For years, the knock on Nike trail shoes was that the brand could conquer road racing but struggled making rubber stick to wet rock. Nike essentially admitted as much in 2023 when it handed the Ultrafly’s outsole over to Vibram rather than risk its own compound on a pinnacle product.
Now, unveiled during UTMB week in Chamonix, ACG believes it has finally solved the grip problem in-house with its new big-mountain trail runner, the Picklejus.
Kicking the Vibram Habit
Yes, that’s really the name, and we’ll get there in a second. The headline tech here is GOATEK, Nike’s new proprietary trail outsole that feels like a direct shot at its Italian supplier.
The brand claims a 45 percent jump in wet traction and 25 percent better abrasion resistance over its previous all-terrain rubber, validated across five rounds of wear-testing and more than 18,000 athlete miles in the mountains.
Whether GOATEK can actually hang with MegaGrip is a question for 2027. But Nike clearly believes it can.
Two ZoomX Foams, Zero Glue
Underneath sits some impressive construction as well. The Picklejus debuts Nike’s first co-molded, dual-density supercritical ZoomX platform for trail, pairing a soft central core with a firmer perimeter ring that behaves much like a plate without actually being one.
And because the two foams are molded together rather than glued, there’s no stiff adhesive layer muddying the ride. Stack height lands at a properly maximal 38mm heel and 32mm forefoot on a 6mm drop, with a target weight around 9.7 ounces.
Committing to the Brine
Up top, a trail-tuned Flyknit upper is equipped with internal containment cables paired with hydrophobic yarns that are designed to repel water. And the gaiter-style cuff is purpose-built to keep debris out of your socks.
As for the name? It’s a nod to the near-mythical cramp remedy passed around ultra aid stations, and ACG is all-in on the pickle theme. The debut colorway is straight-up brine green, and the rocker profile is, per Nike itself, shaped like a pickle.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Nike ACG
Model: Picklejus
Category: Big-mountain trail running
Midsole: Co-molded, dual-density supercritical ZoomX
Outsole: GOATEK proprietary traction compound
Stack Height: 38mm heel / 32mm forefoot
Drop: 6mm
Lug Depth: 5mm
Target Weight: ~9.7 oz (US 10)
Upper: Trail-tuned Flyknit with gaiter-inspired cuff
Release: Late 2027
Pricing & Availability
The Nike ACG Picklejus is slated for a late 2027 release through nike.com and select retailers, and pricing hasn’t been announced yet. Given the tech stack involved, we wouldn’t expect it to be cheap.
Recap
Nike ACG Picklejus Trail Running Shoe
Built around Nike’s new GOATEK outsole and a first-of-its-kind dual-density ZoomX midsole, ACG’s pickle-themed big-mountain runner lands in late 2027.
