In Episode 4 of our running shoes review series "Sole Mates", host John Yeong discusses the Nike Invincible 3 with Sharon Choo, an educator, visual artist and running enthusiast
As part of an ongoing collaboration with Singapore's premier running specialty iRun Singapore, 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.
The Nike Invincible 3 offers a range of unique and innovative features that make it an excellent choice for runners looking for a comfortable and high-performance shoe that offers both support and durability for long-distance running.
When it comes to road running shoes, there are several factors to consider in terms of performance, including cushioning, support, weight, and traction. It's important to choose a shoe that fits well and provides the necessary features for your particular style of running. Let’s find out whether the Nike Invincible 3 could be the perfect Sole Mate for you!
As with all our shoe review episodes, we first share the shoe's specs and latest upgrades, and then bring in everyday runners for an honest opinion about what they like and dislike about each of the shoes we feature.
Key Highlights
So what's new about the shoe? What are significant upgrades from earlier editions, and is it worth your money to get an upgrade?
1. Better Cushioning
What’s new in the midsole is a thicker layer of ZoomX React foam, providing better cushioning and energy return. The foam is also more durable and actually retains its shape better over time. This makes it a lot firmer than the previous edition, the Nike Invincible 2.
2. Improved Fit & Breathability
Nike Invincible 3 features a Flyknit upper that is soft and flexible and designed to hug the foot more closely, providing a comfortable and secure fit. It also provides excellent breathability, keeping the feet cool and dry during runs.
3. Stability & Support
This shoe also has a wider base compared to previous versions, which provides better stability and support. This edition features a guidance rail on the sides of the midsole that helps prevent overpronation and keeps the foot in a more neutral position, reducing the risk of injury.
4. Improved Traction
The rubber outsole of the shoe has a waffle-like pattern, deeper lugs, and a better grip that provides excellent grip and durability. It was redesigned to provide better traction. More flexible and responsive for other runs. As compared to the previous version, which has fewer patterns and shallower lugs.
Sharon Choo's Experience Running in the Nike Invincible 3
How much mileage have you clocked in the Nike Invincible 3?
I've run over 80–100 km in this pair, and have also taken this pair of shoes out on both short and long runs. These comprise recovery runs, tempo runs and walks.
What do you like about the shoe?
I do enjoy the look of this pair of shoes, and they look more sleek. On top of that, ZoomX is very bouncy, and foam is used in the Vaporfly and Alphafly. It is not exactly designed to propel you forward, but it is designed to really cushion your stride and make it bouncy to relieve the extra effort on an easy run – it is a max cushion shoe (sink in plushness as its cushion is strategically placed).
What would you like to see changed in future iterations of this shoe?
Due to the steep transition and angle (40mm, straight down to 31mm), I tend to land on my forefoot when running. Because of the way I have adapted my landing (landing more on the forefoot), I don’t use the shoes for an easy, recovery run, unlike Invincible 2 and Invincible 3. These now serve more like a tempo shoe for me.
With the shoe feeling a bit bulky and the bed transition not feeling as smooth, I will need some effort to get to the sweet spot.
Who would you recommend this shoe to?
Both recovery day runners and race day runners also it depends on the runners running gait.
Overall Shoe Rating
Comfort: 4/5
Stability: 5/5
Responsiveness: 4.5/5
Grippiness: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Taking all this into consideration, Sharon would give the Nike Invincible 3 an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 soles.
Nike Invincible 3 is currently going for S$269 and can be purchased from any iRun Store or online.