The Invincible Run 3 is Nike's softest running shoe with a midsole made from Nike's premium super foam, ZoomX. It costs $180 and offers ridiculous amounts of bounce and cushioning.
The Infinity RN4 is the new version of Nike's popular Infinity Run series. It costs $160 and uses ReactX foam which is durable, cushioned and stable.
Which one of these two premium Nike trainers is for you?
The Invincible Run midsole is made from 100% ZoomX which is a Pebax based midsole. It offers a high level of energy return in a super soft package.
The Infinity RN midsole is made from 100% ReactX foam. The ReactX foam in this shoe is softer than other Nike shoes that use React foam such as the Pegasus and the Miler. This leads to a very squishy ride with lots of cushioning.
The level of energy return that you get from the Invincible Run is higher than the energy return from the Infinity RN because of the different foams used. The Invincible feels a lot bouncier compared to the flatter feeling that you get from the Infinity RN.
The ride of the Invincible Run isn’t as stable as the ride of the Infinity RN because there is more lean bias in the Invincible due to the softer foam. The Infinity has a firmer midsole so foot strikes feel more planted.
The Invincible Run is better suited to slower paced, easy runs and recovery runs because of how soft its ride is whereas the Infinity is better for faster paced, tempo and steady runs. It’s easier to pick up the pace in the Infinity Run.
On the outsoles, both trainers use soft, flexible rubber. The Invincible Run has a lot more rubber coverage to protect the soft foam midsole. There are deep grooves on the outsole of the Infinity which saves weight and increases flexibility. The Invincible Run has better outsole durability due to the extra rubber on its outsole.
The Infinity does however have better midsole durability because Reactx is more resistant to creasing and compression over time. The ZoomX midsole of the Invincible is susceptible to scrapes and sharp objects because of how soft it is.
The upper of the Invincible Run is Flyknit but it feels more like traditional mesh than a knitted material. It is soft to the touch and it doesn’t stretch all that much. It has a generously padded tongue which is also not sleeved but there is no tongue slide. The collar and heel tab are padded but overall foot lockdown is not very good. It fits true to size and it is not currently available in a wide or a narrow version.
The upper of the Infinity is also Flyknit and it feels like a knitted material. It is soft to the touch and it is very stretchy. The tongue is slightly padded and is longer than the tongue of the Invincible Run. The overall fit is very comfortable but it isn’t as plush as the upper of the Invincible Run. It fits true to size and it is not currently available in a wide or a narrow version.
If you’re a runner looking for an extremely plush, super soft ride, the Invincible Run is the shoe for you. It has incredible energy return, a comfortable upper and has lots of cushioning. The Invincible Run is best suited to easy and recovery runs at relaxed paces.
If you’re a runner looking for a more balanced ride, the Infinity is the shoe for you. It has a more stable ride than the Invincible Run and is $20 cheaper. The Infinity is better suited to faster paced runs than the Invincible Run and it has a less plush ride.
