Behind the Scenes of the Vomero Plus Creation

You’re about to have a new favorite running shoe. For those who are fans of the Nike Vomero franchise, the company’s latest innovation will not disappoint. Introducing the Vomero Plus, whose shoe design was led by women, to encourage them to maximize their running potential.

When you think of performance footwear with maximum cushioning, words like speed and comfort may come to mind. But Nike footwear designer Jordyn Klumpp and Ashley Campbell, Nike Running Footwear Product Line Manager, wanted to evoke a different kind of emotion with the Vomero Plus. Their challenge: create a shoe that doesn’t just perform but also empowers the wearer.

You could say the inspiration for this shoe was born out of a quiet act of rebellion: “The formula? With solid science and data as our guide, we learned that creating a shoe with women top of mind would be highly successful,” Klumpp says.

You’ll notice the Vomero Plus looks different from other Nike running shoes — it doesn’t have sharp, pointy edges or features. Instead, it has a softer, more rounded appearance, making it look more inviting and accessible without compromising responsiveness. This shoe is designed for the runner who wants to put in more miles and is looking for a little more cushioning.

There was an urgent need for something different and more approachable for fans of the Nike Invincible line. The all-female team only had nine months to develop and create an entirely new product from scratch. What could have been a rushed process became an opportunity for innovation. The launch of the Vomero Plus would set a new standard as a shoe by women with women runners in mind.

The Dreamweaver program, a Nike project that supported more than 100 female athletes training for the Olympic Trials, helped lead the charge.

“We were thinking about a female runner who's really dedicated to logging consistent, daily miles,” says Campbell.

The group was comprised of full-time workers, parents and everyday runners. Their feedback? Lead with comfort. So, the designers followed suit.

The Vomero Plus, which comes in hot pink colorways and adorns a plush collar and tongue, is designed to feel right. How did the team achieve this? They prioritized using soft, tactile materials, giving the shoe its uniquely warm and welcoming aesthetic.

The shoe was inspired by the beloved Air Max 95. The upper of the Vomero Plus is sculpted with flowing, intentional lines that exude elegance and boldness. “I wanted these lines to feel really soft and intentional, but still have attitude,” Klumpp says.

Klumpp was adamant about self-editing some of her early sketches of the Vomero Plus that felt too aggressive. Meanwhile, Campbell ensured that the product strategy aligned with this vision — delivering a shoe that was not only visually distinct, but also functionally superior.

Together, they created something confident and eye-catching.

The result was a shoe that looked different, felt different, and boasted a unique story.

The Vomero Plus offers maximum cushioning for a smooth and comfortable run: Built with a full-length ZoomX foam midsole that has 4mm more stack-height than the Invincible 3, it produces an even softer, lighter and more responsive ride than the Vomero 18.

“You're getting a different level of softness and energy return underfoot,” Campbell says. “Having more softness and more energy return is a benefit that can help you run more and stay fresher for longer.”

Most important: It made runners feel amazing. Wear testing revealed that more cushioning translated to more miles with fewer aches. Elite athlete Jessica Hull said the shoe even helped her train more consistently.

“The Vomero Plus is a great introductory shoe for a smooth, responsive and well-cushioned ride at a wide range of paces,” says Hull, a Nike athlete and silver medalist in the 1,500 meters. “It gives new runners the ability to run anywhere at any time without concern for firm surfaces or high impact on the body."

While the shoe was designed for women, anyone can sport these comfortable and lightweight shoes. Many male testers had great feedback for this shoe, as well.

Ready to run farther with the most innovative Vomero to date? When you test drive this first-of-its-kind daily trainer, which releases on August 7, 2025, remember to take note of how you feel stride after stride.