Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 trail running shoes

The Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 trail running shoe is an everyday comfortable running shoe with a Vibram Megagrip outsole. Every part has changed a lot from its predecessor, including a 10 gram weight gain, but apart from the weight gain, all the changes have worked to its advantage. If you’re looking for a comfortable trail running shoe with good traction for longer trail runs, and have no problem with it being a little heavier than average, the Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 trail running shoe could be a good choice. Named after the famous cross-country marathon running race, the Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon in Spain, which is a tough race because it involves a marathon distance and 5,472 metres of elevation gain (even for the best runners, it takes nearly 4 hours)

Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 upper

The upper of the Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 trail running shoe is made of mesh material that has good breathability and water-wicking properties, so it can dry faster if you’ve been running on a wet course. The mesh material is joined to an inner liner that hugs the ankle like a sock. As well as being comfortable, this protects against debris getting in. The tongue is wide, which also provides good protection against debris. It is fixed on both sides and soft, so you can tie the laces tightly, it won’t squeeze the foot, although this will rarely happen because the Zegama 3’s upper is a narrower design but flexible. The heel collar is stiffer, with medium cushioning that holds the foot well. The foam of the midsole folds over the upper and helps keep the foot stable. Overall the upper is comfortable, stable and protects the foot well.

Looking good is usually the least important aspect for trail running shoes, but with the Zegama 2 we have to say that Nike has created a very fashionable running shoe, which is why I’m sure many people will buy the shoe for everyday wear.

Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 midfoot

The Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 cross country running shoe midsole is made from the same ZoomX foam as the previous version, encased in a stiffer EVA foam frame. The Zoom Fly 5 running shoe similarly has the Zoom X foam in an EVA frame, but there’s also a carbon plate in the midsole to make the sole structure stiffer. In the Zegama 2, there is no carbon plate or rock plate so the ZoomX foam gives an overall comfortable soft feel. The stiffer EVA frame adds stability to the ZoomX foam, so although soft, there’s not a bad level of stability to the shoe. In addition to softness, it also gives a dynamic feel with ZoomX foam that is 36mm thick in the heel and 32mm thick under the toes. Although the drop of the shoe is low at only 4 mm, the weight distribution of the midsole is more conducive to heel landing as the shoe is heavier in the heel. Such weight distribution is good for running downhill, but it pulls you back a bit on the uphills.

Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 Outsole

The Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 trail running shoe outsole has changed the most. Nike has replaced its proprietary outsole with a Vibram Megagrip outsole. This isn’t unique, as Hoka, Altra and New Balance brands, among others, also use Vibram outsoles. Unlike the previous version, the traction of the Zegama 2 trail running shoe has been very good with the Vibram outsole. It has excellent traction on almost all surfaces, even on wet rocks. The 5 mm thick rubber spikes facing in different directions further increase the grip. The sidewalls of the spikes are also grooved, which is not only good for traction, but also makes it easier to squeeze sticky mud out of the outsole, which makes it harder to carry the weight of the shoe while running. The Vibram Megagrip outsole not only has good traction, but also wear resistance as it is made from a harder rubber compound.

Summary

Overall, the Nike ZoomX Zegama Trail 2 trail running shoe has changed a lot from its predecessor. Nike listened to its customers and changed the outsole of the shoe the most to improve traction. The changes have created a soft, comfortable cross-country running shoe that is great for everyday running and has exceptionally good traction, although it has gained weight, which was no mean feat before. The shoe is versatile, supporting both slow and fast runs, and can even run marathons.