Initial Impressions, Nike / Jordan, Sneakers

Nike Invincible Run: Maximum Comfort?

July 10, 2022July 9, 2022 by 100wears

Price: $180

Why Buy?

The Nike Invincible Run is simply the most comfortable sneaker out there if you like a plush ride.

Why Avoid?

The looks are definitely outside the norm, and there isn’t much in the way of stability.

Specs

Model	Invincible
Height	Low
Materials	Polyester Knit / ZoomX / Rubber
Size	13
Weight	371 g / 13.1 Oz
Construction	Cemented
Country of Origin	Vietnam

History

For someone who just wants the most comfortable sneaker possible, we live in amazing times. 10 years ago, Nike Air – a technology that debuted in the 1970’s – was still considered one of the best options. Free runners were labeled “the most comfortable sneaker ever.” In 2013 that all changed with Adidas’ Energy Boost. Those soft, springy, Styrofoam-looking pellets set off a war for comfort that has resulted in some truly amazing-feeling sneakers.

Nike’s latest and greatest in this ream is now ZoomX, and you don’t find any more of it than in this absolute beast of a sneaker – the Nike Invincible Run. While Nike positions this as a running sneaker, as you’ll see later in this review, this is all about comfort. If you want to run a marathon, get a Vaporfly. If you want to get around town in the nicest way possible, that’s where the Invincible shines.

Or, at least that’s what Nike claims. I decided to pick up a pair and see if this is marketing B.S., or if Nike has a real winner on their hands.

Looks

Upper

The upper of the Nike Invincible doesn’t really break any new ground. Following the knit-trend, the upper is made up almost entirely of a woven upper, with various overlaid panels for structure. In almost every colorway – this one included – the woven material has a pearlescent shine. That effect might be a lot for some, especially out of the box. It will no doubt fade with time, though, and will likely get to a point where most people don’t notice.

Breaking up the knit is a number of fused-on panels. Up front a small reflective panel protects the outer toe, but the real visual grabbing aspect is the back. The Invincible Run has two overlapping swooshes – a smaller one with a traditional shape under a translucent larger swoosh missing the bottom half. This sort of double swoosh was big for Nike a few years ago, but looks a bit dated now. Then again, most won’t notice.

Around back, the sneaker has two heel caps in a contrasting color – green on this colorway – and a thick piece of plastic going over the massive rear stack. Moving around the collar, the sneaker has a more traditional polyester panel holding several thick pads. This material is mimicked on the tongue.

Inside, the shoe is fairly typical for a knit runner. Lined in the back and unlined up front, there are no surprises. A removable insole finishes everything off.

Mid- and Outsole

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “a face only a mother can love?” Well, this is a midsole only the wearer can love. The Nike Invincibles’ outsole is tall, wide, and wrinkly. This is – by far – the widest shoe I own, including work boots. Honestly, it looks a bit ridiculous.

The design – which features pre-made cut outs in the back – tries is best to hide the creases but with ZoomX that is impossible. Out of the box these have more creases than a caricature of a 85-year-old blacksmith. Take one step and they double.

Another step Nike took to try and hide the creases is covering the entire outsole in a thick layer of plasticky paint. I’m not sure it helped with the wrinkles, but it does give the shoe some pop.

Turning the shoe over, you’ll find a fairly basic outsole. Though, covered in a web of lugs, it should provide great traction. Nike can add contrast rubber to the small swoosh panels on the front and rear, but on this colorway, they are black all the way through.

Summary

Nike did not design the Invincible Run with looks first, and that’s OK. If you’re trying to stunt on someone, you’re better off in a pair of Jordans or even a pair of Ultraboost DNAs.

At the same time, there is a certain “IDGAF” vibe to them. We’ve all seen the people who wear their Lululemon workout gear with their Hokas when shopping at the grocery store. It gives off an air of confidence. You know they are not the most fashionable, but you don’t care. These fit that style perfectly.

For me, I suggest pairing them with a slim fit athletic outfit. A pair of running shorts and t-shirt, or some nice joggers and a light weight jacket. It should be said, though, with this comfort, you might find yourself wearing them with just about anything.

Fit & Comfort

Fit

The Nike Invincible Run fits similar to other Nike sneakers. The one big change is that while most Nikes run very narrow, these are closer to a standard width – not wide, but more like you’ll find from Adidas or New Balance.

While the knit upper is not really stretchy, the padding around the collar gives a bit of wiggle room. If you’re in between sizes you can probably go up or down without much hassle.

I have what I consider slightly wide feet, but I take my regular Nike size. If you find Nikes painfully narrow and typically size up, you might want to consider going down a half size from what you typically take.

I wear these in a size 13, which is the same size I wear in the Ultraboost and Jordan 1. I wear a size 12.5 in Stan Smiths, and a size 12 in most dress shoes.

For a full list of sizing for every shoe reviewed on this site, click here.

Comfort

OK, the part everyone’s been waiting for. Does the Nike Invincible Run live up to the hype?

YES! Almost too much.

Remember the first time you put your foot in a pair of boost sneakers? The clouds parted and angels sang? It’s like that, but more. It’s insanely comfortable. I want to throw out my memory foam bed and get one made of ZoomX. All of the flaws about the looks of the upper can be thrown out because you’ll go out of your way to find reasons to wear this sneaker. It’s that good.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, there are a few things you should know about.

First, these are the most unstable shoes I’ve ever worn. Pretty much every other ZoomX shoe features some sort of stabilizing technology – a layer of regular EVA foam, a carbon plate, etc. These don’t. Without that it’s like walking around of marshmallow fluff. Lean slightly to the left or right and that side of the shoe collapses. The idea that you could run in these on anything other than a treadmill seems insane to me.

Second, the midsoles are so large they genuinely impact normal things you’d be able to do in other shoes. On this size 13 each shoe is around 5 inches wide! Do you have a small car or a manual transmission? You might not be able to safely work the pedals. Do you use drop boxes to hold your sneakers? If you’re a big size these might be too wide.

These are pretty much the only shoe I own where I need to go through my day and make sure my sneaker can fit everywhere I need it to. Still, I think that for many it’ll be worth it.

Materials & Construction

Materials

On the upper of the Invincible run, there isn’t anything out of the ordinary. Almost all the panels – the knit, the collar, etc. are made of polyester. The other items – the swooshes, the plates, etc. – are plastic. All regular sneaker stuff here. You can add the standard rubber outsole here as well.

The magic happens in the midsole with Nike’s ZoomX. Unlike most sneaker midsoles, ZoomX is made with Pebax. Pebax is a propriety blend of copolymers, and are closer to polyether than typical EVA foam. Nike isn’t the only brand to use this. In fact, on the website for Pebax they highlight their partnership with Mizuno, but Nike’s blend is unreal.

Construction

The Nike Invincible run is made with cemented construction. If you want a more in-depth explanation, click here, but in short, cemented construction is basically gluing the upper onto the midsole. This is by far the most common way to make sneakers over the last several decades.

Cemented construction’s pros are cost, flexibility, weight, and water resistance. Drawbacks include durability and resoleability. In a shoe that is designed to prioritize comfort, cemented construction is a great option.

Pricing & Value

Pricing

laces — *Good Quality Laces – Rarer than you Think*

The Nike Invincible run is not cheap. Originally priced at $180, the Invincible run undercut the top-tier ZoomX models from Nike (such as the VaporFly and AlphaFly), but still sits at the upper end of non-retro sneakers.

If you’re looking to stick with ZoomX technology, another option to consider is the Vomero 16. Priced at $150, you’ll be trading a bit of comfort for a few bucks. Of course, you can also consider Adidas’ comparable models made of Lightstrike Pro. However, currently, Adidas only puts thick cuts of this on the high-end runners so you’ll be shelling out something like $220 for the Adizero Adios Pro.

Value

*Wide boys – Wider than a Large Shoe Box!*

I make it a habit to dunk on Nike for offering bad value – a stance I’m 100% comfortable with. However, while I’m sure that Nike is still making insane margins on the Invincible Run, there really isn’t anything else out there like it.

Cost aside, the only other way to get a feel like this is to go with a high-end running shoe. However, when doing so, you make serious compromises for every day wear. Carbon plates are great in a marathon, but make the shoe worse when just walking around. A skin-tight upper made of a millimeter thick mesh keeps the weight down, but will easily rip if the guy behind you in line runs his cart into your shoe.

If you want this level of comfort in a shoe, there simply isn’t any other choice. I’m sure that in a few years you’ll be able to find this tech on mid-level shoes, but until then, this really is it.

Wrap Up

Sure, the Nike Invincible Run has a few flaws. The upper is uninspired, and the midsole is both ugly and impractical. However, that was never the point. Simply put, it is the most comfortable sneaker you can buy for non-athletic activity in 2022.