New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 vs Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2: Which Max Cushion Shoe Should You Buy?

Introduction

If you are shopping for a max cushion running shoe, two options almost always come up: the New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 and the Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2. Both are built for plush, comfortable easy miles, but they get there in completely different ways, and that difference matters more than the spec sheet suggests.

We put both shoes through everyday easy runs and long runs to find out which one deserves a place in your rotation, and which one is better suited to a very specific kind of runner.

Quick Comparison: Specs and Price

The New Balance Fresh Foam More v4 costs 140 pounds (or 149.99) and weighs in at 298 grams (10.5 ounces) for men in a size 8, with a 4mm drop. The Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2 costs 164.95 pounds (or 180) and weighs 285 grams (10.1 ounces) in the same size, with a 9mm drop.

Both shoes fit true to size with a fairly roomy toe box, though not in an uncomfortable way. It is the right amount of space for an easy, relaxed trainer. Some testers prefer the More v4 upper, finding it a little looser and more comfortable, while the Invincible 2’s Flyknit upper has a bit more structure and rigidity.

New Balance Fresh Foam More v4: The Reliable Cruiser

The More v4 is a max cushion shoe designed for plush, comfortable miles, and it brings several updates over the v3. The biggest is even more Fresh Foam X midsole foam, making the shoe higher and wider than its predecessor, which also improves stability.

New Balance updated the outsole with new cushion zones across the length of the shoe plus Flex Zones for a more natural feel on the run. The rocker profile remains for a smooth transition, and the modified engineered mesh upper feels plush while staying breathable. A generous layer of rubber covers the outsole for grip and midsole protection, and a reflective logo adds visibility at night.

Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2: Maximum Bounce

The Invincible 2 uses the same incredibly soft Zoom X foam found in the Alphafly and Vaporfly, but instead of racing, the midsole is focused on easy miles and daily sessions. You get a similar bounce and responsiveness to Nike’s carbon plate siblings, here used to minimize impact and keep you going when your legs are tired.

The wide base ensures plenty of ground contact for stability, and the Flyknit upper offers a soft, secure fit. There is a waffle rubber outsole to protect the delicate Zoom X midsole while adding grip, and new laces make the shoe easier to tie down than the previous version.

View more details for Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2

Ride Feel: Two Very Different Ways to Do Easy Miles

The Invincible 2 is really soft, really squishy, and really bouncy. There is genuinely nothing else on the market quite like it. On its best days it is the most fun easy long run shoe out there, and it is easy to get obsessed with it for easy runs. But that softness is not for everyone: it can feel sluggish if you are trying to hold a consistent pace, it is not as stable as other shoes, and on tired or niggly days the squelchy ride can feel like a bit much. It is also very much a shoe stuck to one specific type of run, which makes it a slightly risky pick as the only cushion shoe in a three-shoe rotation.

The More v4 is almost the opposite. It is the ultimate shoe you do not notice on long easy runs: it looks big but feels fine on the foot, and you can just roll along at easy paces for hours. The wide sidewalls make it pretty stable, it nestles the foot into place, and it is hard to imagine a day when you would not want to use it. It is more fun than comparable stable cruisers, and many testers would happily pick it for long marathon training runs at an easy pace, something they would never do in the Invincible 2.

Durability and Rotation Fit

Over hundreds of miles, the Fresh Foam X midsole is expected to hold its feel more consistently than the Zoom X foam, though the Invincible 2 is still a reasonably durable shoe with no major concerns. The More v4 should feel very similar across long runs and well into the future, while the Invincible tends to shine most in that first fresh month of a training block and becomes more of an occasional treat shoe once legs get tired in high-mileage weeks.

Verdict: Which One We Would Buy

Both testers would recommend the More v4 to most people. It is the more practical, consistent, and reliable shoe, more accessible to everyone, and it slots into a rotation far more naturally. If you are choosing just one cushion shoe, or building a three-shoe rotation, the More v4 is the safer and more useful pick.

The Invincible 2, however, is the shoe that excites. It is bouncy, fun, and genuinely enjoyable, and some runners would still buy it for the sheer joy of those soft easy miles. Think of it as a treat shoe: brilliant for short runs where the goal is simply to enjoy yourself, but not the one most people should rely on as their only cushioned trainer.

Conclusion

The Fresh Foam More v4 is the sensible choice: a comfortable, stable, reliable cruiser that fits almost any rotation and never really annoys. The Invincible Run Flyknit 2 is the fun one: uniquely soft and bouncy, best as an occasional treat rather than a daily workhorse. Choose the More v4 for consistency and versatility, and the Invincible 2 if pure underfoot enjoyment is what you are after.