REASONS TO BUY
Grippy traction
Comfortable stack
Very attractive
Great heel collar design
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks stability
Not agility-centered
Nike Zegama 2 - Womens Review
This beautiful and well-tractioned shoe is suited for moderate trails that don't require a ton of agility
While not our favorite overall, the Zegama is a good-looking trail shoe that is capable of riding its way through moderate trails.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Ally Arcuri ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 26, 2025
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
The Nike Zegama 2 is a well-tractioned, style-focused shoe that can handle single tracks and cross-country excursions with ease. While not an overall high scorer, the Zegama is well-suited for moderate trails and non-technical terrain. The Vibram MegaGrip outsole provides adequate traction on dry and damp ground but isn't burly enough for jagged rocks or steep ridges, as Nike promised. If you are in the market for a moderate trail shoe that boasts a soft underfoot feel, comfortably smooth ankle protection, and style in spades, then the Zegama is a worthwhile choice. While not our top recommendation for serious trail runners, it could still be an appealing shoe to add to your arsenal.
Our Analysis and Test Results
With a 6 mm drop, a plush 33 mm stack, and 4.0 mm lugs, the Nike Zegama 2 offers some comfortably rugged features for your trail endeavors.
Easy, flowing trails feel fun and comfortable in the updated Zegama.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Comfort and Fit
The Nike Zegama is such an aesthetically-pleasing shoe that we begged it to be comfortable, and, for the most part, it is. When we consider this shoe through a comfort-only lens, removing its deficient trail prowess, we dig it. It is soft and smooth and boasts a uniquely comfortable heel collar design above a well-padded heel cup. Its tongue is plush, and the overall fit runs on the mildly wider side of narrow. Provided that you are not seeking a stability shoe, the Zegama 2 provides 360-degree comfort.
The comfort, fit, and style of this shoe make it one that we reach for when we know we'll be active but also want to look cute. We appreciate the slightly above-average comfort elements of the Zegama, but don't recommend buying a trail shoe based on comfort alone. Comfort is important, but we have plenty of other recommendations that provide comfort and much-needed trail features instead.
The stylish and attractive Zegama 2 provides ample soft comfort.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
We are disappointed in the stability of the Zegama 2. The forefoot lacks the structure to help you maintain your gait, and the rearfoot rides like it's focused on comfort, not stability. We run in a lot of different shoes, and this is only the second shoe we've had real stability issues in. Our main tester rolled her ankle on a moderate trail while testing the Zegama. We tightened the laces to create a semblance of stability, but this degraded the comfort of the shoe drastically.
While runners with different anatomies might find the heel stack and overall compressive nature of the Zegama to be non-issues, we stand firm in our experience with the Zegama being a rather unstable shoe. Especially when we consider the stability demands of trail running, we hesitate to recommend the Zegama based on this metric alone.
We didn't fall in love with the Zegama because of its lack of stability. Other runners might not find this to be as important as it is to us.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
The outsole of the Zegama 2 uses Vibram MegaGrip, giving it respectable traction despite other trail-specific shortcomings. Its chevron-shaped lugs feature small textured bumps for added grip, arranged with forward-facing lugs at the forefoot, rear-facing lugs at the heel, and a row of four along the arch. However, exposed foam through the midfoot leaves it vulnerable to abrasions and punctures.
While the Vibram outsole delivers solid traction on a variety of surfaces, it falls short for highly technical terrain. Combined with a thick ZoomX foam midsole that limits sensitivity, the Zegama 2 is best suited for easy to moderate trails where traction matters more than ground feel.
The 4 mm deep, chevron-shaped lugs across this Vibram outsole make it stronger than expected.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Foot Protection
The Nike Zegama 2 is not the most protective shoe in our lineup, making it better suited for moderate trails. The midsole is made of Nike's ZoomX material, which provides a thick and relatively soft underfoot feel. The overall stack height is 33 mm, which feels thick and protective while inhibiting sensitivity.
In lieu of a toecap, the Zegama has a very thin coating of rubber across the space where a toe bumper should be. This overlay provides very little protection, further cementing this shoe's standing as one that should be worn on trails where kicking rocks is not an option.
The Zegama is one of very few trail shoes we've tested that has a built-in ankle gaiter at its heel collar. The thick heel cup gives way to a dual-layered, stretchy textile that sits somewhat snugly around the rear ankle. This prevents sand and dirt from infiltrating through the ankle collar. While this is a unique and comfortable touch, it doesn't quite make up for the protective elements the Zegama lacks.
In our experience, Nike doesn't tend to make the most protective shoes, but the Zegama 2 offers just enough to provide confidence on mellow trails.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
A single shoe of the Zegama 2 in women's US size 6.5 weighs 8.40 ounces, which is a bit heavy for what it offers. While it is well-tractioned, it lacks some of the upper protection that we associate with heavier shoes. All in all, the weight of the Zegama isn't a total dealbreaker unless you are looking for an ultra-lightweight shoe. If the rest of the shoe fits (your desires), a half ounce per shoe above average isn't that much to add.
The upper isn't super protective, making the Zegama seem a bit heavy without reason.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Nike Zegama 2?
While Nike upped the ante with the updated outsole of the Zegama 2, it falls short when compared to other trail shoes. It is a rare trail runner who can make this shoe work for them on technical trails, so we hesitate to recommend purchasing it outright for the trails. If you're looking for an active shoe that looks great and provides comfort, the Zegama fits the bill. For the average trail runner, we recommend allocating your hard-earned funds to a shoe that can keep you company on granite-laden climbs, through root-covered forests, and across the copious snow fields you may find during spring running.
The new Zegama is almost there. It has plenty of lovable qualities, but isn't as strong of a competitor as other shoes in our lineup.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Trail Shoes Should You Consider?
From a purely functional standpoint, the La Sportiva Bushido III is a rugged trail shoe. It is rugged, capable, and durable, offering stronger traction and a better trail feel. If you, too, love the looks of the Zegama, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 has a similar vibe but a better performance across the board. If comfort is what you are seeking, the Hoka Speedgoat 6 offers well-rounded comfort while still being able to tackle tough terrain. If the Zegama 2 spoke to you because of its plush comfort, the Asics Trabuco Max 4 is a comfortable trail shoe to consider.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Nike Zegama 2 - Womens versus top competing products:
—Ally Arcuri
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