Nike - Zegama 2

Nike is having huge sales on last colors of the Zegama 2. I just got a pair for $108 with tax and free shipping.

Mafate Speed 4 is still great. Big fan of the Nike Zegama 2 these days too. Both are on the heavier side but are very protective and have great grip. I feel a bit more nimble in the Mafate though. I have a Kjerag that I really like but I guess I have poor footwork because I think I need more cushion. I really hurt my foot landing on a root in the last race I wore them on. Mafate Speed 4 Lite is very cool but I want to see some reviews from trail runners. Hoka is positioning it as a lifestyle shoe which I think is odd and is causing it to be looked over by real runners (I think).

TX2 is a great choice. I would size up half a size from a Mafate though. The TX2 has a particularly tight toe box. This is one of the things that was updated on the TX3 Now that I think of it though, I would also suggest that you look at the Nike Zegama 2. It's pretty great, if only a tad heavy. Unless you're running some super technical trails, I don't see a reason to stay away from max cushion for a heavier runner, even for shorter races. Unless you are specifically going for highly technical running and very sensitive trail feel, go for the support and give your joints a break

I'm really enjoying the Zegama 2 for all kinds of trails. The lugs are bit overkill for nontechnical trails but it's not going to kill you to haul around a few extra ounces if you otherwise like the shoe. I've used them for nontechnical 100 milers and had no regrets. They're great shoes, at least on my feet. I've had terrible experiences with Challengers, particularly the ankle collar rubbing on my ankle bones. Chafing, bruising, or both. I get the feeling this is just a me problem, though, as these shoes are otherwise quite popular. Every few years I try on the latest Challenger iteration and experience the same problem. If these shoes are working for you already in 100s, I don't see a point in switching. Zegamas aren't going to make you any faster. You could also consider road shoes for a nontechnial trail 100. I wore Hoka Cliftons for my first 100 mile race and had zero issues.

Good writeup, thanks for your input. Sounds like a great door-to-trail shoe for those of us that live in areas with pretty dry, buffed out trails. I wouldn't expect that outsole to be a grip monster, so this isn't surprising. Kind of disagree about the Zegama 2, I find myself liking it way more than expected. Given the abomination that the Speedgoat 6 has turned out to be, I'm using the Zegama 2 in place of it. Very much for a different purpose than I would a Pegasus Trail. I bounce around between Hoka, Topo, Altra, and Nike. I've been finding myself more impressed with Nike's offerings in recent years and much less by Hoka.

Topo Ultraventure is a solid alternative. Nike Zegama also similar.

I've had fairly good luck with them, they usually crap out for me around 500-600 miles. I feel like that ZoomX midsole starts to get pretty lifeless around 500 miles. Uppers also start to tear for me, but that could just be due to the heaps of sweat and dirt that dry them out. Really great shoe overall, been my go-to for the last few thousand miles of trail running. Wish it was maybe just a touch lighter though, but nothing's ever going to be perfect.

Ah, thanks. Good additional info there! I tend to keep a few different shoes in my drop bags or with my crew during the really long races. I've found that really high stack shoes (Speegoats, Zegamas for me) work well early in the race, but as my muscles fatigue, my form degrades, and my turnover starts to suffer, I want a little bit less shoe. The big stack shoes make me stumble and trip! When that becomes a problem, I go down to a smaller stack shoe. Like most things shoe related, I think you'll have to experiment a bit. Over the years, I've grown further and further toward using exclusively high stack shoes both training and racing. I've been testing out different stack heights in training more recently, simply to remind myself that other options exist and can work in the right situation. If you feel like your shoes might be holding you back, give a new strategy a try.

Nike Zegama 2 - great cushion for the road  but excellent grip for muddy trails with the vibram outsole- plenty of sales, you can pick then up for £99- I have stocked up 👌🏻

The foam on the zegama 2 is more comfortable for me for long efforts than the challenger. My feet get sore in the challengers a lot faster than the zegama.

Same. It’s a great shoe.

Plug for Zegama 2s. I’m only 180 lbs but find the performance and the amount of wear I put on shoes differs greatly from my lighter friends. The Zegamas snappy mid and rugged outsole has held up amazingly well (just replacing them after >600 hard miles). They’re high and not super wide and some complain they’re not stable but they work for me, size 15 probably lending some stability. 

Some already said, but I'd look at the: * Topo MTN Racer 3 - tried them on in store and thought they felt great * Brooks Catamount 3 or 4 - I run in the 2's right now and have the 3's waiting in the wings. This is my favorite trail shoe, although it is a little narrow. * Nike Zegama 2 - I didn't like them because I thought the heel drop felt like too much for the trails and would cause stability issues for myself. Foam felt great though. * North Face Summit VECTIV Sky 2 - heard good things about this one that's about to come out. The one might go on sale soon. * adidas Terrex Agravic 3 - heard good things but too narrow for me * adidas Terrex speed - heard good things but too narrow for me * nnormal kjerag - heard good things and is a sustainable brand * Altra Monte Blanc - heard good things from people who have no heel slippage problems, although the heel didn't work for me at all

Rotating out Nike Zegama 2 and Terra Kiger depending on run type and/or weather.

Hi op, fellow 200 pound runner here, I’ve been using a mix of my nike zegama trail 2s and on cloudsurfer trail 2s, I will say the trails near me aren’t the most technical in the world so that may be where they fall short if you decide to try them. Just know the ride on the zegamas is kind of insane

Hi all, Did Scafell Pike in the Lake District today, my first mountain run in 5+ years. Came down the Mickledore path, which is loose scree and relatively steep. I wore my Nike Zegama 2, which whilst ok for the trails I usually do, were hopeless on the wet, slippery rock and scree on the mountain, and I lost footing many times. I’m looking for a trail shoe with excellent wet rock grip for steep mountain trails. Preferably Salomon as I can access stores to try them on, but would consider other mainstream running brands. Any help appreciated.

For what you’re describing, the Zegama Trail 2 are amazing. I just can’t find anything wrong with them, which I find annoying because I prefer smaller/niche brands… They’ve accompanied me on OCC last year, three weeks hiking in Bolivia this spring, and regular training and hiking in Austrian and French alps… Maybe they could shave off some unnecessary weight but I’m never thought « oh these are heavy » For shorter distances and less technical terrain I choose other shoes though

Zegama Trail 2. Comfy, grippy, sturdy

I've the Speedgoat 5 and Zegama 2. The Zegama are way better for me, in particular for long runs 20k+, as I'm getting blisters with the SG5s. Zegama's are so much more comfortable and better fitting and they work very well on tarmac too. Due to the stack height, they are not the most stable, so I wouldn't recommend them for highly technical trails or muddy stuff (but I'd say that's true for the SG5s too). Next trail shoe purchase will be Zegama's again, my feet do love them.

You should check out the Nike Zegama 2. It was rated as one of the best trail shoes of 2024. Much more durable than the Speedgoat as well. The shoe is amazing. Vibram sole and you get some Zoom X super foam too!

Zegama 2 is great.

Nike Zegama 2 has a sticky Vibram sole and is frequently on sale and widely available. Asics Trabuco Max 2 / 3 also has good grip and is comfortable. Both can be run in on and off pavement. Both are comfortable enough to wear for casual use.

I have no complaints about my Zegama 2.

Nike Zegama 2. I wear them even when not trail running. They’re great and you can find them on sale.

Nike Zegama 2. Vibram sole with excellent grip. Zoom X midsole. This is the shoe I take when I can only have one shoe for both on an off road.

Consider the Zegama 2. It's on sale frequently. Unless you're running places where your shoes get wet a lot I would not get the Gore Tex version as they are less comfortable and more expensive.

Yuuuup! Little heave but they have good support and that zoomx foam. I’m wearing them for my 50k coming up

I wear Glys and wear trail runners, if you just like brooks try the catamount 2s or 3s, great beginner trail shoes. If you are looking outside the brand I really like the Nike zegama 2s, I plan to wear those on my next ultra

For padding do the brooks calderas or Nike zegamas. I really like my Nikes.

The nikes, They have a pretty high ankle support compared to most shoes I’ve worn, they have really great traction with the vibram rubber soles. I wore them on my recent 50k and that course has some really technical sections with volcanic rock, I rolled my ankles a few times but that was due to fatigue and not paying attention

My Nike Zegamas 2s are like platform running shoes? They have a lowish drop (4 mm) but the actual base (stack height?) feels like it is 4 inches. The last pair I had, a stick went through the fake carbon plate and into my foot. I think the platform vibe (stack height?) is meant to lessen the puncture risk? But also, kind of nice for (more likely) dry feet during a creek crossing. They really are a good fit for my narrow heel and high arch. I stopped slamming my toes into the front like I was previously doing with my Saucony Peregrine. The extra little liner sock does it's job to keep my feet in place. I will say the other pair had insanely good "stickiness" way past when I thought the tread was gone. They remain walking trail shoes for this alone.

Nike Zegama 2 is top tier shoe. Done a 90k ultra in them and they were flawless.

I need low drop so like the Nike Zegama 2 over the Peregrine for added cushion - know some people who have done 100milers in them. YMMV with the drop of course.

Years of Altra-Topo… just went Zegama 2 and love it… will also keep Speedgoat in the rotation… tried on Caldera and liked it…

Zegama 2 is firm, fresh foam more is firm, speedgoat is firm. I have tried them all and they might be softer than an old style trail shoe, but definitely not soft shoes. The softest I have tried so far is ASICS trabuco max 2&3 But I would love to find a similar or softer and bouncy trail shoe, like Neo vista but for door to trail type shoes.

+1 for Pegasus trail Gore-tex. Great for those of us with non-narrow feet who need a little more room in the toe box (but not ridiculous width). Comfortable, plenty of cushioning for road use, grip is fine, no complaints at all. Some people love to crap on gore tex trail shoes and prefer to soak their feet through in freezing cold water the second they go outside. Personally, if you live somewhere muddy I very much subscribe to Gore-tex trail shoes being better in the muddier months.  Invisible fit gore-tex means they’re just like normal trail shoes, they don’t have a sock liner like older variants, and they feel great. They do still run warmer so I’ve stopped using them in the summer to avoid sweaty feet though. Bear in mind though that the Gore-tex Pegasus Trail has stickier rubber for better grip, and some people say the grip on the non-GTX isn’t that great. For non gore-tex summer use I’ve been loving the Nike Zegama 2.

I ran my first marathon (trail) in these last year and yeah, they’re pretty great. They’ve since been relegated to my go-to road shoe but they have still held up really well.

I’m seeing the topo suggestions and maybe they’re your best bet.. but. I hate topo. I just had some cyclones that ripped across the side and didn’t fit my midfoot (likely caused the rip) yet were sloppy at the same time on road downhills. Mtn racer 2’s were foot friendly, but sloppy on tech stuff. Kept my toes safe if I really tied them down tight. Have read the 3’s are even wider and sloppier and refused to try them, but I would have purchased the 2’s again if they didn’t change. I have wide feet, especially the mid foot, but my toes aren’t as wide. This year I’ve used the Zegama 1 and 2, the 2 fit better and were decent, but not my favorite shoes. Also have scarpa ribelle runs and spin ultras that are ok. If I had to grab a shoe tomorrow and do 100K, I would break down and cry ha. My feet suck for every shoe. Need wide, but need secure. Agree that Salomon in wide do work well for me though! They just don’t have models I like. Edit to add: everyone’s idea of technical is different. For me, it’s hopping across rocks, loose gravel, and having to literally “tiptoe” across some sections. When I lived in a less technical area, every shoe worked great!

These are currently on my feet as I type this and the answer is yes. Love this shoe.

The ladies can't get enough of them

Came here to say Zegama 2's. I love how cushiony they are during long runs in these exact kind of environments.

What would you say the enduris 4s are most similar to? I just got a pair to replace my zegama 2s which were highly cushioned, with decent grip, but unstable as hell on the downhill. After spraining my ankle in them on a trail i just decided to give them away and try something different.

Lots of good options out there. Watching “conversational pace” on YouTube can give you some really good reviews to ponder. Personally, I’ve had good luck out of my Nike Zegama 2’s for the price.

Zegama 2 if you looking for comfort to moderate technical terrain. Speedgoat 6 will be a great choice if you prefer a bit firm but responsive midsole also perfoms well in highly technical terrain. Trabuco Max 4 and Kailas Fuga EX 330 if you looking for max comfort over long distances but a bit sketchy on technical terrain due to the high stacks.

Zegama 2s crazy comfy and smooth at all paces

When I first got them they took a couple runs to get used to break in . After about 50km I haven't noticed it at all

Narrow where? Forefoot has decent width just not a ton of volume... But the fabric is soft enough that it hasn't caused me issues

I had Hoka Speedgoat 5s last season and enjoyed them. Tread wore pretty quickly with them though. In Nike Zegama 2s currently and loving them.

I would think the logical crossover for the Invincible 3 is the Zegama 2. I’ve got both. I took my Zegama’s (my second pair now) on an 18 miler today with plenty of technical trails and 6,600’ of vert.

I change it up between Nike Zegama 2, Speedgoat 5, and Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed & Speed Ultra. Always rocking my Salomon Adv Skin 5 pack and Carbon Z poles.

Ultraflys are totally fine for 100s if they fit your feet well. They and the Zegama 2s have a vibram sole so less chance of slipping in wet conditions. I’ve worn Ultraflys, Trail Pegs, and Zegamas for nontechnical 100s. I think I liked the Zegamas the most, despite the higher weight. Ultraflys work really well for faster running, but don’t do much once I was on the back half of the race and mixing walking and running a lot more. Trail Pegs are good, but I prefer the Zegama cushion for 100 miles.

The outsole on the 2 is perfect as far as I'm concerned, I'm not specifically looking for shoes with Vibram otusoles. The Zagama 2 look nice, but they're maybe TOO high stack, compromising on ground feel and stability? Mostly though, they're pricey and pretty heavy too.

Underrated: Nike Zegama Trail 2. Got my second pair yesterday. 10/10 would recommend.

I ran the entire wonderland trail and TMB trail in zegamas. They’re my favorite trail shoes. I can take them on anything and they feel great. I’ve run thousands of miles in the Zegama 1s and 2s. Both are fantastic imo. I’m a competitive runner and run fast on these trails too. Steep ups, steep downs. Technical terrain. Rarely a blister with those things too.

Tried Nike Zegama 2 should be the new Speedgoat

Really loved my old Hoka Speedgoats but the new iteration just isn't durable like it used to be. Swapped to Nike Zegama 2: super grippy, nice and cushioned, higher on the ankle, great laces, comfortable toe box with no hot spots for me.

For super rocky and big rock terrain, I run in La Sportiva Ultra Raptor (a half size up from true size and also in wide, because they are snug). While not as light as Speedgoats (or other shoes), which I have also run in, they help me feel more sure-footed. ( I rolled an ankle in the Speedgoats.) The Raptor cushioning for me feels more appropriate for the bigger rocks, without being too firm or too soft. Excellent sticky lugs. Very protective at the toe point. No rubbing at ankles. Tougher construction, less likely to suffer a tear. They double as solid hiking shoes. For most other trail running, I like my Nike Zegama 2’s (I have three pairs, love them! Again, a half size up). I never see anyone else in Zegamas, for some reason. They are rarely reviewed. But for my 3-7 mile runs, they feel speedy. No need to get a wider size. And Nike sells them at a decent price—even discounted, frequently, in the Nike app. Zegamas also have good lugs for my nearby leafy, rooty, scrabbly rock trails in Central Atlantic region. And I wear my older Zegamas for daily walking. (stats: 5’10” 155lbs male).

I just got a pair of the Zegama 2’s and usually wear Altra Olympus for trails and ON Cloudmonster’s for the roads. So far I’m a huge huge fan of how the shoe feels and the grippiness of the outsole. I wear a 10 in Altra’s but sized up a half size for the Zegama. I like to think I have a wider foot and they feel great on my feet.

I spent a day trying different shoes at different shops. The softer heal counter is a driving force - drop, cushioning and wide toebox are also important. The 3 I narrowed it down to were… in 3rd place Altra Olympus 6 (but no drop), in 2nd the New Balance Hierro - seemed good and 1, which surprised me, the Nike Zagama 2 (which was slightly more flexible than the Hierro - a good or bad thing, I’ll report back). The toebox for the Nike has sometimes been described as narrow, when I tried it on it was fine.

Can confirm. I have a wide ish mid sole and love the Zegamas. They're probably a bit too boxy for anything technical, but smooth gravel and grass they really excel at.

Echo your thoughts on the mudtalons. I used them on a 30k last week that was 50/50 muddy trail into hard pack and roads. My legs were beaten up afterwards. I've just picked up a pair of Nike Zegamas for the same use case you have. I was considering the Mafates, but I think they'd have been too narrow for me.

I've been running in the Zegama 2's for a few months now and they're pretty solid. Vibram sole. Lugs are well spaced and 5mm. Anything too wet and muddy then I just use my mud talons.

Zegama 2's might be for you. Same foam as they use in their road super shoes. Roomy toe box (width and height) and they use a vibram sole. I don't work for Nike btw. I just really rate the Zegamas.

Not that I've noticed. I don't even bother to clean mine off. I've got a pair of Nike Zegama 2's that are coming up to 700kms and the upper has started to tear in places, but that's mostly because I've been running in them in the mountains and catching them on jagged rocks. Cleaning and drying them off would probably help to extend the life of them, but you'll probably find the mid sole will start to fail before the upper, or the sole. Some brands have shoes with a mesh upper (Norda and NNormal) which is more durable than the cloth you'll find on most shoes.

The Vibram outsole gives superb grip and traction compared to its predecessor, which is borderline slippy in wet conditions. Overall I like the plush and comfy feeling especially on my very long runs. I could go on and on forever in them. I really like it and they have fancy color ways. Not a speed race shoe tho imho.

I have Zegama 2 and Ultrafly from Nike. Both good but I would really try Ultraflys at least for me they are crazy nice and roadlike feeling shoes, very stable and responsive. Toe box is very nice and wide and wahts more important the foam in front is like wider on the bottom (hard to explain) just the fron is giving you a very stable run and with a very nice stiff back around ankle it really plants your foot in place (and I had my ankles srrpingkled number of thimes back when I was playing baksetball) . Not sure why they made them so expensive as a stock price and kinda put into premium shoe for racing category bc in reality they are great for easy runs and long runs. And you can find them on sales nowadays like I bought mine new for 130e or so. Zegama is great too but a bit higher and toe is a lil bit smaller and they are a bit less stable (nothing unstable but a bit less then ultrafly) TLDR. I have like 6 pairs from nike (new to running, came from cycling) and I like ultrafly so much that I prefer them over any road shoe I have.

I have two trail running shoe models from nike and for me they are better then any road shoe I have Zegama 2 are crazy comfy and I just love them, just a crazy secure plushy and dynamic run with them ultrafly for a bit faster running, I love them bc of teh wide forefoot with like the construction where the base gets even wider then the top of the sole which makes them crazy secure /i attach a link to the photo so you know what I mena, it is hard to explain/ (carbon plate helps here too probably so they don't wobble at all) overall crazy secure shoe, you can use them for slow runs or faster ones too and vibram is very delicate so you can easily run on teh road too had pegasus tr5 at home but form me they run smaller half a size so were to small [https://www.nike.com/t/ultrafly-mens-trail-racing-shoes-K8vfLD](https://www.nike.com/t/ultrafly-mens-trail-racing-shoes-K8vfLD) look at the 6th photo on this page ps. best part, you can easily find them at sale 50% down or so

I did a 8 mile with them yesterday in the heat. I didn't get any hot spots nor did that thought cross my mind at all. I've only got a couple runs in so far but I would recommend them.

I recently picked up a pair of Topo Ultraventure 4's for my upcoming 50k race. I have put 250 miles on a pair of Zegama 2's and just under 100 miles on a pair of Brooks Caldera 7's. So far, after 25 miles, the Topo's are really great. They are cushioned, wide, have very comfortable laces and no heel slip. I have some conerns about the stability of the shoe running downhill. The heel is narrower than both the Zegama and Caldera. I also find the outsole heel is much more rounded, and less flat. But I plan to run the race in these Topo's. My other caution would be that the lugs and grip are fairly mild compared to those other 2 shoes. If your race will be technical, muddy, etc. then the Ultraventure 4 isn't for you.

I’m 275lbs so take this advice as my own personal experience. I own 3 pairs of trail shoes: 1. Nike Zegama 2: great shoe, moderate stack, wide toe box, and great grip. ZoomX foam is really fun. My lowest stack shoe. 2. Brooks Caldera 7: very cushioned, wide toe box as well, but I find that I collapse inwardly. If you don’t over pronate, this is the shoe for you. The foam is fairly bouncy and the rocker is aggressive enough to keep you moving forward. 3. Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4: my newest shoe for trails. Ergonomic toe box, great cushion, aggressive insole and support, and ok grip. This is my favorite shoe right now and I plan to use it for my 50k race.

I’ve got about 180 miles in a pair of Nike Zegama 2 and just picked up a pair of Brooks Caldera 7.

I’ve also enjoyed my Nike Zegama 2’s. I like a website called Run Repeat. They have good reviews of shoes as well as Doctors of Running.

Hey, I know this is a late reply, but I've put on 241 miles on my pair of Zegama 2's. Just for background, I'm a heavy runner (275lbs). The wear on these shoes is amazing. The lugs still look great, although the heel lugs have worn more than the midfoot and forefoot lugs. I am a heel striker and do most of my running on hard pack SoCal trails. The durability of the shoe is fantastic. Other than some dirt, there isn't any other wear areas. The cushion is flattening a little bit now. I've basically stopped using them as a training shoe (since I like them so much) and just using them for races now. I can't find another pair for the same price I paid and I don't want to use up it's life with training. Hope this is helpful.

I love the Nike Zegama 2. They were my first trail shoe and since trying a bunch of others, these are consistently a top 3 shoe for me

In general almost all trail shoes should meet those criteria so you're asking a pretty open question and essentially getting everyone recommendeing the shoes they wear. Grip is an interesting one. IMO, most trail shoes have good grip for most situations, but there are a couple terrain types where things become more challenging. Wet, smooth rocks are one of those. Vibram outsoles seems to be one of the best outsoles here and is available on multiple brands. Both the Hoka Speedgoat and Nike Zagama 2 have it and both get good reviews for walking and running. Multiple people are recommending Altra shoes to you, but unless you already run in zero drop shoes I'd avoid them. The foam is pretty minimal on many of their models and quality and durability has been a big complaint.

There isn’t as much cushioning in the 6s compared to the 5s. I’ve put 400miles into a pair of 5s but I tried them 6s on in the shop and didn’t like how stiff they felt and ended up getting the Nike Zegama 2s instead. All of my road shoes are Nike so I knew what I was getting.

The Hoka Mafate Speed 4 Lite x Satisfy wrecked my heels the first time I used them. Tore my skin up good and took like 10 days to heal. Surprisingly, they are nice now and have been enjoying them. Nike Zegama 2 is my jam as well and I’ve been rotating in the Nnormal Tomir 2.0

I've been enjoying the Zegama 2s.

I was a member of the Hoka cult, lol. Nikes are great, I love the Pegasus Trail 4, Zegama 2, and UltraFly. My only complaint, their uppers don’t breathe very well, the shoe runs a bit hot. The Zegamas are not as stable as I would like them, and the Pegasus trail lack a bit of grip. (My go to technical trail shoes are the Tomir 2 by Nnormal). I tried the Wildhorse 8, didn’t like them. Been curious about the 10s 🤔

I've done a few gnarly gravel/talus/scree descents in the Zegama 2 and it handled them like a champ. And they're among the more stable of the higher stack trail shoes I've used in recent years. I've been really happy with them overall.

When it comes to footwear (and really most things in running), it's important to note that everything works for somebody, but nothing works for everybody. There is no "best" and things that you need to prioritize may not be what someone else needs to prioritize. Similarly, some people are highly sensitive to shoe choice while others can seemingly get on fine with anything. It's really all over the board when it comes to shoes. >What’s your current rotation and why? For road, Adidas Evo SL for speed/tempo stuff and Mount to Coast R1 for everything else. The Evo SL is bouncy, fast, and fun, which makes it perfect for speed work. The R1 has soft but resilient foam and a wide-ish toe box, which makes it comfortable for pretty much any distance. Evidently the R1 is super durable, so I'm looking forward to seeing how long they hold up. On trail, my go-to long run and race shoe is the Nike Zegama 2 as it does everything well and is extremely durable (my current pair has over 700 miles on them and they still feel good). For everything else, I use either the Merrell Agility Peak 5 or the Mount to Coast T1 depending on how I'm feeling and where I'm running. The Agility Peak is firmer and more nimble, the T1 is somehow both more stable and more comfortable. I would honestly be fine exclusively using either the Zegama or the T1 as they're both that good. I wouldn't want to do an ultra in the Agility Peak due to the firmness, but they're fabulous for shorter stuff. >Also, do you feel a lower drop helped or hurt your calves? Neither one really. After coming back from a long, injury-related hiatus, I found that 0mm drop caused my plantar fasciitis to flare up a bit, but I was also relatively weak at that point. I'm fairly certain it wouldn't be a problem now, but I just don't have any 0mm drop shoes on hand at the moment to test with. Beyond that, I can't reasonably associate any good or bad effects with shoe drop with my own running, but I do have a friend who stopped buying anything with less than an 8mm drop because he kept having Achilles tendon problems with low drop shoes.

The Zegama 2 is also extremely durable. My current pair has 680 miles on them and they're still going strong. One notable downside is that the stock insoles hold water worse than the insoles in most other shoes. If you're definitely going to be getting them wet, consider swapping the insoles for something else.

Trail: Norda 001 x2 Nike Zegama 1 Nike Zegama 2 Nike Ultrafly Topo MTN Racer 2 Saucony Endorphin Edge Salomon Ultra Glide Road: Hoka Clifton 9 Topo Atmos Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

I have not found the right shoe yet, no. I have found the Altra Lone Peak, Olympus, and Hoka Speedgoat midsoles to all lose compression rebound before the sole or uppers wear out. I don't have enough miles in my Hoka Mafate Speed 4 to make a determination, but they feel really good. I think the Ego Max midsole on the Altra Timp 5 has much better life than the Ego EVA, but is too firm for long days. The Nike Zegama 2 would've been a homerun for me if they didnt use the weird heel cup sock liner thing.

I don’t find the Zegama 2s particularly narrow.

About a week or so ago I was seeking some advice on my choice of a new trail running shoe. You can see my original post on this sub here: https://www.reddit.com/r/trailrunning/s/YEfkejVq6d I still don’t think I’ve found my perfect shoe, but I bought a few shoes in the lead-up to a trail half marathon I ran last weekend… and I ultimately decided to train in (for the week leading up to the race) and race in a pair of black Nike Zegama 2’s. Here are my impressions of the shoes. Hopefully this helps another neurotic soul like me who is searching for as much info as possible before finally pulling the trigger (or not) on the Nike Zegama 2. SIZING: • Seems to fit true-to-size. I usually go up a half size to US 9.5, and that felt right for the Zegama 2. FIT: • The shoes were very comfortable on first try, and it was only after comparing to the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 that I recognized how good the front lockdown on the Zegama actually was. The material in the upper of these shoes feels soft yet durable, and is therefore able to conform to my foot shape. The flexibility of the upper means that the shoe flexes as I run – compare this to the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 where the lockdown was mediocre (too much room vertically above my foot in the toebox area) and the material Nnormal uses has less give, so whenever I jogged (around the house) the upper would buckle around the toe bend/flexion point, which was putting a lot of strain on the material (this happens to be where my Arc’teryx Norvans started to tear… I was keen to avoid this same problem). • My main fit issue with the Zegama was around the heel, where I noticed some slippage early on. Even though I employed heel lock lacing, I couldn’t get the heel to stay in without putting too much pressure elsewhere on my foot. I was considering avoiding the Zegama because of this, but it was the 1 downside I decided to compromise on. During training and the race (which was a mix of beach sand, compacted ground, leaf litter, rock and gravel), the heel slippage issue became less prominent – at no point in my runs did I worry about it, and the more I ran the more it seemed my heel fit fine (if anything, heel slippage seems to be more an issue when walking). PERFORMANCE: A few days before the half marathon I ran 13km on moderately technical terrain, and it left me with some question marks around performance. During that run, I noticed: • The Zegama 2 lacked some stability on rocky ground (on bigger boulder faces at an angle it works fine, but when only part of the shoe lands on part of a rock/root then the instability kicks in). I didn’t sprain my ankle at any point, but I had a couple near-misses. • Traction felt fine. I can’t compare it to the Zegama 1, but I wouldn’t give the new Vibram outsole a 10/10. I noticed myself being unsure of traction on wet/damp leaf litter. • The toe cap isn’t super protective – I ran into small boulders twice, and I felt it each time in my toes. Nothing overly painful but definitely noticeable, so this protection could be stronger. • Cushioning felt really good, and it felt like the shoe was providing some momentum/spring for the next cadence. • The increased rocker profile is a double-edged sword: it felt great on uphill and especially flat parts, where the shoe made my run zippier; but on downhill parts it started to feel like the shoe got away from me… it was “outrunning” me and I almost lost control a couple times. I was probably in two minds about whether I was going to race in this shoe, but decided to go for it. By the end of the half marathon (on slightly less technical terrain than the 13km training run above), I had a few more observations: • The shoe is indeed breathable thanks to the construction of the upper, but the last 2km of the half marathon was along the shore, and my feet got a bit wet. In another shoe (such as the S/Lab Genesis which feels amazing so far, only it didn’t arrive in time for me to race in it), I might’ve avoided soaking up so much water – but the Zegama has a fair amount of upper fabric, which meant a fair amount of water intake and a fair amount of weight added for the last leg. • Despite lots of small complaints outlined above, I actually had a really good time in the Zegama for the half marathon! It wasn’t too heavy, it had good energy return, I didn’t really even notice it much (except for some downhill sections) – even the traction seemed to improve after another run. • However, once I took the shoes off, I had developed a blister on my left middle toe and a blood blister on my right one. I found this really strange, since I’ve only ever had some issues (black nails) in my 2nd toe in some shoes – but never my middle toes. I didn’t feel this during the race though. So I’m not sure what to make of this. OVERALL VERDICT: I’m not convinced the Zegama is suitable for terrains that are moderate and up in terms of technicality. And I’m not convinced they can hold up on slippery surfaces. If I’m going to go for a mountain run with small rocks and tree roots, where there might be some damp/water, I’m going to reach for another shoe. So what does that leave me with? Light terrain such as compacted ground and grass, probably big boulders, maybe some sand/gravel, that isn’t too downhill. It actually feels like a good travel shoe – you can dress it up for a dinner while on holiday, wear it for long walks around a new town, and take it for the odd trail run on a new route. A 3-in-1. This isn’t exactly what I was looking for though… and I’m excited to try the Salomon S/Lab Genesis next.

Yeh heel slippage was definitely one of my main issues. It got better while running (vs walking), and runners knot/lace lock helped. But not surprised to hear this with the Zegama 2

I used these and SpeedGoat 5 currently. Im so bad at telling the difference between shoes. I can't tell if its a blessing or a curse. No shoes feel faster/slower than another after about a half mile of a run.

Everyone's feet are different shapes and sizes. What works for one may not work for another. But anecdotally, I will say I've liked each trail shoe I've punched based on this subs suggestions in the past. I have narrowish feet. I've run a 50 mile race on Nike Zegama 2s, and a 50K long run on Hoka Speed Goat 5s. And trained on trails in both shoes. I like both of them, and would repurchase again if I wasn't one to try New shoes just because. I just picked up Speed Goat 6s tonight and will be running a 30 miler on Sunday in them. (Last long run before a 115 mile race at the end of the month) I can report back her what I think of them post run if interested. I plan on splitting the 115 mile race between all 3 shoes. Again, I can report back on how each one feels during the same race.

I own Zegama 2’s and agree with your remarks on unnecessary complicated upper (and the weight impact it brings). They’re not particularly fast or exciting shoes. But I love the grippy Vibram sole and the combo of soft Zoom X with rock plate to bring protectiveness and stability. For me the rounded and soft nose, together with relatively narrow shape, is spot on. My trails don’t require much toe protection and I prefer some flex up front. For the issues that you describe, the low heel could be ideal. I didn’t like it at first, but have come to appreciate it on steep downhills.

Kalalau is Kauai, not Maui. But the Nike Wildhorse 8s look very nice. Also curious about the Nike Zegama 2s

The Zegamas definitely appear capable of handling longer distances. But if you’re planning on being at the front of the pack, there are definitely faster trail racers. This review is very (=too?) thorough: [https://runrepeat.com/nike-zegama-2](https://runrepeat.com/nike-zegama-2) Just pulled the trigger on a pair for an upcoming 100 k

Yep this is the right choice. I travel for a living and used the zegamas 2 for 1200km since last may. Just retiring them now. The grip is soft enough that it's not bad on the concrete, and trail running is awesome, even did a 50km 3 day trek in Japanese Alps with them. I should add: 1. All black colourway is amazing. 2. Got my second pair of zegama 2 in the off white that is just entering the rotation for travel.

Bases on this you should really look into wider options for trail shoes. Someone mentioned Topo's. Since you're using Nike already, try their Zegama Trail line. But really do try them, they're not that stable and a lot of people twist their ankles but they're really really comfy. Zegama 2 also uses Vibram outsole so they're much more gripper. Also might give Saucony a try since you're already using them. I tried Adizero line recently - they're also really good BUT a weird fit. So make sure to try.

Check out the Nike Zegama 2. I used to only wear Altra because I liked the toe box, even though my foot is not actually that wide. The Zegama is plenty wide (pull out the insole and you’ll see) so it actually supports my foot. In most other brands, my smallest toe is hanging off the insole. The rounded shape of the shoe is also why it works well. It’s not a tapered point like Hoka and many other brands. If more shoes had a squared or rounded toe box they’d fit many “wide” footed runners.

Yes I agree that they are slightly too high, but shouldn't be a major issue for intermediate runners. Although they feel slightly heavy and stiff, they are like you said easy to run at albeit at slow to moderate paces. I don't see any fit issues apart from them being slightly loose in the heels. I disagree a bit on the technical part as they are at least as good or even better than speedgoats in technical terrain performance. Really i have other trail shoes like the Peregrine 13, zegama 2, speedgoats 4 and 5, and the AP5 feels more technically inclined than the rest. The deeply lugged outsoles also seem more durable than the other shoes that I have including those with Vibram soles. That being said, although they are not super comfortable nor speedy, they get the job done better than most competitors at a better value for money. I love them.

Merrell Agility Peak 5 Insane lugs, better than speedgoats, incredibly protective, great for extreme terrain. Nike Zegama 2 Comfy but heavy, the vibram grips well, but somehow the lugs are shallower. Good for walking and slow runs up to moderately rough terrain, but doesn't excel at anything. Saucony Peregrine 14 Good fitting shoe, protective, comfy with sightly lower stack height. Great for everything up to 10 miles, that's when my feet get sore due to the thinner midsole. Very nimble, but they do not grip well on wet rocks or roots. Oh yeah the lugs wear out faster than i hoped affecting the longevity, that's something to be considered as well. Puma Deviate Nitro 2 They are the bomb if you are running your trails instead of walking them. Super light and have enough grip to handle moderate terrain. But they have very little protection on the uppers and outsole (shallow stack height), so you kind of have to watch where you place your feet to avoid sharp rocks and stuff. But goddamn they are fast. I much prefer the Merrell and Puma over the others, because they excel for certain usage conditions. The Zegama is meh (weak energy return) except for walking, while the Peregrine is limited by low stack height and incapability to gain traction on certain surfaces.

Interesting! I also got a pair of Nike Zegama 2 this fall. Before this I've worn almost exclusively Altra Lone Peak & Olympus. I flipping *love* this shoe, but with the narrower (normal) toe box, it aggravates my Morton's neuromas. So I have just over 200 miles on them, almost exclusively in techy terrain in the Central Wasatch. Everything from pretty runnable trails to several sections of the WURL with lots of granite and scrambling. They are starting to feel a little dead after 200 miles, and with all the granite and scrambling, I've chewed up some of the foam and upper. But they are still grippy AF. I agree with the sensation of the shoes getting ahead of me on the downhills sometimes but TBH I kinda like it, (I'm a little reckless) and I've definitely improved my downhill running speed by taking that as a challenge. The rocker and bouncy foam feel absolutely amazing to me. I've found them to be pretty darn stable- there have been a couple of times where I felt a similar misstep in Altras would have had me rolling my ankle, but I was able to recover easier in the Zegama 2's. Maybe just the overall platform is bigger- I feel like I can monster truck over pretty much anything. I can bounce up and down scree fields pretty confidently. We had a really dry summer/fall, so no real data on performance on wet terrain.

Given you like the Pegasus, try the Nike Zegema 2. That said, make sure to build distance gradually so all your muscles and tendons get time to get used to the increased load. If your feet hurt, it would also make sense to do some feet strengthening like foot yoga. Finally, make sure your shoes are sized correctly. Running shoe should typically be sized a bit bigger than your day to day shoes.

Massive fan of my ASICS gel trabuco 13's. I've done around 100km on these now after moving away from some Nike Zegama 2's that gave me shin splints and hip pain.

Just did UTMB Verbier x-Alpine in Nike Zegamas 2 Trail. Zero toe issues and shoe felt wide enough in the front! Check them out as well and maybe size up.

I like my Nike zegama 2s

Feels accurate to me. Love them. They’re my go to shoes in the summer.

They have better cushioning and are more comfy on the road or firm trail. The lugs seem less aggressive…however, I haven’t had any issues w grip. The outer fabric is, as the reviewer stated, more prone to get dirty and pick up dirt/mud. Like the improved toe protection vs the 4s.. I like them but time will have to tell if I like them as much as the 4s. So far, I have like 5 runs and 40mi in them. Haven’t done a long run in them yet. Half of that mileage is on road or dirt road. I typically use the Zegamas on my long trail runs on the weekends and 4s (now 5s) on my weekday mixed surface runs closer to home.

Salomon Genesis work as good road to trails, deal with mud well and i've used up to marathon with no issues as they're well cushioned. Saucony ultra or peregrines - ultras are more cushioned and great road to trail but peregrines are find for short road sections and have a slightly deeper lug and deal with mud and wet grass really well. Peregrines are also my choice of mountain shoe so work well, did a 100k in them and only had some foot pain from minimal cushioning at 50ish miles in! Just got the Nike Zegama 2 and they are fab so far! Managed well in mud, snow, slush and are really cushioned. Need to try them out on more technical terrain but all good so far. They have the react foam so they give a lot of bounce on packed trail and road. Inov8 trailfly i find good on rock and grass, less so on mud, and a bit firm on road, but not terrible.

they’ve gotten a lot better even just in the last couple years. trail was an afterthought for a while but they’ve changed strategy and have been pouring tons of resources into trail/acg. big fan of my zegama 2s

Just did my first run in the Zegama Trail 2 and noticed the same heel slip mentioned. It bothered me more at walk/slow pace but was not noticeable at speed. I think this is just a sensation caused by the material of the heel counter, it’s likely the shoes wouldn’t slip out. My issue is that the toe box runs narrow and I experience some hot spot around the ball of my feet. I think I have to look again for another pair to run in.

So first: Run Repeat does in-depth reviews which includes measuring and confirms stack height and drops. Their [Zegama 2](https://runrepeat.com/nike-zegama-2) review indicates 4 mm is accurate. Second: From a feels perspective: just recently tried on the wildhorse (9mm drop) and then the Zegama (4 mm) and then afterwards put my Kigers (4mm) back on. Was not a long run with the wildhorse and zegama but the zegama defintilty felt lower and more normal to me than the wildhorse just much more cushioned than the Kiger feel. So if you are looking for lower dropped cushioned shoe then I think Zegama fits the bill. If you want less cushioned and low drop then Nike Kiger is a nice shoe and gives a really good ground feel.

Nike Zegama 2. Excellent grip and fit.

I’ve run a carriage road (dirt and stone) half marathon in vaporfly and it went well. The foam bits of the shoe do get chewed up but they were end of life marathon shoes anyway. If u want an actual trail shoe, I like the Nike Zegama 2

Noooooo!!!! They stink. Heel splitting issues galore. Get the Nike zegama or literally anything else

Mike Zegama 2 are amazing all around shoe. VJ MAXx and LaSportiva Bushido 2 are great if u have a narrow foot.

I have Zegama 2 for some time now. Did around 100km with them. The vibram outsole is amazing on dry smooth and wet rocks. I know it’s a great update to the proprietary nike outsole since I have Wildhorse 8 as well and they are much more slippery. Great protection underfoot as well but wouldn’t recommend them on more technical rocky terrain (scrambling).

I've had the same issues with recent Speedgoat models. Check out Nike Zegama 2, La Sportiva Prodigio, Salomon Genesis. Always depends on foot shape to get the right match. Good luck!

Nike Zegama 2, Nike Wildhorse 8, Asics Trabuco Max 3. I see a lot of you running in the Topo Ultraventures. How do they compare to the shoes in my rotation?

I have the Asics Trabuco Max 3s, which I jokingly call my clown shoes because that’s exactly how they feel! I’m constantly stubbing them on branches, rocks, and gravel, and it’s like the lugs are magnets for anything they could possibly trip over. I only wear them when I have to. Just to make it more dufficult for you; I’m a big fan of the Nike Zegama 2! They’re my go-tos! I also like the Nike Wildhorse 8. They’re not as cushioned, but they’re total workhorses.

Not sure how technical Zion is - this makes a huge difference on whether you can just roll with something more road shoe-like in terms of stack/drop or whether you need to be more locked in and low to the ground. That said, a lot of people start with Hoka Speedgoats cause they are sort of jack of all trades and have a Vibram outsole. I know I started there until I learned better what worked best for me personally. That said, just know the Hokas have a very narrow toe box, which, once you get into ultra distances, can be an issue depending on foot shape, but 60k is terribly long, so you will probably be just fine. I would also just say that the recent Speedgoat models tend to twist on the foot for me at least, they changed the upper pretty radically with the 5, and I have moved away from them. But a lot of people love them, and I certainly used to as well! My current fav all-around shoe is Nike Zegama 2. That also is comfy and has Vibram (and fits my foot better).

The Zegama 2 have a low heel-toe drop at 4mm, the midsole a little on the firmer side for ZoomX. Combined with the Vibram lugs I find it decent for downhill.

I twisted/strained my ankle on my last trail running when wearing zegama 2. Is this related? I never had a twisted ankle before.

The new Trailfly Max in available on the Inov8 website for 150£ or 170€. Spec wise its fairly similar to the current Trailfy with an increased midsole stack of 24/18mm, comparing that to the Trailfly, the total stack should be around 36/30mm. The interesting part however seems to be the new nitrogen infused EVA midsole, which is claimed and should be lighter and bouncier, since I didn't find any reviews of yet, it remains to be seen. The weight is not listed on the official website. It should be great shoe for long distances, especially who likes the wide forefoot with some drop, at the moment only a wide option is available. https://preview.redd.it/0zf4m50mgfoe1.jpg?width=493&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f4a333e7005f2b29e5cab0b8fda7264c1f77660

Appreciate the feedback, allready read it yesterday morning 😁. From the newer Inov-8 line up I only have the Mudtalon and I can relate to the heel lockdown you mentioned. The ankle collar is shallow, the heel cup height looks adequate but it feels like it's barely touching my heel, so secure lockdown in the heel is an issue. The shoe is totaly runable, it's just something to keep in mind if you are heading for some technical terrain. Otherwise I was surprised by the fit of the shoe, which felt a bit shallow in volume and a bit rigid in the forefoot, but with some breaking in it's realy comfortable, with good lockdown in the midfoot and no slipping in the forefoot. Regarding the Trailfly Max, it looks like a potential replacement for the Zegama 2 I'm curently using for more runnable terrain. My only problem with the Zegamas is the toebox is really shallow, I'm always feeliing a bit of numbness if the socks are not super thin. For me the Zegamas didn't feel too soft and mushy like some described it, the balance between cushion and ground feel is something I appreciate, which seems to be the case in the Trailfly Max as you described.

My main trail shoes now are the Zegama 2, they aren’t narrow in the toe box, and they have Vibram Megagrip so they don’t have issues in wet conditions. They took a little bit to get used to with the cushier foam and more stack height than previous shoes I wore, but they really are great.

I really like the zegama 2, just not a big fan of how it looks. Does the tpu plate in the vectis add any noticeable difference. Does it help as a rock plate?

Happy to see I own three shoes featured on this list. \- Nike Peg Trail: A perfect door to trail shoe. Light, snappy, and can easily log long miles. Advised only for light trail terrain, think California carpet. \- HOKA Mafate Speed: Will just eat any type of terrain. Ran a 50k and never once bothered my feet. \- Nike Zegama 2: Have a pair stashed in the closet, ready for use.

The earlier range of Nike Trail shoes were not good. I had a pair of Nike Peg Trail 36s and while light and snappy, were brutal on technical terrain. I've got three different models of Nike's now, and IMO are some of the most underrated trail lines currently out there. \- Peg Trails - Are the best Door-to-Trail shoe out there. Somehow light and snappy enough for road while being rugged enough for trail terrain. \- Wildhorse 8s - When it gets muddy here in the PNW, I switch to these. Chunky lugs, and great grip for wet days on the trail. They're pretty damn heavy, but are very comfortable. \- Zegama 2s: I've heard them compared to the HOKA Mafate's and I tend to agree. All day trail eaters. \*Big caveat being that I have a very narrow foot and tend to like more aggressive trail running shoes.

Zegama 2 for longer chill trail runs. Favorite so far. Speedcross 5 for rougher more technical terrain.

Super surprised to hear this too. Zegama 2s have been excellent for me, even on wet rock. Maybe I’m just remembering how bad the original Nike outsoles were before they slapped the Vibram on there.

Zegama 2s almost every trail run. Also bargain REI shorts and cola flavored Gu.

I second these. They are my favorite long run trail shoe.

Nike zegama 2

Zegama 2s probably have the best long distance comfort for your feet, however at the expense of raw performance and agility. But there is a paradox that more cushioning does not always equal more comfort. I find with max stack cruiser shoes I don't have ground feel and run with worse form and more impact. I've run longer distances in the Kiger 9s than the Zegamas for instance.

Rocker compensates for low drop, so the Speedgoat doesn't really feel like a low drop shoe. Altra is very flat - you are going to feel the drop alot more. Why not try the Zegama 2s? They are softer than Speedgoats and not as pointy in the toebox. 4mm drop and rockered so similar in feel.

If you are after absolute foot comfort, Zegama 2 is king.

Zegama 2

I wouldn't obsess with drop as rocker compensates for low drop nowadays. Altra is tough on the legs rather because it's a very flat shoe. Zegama 2 doesn't feel low drop IMO as it transitions nicely.

I love them too, but i wouldn't consider them soft or squishy, especially compared to max stack trail shoes like the Zegama 2 or Trabuco Max 2.

Nike Trail is quite different in fit to their road shoes. Kiger 9 has a pretty wide toe box, but is very locked down over the midfoot and heel. Kiger is a bit more of curved last compared with the Zegama 2 which is a bit more straight.

Grip on the Peg trail 5 is totally fine - it's quite not on Vibram levels, but it's not a deal breaker like on the 4's. The real reason I wouldn't recommend them is because of the high drop and high heel + soft ReactX makes them too unstable for hiking. Light hikes are fine though and it's really good on road. Zegama 2 is really a long distance cruiser shoe, it's too bulky and soft for hiking and has a huge protruding heel. But maybe not that bad if you are used to Speedboats. Tomir 2 is way better as a hiking shoe and performs well on technical terrain, but road running would suck on it and has pretty aggressive lugs. Arc'teryx Norvan LD4 might be another option as it's a good hiking shoe, vibram, but it's not too cumbersome and outsole is not too aggressive for some road. Maybe new Nike Kiger 10 is an option as it's now Vibram.

Those shoes are clunky and not great for casual use. I have both.

Personally I found the Zegama 2 doesn't fit like a Nike though - it's closer to a Hoka. It's very low over the instep, and difficult to get heel lockdown,

Yes I have Zegama 1 and 2 and the 1 fits much better, although Zegama 1 is just slightly short or low over the big toe. The Zegama 1 is more banana shaped with a curved midfoot, but the Zegama 2 is quite straight. The main problem is over the instep it's very tight and I struggled with foot circulation and had to relace them in in different patterns to get them to work. They run a bit differently too - the Zegama 1 I could get up onto my toes easily, but the Zegama 2 just wants to cruise in a midfoot striking position. Doesn't feel agile on uphills especially with the heel lift.

Vibram does seem to vary model to model, both in the actual compound and the implementation. Zegama 2 also has quite a lot of rubber missing in the heel. Prodigio Max is a model with full coverage rubber and is pretty close in stats to the Zegama 2 if you want a close replacement. Otherwise I found the Norvan LD4 has fantastic grip, but it's more minimal. The lightbase material is much more tacky than the regular megagrip of the Zegama 2 which is formulated more for durability.

It's megagrip - the same as Zegama 2. Lightbase megagrip is much more tacky.

Revisiting this thread as I forgot about the Zegama 2. It's a solid choice and you can find it cheap. Durable and eats miles. 4 mm drop also rare for a Nike shoe. It's more of a cruiser than the Prodigio Pro, but it offers better comfort in the upper. The Prodigio Pro leans more technical and has a tight performance fit. Zegama 2 forefoot is a bit more solid and twists less underfoot due to the rockplate. The heel is clunky and with worse grip though. Both have the superfoam + EVA cage combo that works so well.

I like Zegama 1, but not the Zegama 2, since the fit is more Hoka like. Like Zegama 1 is more curved and tight in the arch.

I think the Zegama 2 is the best trail cruiser out there, fit just was a bit weird for me and it's a bit clunky. Maybe order it to check how it fits. Enduris could be good if you want something more agile. Ultraglides look overpriced and clunky. Caldera kind of boring.

The rim and core shoes like Prodigio Pro/Max, Zegama, Xodus Ultra, bypass this limit as they offer a softer cushion inside without losing stability by having a firmer rim of foam on the outside.

I really like the Peg Trail 5 for your use case, it’s super comfy, not too soft and the grip is fine too. I struggled with the Zegama, it’s a big, cumbersome beast and it started to hurt my feet from mile 18 ish and I couldn’t work out why. The Tomir I really liked the look off but they go up to a UK 12 in size and I needed bigger. The outsole on them is brilliant as I have it on another pair of shoes.

Nike Zegama 2, Nike Ultrafly, Asics Novablast TR.

Yeah, I watched. They went with Zegama 2 and Tecton X for Hardrock and best shoe overall. I'm a bit surprised for their Hardrock picks because both are super stacked and I don't feel like the Zegama 2 is a nimble technical shoe.

Are you in America? Go to Ross. I’ve found all sorts of nice trail shoes there for like 30-45 bucks. Bought my wife some zegamas recently bought my buddy some terrex ultras, I’ve got puma deviate nitros from there. I see all sorts of shit. Just gotta look incrementally

I really love the Nike Zegama. I’ve done up to 32 miles of trail in them and my feet were great at the end.

Trail: Nike Zegama Road: Adidas Boston 12 or Asics Novablast Race: Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris

Nike Zegamas

Nike Zegmas! Just completed the CDT in them!

Yea same here. 2 of mine are different versions of hoka speed goats and a could Nike zegamas. I just have a hard time getting rid of the old ones because every once in a while they can be nice for a change of feel on a recovery run

Again, I’m sure they’ve gotten better but I had a pair of 2020 wildhorse and 2021 zegama…I was pissed they were called trail shoes, the outsole was horrible and the uppers were super hot. If it wasn’t tightly packed dirt or super small gravel you’d eat shit. The shin scars and swollen wrists and ankles I got from them junkers turned me off to Nike trail (ACG) forever. They usually look great though….

I have had a similar struggle. Brooks cascadia too stiff, hokas too narrow even in a wide, topos too sloppy, not sure about committing to zero drop with altra, I assumed Nikes wouldn't work....but the zegamas fit beautifully. I am a lady and I wear the men's size for the width and it's the best fitting trail shoe I have found.

I just bought a pair of Zegamas and I’m absolutely loving them. Brooks Calder 6 is one of my favorite trail shoes of all time. It was everything I wanted the speedlands GS to be

Zegama is a great shoe but if you’re really looking for some bounce, the Ultraflys are sick.

Slightly taller, slightly heavier. I run trails in Nike Zegama for the most part and appreciate them very much.

I would try them on because everyone has a different foot but I have a pretty large Haglund's on one foot (and likely a little less extreme one on the other - never x-rayed though) and really like the Salomon Ultra Glide (wide), Topo Mtn Racer, just got a pair of the Nike Zegama. I don't know if I would call the heel counter soft (certainly not a shoe expert) but there is padding in the heel which in my case keeps the bump from getting too irritated. YMMV.

I’ve tried others, always come back to pegasus, and now, also zegama, after I did the tour du mont blanc with them as my only shoe

I walk my dogs (and that’s a lot, in my case) in my old Nike trail running shoes (not the Pegasus, the Zegama). They have now almost 2000km on them and are still fine for walks. Don’t run in them anymore. (Did that until more or less 1200km.) So; fine for daily wear I would say.

When I run in similar terrain, I always notice my buddy running in Cliftons.  Zegamas work well. I remove the insoles to make them roomy. It's snug. For context, I typically run with the MTN racer but I've been experimenting. I think any low stacked road shoes are fine. But then, some folks run with super shoes in Western and javelina.

Nike Zegama is the jam

Sweden you have lots of wet slippery rocks. I love Nike peg trails and Zegamas but hey are not the best for wet rock. I have a trail running friend in Norway who has tried almost every shoe and he says the best are the Finnish brand VJ. He said it feels like they are glued to the rocks.

I have plantar fasciitis and get really bad foot pain easily. I always wear trail runners hiking. I recently hiked 12 miles on Mt. Whitney in the Sierra Nevadas and 11 miles on Mount LeConte in the Smoky Mountains in the Nike Zegama series trail runners. They were awesome. I would not have been able to hike these trails without them. Just note - these types of trail runners have a thick foam bottom (similar to hokas), so there is no rock plate. I did not miss having the rock plate. The comfy foam is way better, in my opinion, but I am not a runner, so I'm not sure if that would affect you differently.

Hey OP, I asked a similar question a few years ago and I got the same spiels but I do still think that a high-cut runner isn't a bad idea. I don't think it's completely removing your ankle from the running equation, just giving you extra support. Something like the hoka speedgoat mid seems like a good shoe provided they fit right for you. I've also really wanted to try the Nike Kiger because it's a pretty low stack trail shoe and I think that would feel a lot more stable. Currently I have the Nike zegama and the fit is perfect just feels a bit tall.

The Zegama is the top of the tree for Nike trail shoes, please try them if you see them. Vomero Roam is another good option ✌🏾

I did a sandy, gravelly, not super technical 50M with the Zegamas and they absolutely slap. Not enough protection for technical stuff but great for flowy smooth-ish stuff.

Did they take a bit of getting used to? Did two runs in them on the weekend and found they were a bit rough on the bottoms of my feet. Temps between -5 and -10c though so that might have stiffened them up.

Inov8 trailfly and nike Zegama are pretty wide comfy fit

Motiva is designed for walking; Pegasus/Trail are general purpose entry level runners; Zegama are for low-drop (avoid if you are a heel striker) and ZoomX foam (more responsive); Juniper are brick-hard trail "runner" (makes for good walking/hiking shoes though, Juniper 2 Gore-Tex is my go-to wet weather walker); dunno much about Winflo GTX, but it is a budget shoes, so worse foam, but it looks very well insulated, so probably great for cold weather. All and all, sounds like Peg/Trail GTX are your best bet, which to choose depends on you needing the lugs or not, also which feels more comfortable for you (Trail 5's sizing is a bit odd, extremely narrow midfoot, it's the first Pegasus I couldn't wear TTS for). Unless you don't intend to run with them, in which case Juniper Trail 2 GTX will be very good value for money, they are heavily discounted in outlets these day.

I’m an ultraventure fan too and get it. I tried Nike zegamas on a whim and really like them. Wide toe box and light and springy.

Nike Zegama. I have had quite a few kilometers with them and they are still perfect. Good grip, very comfortable. They feel like a glove.

i also love trail runners (being a trail runner) for lots of stuff but be careful about the sole/tread. the shoes i got for wet stuff (nike zegama) were never intended to be used on (wet) pavement, and i found them dangerous on urban streets in the rain. up until that point they had been my go-to “for literally anything” shoe.

Zegama's are heavy, I'd go with the challenger in this situation and I've used the Zegamas in a 100.

Zegama have a way more aggressive tread/lugs.  Challenger is a road-to-trail shoe with less aggressive tread.  I haven't worn Challengers since the 6, but between those and the new Zegama, I find the Zegama to be squishier and the Challenger to feel more stable.  If you like the Challenger, why would you switch?

i really like my Nike trail runner, i bought a few pair of the first iteration of the pegasus goretex trail. Looks like they aren't as wide in the newer iterations, but they have held up really well and the react foam is great.

>... false sense of security so you roll/sprain your ankle worse. This was very true for me :) In my country the "old hiking rule" was that you always need high boots for mountains because they would protect your ankles. But it turns out that with high boots I had a false sense of security and was thus less careful when descending and consequently often twisted my ankle. The high shoe maybe helped a bit and prevented a harder sprain but it still hurt. I then switched to trail runners and I can see that I now walk way more carefully and have a way more precise foot placement than before. Consequently I haven't twisted my ankle ever since the switch. However it must be said that not all trail runners are equal in terms of stability and ground feel... La Sportiva Bushido which I have now are awesome but some Nike trail runners I had in the past were very bad and unstable.

I got nike trail runners and they work great. If theres a nike outlet store you can find them on sale.. I make sure I get just the right size and not too loose so they're not sloppy. Personally I put in the spenco runner gel insoles to reduce impact because I play on turf half the time. I also rock the mcdavid level 3 ankle braces om both feet s. This helps make sure I never roll my ankle. Hope this helps