Nike ACG Zegama Hike review

We believe the Nike ACG Zegama Hike is a strong match for hikers who:

• spend long days on rocky or mixed terrain
• want soft, responsive cushioning on a stable platform
• need extra room across the ball of the foot and around the toes

If you regularly hike in wet conditions and need a waterproof option for technical terrain, we’d look at the HOKA Anacapa 2 Low GTX. It may not be as bouncy as the Zegama Hike, but it offers equal shock absorption and a more traditional 12 mm heel-to-toe drop.

If you want a lighter shoe for long hikes with a pack, we’d go with the Danner N45. At 12.5 oz (354 g), it saves 1.7 oz (49 g) per shoe while still offering excellent impact protection and a stable ride on rocky terrain.

Nike takes its premium running-shoe foam (ZoomX) to the hiking shoe realm to elevate impact protection on rocky terrain.

Although it's not the most max-cushioned platform we've tested, the ACG Zegama Hike surely takes the edge off extended hikes with an above-average shock absorption of 113 SA.

With an energy return of 61.8%, the ACG Zegama Hike feels remarkably responsive for a hiking shoe. As the ZoomX foam is placed directly under the foot, it keeps the ride lively and dynamic, adding a little pep to each step without compromising stability.

The brand lists Zegama Hike's heel stack height at 32 mm, and our calliper measurement confirmed it at 33 mm.

It's a balanced setup for a hiking shoe that is neither too tall nor too grounded, packing enough foam to buffer rough terrain.

We found no deviation in the shoe's forefoot stack either. At 28 mm, it is right on par with the official specs.

That's where the ACG Zegama Hike feels notably more cushioned, towering 5 mm above the category average and offering added protection for the ball of the foot and the toe joints.

Much like the other Zegama shoes, the ACG Zegama Hike is built on a low-drop platform with a 4 mm heel-to-toe offset.

With the heel and forefoot at almost the same height, this setup puts the foot in a more level position. This might require some adjustment for hikers who are accustomed to the traditional 8-12 mm drop, especially if they have tight Achilles tendons and calves.

But on the bright side, a 4-mm drop offers a more balanced and stable stance on challenging terrain, especially given the shoe's substantial stack height.

The plush ZoomX foam makes up the primary, top cushioning layer in the ACG Zegama Hike. With a durometer reading of 33.5 AC, it is indeed one of the softest foams you can find in a hiking shoe, especially one that's positioned for rugged terrain.

However, its forgiving nature never gets in the way of the shoe's stability, as ZoomX is cradled by a firmer foam that keeps the ride controlled. The latter proved to be quite hard, showing 60.0 AC on our durometer.

This dual-foam setup delivered a fine balance of comfort and surefootedness on uneven terrain and also retained its properties in cold weather. After 20 minutes in the freezer, we found that the ZoomX only got mildly firmer (by 13%).

Nike promises a 'roomy design' in the ACG Zegama Hike, and we are happy to confirm that the shoe indeed provides a good amount of toe space!

Our measurements revealed an exceptionally wide forefoot of 99.5 mm at the ball of the foot, placing this shoe among the widest in our hiking shoe database.

Even though its toebox shape has a mild taper, it's not so aggressive as to feel restrictive or limit toe splay. Measuring its width in the big toe area, we got another above-average width of 74.2 mm.

However, vertical space is not equally generous in this Nike shoe. Measuring 26.4 mm in height, its toebox is a couple of millimetres shallower than average.

 But on a positive note, we found no reason to worry about pressure points in this shoe.

Featuring the acclaimed Vibram MegaGrip rubber for its outsole, the ACG Zegama Hike boasts a strong bite even on tricky surfaces like smooth granite slabs and slick, stream-polished river rocks.

The blend demonstrated its tackiness with an above-average friction coefficient of 0.77 in our lab test.

This Nike shoe is also studded with deep 4.8-mm lugs that inspire confidence by latching onto mixed and loose terrain, including dirt, mossy roots, logs, and rocks.

However, we wouldn't recommend it for deep mud, as the lugs are too closely spaced.

We found the ACG Zegama Hike's tread pattern significantly sharper and more aggressive than that of the ACG Zegama Trail running shoe, which is optimised for steeper terrain.

The edges of the shoe's lugs are additionally covered with Traction Lug. These tiny textured protrusions enhance the bite of larger lugs on ascents, help resist sliding on descents, and generally improve grip on wet and dry rock.

With its more structured build, the Nike ACG Zegama Hike is nowhere near as flexible as its trail running counterpart.

The shoe's tall forefoot stack and supportive midsole tooling with raised sidewalls restrict its forefoot flexion range. But at the same time, it is no stiffer than the average hiking shoe, requiring a normal force of 17.3N to bend by 30 degrees.

Sure, it doesn't feel as fluid and natural underfoot, but its moderate rigidity contributes to stability by improving pressure distribution.

Even with Nike's famously lightweight ZoomX foam, the ACG Zegama Hike couldn't escape weighing more than the average hiking shoe.

At 14.2 oz (403g), it is an ounce heavier than the category average and than the popular Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX (13.3 oz/377g). But it is also on par with the HOKA Anacapa 2 Low GTX (14.1 oz/400g). It doesn't exactly disappear on the foot, but compensates for the extra ounces with impressive stability and durability.

A soft collar is the only thing that keeps the Nike ACG Zegama Hike from qualifying as a full-on hiking boot! Providing ridiculous side-to-side containment and solid footing from step one, it doesn't let the foot buckle on unpredictable terrain.

The ACG Zegama Hike relies on a sturdy foam cradle with extended sidewalls and flanges to lock the foot in place, without shanks or TPU reinforcements.

Our lab test showed that it takes a solid torque of 17.8 Nm to twist this shoe by 10 degrees in both directions.

The ACG Zegama Hike lets its sturdy foam cage do much of the stabilising work, leaving the heel counter a bit more forgiving.

Based on the results of our manual squeeze test, it earned a middle-of-the-road stiffness score of 3/5.

Additionally, the sturdy heel straps on both sides of the shoe help secure the rearfoot lockdown. Connecting the laces to the platform, these straps minimise unwanted foot play even further.

A broad base is the key source of stability in this Nike shoe. Measuring a record-setting width of 123.4 mm at the widest point of the forefoot, it proved to be the widest among hiking shoes and even exceeded the adidas Terrex Freehiker 3 Ultra GTX (120 mm).

Although its platform can feel clunky on highly technical trails and catch rock edges more often than not, it provides plenty of surface area for safe and stable landings on uneven ground.

The shoe's heel also turned out to be one of the widest among hiking shoes, with an exceptional 101.2 mm between its outermost contact points.

Nike found a fair balance between breathability and durability in the ACG Zegama Hike.

Even though its mesh upper is reinforced with a synthetic mudguard and a large rubber toe bumper, they leave some mesh sections open for ventilation. 

As our Dremel test showed moderate yet tangible damage, we kept the shoe's toebox durability score at 3 out of 5.

The heel padding, on the other hand, showed much better wear resistance, making it ready for constant friction.

Leaving our Dremel test unscathed, it earned the maximum heel padding durability score of 5 out of 5.

The Vibram Megagrip outsole passed our durability test with flying colours, sustaining a barely perceptible 0.5 mm dent. It is one of the best results we've recorded among hiking shoe outsoles!

In addition to its 4.8 mm lugs, the ACG Zegama Hike also has a solid layer of outsole rubber measuring 2.1 mm. Not the thickest out there, but sufficient considering its abrasion resistance.

The Nike ACG Zegama Hike is a non-waterproof shoe, offering decent ventilation through its upper mesh.

Assessing its breathability in our smoke-pumping test, we found that while the mesh itself has enough pores to let thin plumes of smoke escape, the shoe's abundant collar and tongue padding block some of the airflow.

That's why we kept our breathability score low at 2 out of 5.

Much like its trail running sibling, the ACG Zegama Hike packs a generous amount of foam to create comfort around the ankle and instep.

Measuring its tongue thickness with a calliper, we got an above-average reading of 12.4 mm.

Although it's not waterproof, this Nike shoe still features a fully gusseted tongue to enhance lockdown and prevent the tongue from sliding all over the place.

We were surprised to see a rather thin 3.7 mm insole in this hiking shoe.

If you are used to a plusher, better-padded underfoot experience, you can swap the shoe's removable insole for a custom insert.

The ACG Zegama Trail can be tricky to put on because of its raised, stretchy collar.

Thus, we appreciate the addition of two handy pull loops, one on the heel and another on the tongue, which make slipping into this Nike shoe much easier.

The shoe's raised ankle cuff acts like an in-built gaiter, preventing debris such as dirt, sand, and small pebbles from sneaking in.

Soft and stretchy, it doesn't put pressure on the ankle over longer distances. And if you want to switch between a tighter and a more relaxed fit, you can use either of the two top eyelet pairs.

The absence of reflective elements makes the Zegama Hike less ideal for hiking in low-visibility conditions.

As the brand's most technical hiking shoe with advanced ZoomX cushioning foam, sturdy and grippy Vibram MegaGrip outsole, and stable and durable construction overall, we believe that the Nike ACG Zegama Hike justifies its premium price point.