Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2 review

Who should buy the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2

The Invincible Run Flyknit 2 should be a part of your running shoe rotation if you're looking for a: 

• running shoe that's comfy for recovery to easy days 
• fun shoe for short runs 
• protective and stable shoe for long miles (up to a marathon distance) 

Who should NOT buy it

If there's one thing we can all agree about the ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2, it's crazy expensive. So, if you want to save money, experts highly recommend sticking to the older version—Nike ZoomX Invincible Run. Since there's a newer iteration, it's going to go on sale for a much lower price. And hey, they're not that far off. 

Durability is also an issue for this trainer. For a solid, tank-like alternative, it's best to go for the Nike Pegasus 38. Ultimate traction even on wet roads? Go for its big brother—the Nike Pegasus 39.

Nike Invincible Run FK 2 vs. 1

There's not much change made to the second version of the Nike Invincible Run Flyknit. So, those who loved the first version (which one of them described as a "commercial success") are stoked that it doesn't go through a complete overhaul. 

Here are the small changes applied to this edition: 

• For stable transitions, it has a wider base.
• To max out protection, this version has more foam than the last. 
• The laces have been updated with a much thinner design to ramp up lockdown. 
• To keep weight at a minimum, the padding around the collar has been trimmed down. 

A home for the sole

This shoe has a "jumbo-thick, compressible ZoomX midsole," as one runner would put it, making it very comfy to put on. "You sink into this shoe in a way I never have with any other running shoe," adds another who is 100% in love with the shoe's plushness. One even says, "It feels like was running on bubbles." 

"Even walking around in it is a treat," compliments another reviewer. And if you're coming back from an injury, the Invincible Run Flyknit 2 is a no-brainer. 

No achy feet

Apart from the comfort it offers, it also has great shock-absorbing qualities. And if you want a super cushy running shoe with maximum impact protection, "you're bound to love this shoe," shares one critic. Another went on to explain that when running in the shoe, it mutes out the harshness, keeping the hips, knees, and ankles safe. 

Not your regular daily runner

"It's a really strong shoe," gladly remarks one commenter. And this is because it's springy and lively; it's unlike any other shoe on the market. Although plush, it has some nice feedback to it. 

To further describe the sensation, an expert has this to say about the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2: "a shoe that feels like you have mini trampolines under your feet." That's how fun it is. 

The Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2 will make you glide

Its rocker geometry is a solid A+. "Transitions felt velvety smooth," remarks one tester. It makes you roll through your stride; one road runner even says that it's almost unbelievable that the same company that makes the boring Pegasus can make a groundbreaking shoe like the Invincible 2. It's crazy smooth; you can even feel the rocker geometry just by walking in it. 

Ready for the sharp corners

There are plastic rails in the heel that keep the foot locked in position. A runner who claims to "overpronate when running on tired legs" says they really appreciated this. On top of this, it has a wide base that ensures steady strides. 

It has "like a bunion of foam sticking out from the side," observes one running expert. They are referring, of course, to the wide forefoot, which provides surefooted strides during sharp turns. 

Room for big toes

The version one of the Nike Invincible Run already had a wide toe box. And in this iteration, it's made (slightly) wider. And as most runners report, it has a good amount of room for those with fat toes and even those with wide feet. 

And if you're clocking up the miles, don't worry about foot swelling; you have more than enough space here. 

Not exactly for hot weather

"It's much better suited to winter runs or cool climates" is a feedback from a long-time runner. This is because the padded tongue is attached to the inner sleeve, affecting the shoe's ventilation. 

Outsole is underwhelming

Yes, it grips on light trails, but for $180 traction is not enough to make up for its lack of durability. "Durability is its biggest weakness," states one Nike loyalist. And others agree with this too.

And worse, it's not even the grippiest on wet concrete. "The tiny nubs didn't do much to prevent me from slipping," reports another running shoe reviewer.