The Nike After Dark Tour returns this fall with a series of races in major cities across the globe. Stateside, the After Dark half marathon starts at 5 p.m. in Los Angeles, October 24. The race is sold out, but you don’t have to race in L.A. to snag hyper pink merch, which is available now at nike.com.
Here’s some of Nike’s shoe offerings commemorating After Dark. Snag them now before they’re sold out. Keep reading to learn more about the tour.
💖 After Dark Hyper Pink Shoes
The blueprint of the Vomero 18 was women-informed. The fit is unlike previous Vomero models: more accommodating for wide feet, more secure in the heel area. Layers of ReactX and ZoomX foam provide soft and responsive cushioning. It’s a solid daily trainer, reliable base builder, and supportive long run shoe. Its 44 mm didn’t result in an unstable ride, much to Editor Kristine Kearns’s relief. Kearns appreciated the Vomero 18’s support on a 12-miler, as well as its efficiency at skirting potholes.
The Vomero Plus is the super trainer rendition of the Vomero 18. This Vomero is 100 percent ZoomX foam and weighs a smidge lighter than the Vomero 18. Testers noted that the shoe felt noticeably zoomier.
An exposed Air unit in a Nike shoe signals it’s meant for speed. The one in the Peg Plus 2 functions to boost cushioning and pace; compared to the previous model, this one has 18 percent more energy return, according to Nike. Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate, who tested the shoe, said the shoe felt responsively fast, even though it weighs more than the previous iteration.
At 37 mm, the Peg 42 provides the best of both worlds in ground feel and cushioning. The shoe feels more nimble than the max-cushioned models we’re used to running in these days. Housed in the ReactX midsole is a single Air unit that’s curved, making the unit function like a carbon plate. All this translates to a zippy trainer that’s great for eating everyday miles.
All About After Dark
The tour centers on fostering a sense of community for women runners, offering them training plans through the Nike Run Club app. The mission of After Dark is to bring all levels and backgrounds of women together in a space where they are supported and motivated to race. The tour’s first year ushered in a massive turnout of 50,000 women runners, according to Seema Simmons, Nike’s VP/GM of North America. Many of these participants were first-timers. Of the 14,000 women participating in last year’s L.A. race, 43 percent were racing their first half marathon.
Simmons, known as the godmother of After Dark among her cohort, hopped on a video call with Runner’s World to talk about the tour and how women are integral in Nike’s product innovations. She will also be lining up at the L.A. start line as a first-time half marathoner, making Nike’s After Dark a part of her own personal journey.
Empowering Women Through Community
Simmons and her team noticed that women, particularly Gen Z, were the drivers of running’s growth these past couple of years. The After Dark Tour was the brand’s way of inviting even more new runners into the fold, as well as offering them support along the way, culminating into a race to celebrate these goals.
“[The After Dark Tour] is about creating more starting lines for women so that they can see themselves in the sport wherever they are based on their experience,” said Simmons.
After Dark reimagines Nike’s past women’s race series format, serving as a celebratory event that guides runners throughout their run journey, cultivating community. The event is even more meaningful because it’s held at night—a time when women are afraid to run alone.
“Just running as a collective can help provide the community and the comfort of running together through the night,” said Simmons. “We’ve heard insights of how that’s probably something most women are uncomfortable in doing, but having a fun, inspiring forum to do that together with thousands of runners is a great way to take the night and own it.”
What’s Great for Women Is Great for Everyone
After Dark is one part of Nike’s continuing initiative to empower women. The brand noticed the value in women’s voices when it developed the Vomero 18—and then the Alphafly 3 and Structure franchise—by listening to women’s feedback. But what makes women’s voices so valuable when it comes to product innovation?
“Specific to product, what we found in general is that when we’ve got women testing our product, she gives us specific feedback that is more actionable,” said Simmons.
The hyper pink color of the After Dark series challenges the “shrink it and pink it” narrative. Runners used to call out shoe brands for taking men’s shoes, releasing them in smaller sizes with a pink upper, and calling them women’s trainers. Now pink has undergone a rebrand, representing style and power as it colors a movement that resonates with both women and men runners. The hi-vis shade also enhances visibility at night, too.
Even More Hyper Pink on the Way
There’s even more hyper pink to look forward to in the new year. After Dark Tour: LA 13.1 participants will be treated to Alphafly 4 early access. The shoe is officially available October 24. The Apex, which we saw worn by top runners at the Chicago Marathon, will be released January 2027. And the all-new carbon-plated Swooshfly is set to release next February.
Shop After Dark Merch at nike.com
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
