Nike Zoom Vomero 5 ‘Supersonic’

This Nike Zoom Vomero 5 ‘Supersonic’ forges striking contrasts across its Light Bone & Black outer using a variety of white tones alongside powerful dark accents. The rubber outsole features the familiar waffle grip pads found on many classic Nike runners, those below the forefoot being Neutral Grey with translucent ones at each tip, and those beneath the heel beige with faint black flecks. Another partially see-through piece sits below the arch of the foot, and the deep grooves between the tread formations are a mixture of creamy tones. Glow-in-the-dark aspects highlight the outsole at night, and the use of BRS 1000 carbon rubber to protect high-wear areas is indicated by debossed text in one of the heel pads. More lettering has been pressed into the midsole, whose two-tone off-white exterior is accompanied by spongy black blocks on the lateral heel. In the white part, there are two pieces of text: Cushlon and Nike Zoom, the former suggesting the soft padding material used throughout most of the sole unit, the latter exposing the presence of Nike’s responsive Air cushioning inside.

The composite upper is layered with a number of different materials in various compelling combinations. A piece of Neutral Grey leather caps the toe, two reflective strips accenting its flanks. Spreading back away from this across the forefoot is a layer of white mesh framed by a black leather overlay. Moving further up the shoe, beige suede forms the eyestay, and white laces tie up over the black part of the tongue. These are held in place by several lace loops and a piece of beige textile that runs up the middle of the tongue, a white reflective stripe at its center. At the top, the tongue’s surface becomes a tan-colored mesh with a rectangular label sewn into it. Blue Vomero 5 text appears brightly against the black banner along the label’s lower edge, while its beige top part features a spiraling white emblem that incorporates a Nike swoosh.

Over each midfoot is a complex structure with a mesh base layer covered by a light gray plastic cage with a fan of bars spreading out from the edge of the tongue towards the midsole. This provides a number of openings that facilitate breathability around the sides of the foot. Curved pieces of leather overlay each edge of the plastic panel in two off-white shades, and the whole midfoot design is topped off by a bright white leather swoosh.

Meanwhile, the heel is formed of a similar blend of materials to those found on the forefoot, with white mesh around the collar, followed by a black band of leather over its center and a sturdy plastic heel counter underneath. The light beige surface of this last feature has been decorated with a series of zigzagging lines that form triangular shapes across the heel, some of which are open to allow more ventilation, others of which are tightly closed to protect the back of the foot. Just like the toe, the leather piece on the heel has silvery strips lining each side, but here, there is the added effect of a swoosh right in the middle of the overlay.

Inside the shoe, a soft black lining helps to deliver a cozy fit around the ankles, and the insole has been adorned with an eye-catching blue and black graphic depicting a gritty urban setting. Back on the outer, some of the overlays conceal a hidden surprise as the black overlays are coated in a light-activated material that serves to highlight the reflective details even more powerfully. This ensures that the swoosh on the heel stands out for all to see, thus completing this sophisticated sneaker with a shining glow.