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.
Image via NVTZRImage via NVTZRImage 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).“
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.
Image via NVTZR
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.
Image via NVTZR
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.
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.
Nike ZoomX Invicible
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!
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.
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!
