ACG Unveils Picklejus: A Big-Mountain Trail Runner With GOATEK Traction Innovation

What is it?
Purpose-built for long distances and demanding terrain, Picklejus is ACG’s pinnacle expression of rugged mountain-running performance.

Who is it for?
Picklejus pairs the downhill protection athletes value in highly cushioned trail shoes with the uphill efficiency and propulsion needed for long mountain efforts, making it a top pick for anyone who doesn’t want to choose between protection and performance.

What innovation is included?
Picklejus represents a complete mountain-running system, including the first co-molded, dual-density supercritical foam platform for trail running, a proprietary GOATEK outsole and a trail-tuned Flyknit upper — all developed to balance uphill efficiency, downhill protection and all-condition confidence.

What’s with the name?
Named after a near-mythical tool for runners battling muscle cramps, Picklejus was designed to help athletes sustain resilience deep into their race. As a playful nod to its namesake, the shoe’s rocker profile also resembles the shape of a pickle.

When is it available?
The ACG Picklejus will be available in late 2027 at nike.com and select retail locations.

ACG’s latest trail-running innovation started with a single question: How do you help athletes navigate the long and demanding big-mountain trails found around Mont Blanc, conserving energy while climbing, descending with more load protection, and maintaining confidence over 100-plus miles in the mountains?

The answer: Picklejus, ACG’s pinnacle expression of big-mountain running innovation, featuring GOATEK, the brand’s proprietary, confidence-inspiring traction platform.

Developed through athlete insight, biomechanical research, robust lab testing and real-world mountain validation, Picklejus is a complete performance system designed to help athletes move farther, faster and with greater confidence through the most rugged and demanding mountains in the world.

More than a trail shoe, Picklejus represents the next chapter in ACG’s commitment to serving outdoor athletes. As the first ACG footwear innovation developed through the Nike Sport Research Lab — the epicenter of performance-product creation — it demonstrates how athlete feedback, sport science and rigorous testing can come together to help athletes tackle the toughest challenges in trail running.

“The thing I love most about Picklejus is that it’s one less thing to think about,” says Shea Aquilano, a member of the All Conditions Racing Department. “I know my feet and legs are taken care of, which frees me up to focus on my race, the terrain and the challenge in front of me.”

A Complete Mountain-Running System

Picklejus, which takes its name from the near-mythical substance rooted in endurance-running culture, was born from extensive conversations with top trail athletes competing in Chamonix, the global hub for big-mountain running and racing. Through these conversations, spanning three years, the ACG team identified three recurring performance needs: maintaining efficiency during long and fatiguing mountain climbs; staying protected during extended, damaging mountain descents; and creating confidence through traction and stability on the ever-changing terrain.

Rather than optimize the shoe for one aspect of the run, the team set out to build a system that could support athletes across the full mountain experience, from the valley to the summit and beyond.

The voice of the athlete was central to the development of the silhouette, which is the product of 10 research studies and 20 prototypes tested by more than 100 athletes over countless miles.

“The driving element behind Picklejus was no compromises,” says Emily Farina, Senior Principal, Running Footwear, Nike Sport Research Lab. “Validating a shoe that could solve for uphill and downhill savings over extended terrains needed a strong partnership between the NSRL, product-creation teams and our ACG athletes. The footwear design breaks convention for what delivers efficiency, protection or stability. It’s a great example of what happens when we lead with the biomechanical demands of the athlete to take on the challenges of a very precise and nuanced sport.”

Protection and Efficiency Without Compromise

While traditional trail footwear often forces athletes to choose between protection and performance, ACG innovators designed Picklejus to deliver both.

Using biomechanical research and extensive athlete testing, the team worked to pair the level of downhill protection athletes value in highly cushioned trail shoes with the uphill efficiency and propulsion needed for long mountain efforts. The result is a lightweight system designed to help athletes maintain efficiency on climbs and reduce impact over technical descents.

This NIKE, Inc. innovation breakthrough combines two ZoomX midsole compounds in the company’s first co-molded, dual-density supercritical foam platform designed specifically for the trail.

A soft central ZoomX core delivers cushioning, load protection and efficiency, while a firmer perimeter stability ring provides a plate-like effect, support, confidence and durability. The co-molded construction allows the two foams to work as one integrated platform, giving athletes a natural, comfortable transition that stands up to the rigors of the most rugged mountain terrain.

All the while, a trail-tuned Flyknit upper leverages knit containment cables that adapt to the foot, creating a secure, stable fit that moves naturally through changing terrain without compromising comfort. The lightweight, breathable upper is made with hydrophobic yarns that repel water, helping runners stay dry and reducing water weight when the trail turns wet and muddy.

A supportive, gaiter-inspired cuff creates a locked-in feel while helping keep debris from entering the shoe, allowing athletes to stay focused deeper into their run. And as a playful nod to its namesake, the shoe’s rocker profile even resembles the shape of a pickle.

GOATEK Grip for Real Trail Conditions

Picklejus is built on GOATEK, ACG’s proprietary traction platform, created specifically to address one of the most critical performance challenges in trail running: maintaining confidence and control across constantly changing terrain.

Born from an obsession with solving that problem for athletes around the world, GOATEK delivers trusted grip on wet rock, loose dirt, steep climbs and technical descents, helping runners stay connected to the ground in unpredictable mountain environments. The outsole provides a 45 percent increase in wet traction and 25 percent greater abrasion resistance compared to Nike’s previous all-terrain outsoles, supporting efficient movement and inspiring confidence in all conditions.

That confidence is validated by five rounds of long-term GOATEK wear-testing, with athletes logging more than 18,000 test miles across rugged mountain terrain — reporting significant improvements over previous ACG traction systems and standout wet-weather performance when compared to competitor benchmarks.

With ACG as the proving ground for innovation that serves athletes in all conditions, GOATEK is designed to scale beyond the trail, informing performance-footwear innovation across NIKE, Inc.

The ACG Picklejus will be available in late 2027 at nike.com and select retail locations.