Bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy. Truly the only words we can use to describe the Nike ZoomX Invincible. When we first experienced ZoomX alongside a carbon plate it wasn’t as noticeable, but alone it is a very different experience. The Invincible is an interesting shoe in many ways, some good and some bad, and we expect it’ll be polarizing for everybody given there is just so much going on.
Quick Details, Specs, and Availability
- ZoomX bounce levels in an everyday runner… and lots of it.
- Weighs in at 11oz or 314g for a US Men’s 9, 9oz or 253g for a US Women’s 7.
- Features 36.6mm of cushion and has a 9mm heel/toe drop.
- Retails at $180.00 USD and comes in 5 colors for Men and Women.
Run Test
First off, the shoe looks like a bit of a tank. Between the material usage, the plastic structural elements, and even the collar padding, it just looks beefy. Heck, even the laces come into play making the shoe feel a bit bigger than it actually is. The bulky appearance takes away from the fact that it runs way more responsibly and lighter than you might think.
From the moment you put your foot in the shoe, you’re going to notice the bounce there’s no way around it. What you will also notice is a roomy toebox, a very tapered mid-foot with some level of arch support, and then a heel that really locks you in place. Once you lace it down, your rear foot definitely feels well-kept and the overall stability of the shoe is very high given the angled midsole design. Overall, it is really comfortable on your foot and it does cradle you very well. Note, if you don’t like a restrictive feeling from your shoe, then you may not love it. Also, the rear half of the shoe can start to run warm given all the additional material.
Running in the ZoomX Invincible is a totally different story and it is going to be so split in terms of people’s reactions. The shoe bounces like an Alphafly and Vaporfly, but its made for everyday simple runs. And it’s actually way more responsive than you might expect given how big it might appear. At over 11oz, the shoe is heavy, but probably runs more like something at 9oz given the reaction from the midsole. So you’ve got this really beefy shoe that can really bounce you forward. The other bone of contention for people will come in the tapering of the shoe especially at that mid-foot. As it comes in a little narrow there and that arch pushes up a bit on the medial side, certain feet shape will struggle a bit with it.
With well over a hundred miles on these shoes now, we can say we are totally split. We love wearing this and sometimes it feels great to run in them, but not always and sometimes that bounce is too aggressive, but also sometimes it’s great. Honestly, if you are considering it, it is worth at least trying them on and just getting that under-foot feel. You will know right away if the shoe will work for you based on foot shape and design alone. We honestly expect to see ZoomX show up in a lot more places across the Nike line-up given how much they are getting out of it performance-wise, so we should probably all get used to it.
Construction: Upper
The upper on here is a mishmash of insanity. The majority of the forefoot is a denser Flyknit that has a ton of breathability, but once you get to the midfoot things get much bulkier and padded all in an effort to lock you in to that heel cup which is very rigid, but well cushioned. Between that and the gusseted tongue the shoe can really envelop the rear portion of your foot and cradle you, while the forefoot does a decent job providing plenty of roominess. It can feel a bit bulky and the very heavy laces add to that as well, but it does weirdly kind of work.
Updated Flyknit mesh 
Havy lacing column 
Toebox overhead 
Heel and collar overhead
Construction: Midsole
The midsole is based on Nikes ZoomX foam that has been reserved for their more performance oriented offerings and boy is it bouncy. It is also decently lightweight and offers some flexibility specifically in the forefoot. With almost 37mm of heel stack height and a 9mm drop you should expect a well cushioned and responsive run. It does feature a light rocker design again in the forefoot which does help with that forward progression.
Lateral midsole – front 
Lateral midsole – rear 
Medial midsole – rear 
Medial midsole – front
Construction: Outsole
Nike placed a large layer of rubber on the outside with varying sizes and positions of smaller nubs to improve tread, durability, and traction. You will also note small pieces of smoother rubber on the lateral toe and medial heel which seem more aesthetic than functional. It is highly durable underfoot, but this amount of rubber obviously is what increases the weight.
A lot of rubber on that outsole
Style & Aesthetics
Styling wise, the shoe is a Nike so a lot has gone into the way this thing looks and with 5 colors to choose from for men and women and probably more to come, expect some solid options. The mix of material usage, patterning, the lines, etc it all works really well to produce a shoe that looks cushioned and modern at the same time.
Overall Conclusion
The Nike ZoomX Invincible is an interesting shoe that will be contentious for most, the reason being that bounce and the upper bulk and fit. The balance of the shoe is odd given the blend between what they feel like on the foot, their weight, and then their responsiveness. It is just such a different feeling from other everyday trainers. Those who do love the feeling, will find it to be a very capable shoe that can take on a lot of miles without a problem and while you won’t be running your fastest, they will be comfortable miles.
Learn more on the Nike website
Check Out Other Reviewers Thoughts
As always, we gather together some of our favorite reviewers so you can get a well-rounded view of the shoe. Here are our favorites.
