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Nike Invincible Run 3 Review

February 23, 2023March 2, 2023freshbrewstaffLeave a comment

My review of the ultra cushioned Nike ZoomX Invincible 3

The Nike Invincible line of running shoes has been a fan favorite for several years now. First introduced in 2021, this cushioned shoe became a staple of easy runs, long runs and even marathons for thousands of runners. The Invincible 2 was essentially the same shoe, just with a slightly tweaked upper, but the third version is a complete redesign. Upon release, there have been many thoughts, both positive and very negative. To clear things up, I took the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 for a couple runs and gave my thoughts.

Check out my full video review here:

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 First Impression

I tried not to read too much into the reviews. My perspective is often different than many of the elite runners and professional shoe reviewers that get their hands on these first. I review running shoes from the perspective of an average to below average runner. While I love running and run about five to six times a week, my marathon PR is right around four hours. That’s not exactly Boston Marathon qualifier territory. I don’t need every shoe I run in to be super fast, light or high-tech. I’m simply looking for something that’s going to be comfortable and stable as I steadily churn through miles.

Outsole and midsole

The redesign of this shoe starts with the outsole, which is now a two-piece construction. It has small nubs on the bottom which provide decent traction, although I would not recommend using these in the snow.

The midsole still has a ton of ZoomX foam, but has a sort of “cut out” design that might help to cut down on the weight of this shoe. Overall, this is still a pretty heavy shoe, but if you are using it for long/easy runs it won’t be an issue. It isn’t a racing shoe, although I did run my marathon PR in the Invincible 1 last spring.

Upper

The upper is also totally redesigned. The FlyKnit material on the top appears to be thinner and possibly more breathable than the tightly woven previous versions. It’s 20 degrees F here, so I can’t be sure, but subscribe to my YouTube channel and I’ll report back when the weather get’s warmer. Nike also took out a lot of padding around the heel collar both on the inside (I talk about possible issues with this below) and the outside (for some reason the previous versions had a ton of padding on the outside. Maybe to protect from bear traps?) The laces are back to a more stretchy material and actually sort of short, so hang on to your old laces. Finally, the design looks a bit sleeker, with some sharp contours, as opposed to the smoother look of the previous designs.

Does the Invincible 3 have a heel slip problem?

This is the number one complaint with the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 – the heel slip. This is basically when your heel slides around in the shoe because it isn’t locked into place by the heel collar. Many runners were complaining about this, and right out of the gate, I noticed it too.

Now, it wasn’t as pronounced as the Nike Infinity React, which made me feel like I was running in sand, but it was enough to make me retie my shoes using all the shoelace eyelets in order to fully secure my foot. After making that adjustment, I can absolutely say the heel slip is not an issue. My shoes are tied a little tighter than I prefer and it took some getting used to, but there is no heel slip. A commenter on my video also suggested a runner’s knot, which is something I haven’t tried, but might help as well.

Is the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Cushioned?

No doubt! This is an ultra cushioned shoe, where the entire midsole is one solid chunk of foam. If you’ve never worn an Invincible, it will probably feel like nothing you’ve ever run in. The shape of the shoe also give a slight feeling of running down hill. The shoes are springy and responsive. Now here’s the catch; if you’ve run in the Invincible 1 or 2’s, you might notice a difference. In my opinion, the Invincible 3 is a cushioned shoe, but is a little more firm than the original versions. It isn’t uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have the buttery soft feel right out of the box from previous versions. At the time I’m writing this, I’ve run about 30 miles, so maybe they need to break in, but I would say the Invincible 3s are a more firm shoe.

Is the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Stable?

Stability is a huge part of a running shoe, and as a perpetual ankle sprainer, even more important to me. The Invincible 3s midsole is solid ZoomX foam, which isn’t the most stable material for a running shoe. However, Nike compensated by making this a really wide shoe. It isn’t wide on the inside (more on this below), but the surface area that the outsole covers helps to add a lot of stability. I am a heel striker, and my worst ankle sprains have come when I land on a rock or stick. The width and the ZoomX foam’s ability to absorb the difference in terrain makes for a very stable shoe. You will notice some side to side flex, but I have yet to twist my ankle seriously in any Invincible. I noted the firmer feeling above, which I also think contributes to the stability of this shoe.

Is the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 True to Size?

Yes, the Nike ZoomX Invincible is true to size. I have seen some comments online about getting a size smaller to account for the heel slip, but I wouldn’t recommend it. These shoes seem to fit my size (10) perfectly, both before and after using all the shoelace eyelets. I would say the Invincible 3 runs slightly wide, but I have pretty narrow feet, and didn’t notice any issues. If you know your Nike size, go with that.

Pros

Cushioning: This is a pro if you are totally new to the Invincible line. The plentiful ZoomX foam helps to make a very cushioned ride. I’m not a super fast runner, so I would sacrifice some weight for a more cushioned feeling on my feet.
Stability: The width of this shoe helps to create a wide surface area, making this shoe surprisingly stable especially for a heel-striker.
Design: I think this shoe looks a lot cooler. There’s some nice sharp lines and it looks less “bubbly” than previous versions. It’s something that will still catch people’s attention out on a run, but maybe blend in a bit when walking around at the store.

Cons

Heel Slip: I detailed this above, but if I lace them how I have laced every single other running shoe I’ve used in my life, there is a slight heel slip. However, using all the eyelets or a runner’s knot solved the problem for me. It makes the shoes feel a little tighter than I’d like, but I got used to it after a mile.
Firmness: For those of you who have run in previous versions of the Invincible, I think you will notice a firmer ride. I’m not sure if the ZoomZ foam is different, or theres something else going on with the design of this shoe, but I think the feel of this shoe is a slight downgrade. It isn’t a dealbreaker, but I wouldn’t call it an improvement.
Cost: At $180 retail this shoe is remarkably expensive. I got about 300 miles in by previous versions before the foam started to lose its bounce. If that holds true for the Invincible 3, you are paying a lot for a shoe with average durability. Keep an eye on StockX for deals on this shoe, as well as some deals right now for the Invincible 2.

Final Verdict

Overall this isn’t a bad shoe. I think some of the initial wildly positive reviews (from people who seemingly got the shoe for free…) were a bit exaggerated, as well as some of the wildly negative reviews that mentioned the heel slip. A quick adjustment to the laces should take care of that issue. Now, should I have to lace my shoes in a completely new way on a shoe that costs $180? No, probably not. Is it a bit disappointing that the shoe doesn’t feel quite as soft as the original two versions? Yes, it is.

At the end of the day, I will not be sending this back, but rather running in this for 300-400 miles because that’s what I do with all my shoes. But in the meantime, I will have my eyes peeled for possible alternates, such as the New Balance Fresh Foam X More V4 or the Asics Novablast 3.

Overall, a decent shoe, but it might disappoint diehard fans of the originals.

For the video review and more content, such as weekly running vlogs, reviews and the lighter side of running, subscribe to the Fresh Brew Run Club on YouTube.

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Images & Release Date

November 19, 2022January 21, 2023freshbrewstaff1 Comment

Official Images of the Nike ZoomX Invincible

Instagram user NVTZR posted official images of the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 on his page. The cushioned running shoe returns in a redesigned outsole, midsole and upper. Check out the photos below, and leave your thoughts in the comments.

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Upper — Image via NVTZR

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Side View — Image via NVTZR

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Release Date and Price

According to Runner’s World Magazine Runner-In-Chief Jeff Dengate (awesome job title), the ZoomX Invincible 3 will come out on February 2, 2023. Jeff noted some more details in his post:

“Expected release date is 2/2/2023 for $180. Nike specs men’s 10 at 317g (11.2 oz) and women’s 8 at 256g (9.0 oz). Astonishingly, my size 12 of all 3 versions weighed exactly 347g (12.2 oz).“

Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Inside Side View — Image via NVTZR

First Look at the Nike ZoomX Invincible 3

Check out the Fresh Brew Run Club’s reaction video to the Invincible 3 below:

Redesigned Outsole

The outsole and midsole remained the same for the V1 and V2 versions of the Invincible. But the Invincible 3 features a fully redesigned outsole, with what looks like a two-part rubber material. The “cleats” on the bottom of the shoe remain, but there appear to be “holes” in the outsole, exposing the ZoomX foam material from the midsole.

All-new midsole

The heart of the Nike ZoomX Invincible is the midsile, which has been completely redesigned. Next, the massive hunk of foam remains, but there appear to be some cutouts on the heel area (possibly to reduce weight) and some additional material encasing the midsole foam, which could add to the stability of the shoe overall.

Invincible Upper

The upper is redesigned as well, with what appears to be a new type of Flyknit. The first two Invincibles had more of a textured material, while the Invincible 3 has a smoother, more refined-looking material. Another notable change is the padding around the heel collar. The first two versions had tons and tons of padding on the inside and outside of the shoe, where the Invincible 3 has significantly reduced the padding, which now looks similar to a Vaporfly or Alphafly.

The main Swoosh is redesigned, and a new Presto-like Swoosh has been added to the toe. Finally, there is also a heel pull-tab, which was not on either of the first two versions.

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Nike ZoomX Invincible Review – First Reaction

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021freshbrewstaff2 Comments

My review of the Nike ZoomX Invincible after one run

When I first saw the Nike ZoomX Invincible, I wasn’t sure what the point of it was. Nike already has the Infinity React, a shoe designed to prevent injuries as well as the Miler React. But as time went on, it was clear that this shoe was different. Sitting on a near mountain of ZoomX foam, this shoe was a departure from the more recent React-heavy releases in Nike’s running lineup. Now, the real test of a shoe is after at least 100 miles, so things could change (and I will make another video at that point), but initially I was very impressed.

Check out my full video review below:

Nike ZoomX Invincible First Impression

Pulling these shoes out of the box, the first thing that struck me was the size of these shoes. There’s just a ton of foam and materials on them. However, when I picked them up, they seemed lighter than they look, which is probably a result of the lightweight ZoomX foam. The outsole features a single piece of cleated rubber with two pieces of rubber at the toe and heel of the shoe. The midsole is made of Flyknit, but the material seems like a slight departure from Flyknit I’ve seen in the past. It feels like a tighter weave or something. The tongue is moderately padded, and the heel collar is heavily padded, including padding on the outside, which seems like an unnecessary addition.

First run reactions

For my first run, I ran four miles at a relatively easy pace. I planned to run at 8:30, but I ended up in the 8:15 range, because I kept catching myself running faster than my goal pace without realizing it. The first thing I noticed was the cushion. You really can feel a huge difference between this shoe and others, even other shoes with ZoomX like the Pegasus Turbo. I also immediately noticed that when I landed and pushed off, the shoe almost assisted in rolling from heel/midfoot to the toe. It reminded me of the Nike Vaporfly, which relies on a carbon fiber plate to “spring” you forward. I’m not sure how long the Invincible will be able to do this, with the pliable foam, but it was noticeable right from the start of my run.

I’ve also had some knee soreness lately, but I didn’t feel any on my run. Could be the result of a small sample size of one run, but these at least didn’t hurt my knee. After reviewing the slow motion footage, however, I did notice a decent amount of lateral (side to side) flexing in the shoe, especially when I go around corners. This leads me to believe this might not be the next great stability running shoe. Something to keep an eye on.

Is the Nike ZoomX Invincible true to size?

The short answer is yes. I am a size 10, and this shoe feels great in a size 10. With running shoes, it is often recommended that you buy a size up, but that’s not needed here; the toe box is roomy enough to handle long runs where your feet expand. The padded heel collar hugs your ankles and can be tightened with the laces.

What is the Nike ZoomX Invincible for?

This shoe is definitely something you want to take on your long runs. It is a little on the heavier side, so I wouldn’t recommend using this as a racing shoe or for speed workouts, but it didn’t feel like a brick on my feet. Any issues with the weight of the shoe will be quickly forgotten when you feel the amount of cushion this shoe offers.

ZoomX Invincible Pros

Incredible cushion is unlike most running shoes. Super comfy.
Toe construction helps the foot “roll” into your push off.
Comfortable heel collar provides heel lockdown.
True to size.

ZoomX Invincible Cons

Price – At $180 retail, this is a very expensive shoe.
Durability questions – while I only ran in this once, I have some concerns that this might not hold up as long as my Nike React Miler. The ZoomX foam is super soft, and unclear what will happen after 300 miles.
Design – For the price of this shoe, I find the initial colorways kind of boring. Not ugly, but nothing that’s going to turn heads, especially compared to the Alphafly, Vaporfly and Zoom Fly. Would love to see something a little bolder.

First run verdict

Overall, I loved my first run in these shoes. They offered a level of cushion I haven’t felt before, even with the old Asics Gel Nimbus. I simply had a lot of fun running in them, and I’m already excited for my next run. It will be interesting to see how the ZoomX foam holds up after a few hundred miles, but I will be sure to provide an updated review of the Nike ZoomX Invincible. Don’t forget to subscribe to the FBRC YouTube channel so you don’t miss out!

Nike ZoomX Invincible: FIRST LOOK

December 3, 2020December 30, 2020freshbrewstaffLeave a comment

Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming Nike ZoomX Invincible

The Nike ZoomX Invincible has shown up in the first photos, via NikeTalk user TC1990. The trainer is a new addition to the Nike lineup, but appears to be part of the React Miler/Infinity React family, based on the silhouette, design and features.

Features

As the title suggests, the shoe’s main feature is the ZoomX foam, which made from blown Pebax, and featured in Nike’s most advanced shoes like the Vaporfly and Alphafly. There’s a very prominent heel collar, which looks super comfy. The outsole also appears to be a single piece of rubber, possibly to give the soft ZoomX foam some rigidity. But that’s pure speculation until we see these out in the wild. The outsole pattern is also interesting, as it almost looks like little cleats. Quite possibly a very grippy shoe.

The upper appears to be made of some kind of Flyknit or similar material. A heel clip locks the foot into the shoe, much like the Miler, and there4 appears to be a padded tongue as opposed to the thinner version we’ve seen in recent Nike releases.

Overall, this appears to be geared more for long/slow runs, as opposed to speed. It will be interesting to see the actual weight of the shoe, but it looks like a very comfortable fit, based on the ZoomX foam and the padding. How it differentiates from the React models (besides the React foam) will be interesting.

Gallery

Nike ZoomX Invincible Release Date

According to Nike the Invincible will be released globally begining January 7th, 2021! Check out the first official photos below!