Nike Vomero 18 Performance Review

In 2025, Nike is completely revamping its running lineup into three pillars. Each pillar will include an Icon, Plus, and Premium model. The Nike Vomero 18 is the Icon entry in Nike’s max cushion/cushioned comfort pillar. Later in 2025, Nike will release the Vomero Plus and Vomero Premium models (which I’ve seen and am excited about) to create a full suite of max cushion shoes.

To get a feel for how the line will eventually look, we can review what Nike did with the Pegasus pillar. Nike built out its responsive cushioning/responsive ride pillar with the Nike Pegasus 41, Nike Pegasus Plus, and the upcoming Nike Pegasus Premium. The way the shoes and their use cases are laid out makes sense, but the individual performance of each model within the pillar varied.

Nike will build out a Structure/supportive cushioning/stable support pillar in 2025 as well, but all we’ve seen so far from that pillar is the Nike Structure 25. If Nike can add some fun back to the support category, it will be a nice change of pace for those who want added stability in their running shoes. Those seeking support are often given short shrift in terms of aesthetics and attention, so having a pillar all their own should, theoretically, be an improvement. 

But back to the Nike Vomero 18. Will the Icon entry for the Vomero pillar fare better than the Icon entry for the Pegasus pillar (which received middling reviews)? 

At WearTesters, we’ve been Vomero fans for a while, and last year’s Vomero 17 was Nike’s best daily trainer. So we certainly hope Nike gets this one right. Let’s find out if they did…

Nike Vomero 18 Cushion

The Nike Vomero 18 ushers in some big changes to the model by replacing the Vomero 17’s ZoomX and Cushlon 3.0 midsole with a ZoomX and ReactX midsole. The ZoomX is a thin layer on top of a big hunk of ReactX. And I mean big, because the total stack height in the heel is 46mm with 36mm in the forefoot for a 10mm drop (the same drop as in the previous Vomero). That’s a 6mm increase from last year and the largest stack height ever for a Vomero model.

In that respect, Nike’s max cushion pillar is off to a great start. However, all that cushion comes with a cost. The Vomero 18’s weight increases by 19% for both men and women over the Vomero 17. Is the extra weight noticeable? Yes. Does it hurt performance? No.

Why doesn’t the weight affect performance? Nike tweaked the rocker geometry of the midsole to help the Vomero 18 feel more balanced and smooth at its higher weight, and the change is effective. The Nike Vomero 18’s turnover is really good for a max cushion, thick-soled running shoe. Because of that, no one will call the Vomero 18 clompy or bulky. That’s one of the keys to creating a well-loved max cushion shoe, and Nike got it right.

But there is a big caveat about that underfoot feel. The massive amount of ReactX made the midsole feel more like the Nike InfinityRN 4 than the Vomero 17. There’s a bit of DNA from each, but it feels more like the InfinityRN 4 with a soft top layer of ZoomX underfoot – well, without the everpresent arch from the InfinityRN 4. 

This isn’t a bad thing. The InfinityRN 4 was a very good shoe that was only polarizing because of the aforementioned arch. But Nike killed the InfinityRN line, so it makes sense to sprinkle some of its good parts into other models. The result is pretty good, but it means that the Vomero 18 doesn’t feel as much like a Vomero as it does a frankensteined hybrid. For those who haven’t tried the InfinityRN 4, the gist is this: while the cushion is there and works well, it doesn’t feel as squishy or bouncy as the Vomero 17.

Nike Vomero 18 Outsole

Below that chunky midsole is a reworked outsole which has thick, durable, waffle-patterned rubber in all the potential high-wear areas and tries to save some weight with a less dense, boxy pattern at the middle of the forefoot. It’s a pattern that won’t be as durable as the previous model (all rubber everywhere) but will be durable enough for the typical 300-500 mile running shoe lifespan.

Nike Vomero 18 Upper & Fit

Though the engineered mesh upper and lacing are different from the Vomero 17, the feel and comfort are similar. Nike did add a heel pull tab that is helpful in putting on and removing the shoe, but that’s the only real upgrade.

The Nike Vomero 18 fits true-to-size lengthwise but isn’t particularly accommodating for wide footers. If the Vomero 18 gets a wide version like the Vomero 17, I’d recommend most wide footers opt for the wide version in order to be completely comfortable.

How did the Nike Vomero 18 perform?

I found the Nike Vomero 18 to be a smooth, efficient ride where the extra cushion shined enough to make the weight increase a non-issue. The Vomero 18 is the most effective at easy or recovery running paces, but, with some extra effort on the wearer’s part, it can go uptempo for short periods of time. This is a change from previous Vomero models, as Nike has doubled down on the cushion aspect at the expense of the speed aspect (leaving the latter to the Pegasus pillar).

The Nike Vomero 18 also has enough cushion to be a great option on long runs and can even handle all the planned marathon training long runs of 20+ miles.

The outsole gripped multiple surfaces and did well on looser surfaces. The waffle pattern continues to deliver fantastic results.

Pros

• Improved rocker geometry
• Huge protective stack of long-run ready cushion
• Helpful new heel tab to aid with on/off of the shoe
• Durable and grippy waffle outsole pattern at high-wear areas
• Wide version on the way

Cons

• Weight
• Running uptempo is harder than in previous Vomeros

Is the Nike Vomero 18 worth $150?

Yes, the Nike Vomero 18 is worth $150. The majority of shoes that fill the exact same use case as the Vomero 18 are found at the $160 price point, so we get the rare instance where the Nike model is priced lower than most of its competitors.

Nike Vomero 18 Summary

The Nike Vomero 18 is a cruiser. Easy runs, recovery runs, and long training runs are its sweet spot and where its smooth turnover shines. Fans of  the Vomero and InfinityRN series alike should give this new shoe a shot. It’s pretty close to the best of both worlds; and though it might not be able to go as fast as it used to, it aligns well with Nike’s new 3-pronged (pillared?) [Editor’s Note: works for me] approach to running.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Nike did provide a pair of the Nike Vomero 18 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.