Let's face it, my dears and my dears: for most of us, "trail running" means briskly walking in the latest athleisure kit to the nearest hut, where a well-deserved strudel awaits. But what if I told you that Nike just created a shoe that might actually make you want to run - and far? Forget the pain and forget the slips. Nike woke up from its slumber and, with the help of 22 elite "masochists" (read: ultra runners), created the ACG Zegama. Get ready, because Hoka and Salomon are sweating with fear right now.
If you've been following the sneaker scene for the past few years, you know that the line Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear) has become synonymous with urban hipsters drinking oat milk lattes and wearing Gore-Tex jackets in the middle of sunny July. While we love the “gorpcore” look, somewhere along the line, Nike forgot that this gear was actually meant for the wilderness.
All of this is now changing dramatically. In 2022, they gave us the first We are staring, and now they're coming with an upgrade that screams "serious business." This isn't just an Instagram shoe; it's a direct assault on the ultramarathon world. Nike isn't kidding around anymore. With the new Zegama and the Ultrafly They send a clear message: we're back at the top of the mountain, and this time we intend to stay there. It's a resurgence like we haven't seen since the 1980s when people first remembered that people run even where there's no asphalt.
Technological “doping” under your soles
What happens if you take the world's fastest road shoe (say, the one Kipchoge breaks records in) and dress it up in mountaineering gear? You get the Zegamo. The star here is the ZoomX foam. If you haven't walked in it yet, imagine walking on clouds that have drunk three espressos.
With the new Zegami, Nike has placed this foam directly under the foot. The result? According to their data, 85 percent energy return. In practice, this means that the shoe literally launches you into the next step, instead of losing energy in the ground. But because no one wants a “drunken” feeling of instability in the middle of a rocky trail, they added Cushlon 3.0 foam underneath. This is the serious, stable brother who makes sure that the fun doesn’t end with a twisted ankle. It’s a duality that we all need in life: wild energy and solid support.
Torture for science: 22 athletes and 650 kilometers of suffering
Nike didn't create this shoe in a sterile lab over lunch. No, they used their All Conditions Racing Department. It sounds like a secret service, but it's a group of 22 elite trail runners who put these shoes to the test. Together, they ran more than 650 kilometers (400 miles), probably in conditions we wouldn't send our enemies into.
What did they find? We needed better traction. That's why the sole now features Vibram Megagrip with an improved lug pattern. It's the holy grail of soles. Wet rocks? Mud? Roots lurking in your life? Vibram sticks to the ground like your aunt from that 1998 gossip column. They've also added a protective plate in the forefoot (because a rock in the sole is really not sexy) and changed the heel for better braking on descents.
Goodbye, cramped toes (and sore heels)
Let's be honest, the worst thing about long runs or hikes is the moment when your feet start to swell up and turn into little loaves of bread, and your shoe becomes a medieval torture device. Nike has finally listened. They've developed a completely new last (that's the model they use to make the shoe) that's wider in the front.
This means that they will your fingers finally have room to breathe and move, which is key when you're on your feet for hours. They've also added a more stretchy gaiter around the ankle to keep pebbles out of the shoe, and extra padding in the tongue and heel. And the midfoot strap keeps your foot in place without suffocating you. Sounds like a hug for your feet, right?
When, where and for how much do I sell my kidney?
Here's the bad news: you'll have to wait a little longer for this marvel of technology. The Nike ACG Zegama won't hit shelves until the summer of 2026. I know, I know, that's an eternity in the fashion world.
As for the price, official numbers have not yet been confirmed, but looking at the previous Zegam 2 model, which sold for around $190, we can expect a similar figure. Probably around 200 euros here. Is that a lot? Maybe. But if you think you're buying a ticket to a world where your feet don't hurt and you look like a pro, even if you just stopped for a selfie on Šmarna gora... then it might be worth every penny. Start saving now.
