Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3 Review: Is It Worth Upgrading From the Invincible Run Flyknit 2?

Introduction

The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3 is the newest version of Nike’s max-cushion cruiser, and it arrives just as the previous Invincible Run Flyknit 2 is being heavily discounted. That raises an obvious question: is the third version worth buying at full price, or should you grab the discounted V2 instead?

We picked up the Invincible Run 3 at around £155 with a small discount, against a £169 retail price. This is a shoe bought with our own money, so these are honest impressions from the first runs. The short version: this is one of the more thoughtful updates to a Nike shoe in some time, with real changes to the upper, midsole and outsole rather than a fresh paint job.

Who These Shoes Are For

This is not a fast marathon racing shoe, and it never pretends to be. Despite the ZoomX foam, it is implemented here as an impact absorber rather than an energy returner. Do not expect the snap of a Vaporfly or Alphafly.

The Invincible Run 3 is built for easy paces, daily recovery runs and long runs. It also works well as a walking or standing shoe if you spend long hours on your feet. Very little else in the current market offers the same forgiving underfoot feel, and the third version refines that formula slightly.

Upper: A Thinner, More Conventional Fit

The upper sees the biggest changes. The knit material is noticeably thinner than on the previous two versions, closer to recent Nike uppers, and the gusseted tongue is gone in favour of a conventional tongue you can position freely. The chunky thick laces have also been replaced with standard-width laces, and the pointless reflective strips on the toe box are finally removed, leaving one large welded-on swoosh at the front.

The heel is completely revised, with a thick, fairly rigid plastic clip running around the back that adds structure. The trade-off is reduced padding around the tongue and heel collar, which means a runner’s knot and slightly tighter lacing are needed to eliminate heel slip. There is just enough lace length to manage it.

Fit after the first 15-mile run was very comfortable, with no rubbing, no blisters and no hot spots. It is also a much better-looking shoe than the bulbous V2, making it wearable for casual use beyond running.

Midsole: Same ZoomX Recipe, More Controlled

The stack is about 47mm in the heel and roughly 36mm in the forefoot, with an unusually wide landing platform that gains about half a centimetre in the forefoot over the V2. A fabric Strobel layer now sits on top of the midsole rather than ZoomX sitting directly under the insole, which adds a couple of centimetres of stack and contributes to a slightly more controlled, stable feel.

The foam itself has been carved out in places and painted, with no structural frame hiding underneath, but combined with the wider forefoot, the Strobel layer and the new outsole, the ride feels more settled than before. Measured after around 160 to 170 miles, a worn V2 came in at about 44mm in the heel, so expect some compression over the shoe’s life here too.

This remains one of the best cushioning experiences available, particularly for long, easy efforts. Legs feel surprisingly good afterwards, which is not always the case with other foams.

Outsole: A Total Redesign

The outsole is a genuine change from the V1 and V2. Thicker rubber covers the forefoot and midfoot, with considerable lugs in the heel, while some midsole foam remains exposed in the arch. The filled-in midfoot lugs act a little like a torsion bar, reducing flex and adding rigidity and stability underfoot.

One minor annoyance: mud and grime collect in the spaces between the lugs, though a quick brush sorts it out. On road, tarmac, concrete and even light trails, this outsole handles a wide variety of surfaces confidently.

Invincible Run Flyknit 2: The Discounted Alternative

The V2 remains widely available at deep discounts, often under £100, and it is still a fantastic max-cushion shoe. If the Invincible 1 or 2 is already working for you, or you have just picked up a new discounted pair of V2s, there is not a strong reason to jump to the V3 immediately.

However, if your V2s are compressed and losing their life, the V3 is a worthwhile upgrade. It improves on the V2 in every area we assessed, with better heat management in the upper, a more stable ride and a much more robust outsole, all while keeping the weight essentially unchanged at 305g (12.3 oz) in a UK size 11.

Buying Advice

At £169 retail, the Invincible Run 3 sits slightly below some competing max-cushion shoes such as the Nimbus 25, and well below the high retail price of some trainer alternatives. It is easy to recommend at the discounted price we paid.

Skip it if your current Invincibles still have plenty of life, and buy it if you are replacing worn-out V2s or entering the max-cushion category for the first time. Build quality is excellent, with no glue marks, dodgy stitching or shoddy paint on our pair.

Conclusion

The ZoomX Invincible Run 3 is a subtle but well-thought-out update that improves the on-foot experience across the board: a cooler, thinner upper, a slightly more stable ride and a far more durable outsole. It remains a squashy pillow of forgiveness built for long runs and easy miles, not for racing. If that is the kind of shoe you need, this is the best version yet.