What replaced the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16?
Updated August 2, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
The Vomero 17 replaced the Vomero 16 in October 2023. It deleted the Zoom Air unit for the first time in the line's modern history, moved to a ZoomX over Cushlon 3.0 midsole, and came out 0.2 oz lighter despite a taller quoted stack. Reviewers and the community called it the best Vomero in years. List price rose $10 to $160.
- Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16Sizes running outWomen's
- Nike Vomero 17Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 2, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Vomero 17 is 0.2 oz lighter
- 6 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Vomero 16 vs 17.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterDeleting the Zoom Air unit changed what a Vomero feels like, and almost everyone preferred the result. The 17 landed in the gap between the Pegasus and the Invincible: soft ZoomX on top, stable Cushlon underneath, 10.1 oz, enough range to handle daily miles with the occasional pickup. Doctors of Running put it plainly: the Vomero finally feels like a Vomero again. Its real weaknesses were dull colorways and a stiff toe-off, not the ride.
Stick with the Vomero 16 if
- The 16's firmer, more muted ride keeps your legs happier than soft ZoomX does
- You can find the 16 cheap and just want a durable easy-day workhorse
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the Vomero 17 if
- You found the 16 heavy and dull; the 17 is lighter, softer and noticeably bouncier
- You want one premium trainer that can also pick up the pace a little
Where the Nike Vomero is now
Two updates on, the Vomero 18 (2025) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- The Vomero 18 is 0.2 oz heavier
- 13 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
What loyalists said about the update
The 16-to-17 handoff is the loved transition in this line. The launch thread on r/RunningShoeGeeks called it Nike's best daily in a long while, and longtime Pegasus owners described the ride as half Invincible, half Peg. A 400-mile wear report called it a consistent workhorse, though one dissenter got about 250 miles before the foam felt dead. When the 18 arrived, plenty of 17 loyalists bought remaining pairs on clearance instead of moving up.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Vomero 16 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Men's stock is gone.
Women's: Check remaining stockAvailability last checked Aug 2, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Vomero 17, these come closest to what the Vomero 16 did.
- 10.5 oz
- 5 mm drop
- 43 mm heel
- $170 list
The Bondi is the shoe reviewers compare the Vomero 18 to first: both are flagship max-stack cruisers at almost identical weight. The Bondi 9 runs slightly softer and bouncier; the Vomero lists $20 lower.
Against your Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16: 0.2 oz heavier, 10 mm more heel stack, 5 mm less drop, $20 more at list.
- 9.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 43.5 mm heel
- $165 list
The Nimbus is the other plush flagship. It runs about half an ounce lighter since the 28 and picks up the pace a bit more easily; the Vomero is plusher up top and $15 cheaper at list.
Against your Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16: 0.4 oz lighter, 10.5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The 1080 does the same easy-day job with a softer, bouncier ride since the v15 foam swap, at about an ounce and a half less weight. The Vomero is taller and more planted.
Against your Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16: 1.3 oz lighter, 7 mm more heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $20 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16 still available?
- Partially. Women's sizes still turn up on Amazon, but men's stock is gone. If your size shows up, decide quickly; discontinued stock only shrinks.
- Is the Vomero 17 a downgrade from the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Vomero 17 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- How much lighter is the Vomero 17?
- 0.2 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 10.1 oz against the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16's 10.3 oz.
- Is the Nike Vomero still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Nike Vomero 18, released in 2025, 2 versions on from the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16?
- The Hoka Bondi 9. The Bondi is the shoe reviewers compare the Vomero 18 to first: both are flagship max-stack cruisers at almost identical weight. The Bondi 9 runs slightly softer and bouncier; the Vomero lists $20 lower.