On Monday, August 24th, Eric and Ryan had the opportunity to attend an “ACG Innovation Briefing” livestream event from the wondrous spectacle of Chamonix. This week leads into the annual festivities of UTMB - a celebrated week filled with numerous events, inspiring performances all over the mountain, and a look into new offerings from the best brands in the game.
Our moderator, Tommie Runz, took us on a focused journey about the history of ACG as the adventure segment of Nike’s vast portfolio (shoutout to the OG ACG Escape), alongside two members of the ACG design team. We then moved on to the philosophy and inspiration behind how the ACG team approaches crafting the best adventure gear in the industry. The conversation discussed the resurgence of ACG in the past year and the commitment they have to the trail running sport through sponsoring events like Gorge Waterfalls, Zegama, and a few others.
And then… we saw something new. Something very exciting and the pinnacle of the event.
Introducing the ACG Picklejus
Introducing the ACG Picklejus, an all-mountain trail running shoe with quite a few new innovations from Nike. Let’s dive into what we saw.
And yes, you read that correctly. Nike has literally named their new shoe after pickles.
According to ACG, “Picklejus, which takes its name from the near-mythical substance rooted in endurance-running culture, was born from extensive conversations with top trail athletes competing in Chamonix, the global hub for big-mountain running and racing. Through these conversations, spanning three years, the ACG team identified three recurring performance needs: maintaining efficiency during long and fatiguing mountain climbs; staying protected during extended, damaging mountain descents; and creating confidence through traction and stability on the ever-changing terrain.”
10 research studies, 20 prototypes, 100 athletes, and 20,000 miles tested… gives us Picklejus. A true culmination and intentional statement for ACG’s next chapter in committing to innovation for the trails.
So, what do we know about the shoe? Actually, a lot! Check out the specs below:
What We Know
- 38mm in the heel, 32mm in the forefoot for a 6mm drop.
- Brand-new GOATEK proprietary grip.
- Dual-density supercritical ZoomX midsole (apparently will also be on the new Kigerfly).
- Perimeter ring of denser foam for a plate-like feel to give stability (there is no plate even though it has the stability of one).
- Aggressive rocker profile for faster toe-offs.
- A trail-tuned Flyknit upper that’s hydrophobic and durable.
- A built-in gaiter cuff to keep debris out.
And there you have it, folks, the ACG Picklejus. Our initial take and post-event thoughts were very hyped and excited. This shoe looks to be a solid do-it-all option to have in the quiver. The commitment from ACG to bringing innovation and exceptional products continues with this upcoming release. We are stoked to get it on our feet soon! For now, we can only prepare our minds with some pickle juice out on the course. Massive thanks to ACG and Fanny Trouble for having us!
The ACG will release later in 2027, and you can be sure that 9 to 5 Runners will have a review up as soon as we get our hands on these pickles!
Interested in reading the full press release? Check it out here →
Shop Nike Trail Running Shoes
Interested in Nike’s current trail lineup while we wait for the ACG Picklejus? Shop Nike trail running shoes at Running Warehouse. Using our affiliate link helps support 9 to 5 Runners at no additional cost to you.
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