Nike ACG have returned to their roots as innovators in the outdoor sports arena, and it’s been a hugely successful revitalisation of one of Team Swoosh’s most iconic arms. This year they’ve dropped the Pegasus Trail, Ultrafly 2 and Zegama Boot, but their latest may be their most ambitious creation yet. Dubbed the Picklejus, it’s Nike’s pinnacle rugged mountain-running performance speedster.
The Nike ACG Picklejus takes its name from the relationship between running and pickle juice – that is, athletes drinking the vinegary liquid to quickly relieve muscle cramps. This pair was developed in the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL), and is the culmination of extensive athlete testing and biomechanical research. The aim of the Picklejus was to support athletes through the entire journey of long mountain runs, a purpose sold through the combination of two ZoomX midsole compounds – a first for the brand! A softer ZoomX foam is used on the inside, while a firmer variation wraps the outside, forming a plate-like feel.
‘The driving element behind Picklejus was no compromises,’ says Emily Farina, senior principal of running footwear at the NSRL. ‘Validating a shoe that could solve 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.’
The Picklejus’ upper dons a specialty Flyknit that utilises containment cables to lock down the foot, and is made with hydrophobic yarns to keep feet dry and reduce water weight. Another big detail is the use of GOATEK on the outsole, credited with delivering supreme grip – Nike report it provides a 45 per cent increase in wet traction, with a 25 per cent greater resistance compared to their other trail-terrain outsoles.
You can expect the Nike ACG Picklejus to arrive towards the back end of 2027 – keep it locked here to stay updated.
Read up on why ACG’s return to form is a great thing for sneakerheads, right here!
