Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 running shoes

The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 Running Shoe is a comfortable running shoe with a very soft midsole, maximum cushioning and good shock absorption. Despite its softness and sole height, it provides stable foot support and can be used for shorter, faster distances. A little stiffer than the previous version, but still one of the softest running shoes. It’s a bit heavy and doesn’t have as good grip on wet ground, but it’s perfect for what it’s designed for, long slower comfortable fits. It has a slightly narrower upper for foot support, so those with wider feet may not be comfortable. What makes the Invincible Run special, before and now, is that they use one of their most advanced midsole foams, so in addition to good shock absorption, the running shoe is also flexible. Compared to the previous version, the shoe has a wider sole, making it more stable, but also heavier, which is not conducive to faster runs. In addition to the width, the midsole has been increased by 3mm, but this does not increase the softness of the shoe, in fact the thicker outsole makes it slightly stiffer. The stiffer feel is also due to the addition of a strobel insert (textile insert) over the midsole, which prevents the foot from sinking into the soft midsole foam as it did in previous versions. This also improves foot support and durability.

As the name of the shoe suggests, the upper of the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 running shoe is made from a stretchy knit fabric. It does not have a separate inner lining like previous versions, gy has much better breathability. The tongue of the shoe is cushioned and not fixed like in previous versions, but it doesn’t slip aside easily as the tongue is wider. The heel collar is not too stiff and thin, but inside a layer of foam wraps around the heel, which improves foot support. A plastic heel clip where the midfoot meets the upper improves support, extending all the way to the middle of the shoe. This solution really helps to hold the foot in place, but it’s a bit intrusive, it can feel too strong. The upper is distinctly narrow, which will make those with wider feet feel too tight. There is some intentionality in this. Heavier runners tend to have wide feet, but ZoomX foam doesn’t behave well under heavier weight, deforming more easily and thus more likely to cause injury over the long haul

The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 Running Shoe Midsole is made entirely from Nike’s premium ZoomX foam. Outside of the Nike brand, there are few other running shoe brands that use all of their best racing foam in non-competition running shoes. ZoomX foam in this volume provides extremely good shock absorption and softness, but it is also dynamic. The Invincible Run Flyknit 3 also has a higher midsole than the previous version by 3 mm, but that doesn’t make the shoe any softer or more dynamic, in fact it does the opposite, it’s a bit stiffer and less dynamic than the Invincible Run Flyknit 2. There are 2 reasons for this. One is that the outsole has become thicker, which makes the whole sole feel harder, and the other is the strobel insert, which is placed between the midsole and the upper, which prevents the foot from sinking into the midsole. The wider forefoot also helps stability but also slows the shoe down. While the previous versions were also suitable for fast runs, the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 running shoe is more suited for slower (slower than 5:30km) but longer runs. Not only has the midfoot geometry been widened, but the heel section also has a supportive bulging on the sides on the inside with the name of the shoe, which makes the heel section more satbile, less able to lean inwards at the ankle.

The outsole of the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 running shoe has also changed a lot from previous versions. For one thing, it doesn’t cover the entire midsole, it consists of two separate parts, a front and a back, making the shoe less stiff. The outsole is thicker, which makes the sole a bit stiffer and adds weight to the shoe. It is completely incomprehensible why the outsole is so thick and densely ribbed in the middle of the sole. This is redundant, it does not provide better traction, but adds weight to the shoe. The grip of the outsole is good but not outstanding on dry surfaces, but becomes slippery on wet surfaces.

Over all, the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 3 Running Shoe is a comfortable, soft but stable running shoe with great cushioning and some dynamism. If you compare it to the previous versions, some will be disappointed because the version 3 is a bit stiffer, heavier and less dynamic, but some will love it because it’s more stable, has better breathability and absorbs shock a bit better. With the new version, Nike has taken the Invincible Run from a layering shoe in a more popular direction, which wouldn’t be a bad thing, but it leaves a void in its place, and the changes give the Pegasus and InfinityRN running shoes a new competitor because they give a similar running feel.