Nike Vomero 17 Preview: Release Date, Specs, Price

The Nike Vomero 17 is the swoosh's latest crack at a max cushioned shoe. In a hyper competitive market segment, the Vomero slots in as a comfortable, higher stack height alternative to the workhorse Pegasus. But with the Invincible Run 3 and the newly-launched InfinityRN 4 already in Nike's max stacked stabled, where does the new Vomero 17 slot in? Let's get into it.

Nike Vomero 17 Overview & Release Date

The Nike Vomero 17 is a maximally cushioned training shoe with a dual-foam construction. It slots into Nike's lineup between the Pegasus 40, which is a daily trainer, and the Invincible 3, which is designed for relaxed miles. It's the seventeenth installation in Nike's long-running Vomero series, which is their upmarket everyday running alternative to the Pegasus.

Historically, Nike has played it safe with the Pegasus, its box office smash hit shoe, and experimented with the Vomero, the indie movie darling. Nike churns out minor updates to the Pegasus year after year like Michael Bay with Transformers movies in the 2010s, rarely innovating or making a bold move. It's used the same React foam with minor variations for roughly the past half decade.

In contrast, the Vomero 17 has seen multiple major changes since its inception, and this recent edition is another ground-up redesign with some risks taken by Nike. It has a dual-foam construction, and Nike's introducing the race-day ZoomX foam into the mix for the first time in a road daily trainer.

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Vomero 17 Specs

The Vomero has a 40mm stack of foam in the heel and 30mm stack of foam in the forefoot for a 10mm drop. It weighs about 10oz for a US mens size 9, which is between the Pegasus 40 (9.4 oz) and Invincible 3 (10.9 oz). The Vomero 17 is releasing in late summer 2023 at a price of $160.

Vomero 17 Midsole: Cushlon 3.0 & ZoomX

The Nike Vomero 17 has a dual-foam midsole construction. The top-layer is PEBA-based ZoomX, which is the same foam that's in Nike's Vaporfly and Alphafly road-racing shoes, as well as the Zegama and Ultrafly trail-running shoes. The bottom layer of foam is Cushlon 3.0, a reworked version of Nike's standard EVA, which is similar to foams like Saucony PWRRUN (Ride, Kinvara) and Hoka's compression-molded EVA (Bondi, Clifton).

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The Vomero 17 follows the popular trend of dual-foam constructions in shoes designed for marathon training and high-mileage weeks. In the past year, recently released dual-foam shoes include the Adidas Boston 12, Hoka Mach X and Saucony Kinvara Pro. Dual-foam constructions are used to provide responsive and speed through a race-day foam—ZoomX in the case of the Vomero 17—and stability in structure with an EVA compound, which is the Cushlon 3.0. 

The ratio, formulation, density and widths of the respective foams determines the final result. For example, The Saucony Tempus is a dual-foam shoe that uses the EVA to create a stability platform for overpronators, while the ASICS Superblast is a dual-foam shoe that uses its two foams to provide a versatile, fast and cushioned ride. 

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In the Vomero 17, the two foams work together to supplement each other's weaknesses. ZoomX is bouncy and fast, but extremely unstable without a plate. And Cushlon, an EVA compound, is stable and firm, but the most exciting or energetic. The set up is similar to the Hoka Mach 5 and Mach X, with the bouncier, more responsive foam close to the foot. The ZoomX up top should create a soft and cushioned step-in feel that's stabilized by the Cushlon on the bottom.

Because of the Cushlon, the Vomero 17 should be more stable than the Invincible 3. Many runners experience instability in the Nike Invincble series due to the squishy ZoomX foam. With the EVA and the addition of what appears to be raised sidewalls to cradle the foot, those issues should be resolved in the Vomero 17.

Competitors for the Nike Vomero 17

The Vomero 17 competes with max cushioned dual-foam shoes designed for comfort over long miles—and long weeks of marathon training. These include the ASICS Superblast, Hoka Mach X, Adidas Boston 12 and Saucony Kinvara Pro. Like the Superblast, the Vomero 17 is non-plated, so it should have a more relaxed, less peppy feel than some of its competitors.

At 10 ounces, the Vomero 17 is on the heavy end of the spectrum for dual-foam training shoes. The weight is more comparable to max cushioned shoes like the Saucony Triumph (9.8 ounce), Asics Gel-Nimbus (10.2) and New Balance Fresh Foam X More v4 (10.9), but that's where the Nike Invicible 3 competes. With lightweight ZoomX in the midsole, it's likely most of the weight penalty in the Vomero 17 comes from the upper and full-coverage outsole.

Upper & Fit

The Vomero 17 uses a similar engineered mesh upper as the Pegasus. The upper material on the Pegasus is lightweight and breathable but slightly scratchy to the touch. Like the Pegasus, the Vomero 17 has a padded heel collar and padded tongue.

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The Vomero 17 appears to have a wider-fitting last than the Pegasus, which has a slightly narrow fit. The toe-box looks a touch wider than is standard for Nike, which should help accommodate a range of footshapes. The laces are flat and go through a standard lacing system without Nike's FlyWire or other unconventional lacing touches.

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Outsole & Durability

The Vomero 17 is using a new outsole pattern for Nike. The forefoot has three separate sections of full coverage rubber, which form a bi-sected platform that should offer traction with flexibility. The heel has a curved, strategically placed outsole, which is reminiscent of Hoka's J-frame. The empty space in the midsole is similar to what New Balance pioneered with the EnergyArc in the SC Trainer v1, which allows more stability with a thicker stack of foam while saving weight.

Nike's daily trainers are some of the most reliable in the game. Based on the Pegasus' track record and previous editions of the Vomero, the 17 should get 400+ miles of wear depending on your size and footstrike. The only question is how long the ZoomX will hold up—though because it's on the top layer and isolated from impact by the rubber and Cushlon, it should get far more longevity than it does in the Vaporfly.

Final Thoughts

The Vomero 17 is positioned to be a reliable, comfortable training shoe for runners who prioritize comfort over speed. It should be a solid option for long runs, as the ZoomX will provide resiliency and pop over the long haul. If you're not sure if the Vomero 17 is the right shoe for you, head to our running shoe matcher tool to get paired with the best shoe for you based on your goals and preferences.

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