Nike Vomero Plus Review: 45/35 ZoomX, 275 g, Invincible Heir

The Vomero Plus is not a "plus" version of the Vomero 18. It fills the gap left by the Nike Invincible 3 after Nike rebuilt its entire running lineup. Released on August 7, 2025 with almost no noise (no big marketing push), it won the in-house title of most comfortable daily trainer that same year. After several hundred kilometers, you see why: 45 mm of full-length ZoomX stack, a 10 mm drop, 275 g in a size 42, and a geometry that finally keeps the foam in check instead of being at its mercy.

Nike Vomero Plus: the max-cushion daily trainer replacing the Invincible line

Nike made a radical call in 2025: shut down the Invincible franchise while the V4 was nearly ready. The Vomero Plus grew out of those prototypes. In practice, it takes the DNA of the Invincible (full-length ZoomX, max cushioning, daily-trainer role) and fixes the two things that made runners wince: the "floaty" feel under the forefoot and shaky stability for heavier runners. The result: firmer foam, a wider rear base, a gentler rocker. You no longer sink into the shoe. You steer it.

RunMorph Coach's tip. If you're looking for a max-cushion daily trainer to pit against the Hoka Bondi 9 or the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28, the Vomero Plus isn't the liveliest pick. But it's the one that lets you knock out a 1h30 easy run without ever feeling beaten up. For weekly volume, that's exactly what you want.

© Nike, official photo used for editorial purposes.

Objective technical specs

Who is the Vomero Plus for?

The marathoner protecting weekly volume

You're training for a marathon on 80 to 110 km a week, a good half of it at easy aerobic pace. You hammered a big session yesterday and still owe 18 km of easy running tomorrow. That's exactly the Vomero Plus's sweet spot. The ZoomX soaks up everything, the 10 mm drop encourages a heel-to-toe transition, and you never feel the road. You finish a bit fresher, with less heavy legs. Your workout shoe (think Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 or Adidas Adizero EVO SL) stays in the rotation for tempo runs, and the Vomero Plus takes everything else.

The heavier runner or the runner coming back from injury

With 45 mm of stack and a wider rear base, the Vomero Plus protects your joints without turning unstable. That's rare at this level of cushioning. Runners over 80 kg will especially like the secondary firmness the Cushlon 3.0 layer adds under the ZoomX: you sink in, but you hit a floor. That dual density is the whole difference with an Invincible 3, where at 90 kg you were literally bottoming out after a few months.

The regular runner who wants a truly versatile daily trainer

Marathon pace at 4'30/km? Easy run at 5'30/km? Long run at 5'00/km? The Vomero Plus stays smooth everywhere. Faster than 4'00/km, the weight and soft rocker show their limits: this is not a shoe for fast interval sessions. But for 80% of a standard training plan, it gets the job done. At €170, it sits at the top end of the premium daily-trainer bracket, but it lasts 800 to 1000 km of daily use, which brings the cost per kilometer down to reasonable levels.

© Nike, official photo used for editorial purposes.

Comfort, ride and grip

First kilometer, first impression: you slip the shoe on, the thick mesh collar locks the heel in, and your foot sinks into soft foam with no break-in needed. The immediate feel recalls the Invincible 3, only more controlled. That nuance changes everything. Over the first hour of running, the rocker guides you gently from heel strike to toe-off, with no jolts, and the ZoomX bounces without ever launching you (no plate, no slap). At 5'00/km, your cadence stays natural. At 4'30/km, the transition is still smooth. At 3'30/km, you feel the 275 g and the lack of longitudinal stiffness: that's not this shoe's job, and that's fine.

On grip, the textured carbon rubber outsole does a good job on dry and wet city asphalt. On gravel paths, it gets by without shining. After 300 to 400 km, wear stays minor, especially in the forefoot. The mesh holds up and keeps its shape, and breathability is decent even in summer (the padded collar runs warm, as you'd expect on this kind of daily trainer). Passive stability, the Invincible's historic weak spot, is reassuring this time. You don't need deep stabilizer muscles to keep the shoe tracking straight.

How it stacks up against the competition

In the 35-45 mm max-cushion daily-trainer segment, the Vomero Plus goes head-to-head with four rivals:

• Hoka Bondi 9 (€180, 297 g, 5 mm drop, 43/38 stack): more stable, firmer, heavier, lower drop. The Bondi is built for athletic walking and for runners who want a wide platform. The Vomero Plus feels airier and bouncier, but less protective at very slow speeds.
• Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 (€180, ~310 g, 8 mm drop, 43.5/35.5 stack): Asics' wraparound comfort is the benchmark. FF Blast Plus Eco is firmer and more durable than ZoomX. The Nimbus 28 wins on stability and durability, the Vomero Plus wins on responsiveness and bounce.
• New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v15 (€180, 269 g, 6 mm drop, 38/32 stack): lower profile, more versatile at tempo pace. The 1080v15 can shift up to 4'00/km where the Vomero Plus starts to feel heavy. If you want a daily trainer that adapts to EVERY pace, pick the 1080v15. If you want absolute comfort for volume, take the Vomero Plus.
• Brooks Glycerin 23 (€180, 300 g, 8 mm drop, 38/30 stack): DNA Tuned dual-cell plays in the same league, but with a lower drop and a less snappy foam. The Glycerin 23 feels more grounded, the Vomero Plus airier. A matter of taste.

The Vomero Plus's differentiator: it's the only shoe in the lineup with 100% PEBA foam (ZoomX) along its full length. No other daily trainer at this price delivers this level of energy return.

How to fit the Vomero Plus into your RunMorph training plan

In your RunMorph plan, the Vomero Plus takes the volume-shoe slot. Every easy run, every long run at easy aerobic pace, every active recovery session. Count on it for 60 to 70% of your weekly mileage.

For quality sessions (long intervals, tempo, goal race pace), switch to a carbon shoe or a livelier super trainer. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 or the Asics Superblast 3 are its natural partners for that role. On marathon race day, bring out the Nike Vaporfly 4 or the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5. Three shoes, three roles. The plan holds.

Keep an eye on lifespan: ZoomX compacts faster than conventional EVA foams. You can count on 800 to 1000 km of daily use, after which you'll feel the bounce drop by 15 to 20%. At that point, either demote it to a walking shoe or order a second pair.

© Nike, official photo used for editorial purposes.

RunMorph Coach's verdict

The Vomero Plus deserves the buzz it built almost in silence. It pulls off what few 2025 max-cushion daily trainers managed: deep cushioning without the floaty feel. Full-length ZoomX paired with Cushlon 3.0 and the wider rear base creates a rare sensation: it feels like running in a recovery shoe while still getting useful energy return at 4'30/km. That's exactly what the Invincible 3 was missing.

Gripes? The weight (275 g, which you feel at faster paces), no Gore-Tex version (reserved for the Vomero 18), and a €170 price that stays above the segment average. But with an expected lifespan of 800 km, the cost per kilometer is manageable.

For the runner stacking up volume who wants THE high-cushion comfort daily trainer to pit against the Bondi 9, the Nimbus 28 or the Glycerin 23: it's my favorite in the 2025-2026 segment.

RunMorph score: 8.5/10

Key takeaways for your training

• Built for daily volume. Easy runs, long runs, recovery. It handles 60 to 70% of your weekly mileage without complaint.
• Full-length ZoomX, but under control. The Cushlon 3.0 layer and the wider rear base fix the Invincible 3's notorious floaty feel. Passive stability is finally up to par.
• 10 mm drop. Ideal for heel strikers. If you have a pronounced midfoot strike, look at the Bondi 9 (5 mm drop) or the 1080v15 (6 mm drop) instead.
• Limit: 4'30/km. Faster than that, the weight and lack of longitudinal stiffness hold you back. Keep the Vomero Plus for aerobic pace and switch to a super trainer for workouts.
• 800-1000 km lifespan. Longer than expected for a PEBA foam, thanks to the tough carbon rubber. But watch for loss of bounce after 700 km.