Nike Zoom Vomero 5

The earthy tones on this Nike Zoom Vomero 5 give it a classy look, while its use of plush materials makes it a luxurious prospect. Its outsole is formed from black rubber pads that cover the forefoot and loop around the heel to make up its reliable waffle tread formation. A subtle piece of text has been debossed into one of the rear pads to highlight the BRS 1000 coating that makes the outsole so durable. In the divots and grooves between each pad, a rich Pacific Moss hue can be seen alongside a slightly lighter shade of green known as Pear, thus hinting at the tonal juxtaposition that makes the rest of the shoe so aesthetically pleasing. Pacific Moss is the main tone throughout the midsole, including the spongy chunks bulging out of the heel and lateral flank, and the Cushlon foam that softly supports the foot. Strips of textured padding appear along the top of the midsole on each side, the lateral piece debossed with Nike Zoom text to announce the presence of the responsive Air cushioning hidden inside.

The intricately layered upper brings together a variety of suede panels and moulded plastic to produce an outer that is both structurally sound and appealing to wear. Many of the suede pieces come in Pacific Moss, including the toe covering, the eyestay and the strips of material that flank the mauve TPU panelling on each sidewall. This last feature is filled with banded openings that allow breathability and add an intriguing touch to the sides of the sneaker. A black leather swoosh with a Pacific Moss outline has been placed over each one, lending the flanks a compelling visual complexity.

More layering can be found in the forefoot and heel, the former incorporating a Pacific Moss textile underlayer behind a frame of Pear-coloured suede. This beautiful juxtaposition of tones is repeated on the heel, whose Pear overlay separates the purple heel counter from the Pacific Moss collar. The first of these components is made of solid TPU with triangular formations criss-crossing its exterior to protect the back of the foot, some filled in and others left open to help ventilate the back of the foot. Meanwhile, a black swoosh decorates the suede overlay at the centre of the heel.

The shoe’s inner is made up of a black lining and a Pacific Moss insole with a memorable emblem printed onto it. This features a black and white picture of Nike’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman, above a banner that reads “Bowerman Series”. Back on the outer, black highlights the upper part of the eyestay, through which Pacific Moss laces have been threaded. These tie up over a tongue whose lower half comes in the same green hue, and whose top portion is coated in black mesh. The Nike Vomero 5 patch sewn into the tongue’s peak brings these two pleasant tones together once more, and a black strip of fabric provides extra support to the laces through its centre. Lastly, three lace loops hold them firmly at the bottom and sides, each one Pear in tone with a Pacific Moss stripe down the middle, thus concluding the mellow colour combinations of this charming Vomero 5 design.