Nike Vomero 18 vs Nike Quest 6:
Which to Choose

The clearest difference is cushioning stack. The Vomero 18 stands on a big 46 mm heel / 36 mm forefoot platform pairing soft ZoomX over a firmer ReactX base, while the Quest 6 sits far lower at 35 mm heel / 23 mm forefoot on a single slab of firm EVA-based ComfiRide — so the Vomero has more than 10 mm of extra foam at both ends and rates a 6/6 for cushioning against the Quest's 3/6. That shows up in ride feel: the Vomero is deep, soft and soothing with gentle ZoomX return, whereas the Quest is firm, flat and predictable with little rebound and noticeably less forefoot protection on toe-off. Interestingly, the extra stack doesn't make the Vomero lighter — it's actually the heavier shoe at 298 g (men's US 9) versus the Quest's 283 g — because there's simply more material there, though neither is a featherweight and both feel like a lot of shoe if you try to sprint. Drop differs modestly, 10 mm on the Vomero against a steeper 12 mm on the Quest, but both cater to heel strikers and ease the calves and Achilles. They're closely matched on the things that make a trainer forgiving — both are neutral, both score 4/6 for stability with wide, planted bases, and both are happiest at the same relaxed 5:30–6:30 min/km cruising pace — but they diverge on range: the Vomero's plushness extends its comfort out to the half marathon, while the Quest's thin, low-rebound forefoot makes it best kept to 5K–10K before the firmness starts to wear on you.