Explainer: How Nike’s Innovative Foams Deliver Performance and Comfort

Nike’s best-in-class suite of midsole foams deliver standout energy return, plush cushioning, staunch stability and critical impact protection.

Just as important: With each step, they bring comfort and confidence, no matter the sport or terrain.

When creating Nike’s latest footwear innovations, engineers and designers have a toolbox of proprietary options to choose from to design the ideal shoe. Here’s how to understand the benefits of each.

Nike’s most advanced and premium foam, ZoomX debuted in 2017 in the Vaporfly 4% road racing shoe. ZoomX was derived from a foam traditionally used in aerospace innovation and is made through a super critical foaming process using nitrogen that allows it to expand while remaining light and responsive and returning energy with each step.

This proprietary foam became iconic when, in combination with Nike’s carbon-fiber Flyplate and Air unit, it helped create an 85 percent energy return rate in the original Alphafly — and that was just the beginning. Since then, the evolution of the technology has branched into five variations of ZoomX. Each was created to unlock a range of performance benefits, the evidence of which now lives on nearly every course, court, field and pitch.

ZoomX foam is used in Nike’s premium road shoes and, with sport-specific modifications, is also found in the Lebron 23, G.T. Cut 4 and Mercurial Superfly 11. The most premium variation, ZoomX LT, appears in the new Nike Apex. This race-specific midsole foam is softer and lighter, and it provides greater energy return than traditional ZoomX.

Nike’s newest foam, Nike SkyX was a breakthrough innovation that allowed engineers to mimic ZoomX’s performance qualities by using a beaded foam and steam-molding process, which incorporates fragments of similar foam to that which is used in ZoomX.

Lightweight and durable, Nike SkyX provides high energy return at a more accessible price. The foam is used in Nike’s new inclusive super shoe, the Nike Swooshfly.

Made from an energy-efficient injected-phylon molding process, ReactX evolved the benefits of Nike’s React foam, delivering 13 percent more energy return. The durable foam is often used in tandem with a top layer of ZoomX to achieve increased energy return while extending the life of the midsole of a shoe.

ReactX is ideal foam to enhance stability, durability, and longevity of a shoe, which is why it appears in Nike’s newest hybrid training shoes, the Nike Hybrid RN, and as a component in the Vomero 18, the ACG Pegasus Trail, and the Pegasus 42 running shoes.

First introduced in 2006, Cushlon is one of Nike’s most durable, long-lasting foams. Cushlon is created through a compression molding process which provides extra durability and energy return. The foam is soft, light, resilient, and is frequently paired with Nike Air or Zoom Air units (such as in the forefoot or heel) to balance shock absorption with energy return and provide stability. Similar to ZoomX, Cushlon come in multiple versions that can be tuned to meet performance needs of the sport/athlete

The stability of Cushlon translates especially well to the court, where it provides much-needed support during repetitive lateral movements. Cushlon is featured across the Nike basketball lineup, and most recently in the Ja 4, Caitlin 1 and KD 19.