Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2 vs New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12: Two Cushioned Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

If you are shopping for a cushioned daily trainer, these two shoes will almost certainly come up in your search. The Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2 and the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12 are both built for easy miles and daily comfort, but they are very different shoes underneath.

The Invincible 2 leans into extreme softness and bounce, while the 1080 v12 plays it conventional with a balanced midsole that covers a bit of everything. Knowing which of those characters suits your running is the key to choosing between them.

Quick Comparison

The Invincible Run Flyknit 2 costs £95 or $180, weighs 285 grams (10.1 oz) for men in a size 8, and has a 9mm drop. The Fresh Foam 1080 v12 costs £145 or $159.99, weighs 283 grams (9.9 oz) in the same size, and has an 8mm drop.

On paper they are nearly identical. On the run, they could hardly be more different.

Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2

The Invincible 2 uses the same ZoomX foam found in the AlphaFly and Vaporfly race shoes, but here it is not paired with a carbon plate. Instead, Nike has simply added a generous volume of that foam and aimed it squarely at easy miles and daily sessions, minimising impact and keeping your legs feeling fresher for longer.

The worry with ZoomX on its own is stability. It is a soft, delicate foam that can feel wobbly, which is why it is normally reserved for race day. Nike counters that with a massive wide base that gives plenty of ground contact, and it works well. It is still not the most stable cushioned shoe out there, but the wide platform keeps the wobble from becoming a real problem.

The ride is bouncy rather than propulsive. You do not get that plate-driven forward leap of the race shoes, but you do get a comfortable spring that helps when your legs tire on later miles. The Flyknit upper is soft and secure, the new laces are easier to tie down than the previous version, and a waffle rubber outsole protects the fragile midsole while adding grip.

If softness and comfort are your priority, this is arguably the softest cushioned shoe available right now, and few options really compare.

View more details for Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v12

The 1080 v12 needs little introduction. The v10 and v11 were hugely popular with runners who wanted one shoe for everything, from easy miles all the way to race day, and New Balance calls this the best running shoe it makes. That claim is really about versatility rather than outright performance.

The midsole uses Fresh Foam X, a balanced material that sits right in the middle between soft and firm. That makes the shoe protective on the legs while still being responsive enough for slightly faster training days. It will never compete with race shoes, but it ticks a lot of boxes as a daily trainer.

The upper is a lightweight engineered knit that stretches with the foot, offering comfort and breathability, and there is an updated heel design with a foam-padded collar that pulls the foot back for a more snug fit. A rocker shape promotes a fluid transition, there is a healthy layer of outsole rubber for grip and durability, and the shoe comes in four widths: narrow, standard, wide, and extra wide.

The honest caveat is that not much has changed since the v10 launched, and the competition has caught up. It is still a solid, reliable general trainer, but it no longer excels in any single area. It is a shoe for runners who want a conventional, do-it-all option without standout flair.

Fit and Sizing

Fit is where these two diverge in a practical way. In the 1080 v12, the updated heel pulls the foot back slightly, which leaves extra room in the forefoot. If you find the toe box too roomy, it is worth considering going down half a size. The sock-like mesh does stretch to accommodate slightly wider feet, though.

The Invincible 2 is a straightforward true-to-size shoe. It is very comfortable, with no need to size up or down, and a touch more padding in the upper makes it feel slightly more plush and secure than the v12. Neither shoe caused any issues on the run.

Durability and Outsole

Both shoes are built to cover a lot of easy miles. The 1080 v12 has a healthy layer of outsole rubber with a little exposed midsole foam, where a small amount of wear showed up over testing, but the previous v10 and v11 proved to be long-lasting shoes.

The Invincible 2 gets a thick rubber outsole as well, which is a smart choice given how delicate ZoomX foam is. Left exposed, the midsole would wear down quickly; with the rubber protecting it, the shoe should hold up well. Grip is also strong.

Which One Should You Buy?

The difference comes down to the foam. The Invincible 2 offers a soft, bouncy ride you can really feel, and that is its biggest selling point. If you want maximum comfort and legs that feel fresh at the end of a run, it is hard to beat. The 1080 v12 offers a firmer, conventional, balanced ride that you barely notice, which suits runners who want a touch more firmness for faster days.

If your focus is an easy-day shoe, the Invincible 2 is the stronger pick here. If you want one shoe to do everything at a decent pace, a plated trainer alternative may serve you better than either.

One more tip: both of these versions changed very little from their predecessors. The Invincible 2 is nearly identical to the original, and the v12 changed little from the v10, so the earlier versions are worth a look if you can find them considerably cheaper.

Conclusion

The Invincible Run Flyknit 2 is the softest, most comfortable option here and an excellent choice for easy miles, while the Fresh Foam 1080 v12 remains a solid but unremarkable all-rounder that is overdue a bigger update. Pick the Nike for softness, pick the New Balance for a conventional balanced ride, and consider the earlier versions of both to save money.