Singapore masters runner Paul Martin is back again as our guest athlete in this week's running shoes review series "Sole Mates", as host John Yeong discusses with the Elevate Performance Coaching runner about Nike's new daily trainer the InfinityRN 4
"Sole Mates" is a series made by runners created for runners, and a SportPlus.sg initiative to help you find the right running footwear for you and your runs. As part of this series, SportPlus.sg has teamed up with local running content creators, Key Opinion Leaders and athletes to have them share their thoughts on the latest running footwear.
In episode 15 of "Sole Mates", SportPlus.sg has teamed up with iRun Singapore, premier running store and masters athlete Paul Martin, to find out if these shoes are your perfect Sole Mate!
Previously known as the Infinity Run in earlier editions, the latest Nike InfinityRN 4 road running shoes is a pair of daily trainers that provide a plush and smooth ride. The Nike InfinityRN 4 features a new take on the familiar InfinityRN series because it is made from an all-new Nike ReactX foam. It is the first time this technology is being used for this line of shoes.
Not only that, the updated Flyknit upper and wider toe box helps runners by offering a more stable and secure feel compared to earlier editions.
The shoe has a stack height of 39mm in the rearfoot, and 30mm in the forefoot, thus giving an overall offset of 9mm. With supportive cushioning built for a smooth run, the Nike InfinityRN 4 features a new take on the familiar InfinityRN series with its updated features.
Check out the video below as both athlete Paul Martin and host John Yeong discuss various features of Nike latest road-running shoes.
One factor that must be taken into consideration and mentioned is that the InfinityRN 4 shoes do weigh a bit more. For example, a size US 9 weighs as 353g, 28g more than its predecessor, the Infinity Run 3.
“I’ve had heavier shoes. It is light enough to go as a daily trainer, not meant to be a racer shoe. It is meant to be a daily wear shoe, a recovery shoe, a long-mile shoe,” says Paul about the InfinityRN 4.
Although the InfinityRN4 is not a stability shoe, it does carry a lot of stability features. It is also wider in the midfoot area and is updated with a more durable outsole. Such features are key aspects of what runners look for in a running shoe.
Paul says, “Look good, feel good, run good!” when describing his first impressions of the pair.
The aesthetics of the InfinityRN4 can make it even more appealing to runners like Paul, who enjoys matching his sneakers to his outfit. The pair comes in five colourways, with the white and platinum tint colourway being the one featured in this video of the Sole Mates series on SportPlus.sg.
Flyknit Upper
The InfinityRN4’s upper is designed to be breathable and flexible. It is made with Nike Running’s Flyknit. The shoe’s tongue is designed to be adjustable and plush so that you can easily kickstart your runs confidently knowing that there is support and breathability in the upper.
Unlike the first version of the Infinity, which had an almost sock-like upper, the Infinity Run 4’s upper is a lot thicker and more sturdy. Foam collar is soft and supportive to the touch which are plus-points for the user.
Paul says, “So easy to get in and out of the shoe!”
The Flyknit upper provides a ‘snug fit’, hugging the foot and keeping it in place. Due to this, Nike recommends you to size up by half a size if you are looking to purchase this shoe. It is easy to slip in and out of the shoe because of its ‘plush’ feel as well.
The newly added lines in the design at the front of the shoe serves a practical purpose. It is supposed to help repel water in the event of rainy weather.
In Singapore’s climate, you also will tend to sweat a lot, possibly leading to water build-up in the shoe. The Flyknit also has a water repellent liner in the toe area that provides protection in wet weather conditions.
ReactX Midsole Foam
Working our way down to the midsole of the InfinityRN4, we are greeted with Nike's ReactX technology. In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Nike has reduced its carbon footprint by 43% compared to the Nike React foam used in the Infinity Run 3.
According to Nike, the new ReactX foam also gives you 13% more energy return compared with its previous Nike React foam. Paul notes that his legs feel less laboured due to the shoe’s energy return. This definitely benefits runners who aim to bring the most out of their daily trainers to achieve greater results.
The InfinityRN4 still maintains the same rocker geometry that is seen in past versions but with a slightly squishier underfoot than the Nike React midsole foam. ReactX foam helps to soften impact as your feet hit the ground. You can expect softer and more comfortable running experiences thanks to the cushioning in the underfoot.
Durable Outsole
You may wonder, Just how important a role does the outsole of a shoe play? Can a durable outsole benefit users during their runs? The InfinityRN4 proves just that with its waffle-patterned outsole that provides better traction for the user. There is also increased rubber at the outsole to contribute to its durability. Not only that, the water-repellent liner in the toe area provides protection in wet weather conditions.
“Not meant for midfoot or forefoot strikers, it’s meant for heel strikers.” says Paul, referring to the natural toe-off that the shoe provides for the user.
Featuring a wider base than the Infinity Run 3, it has a curved outsole that helps your foot rock smoothly from heel to toe. With every stride, it makes every step feel more natural and adds efficiency to your run, helping you waste less energy as you hit your stride.
These features of the shoe are helpful especially as I am using the pair as a daily trainer. I would expect durability in a shoe that I am using for different kinds of runs and I believe the InfinityRN4 delivers that. Now that I’ve run through various features of the shoe, let me share some of my own personal experience after clocking mileage with this pair of daily trainers!
My Personal Running Experience
“I’ve had more than 50km in this shoe, long runs, 5km runs, social runs, half marathons, they all feel good at the start when I put it on, really just go at any time! I love the grip of the shoe, suitable for wet conditions as well because the grip is very good for many roads."
He added: "Although not a trail shoe, the shoe can be used for trails. Pretty good for running uphill and downhill, because it doesn't give you slippage. When you make ground contact, you don’t feel like falling down.”
Host John Yeong questioned whether the upper of the InfinityRN4 makes the shoe less stable, to which Paul replied.
“I usually wear very thick socks, it really hugs my feet because I always buy shoes true to size. There is no slippage whatsoever running across various speeds; cornering, going up and down slopes. Although I love the Flyknit on this particular shoe, I feel that they can make it a little thinner because in this climate in Singapore, you tend to sweat a lot.”
Perhaps this is one aspect of the shoe Nike can consider improving on for future versions.
Final Thoughts and Ratings
All in all, the Nike Infinity RN4 caters to both new and seasoned runners as it provides good support as a daily trainer. The pair may not have all the fancy new technology infused into the shoe, but this may not be a bad thing. It has practical features for a daily trainer that still benefit users such as the increased traction in the outsole. Other features such as the ReactX midsole and the Flyknit upper also allow the shoe to provide a good running experience as a daily trainer.
Sole Mates Overall Shoe Rating
Comfort: 4.5/5
Stability: 4/5
Responsiveness: 4.5/5
Grippiness: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Taking all this into consideration I would give the Nike InfinityRN4 an overall rating of 4.2 Soles, and would recommend people to use it for easy or recovery runs.
You can purchase the InfinityRN4 which will be going for S$249 and you can purchase them from any IRUN store or online at irunsg.com.