There are times when Nike pulls something unexpected out of the bag – you're ever left confused as to why, of all silhouettes, it chose that one, or you start digging around your pockets for the right change. On this occasion, I'd opt for the latter.
Nike's Zoom Vomero 5. The fifth iteration of one of the Swoosh's flagship running silhouettes, the first of which was born in 2006. Year on year, Nike continued to evolve the technology within the sneaker, beginning with Cushlon on the first version and Flywire on the 8th and seemingly final edition.
When the Zoom Vomero 5 touched down in 2010, it was described by Nike and fans alike as "pillowy soft," attested to its two separate Zoom Air cushioning units and a redesigned midfoot. Over the next few years, it was this version that continued to be favored amongst runners and sneaker enthusiasts, although remaining pretty underground at scale.
It wasn't until 2018, four years after the Zoom Vomero 8 launched, that the popularity of the 5 truly spiked, thanks to Samuel Ross' A-COLD-WALL.
For their now iconic collaboration, A-COLD-WALL chose the Zoom Vomero 5 as its canvas, adding a brutalist heel clip to the sneaker, which certainly divided fans.
First, it arrived in two blank slates, followed up by a third block red colorway, until the hugely popular "Solarized" finish landed to complete the pack. Following the success of the collaboration, Nike stepped on the gas with a series of general release colorways that were well received.
Now, four years later, the silhouette steps back into the spotlight with an easy-wearing, beautifully paletted "Oatmeal" finish.
