Nike ACG Zegama Review: Cushion for Days
The Nike ACG Zegama ($180) is a high-mileage trail runner that prioritizes comfort without forgetting to have fun. The combination of plush ZoomX cushioning, a smooth, energetic ride, and a unique, well-executed mesh ankle collar made it one of our favorite shoes for long trail days. It isn’t quite the mountain specialist that Nike’s marketing suggests—the flexible platform and relaxed midfoot hold leave something to be desired on highly technical terrain—but for runners looking for a comfortable daily trainer that can easily stretch into bigger efforts, the Zegama hits a sweet spot.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
Best for
All-around
Weight
1 lb. 7.8 oz.
Stack height
38/34mm
Upper
Woven mesh
Midsole
Pebax & EVA
Outsole
Vibram Megagrip (4.5mm)
Pros
Cons
Nike ACG Zegama
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Trail Running Shoes.
I’ve never been a big fan of the monster-truck feel of a heavily cushioned trail runner. Shoes like the Brooks Cascadia and many high-stack designs leave me feeling disconnected from the trail, while models such as the Topo MTN Racer strike a better balance of protection and ground feel. The Nike Zegama has been one of the few exceptions. I loved the original version for its plush, all-day comfort for long mountain outings without creating that awkward, stilt-like sensation that some max-cushion shoes produce. The latest ACG Zegama continues that formula. At 38 mm in the heel with a 4 mm drop, it sits right alongside the Hoka Speedgoat (37 mm, 5 mm drop) and above the Brooks Cascadia (35 mm, 6 mm drop), but it never feels excessively tall or unwieldy underfoot.
A big part of that comes down to the midsole. Nike’s ZoomX foam remains one of the most comfortable foams in the running world, delivering an exceptionally soft and smooth ride, while a layer of Cushlon 3.0 underneath adds structure and durability. The result is a shoe that piles on miles comfortably. I haven’t taken the Nike ACG Zegama on a full alpine epic yet, but I’ve logged plenty of local efforts exceeding 12 miles, and the cushioning consistently feels fresh deep into a run. Despite the generous stack height, there’s also more trail feel than I expected. Especially on technical terrain, the shoe allows enough feedback through the midsole that I never felt completely isolated from the ground. Given the smooth ride and overall comfort, it’s a tradeoff I’m happy to make in most conditions.
The one notable limitation is underfoot protection. Unlike many trail shoes in this category, the Zegama lacks a rock plate or firm foam, and sharp rocks can really make their presence known through the forefoot. I noticed this most on a five-mile descent down rock-strewn doubletrack, where repeated impacts under the ball of my foot and toes became increasingly noticeable. Compared to a more protective shoe like the Brooks Cascadia, the Zegama forces you to be more deliberate on rocky descents, even if its overall cushioning remains excellent.
It might sound overly simplistic, but the ACG Zegamas struck me as a genuinely excellent running shoe from the get-go. Despite being a max-cushioned design that leans heavier than many trail running shoes, it never feels overbuilt or cumbersome. Instead, it combines a plush ride with an easy, natural stride that simply encourages you to keep moving. Whether I was heading out for a routine training run or a longer day, the Zegama felt energetic. It’s certainly not a super shoe, and there’s no plate hiding in the midsole to provide extra propulsion, but Nike’s ZoomX foam brings plenty of bounce to the ride.
Unsurprisingly, the ACG Zegama is at its best when comfort is the priority. It’s proven to be an excellent choice for high-mileage outings, recovery runs, and everyday training days when I want a little extra softness underfoot. At the same time, it’s more versatile than many max-cushioned competitors. While I wouldn’t advise it for a serious racer—there are simply too many good plated super shoes for those folks—it handles a wide range of paces and terrain well enough to serve as an all-around trail shoe for most runners.
Nike positions the Zegama as a “highly technical” trail shoe, which I don’t fully agree with. Its moderately wide platform helps with stability, but the combination of a tall stack height, soft cushioning, and the absence of other stabilizing elements results in a shoe that prioritizes comfort and freedom of movement over technical chops. On tighter, overgrown switchbacks and more demanding terrain, I never felt as confident planting and changing direction as I do in the firmer, lower-slung Topo MTN Racer.
The issue is compounded by the new, wider fit. Compared to the old Zegama X, this version feels a little sloppier through the midfoot. Despite experimenting with the lacing system, I never achieved my preferred lock-in feel (more on this in “Fit and Sizing” below). The sock-like upper and cushioned tongue absolutely nail the comfort side of the equation, but I found my feet sliding and the shoe more prone to rolling on uneven surfaces.
To be clear, that in no way means the Nike ACG Zegama falls apart once things get rough. I still chose it for some serious outings, including a ridgeline run that followed animal tracks along a faint, uneven trail littered with pinecones and sagebrush. The shoe handled all of that reasonably well. But those runs also reinforced my impression that the Zegama is best viewed as a comfort-focused trail runner that can handle technical terrain when needed, rather than a true mountain specialist. For most runners and most trails, that’s probably the right tradeoff. For highly technical routes where security and precision matter above all else, I’d reach for something more supportive.
The latest ACG Zegama gets a meaningful outsole upgrade with Vibram Megagrip, a compound that most of us at Better Trail like for its mix of stickiness, longevity, and versatility across most terrain. It’s not a full-rubber outsole—there’s exposed blown rubber under the midfoot and in channels running nearly the full length of the shoe—so I’d call the traction good rather than class-leading. On the positive side, the V-shaped lugs at the toes bit nicely into firm hardpack during a steep 1,000-foot climb, giving me welcome purchase in sections where I was using my hands for extra support.
The tradeoff is that Nike clearly prioritized a smooth, natural ride by limiting rubber coverage. Under the arch and midfoot, Vibram rubber runs only through the center, with soft, blown rubber along the sides. The heel’s chevron-shaped lugs also aren’t especially aggressive, and on long, steep descents or rocky scrambles, the shoe doesn’t offer the same bite as more mountain-focused trail running shoes like La Sportiva’s Prodigio line or Hoka’s Mafate. Overall, though, the traction is well-rounded and capable for everything short of truly technical terrain.
In design and components, the Nike ACG Zegama earns its $180 price tag. Nike pairs proven tech like a Vibram Megagrip outsole and the ZoomX/Cushlon 3.0 midsole combination with an integrated ankle collar that gives the shoe a polished, high-end feel. My biggest question mark is the upper. The open mesh uses relatively large perforations, with only some light reinforcement around the toe box. Compared to more armored mountain shoes, the sides of the upper feel somewhat exposed and potentially vulnerable to tears over time. There is a separate sock-like liner underneath, so minor damage won’t immediately expose your foot, but it’s still an area I’m keeping an eye on. By contrast, the midsole, collar lining, and ankle cuff have shown no signs of creasing or premature wear.
After roughly 70 miles of testing—including hardpack trails, off-trail travel, light scrambling, and moderate rocky terrain—the shoe is holding up well. Like my old Zegama Xs, the exposed foam sections of the midsole and outsole have picked up a handful of small nicks and cosmetic cuts, but nothing that affects performance. The all-white upper has also collected a healthy dirt patina (a win in my book, as the white color was pretty blinding). Based on my experience with the previous-generation Zegama X, which shares many design traits and survived more than 300 miles of rough use, I’m optimistic about the shoe’s long-term durability.
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On paper, the ACG Zegama is a fairly heavy trail runner. Nike lists the shoe at 1 pound 7.8 ounces per pair, although my men’s size 9s came in a bit lighter at 1 pound 6.2 ounces. That’s still noticeably heavier than popular alternatives like the Hoka Speedgoat (1 lb. 3.4 oz.) and Mafate 5 (1 lb. 4.6 oz.), both of which sit closer to the middle of the market. Even the hiking-oriented Altra Lone Peak 9 (1 lb. 6.3 oz), with its full-rubber outsole, undercuts the Zegama’s weight.
In theory, that extra heft should be a drawback for racing, long efforts, and faster-paced running. In practice, I rarely noticed it. The mesh ankle collar and generous cushioning give the shoe a substantial feel, but both contribute directly to comfort rather than feeling like unnecessary bulk. More importantly, the Zegama’s flexible construction, smooth rocker, and energetic midsole make it run much lighter than the scale suggests. It’s not a featherweight, but it never felt sluggish either.
One of the most distinctive features of the Nike ACG Zegama is its integrated mesh ankle cuff, a design carried over from the original model. Thankfully, Nike absolutely nailed the execution. To start, unlike many shoes with built-in gaiter-style collars, the Zegama is no harder to put on or take off. More importantly, I stopped noticing the cuff almost immediately while running, and the snug fit does its job of keeping dirt, pebbles, and trail debris out of the shoe. It’s not a replacement for a true gaiter on particularly loose terrain, but I found it to be a genuinely useful feature.
The rest of the upper follows a similar theme of prioritizing comfort and practicality. A sock-like inner liner sits beneath a separate perforated mesh outer layer, creating a breathable, airy design that has performed well in warm conditions. Even on runs in temperatures that climbed into the low 80s, I never felt the shoe run hot. The open construction also dries remarkably quickly. During one recent run, I got caught in a surprise rainstorm that quickly gave way to sunshine (hello, spring!), and both the upper and ankle cuff dried far faster than expected after a thorough soaking. The open mesh does raise some long-term durability questions, particularly around the forefoot, but from a comfort and ventilation standpoint, the upper is one of the shoe’s standout features.
We had two testers review the ACG Zegama: I wore a men’s size 9, while my co-founder Jenny wore a women’s 8.5. For me, the updated fit was immediately noticeable. Nike has added a bit more room in the toe box than in previous versions, and it was a nice pairing for my average-volume feet. I do have a slightly narrow heel, but thankfully, the ankle collar and heel pocket worked exceptionally well. Even on a steep 1,000-foot climb over hardpack covered in loose kitty litter dirt, I experienced no heel lift, rubbing, or hot spots. My one fit-related complaint was the midfoot, which was a little too roomy to achieve the locked-in feel I prefer on rocky and technical terrain.
Jenny’s experience was a little different. She typically wears a women’s 8.5 but often sizes up to a 9 in running shoes. In the Zegama, she found the 8.5 true to size in length but somewhat narrow through the forefoot. While her feet aren’t particularly high volume, they are on the wider side (“hobbit-like,” in her words), and she typically has similar fit issues with brands like Arc’teryx and NNormal. The narrowness wasn’t especially noticeable on flats or moderate terrain, but it became more apparent on very steep climbs where her stride shifted forward and pressure concentrated on the front of the foot. For runners with wider feet, we’d recommend considering a half-size up or looking at wider-fitting alternatives.
Brooks Cascadia 19 ($150): A Better Hiker Than Runner
The Cascadia 19 is a useful point of comparison because, on paper, it shares a lot with the Zegama ACG. Both feature generous cushioning, modern foam technology, and enough traction and protection to handle a wide variety of terrain. In practice, though, they have very different personalities. The Cascadia feels noticeably more stable and protective underfoot, with a firmer platform. The tradeoff is that it can feel a bit plodding when the pace picks up. By comparison, the Zegama is lighter on its feet, more flexible, and simply more enjoyable to run in. If your priority is covering miles quickly, the Zegama has a clear advantage. For runners who mix in plenty of hiking and value stability and durability, the Cascadia is a compelling alternative. To learn more, check out our Brooks Cascadia 19 review.
Hoka Speedgoat 7 ($155): More Mountain-Focused
The Speedgoat 7 and Zegama ACG also share a lot in common, including tall stack heights, Vibram Megagrip outsoles, and enough cushioning for ultra-distance efforts. The differences emerge once the terrain gets rough. The latest Speedgoat feels more stable and secure, with better midfoot lockdown, more underfoot protection, and a firmer platform. By comparison, the Zegama is softer, more flexible, and noticeably more energetic, with its ZoomX midsole delivering a bouncier and more engaging ride. We also found the Zegama more enjoyable as a pure running shoe, while the Speedgoat can occasionally feel a little clunky and disconnected from the trail. For a deeper dive, read our Hoka Speedgoat 7 review.
The ACG Zegama’s max-cushioned design is nicely balanced out by its peppy personality. The shoe makes it easy to put on serious miles, although minimal underfoot protection and only average stability keep it from being a technical standout.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
The Brooks Cascadia 19 is a stability-first trail workhorse that doubles as a capable day hiker. More dependable than speedy, it pairs moderate cushioning with a rock plate and a wide, confidence-inspiring base that stays predictable on rocky, loose terrain.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
A modern classic, the Speedgoat combines comfort and capability for long days on rough trails. The update to the "7" represents a notable improvement from the "6," with responsive supercritical EVA foam and a much more comfortable and secure fit.
Cushioning
Responsiveness
Stability
Traction
Durability
Sustainability
Is the ACG Zegama for You?
The Nike ACG Zegama is a comfort-first trail runner that impressed us with its versatility. Its plush ZoomX cushioning, smooth ride, breathable upper, and well-executed ankle cuff make it a shoe that feels equally at home on daily training runs, long trail outings, and recovery days. We especially like that it delivers max-cushion comfort without feeling overly bulky or disconnected from the trail.
That said, the flexible platform, somewhat relaxed midfoot hold, and moderate underfoot protection left us feeling less confident on technical terrain. Runners with wide feet may also want to size up or look elsewhere. But for the vast majority of trail runners who spend most of their time on moderate trails and want one shoe that can comfortably handle everything from short runs to big-mile days, the ACG Zegama is a winner.
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