000m. It’s an incredibly lightweight versatile track spike that the best runners love to wear. Price: $150

Nike Air Zoom Victory

The Nike Air Zoom Victory is the Alphafly of track spikes. Incredible bounce and cushion but it’s not for everyone. In this case, the Victory’s carbon plate is too stiff for some runners as they struggle to achieve their natural running motion. But all that cushion, especially the huge articulated Zoom Air bag at the forefoot, is a real treat. Price: $180

Nike Vaporfly 3

The Nike Vaporfly 3 is the most cushioned, comfortable, and stable Vaporfly to date thus making it also the best Vaporfly to date. It’s a great update. Stability, breathability, and comfort all improved while the Vaporfly line stayed bouncy, plush, and lightweight. Durability still needs work and the tongue is weirdly tall and wide but neither is a dealbreaker. The Vaporfly 3 is going to be many people’s racing shoe of choice. It puts Nike back in the upper echelon of marathon racing shoes for those (like us) who weren’t all that enthused with the Vaporfly 2 and Alphafly 2. Read the full review.

Fit: True to size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $250