In this product guide:
- 1. Versatile everyday trainer: Nike Vomero 18
- 2. Versatile everyday trainer: Nike Pegasus Plus
- 3. Softest running shoe: Nike Invincible Run 3
- 4. Comfortable everyday trainer: Nike Pegasus 41
- 5. Comfortable marathon racer: Nike Vaporfly 3
- 6. Comfortable 5K and 10K racer: Nike ZoomX Streakfly
- 7. Comfortable flexible trainer: Nike Free Run 5.0
- 8. Comfortable entry-level trainer: Nike Winflo 11
- 9. Comfortable road-trail hybrid trainer: Nike Pegasus Trail 5
- 10. Comfortable trail running shoe: Nike Wildhorse 8
- How we selected
This version is easily the best Vomero of the decade. Not only is the Vomero 18 an improvement over the Vomero 17, but it’s also now a capable do-it-all trainer.
Rather than the ZoomX and EVA stack of the Vomero 17, the new model combines a thick ReactX layer with a thinner ZoomX layer on top. But that’s just the headline; there’s more to the Vomero 18 than the kind of foam it uses.
There are a few stand-out features. The ultra-tall stack heights (44 mm and 34 mm) make themselves felt during a run or walk. There’s a sense of deep cushioning that was absent on the previous versions of the Vomero. The forefoot stack feels very substantial.
The soft footbed, foam lasting, and ZoomX add a plush cushioning layer closer to the foot.
The new Vomero happens to be very bouncy. Most of this effect comes from the deep groove under the heel that behaves like a trampoline. At slower speeds, the bounciness is quite noticeable. Once the speed picks up, the trampoline effect switches to speed-friendly responsiveness.
This Vomero has something that no other prior version had – an effective rocker profile. The stiff forefoot makes the rocker effective, making roll-offs much easier. On the road, it’s easier to pick up speed during a tempo workout. The Vomero 18 doesn’t struggle at 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) speeds.
The firmer ReactX layer prevents the midsole from bottoming, and also helps the foot cycle through the transitions efficiently. The firm base layer also isolates the ZoomX foam’s bouncy feel.
The new setup makes the Vomero 18 very versatile. Calling it a comfortable daily workhorse would be underselling it, to say the least.
The plushness of the redesigned upper matches the cushioned ride. The heel and tongue have abundant foam padding, and the lacing speed loops help secure the midfoot.
- Nike’s marketing pitch: A comfortable ride for everyday runs.
- Upper: Engineered mesh with a full sleeve.
- Upper fit: True to size, just-right fit.
- Midsole: React X foam with ZoomX top layer. 10 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Regrind rubber under the forefoot, Carbon rubber.
- Weight: 298 gms/ 10.5 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 44 mm (heel), 34 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: Single – D (regular).
- Recommended use: Everyday runs, tempo runs, marathon training, walking.
- Footstrike orientation: All types (heel/midfoot/forefoot).
- Median lifespan: 450 miles.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) and slower.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Versatile for different use cases
- Rocker assists with smooth roll offs
- Neutral and stable ride
- Goldilocks zone cushioning
- Just-right and plush fit
Cons
- No widths at this time
- Average grip on wet roads
- Runs warm due to full sleeve
- Low reflectivity
What happens when a midsole is made of nothing but Nike’s bouncy ZoomX foam? And it’s not just any midsole, but a wide and high-volume kind.
The result is an extremely comfortable running shoe, with a plush ride character with few rivals.
The high-volume ZoomX midsole makes the Invincible 3 extremely comfortable, regardless of the distance.
From a cushioning standpoint, not much has changed between the Invincible Run 2 and 3. Whether it’s easy-pace running or everyday athleisure use, the wide base delivers a generous amount of underfoot comfort.
The V3 is slightly firmer than the V2 – the new midsole now has a fabric lasting on top, thus diluting some of the softness.
The deep cushioning of the Invincible 3 makes it a great high-mileage cruiser.
Given its cushioning-first design, the Invincible 3 is best used as a long-distance cruiser, or a 4:00 hour (or longer) marathon. It feels out of its depth at tempo paces, and that’s perfectly understandable.
While optional widths are lacking, the standard fit will accommodate most foot profiles. The Invincible 3’s upper doesn’t feel as plush as the V1 and V2, so if that matters to you, the Invincible V1 or V2 is a better choice.
- Nike’s marketing pitch: Maximum cushioning to support each mile.
- Upper: Non-stretchy mesh, reflective trim. No inner sleeve.
- Midsole: Full-length ZoomX foam. 9 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Two-piece carbon rubber.
- Weight: 310 gms/ 10.9 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 10/UK 9/EUR 44/CM 27.1.
- Stack heights: 40 mm (rear), 31 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed).
- Previous model: Nike Invincible 2.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, long runs, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot.
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: 5:30 min/km (8:50 min/mile) and quicker.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -0° C/32° F.
Pros
- Long distance comfort
- Secure fit
- Wide midsole base
Cons
- Low versatility; limited to easy speeds
- upper interior could be plusher
- Lack of widths,
- No tongue gusset
This is Nike’s fourth attempt at reviving the once-popular Pegasus Turbo. The last version – the Turbo Next Nature – was a mediocre Turbo and even worse, an average running shoe.
So is the fourth time a charm? Kind of.
The comfortable midsole is what the Pegasus Plus (aka the 4th-gen Turbo) gets right. The ZoomX midsole is soft and not prone to bottoming.
Unlike the Pegasus 41’s bland character, the Pegasus Plus has a nice bounce to it. Unless you weigh over 200 lbs or 90 kilos, the midsole doesn’t bottom out.
That said, forefoot strikers will prefer better forefoot cushioning.
This is a 10 mm drop shoe, after all, so most of the ZoomX cushioning is reserved for heel strikers. And if you happen to be one – a heel striker we mean – then the Pegasus Plus works well as a versatile daily trainer for everything between tempo training and a half-marathon.
The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 is $10 cheaper than the Pegasus Plus. Also, it has a PEBA midsole with a plate.
There are a couple of things we don’t like about the Plus.
The first would be its $180 price, which makes the shoe way overpriced at a time when similarly-priced trainers have a PEBA midsole and a plate. A good example would be the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 which costs $10 less than the Pegasus Plus. Comparable trainers like the Hoka Mach 6 and New Balance Rebel V4 are both $140.
The upper fits true to size and is relatively roomier than the original Pegasus Turbo – both on toe-box height and width.
Our nitpick is with the needlessly thick upper – we were hoping to find a thin Streakfly kind of upper. Our pair of US 11 weighed over 9 ounces, and that’s an ounce heavier than the Pegasus Plus’s ideal weight. The upper doesn’t breathe very well either.
Also, Nike claims that the Pegasus Plus has a ‘stretchy Flyknit upper’. That’s not true – there is no stretch on the upper.
In 2025, Zoom Air feels archaic (except for the Alphafly) when compared to superior foam materials. Still, the Pegasus 41 continues to be a comfortable everyday trainer.
The React foam midsole is firmer than last year – thus making it versatile enough for the occasional tempo run. The forefoot, in particular, feels flat and firmer than last year.
Like the previous model, the 41 has a dual Zoom Air bag setup inside a React foam core. A removable Ortholite footbed adds a plush layer of step-in comfort.
It takes more effort to activate the Zoom Air bag, and we attribute that to the firmer ReactX foam which is a closer match with the compressed Air bag’s firmness. On the bright side, the firmer Pegasus 41 has excellent stability under the heel and forefoot.
Besides providing dependable traction, the full rubber outsole also makes the Pegasus durable and transition-friendly.
The upper has a new aesthetic, and yet feels very familiar. The midfoot lacing is connected to speed loops (which are a part of the sleeve) for quick and efficient fastening.
Though padded heel and tongue create a secure environment, the wide lacing span applies greater top-down pressure than the Pegasus 40.
The Pegasus 41 is also available in an extra-wide size.
- Nike’s marketing pitch: An energized ride for everyday road running.
- Upper: Engineered mesh, sleeved upper.
- Midsole: Two Zoom Air bags inside ReactX foam, 10 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber.
- Weight: 297 gms/ 10.4 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 37 mm (heel), 27 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 4E – extra wide.
- Previous model: Nike Pegasus 40.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily training, tempo runs, half-marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Versatile comfort
- Supportive ride
- Secure fit
- Outsole grip
- Multiple widths
Cons
- React behavior is temperature dependent
- Better for heel strikers than forefoot strikers
- Boring ride when compared to peers
- Fewer/wider lacing rows add top-down pressure
- Scarce reflectivity
If you think that the Carbon-plated shoe hype has reached a saturation point, the Nike Vaporfly is to blame. It was the first running shoe to popularize the Carbon-plate-in-a-shoe form factor.
The Vaporfly 3 continues to be a solid pick for fast yet comfortable marathons.
But the Nike Vaporfly’s hype was merited. The S-curved Carbon plate produces a snappy springboard effect that makes marathon-worthy speeds possible.
The ZoomX foam cuts down on weight while contributing bouncy softness to the ride.
The said plate is embedded inside a soft and responsive ZoomX midsole. The ZoomX foam stack is what makes the Vaporfly so comfortable; it’s soft, springy, and extremely lightweight.
The Carbon Flyplate is now visible through the midsole.
The plate wasn’t visible in the first few versions of the Vaporfly. The Vaporfly 3 changes that – the Carbon plate can be glimpsed through the outsole and midsole windows.
The thin upper adds nearly nothing to the overall weight, and we all know that a lightweight shoe increases overall comfort. The upper is more spacious this time, so the lockdown isn’t as good as the Vaporfly 2.
- Nike’s marketing pitch: Giving you race-day speed to conquer any distance.
- Upper: Perforated mesh, asymmetric lacing.
- Upper fit: True-to-size with loose forefoot.
- Midsole: Full-length ZoomX foam with Carbon plate. 8 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Carbon rubber in high-wear areas.
- Weight: 200 gms/ 7.0 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 38 mm (rear), 30 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed).
- Previous model: Nike Vaporfly Next% 2.
- Country of origin: China.
- Recommended use: 10K races, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 300 miles.
- Recommended paces: 4:30 min/km (7:00 min/mile) and quicker.
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -0° C/32° F.
Pros
- Lightweight and springy ride
- Seamless plate-foam integration
- Ventilation
- Roomy upper
Cons
- Spacious forefoot weakens the power delivery to the midsole
- Sluggish toe-off when compared to the Vaporfly 2
- Low heel stability
- Structurally unsound for overpronators
The Nike Alphafly 3 is worth considering if you satisfy the following conditions:
1. You’re a forefoot striker.
2. You’re running at speeds quicker than 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile)
3. You find a pair of Alphafly that doesn’t have the insole problem.
4. You’re okay with paying nearly $300 for a pair of running shoes.
The Alphafly 3 is a running shoe like no other. The Zoom Air bag under the forefoot creates an impressively springy feel; the plate works as intended as it helps the foot transition over the ZoomX midsole.
The wider midsole and stiff forefoot make the Alphafly more stable than the Vaporfly. But again, this shoe only works best under certain conditions.
Contrary to Nike’s claim, we did not find the ZoomX Streakfly to be the ideal racing shoe for 5K and 10K distances. It’s too soft and cushy for that.
However, there’s one thing that the Streakfly does very well. The full-length ZoomX midsole is great for keeping the feet fresh during a 10K race. The soft and lively foam creates a comfortable ride experience that punches above its weight in the speed trainer category.
The Nike ZoomX Streakfly is a comfortable 10K shoe for speeds slower than 4:00 min/km.
The single-piece mesh exterior has a smooth and secure fit without any chafing.
The soft midsole isn’t the only part that enhances the ride comfort. The lightweight upper does an excellent job of keeping the feet ventilated while reducing the overall weight.
The 6.0-ounce trainer also disappears on the feet during runs, and that too, adds to the sensory comfort.
This shoe has neither ZoomX foam nor an Air bag, so why is it featured on this guide?
Far too often, ‘comfort’ is reduced to a fancy midsole foam or upper material. But there’s a lot more to comfort than those two factors, and the Nike Free 5.0 shows us why.
The ultra-flexible midsole enhances ride comfort by eliminating stiffness. The foot doesn’t have to exert effort to flex the midsole. So isn’t a lack of exertion another definition of comfort?
The minimally constructed bootie-upper also lacks stiff parts like a heel counter, and uses soft meshes, linings, and padding for comfort.
If you don’t want to spend Pegasus money on an everyday trainer, consider the Winflo 11. Its EVA midsole and full-length Air insert add plenty of everyday comfort.
The Winflo doesn’t use React, but another Nike foam that was used on vintage Vomero models. It’s an EVA blend that Nike calls Cushlon – a midsole material that increases ride comfort. Cushlon is not mushy, so there’s adequate comfort for daily workouts as well as the versatility for higher-paced runs.
The new Pegasus-inspired upper is a step up from the Winflo 10. The midfoot uses speed loops to help achieve a better fit, and the smooth interiors secure the foot without pressure spots. The heel and tongue flap are padded for a comfortable fit.
It’s not just the upper that borrows its design from the Peg 41. The new midsole features similar side scoops and a sculpted profile. At the bottom is a protective rubber outsole for multi-surface traction.
The Pegasus Trail has always been a road-trail hybrid, and it’s no different this time. The React midsole adds road-worthy cushioning, and the outsole design isn’t aggressive. The React X foam midsole is comfortable enough for both road and trail use.
The redesigned midsole and outsole make the Pegasus Trail 5 firmer than the Pegasus Trail 4.
The upper has a protective toe bumper and reinforced inner midfoot, but the rest of the exterior is soft and comfortable. The outsole also forms the protective toe bumper, and the lacing panel is layered for durability. The Flywire cord system works with the lacing to secure the midfoot.
Just know that the Pegasus Trail 5 GTX fits a half-size shorter than the non-GTX model.
There’s a good reason why this shoe is called a trail-road hybrid. It’s not meant for serious trail runs on technical terrain, as the outsole and upper design lack the necessary features.
For example, the outsole has shallow lugs with exposed areas and lacks a protective rock plate. Also, except for the rubber bumper, the toe-box isn’t reinforced with fused overlays – like how the Salmon Speedcross 6 and Nike Wildhorse 8 are designed.
So it’s best to limit the Pegasus Trail 5 to gentle grades and dirt/chip trails. A waterproof version is also available, but for a $20 upcharge.
With its noticeably soft heel, the Wildhorse 7 (and 6) was an outlier. It was a stark departure from the Wildhorse 5’s purposeful ride character; naturally, the 6 and 7 polarized opinions.
And just when runners were getting used to the status quo, the Wildhorse 8 showed up. And even though it lacks a Zoom Air bag, it’s closer to the Wildhorse 4 and 5 than the previous generation model.
The React midsole has a lower profile and firmer ride than the V6 and V7, so we get greater stability and ground feel. This also makes the Wildhorse 8 more versatile. There’s enough cushioning for frequent trail runs while being focused enough for quicker paces.
Useful bits like the heel rock plate and prominent outsole lugs have been retained, so the Wildhorse 8 bites well on the trail while being protective enough.
The reinforced upper locks the foot and does a good job of keeping the debris out. The speed loops make the lacing easy to fasten. We wish there was a gaiter D-ring and optional width, though.
How we selected: What to look for
What makes a Nike shoe ‘comfortable’, exactly?
So what exactly makes a particular Nike running shoe comfortable? Is it just ZoomX or React foam? Or is it a combination of Zoom Air and other midsole foams?
While a cushioning material like React or ZoomX usually increases ride comfort, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The term ‘ride comfort’ isn’t the same across different categories
‘Comfort’ means different things for different shoes.
On an easygoing cruiser like the Invincible Run 3, more ZoomX is better.
However, this approach is counterproductive on the Vaporfly 3 or ZoomX Streakfly. The Streakfly’s race-day character would be diluted with too much ZoomX, and the Vaporfly’s snappy responsiveness won’t be the same with a bulky midsole.
Lightweight is usually better, but not always
At higher price tiers, a featherlight running shoe is a result of using a superior midsole with an upper to match. In Nike’s context, the Vaporfly 3 is such a product.
However, at lower price bands, an ultra-lightweight running shoe is often lacking in structural integrity.
A long time ago, Nike even sold a lightweight marathon racer that was aptly named the ‘Mayfly’. It was designed just to last a few training sessions plus a marathon, and then self-destruct.
It’s not just about a spacious upper, but rather how it fits
The interior comfort is a lot more than a spacious upper; it depends on how the upper interacts with the foot.
The upper of the Nike Free 5.0 and Pegasus 41 have a snug feel, but the lack of overlays or pressure hot spots creates a comfortable environment.