Video suggestion: build out your running rotation with certain budgets. So one day you build a running shoe rotation with $250, another you try for $400, another for $600. Could be a fun exercise that’s different from the running shoe matrix’s.
Great question today, Seth. I have 3 strategies: (1) Buy last year's model if the shoe costs $150 or more. There is a way to make this more palatable (in addition to the cost savings). When I see a review of a $150+ shoe, I mark it in RU-vid or wherever I see the review. Then when the model either drops or is on the horizon, I go back and watch the review again. It's a way of both reminding me of what I liked about the shoe, but also a way of showing me its intrinsic value without comparing it to the newer model. (2) If you come across a shoe that just works perfectly for you, when the price drops, buy multiple pairs of that shoe. A perfect shoe is always a perfect shoe. I once ran in 5 pairs of the second version of the NB 890. (3) If I hear enough reviews about an expensive shoe (again, over $150), I buy the shoe, but only when I need it. For example, I knew I wanted the Novablast shortly after it came out, but I held off until I had an opening in my shoe rotation. There is no sense having too many shoes to run in (unless you're Seth) or having a pair "on deck" too early. Sometimes, you get lucky and a website or store has a discount code or sale and you end up getting them for less than retail.
Hey Seth! I have always had trouble fitting into Nike running shoe since I have quite wide feet. I tried these on today and they are the comfiest shoes I have ever worn and they fit perfectly. Thank you so much for a detailed review, keep up the good work!
Been running in this shoe for a couple of days now and these are just phenomenal. That energy return is something to talk about. I’m a bigger runner at slightly over 200lb than of my 155lb photo on the left due to being injured with a fractured toe for 3 and half years. since coming back to running and being cleared by my PT and podiatrist, I’ve been struggling to find that right shoe with the right amount of bounce & support. I’m flat footed with an over-pronating midfoot/forefoot gait. Nike Infinity react and react foam just don’t do for me. Tried the ASICS novablast and not enough support, in fact should’ve been in the GT series. But these here...are a something kind of special! Not a stability shoe, but just enough stability mixed with a return I can benefit from to get through my run with no issues at all. Great video Seth! 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽
Been waiting for this review bec I have been eyeing that shoe ever since it was announced. Good job as always! To answer the QD, I usually wait at least 1 year after the release date before I buy the shoe I want since prices drop dramatically. My fave shoe as of the moment is the Nike vaporfly flyknit and I was able to buy it at around $60 only.
Love how you run in the shoes before you talk us about them. Beyond the mileage, seems like you run in them the day of beforehand. Thanks Seth Keep it up. God Bless.
I 100% buy last years shoes, they were good last year and they're still good at 40-60% of the cost and I get lots of time for long term reviews to come out
QOTD: I watched many many reviews of running shoes, including yours. And finally ordered a pair of Nike ZoomX Invincible! Can't wait to receive my order. Thanks for the detailed reviews!
Seth! I love these! I wanted a tweener and after watching your Mach 4 review decided to go for those with the option of doing long runs, easy runs and tempo runs in them. Having taken those to 50 miles + I have to say it’s more of a tempo shoe for me. It has the firmness that propels you along nicely. I understand it does work for long runs and to an extent easy runs too, but I like a little more bounce and plush. Step forward the Invincible’s! As a Nike member, they sent me a 25% discount code for my birthday so I couldn’t resist. £160 here in the UK, so got them for £120. 25% off $180 would make them $135, which I bet sounds much better and probably gets them over the 8 mark. Took them to over 50 miles also and what a dream; the bounce, energy return and comfort are spot on. Have to agree with the laces. I have a slightly wide foot so have to have the laces a little loose through the mid foot as my feet pinch and hurt if too tight and it is a struggle to get the double knot in. Such a simple thing to get right Nike! Overall, love these for easy, long and middle days. I use the Mach 4’s for tempo days and still love my Nike Pegasus Trail 36ers for the trails. I’m all set. Without your reviews I wouldn’t have either the Invincible’s or the Mach 4’s so thanks a lot! Keep it up
I just took mine out for an almost 17 miler with 2 x 3 mile and 2 x 1 mile intervals. They feel amazing at almost any pace. Wow. I did notice that at my top speed in the last 1 miler at around 6:00/mi, they were at the ceiling, for me. With that said, that is an amazing spectrum of paces that this shoe feels amazing in. I’m still a little mind blown by this. 🥳
I have been waiting for this sneaker and when I got it, it was better then I expected. Just if you walk a few steps with this sneaker on, it propels YOU forward!!! It truly is amazing, especially when training while doing a boxing workout, it’s great for jumping rope, an conducting all exercises for training during your boxing workout, from the treadmill, agility ladder, Etc....it is very comfortable.
I have both, and have considerable mileage in two pairs of Novablast (over 1000km) and about 100km in the Invincibles. While the Novablast is a great shoe the Invincible is in another league. It's (much) lighter, has a better (more stable) platform, and ZoomX is simply the best foam out there right now, no contest. My benchmark runs for shoes are weekends. I always do 18-22 miles close to MP on Sat, and 12 miles at a little slower than MP on Sun. Depending on how my runs feel on Mon and Tue I get a pretty good picture of a shoe, and only my Next% better the Invincibles when it comes to how recovered my legs feel on Mon, and Tue.
I would never recommend buying used. The wear pattern and break in of the used is already tailored to the previous owner. I was a HS head coach and collegiate runner plus with 40 yrs of running experience behind me... Great review. I no longer can run because of severe back issues but saw those at the Nike store last night.... Nice looking shoes... Again great video 😊😁 thank you for providing the information
QD: My strategy for buying running shoes is buying one pair, run it until it's done and then buy a new one. It's as simple as that for me at least. Of course sometimes I would like to have multiple running shoes just ti switch it up from time to time but as an apprentice money is short at all times. I love to invest in sports equipment and that is why I save as much money as possible at all times so I can buy good equipment. I just purchased the saucony endorphin speed today after researching for over 3 hours on the internet and your videos have played a major role within that research. So thank you so much for what you do.
QD: I buy high cushioned shoes and can use them up to 2000km (1250 miles). At first I use them for my longer runs but when they start losing their cushioning I start using them for faster stuff, kind of as if they transformed from maximalist to minimalist shoes.
I was just talking about this yesterday. I always buy only when it's at around $70. To get that price, I regularly hunt online for a sale. Some thing good will show up within 6 months of hunting. Usually the shoes that go for that low price are last years or of a colour that no one wants. Sometimes it's a good thing to buy older versions because I already know how they will perform and colour doesn't bother me because at the volume I run, in 3 months, they'll be retired. How online shops usually sell them during a sale is by discounting the original price and providing a discount code on top of the already discounted price leading to around 60% off. When I catch these kinds of deals I don't just buy 1 pair, I buy multiple so that I'll have stock of extreme cheap shoes for many months giving me time to continue the hunt for deals. Case in point, I just bought 2 pairs for NB rebels at $65 each (I so far have bought 4 pairs of rebels; one of the benefits of buying last year stuff is that I can be sure I'll like them considering that I'm buying in quantity). This will give me 6 months to find another deal (maybe another type of shoe for the rotation) and stock up. Hope this helps, especially for those who run high volume and burn through shoes. Edit: 1 type of shoe I don't save on is race day shoe. It's almost impossible. I own a pair of Vaporfly Next% and I can assure everyone it'll never be available in a sale. At that point, its not a question of $$$ its a question of availability knowing how quickly those get sold out.
Nice review Seth, I'm up to about 150 miles in my pair and I love them! They are so comfortable and agree when you put your foot down in them they are a joy to run in! Also YES! The laces are too short and I struggle with the knot so a drawback!
late to the game -- I just bought a pair today, Feb 3, 2022. I have been running on Novablast v1 exclusively in 2021. love them! But this Nike Invincible is so soft, bouncy, comfortable, it is crazy. I will definitely use Nike for my easy and slow long run. Novablast of general daily run. I am a slow runner, four hour marathon, so I don't see ANY issues with the Invincible such as instability etc reported by other runners ( I think because they run FAST ). 100% recommend!
TBH, I just wish they incorporate the ZoomX midsole to their Pegasus lineup then slap on a plate similar to what Saucony used on their Endorphin Speed - which can be the training companion to the Vaporfly. I really don't know why Nike keeps on churning subpar daily trainers.
QD: I generally find deals, last years models, sales, outlets, etc. until something really exciting like this one comes out and I feel less bad about paying a lot of money for it.
Love these shoes!!! Great for recovery days!!! But hey no one has to say anything about how loud they are and the squeeky sound like busted airbags???!! No one???!!! My neighbours do!!! Thank you for the great material Seth!! Can’t wait for your reviews 🤩
Just got them from Nike outlet for $140. The most comfortable shoes ever! If you like ultra boost, this is 100 times more comfortable as per my experience
Got my pair 2 weeks ago and I’m loving it. My laces are also too short!! I don’t tie the runner’s knot because they are so short! Thanks for another great review Seth.
I think manufacturers have got wise to the people buying past year’s shoes. They don’t seem to make as many, so there’s never stock left to sell off cheap. Since they’ve successfully done that, prices appear to be creeping up, too. Very frustrating. I used to spend max £60 on a pair in the sale, now looking at £110 being a bargain or having to fork out £160 before something gets discontinued. Mad inflation.
Just ordered these today! Nike had a 30% off storewide sale this week in the UK and I took advantage to get the most expensive daily trainers I could find! So keen to try them on and test them out! 🏃♂️
Really enjoyed your review, addressed all the issues I had (including price!) yet I still pulled the trigger. I did indeed get a discount, but it was via my payment method (a promotion that got me a $30 credit, so brought it to exactly your "target" price of $150). In general (past 10 years) I almost always go with "last year's model" of a shoe, without regard for color. That way I have the benefit of a lot of user reviews, and the discounts are typically maximal. With COVID I've put in a lot more miles so have had to restock a lot earlier, but aside from price I know I'm not alone in wanting a full Zoom X trainer. But I am interested in your mileage estimates for how long shoes should last. I target 400, but my Turbo 2's feel decidedly "flat" at 300. Hasn't really happened before, and I'm not at all hard on shoes. Thanks again, great review.
This is what people with extra weight and those who love long easy runs expected from Vomero 15. Unfortunately, after Vomero 13 they first made controversial 14 (good, but still very close to usual Pegasus) and now absolutely strange 15. Thx God, we now have these Invincibles. Yes, expensive, but people like me (6'5 and 240lbs) are happy with them. Agree that it has too much padding around the heel, but ok with that stability plastic thing (it really helps, especially when I think of first Epic Reacts few years ago, although Pegs and Vomeros are more stable). Thx for the review!
Welllllllllllll when i sense I need a new shoe. I usually check your yt page first and then the running websites for any upcoming sale. I'm in the Caribbean so i have to ship them in. You haven't led me wrong so far. Bought the Nike Pegasus as a daily trainer based on your reviews and now I need a long run shoe was using the Brooks Launch 5 before they changed the design. I tend to buy last years model but mannn this current shoe is calling my name
This shoe honestly deserves a much higher score. For recovery runs, long runs, impact reduction, energy return... ZoomX is in a league of it's own. For what the shoe is built to do, it is honestly a 9 or 9.5 / 10. The only downside is the instability from all the ZoomX, but you shouldn't be going fast in these.
QD: I budget some money every pay check towards running gear. For me it’s like budgeting for a holiday or taxes you just gonna out money aside for it because it’s essential! I just finished saving for the Alphaflys, that took a while. But I’ve never had a racing shoe before so very exciting!
My wife and I are both 100 mile Ultra Runners. We go through a lot of shoes. However we have kids, mortgage, etc. My wife finds a shoe she loves like the Altra Timp 2 and then stocks up as they are on sale. I try and search for any coupon code I can, but also realize to be successful I need the right shoe. I used to think if I didn’t have the newest shoes I was a loser. I’m getting over that and stocking up when a sale happens.
Of course the tongue didn't tear... Because they nailed it! QOD, buy last year's version if there is little change between them. Keep a list of potential shoes and watch for sales to pop up.
I just saw the Nike Zoom Invincible Run Flyknit go on sale on Nike's website yesterday and bought two pair (one cost $98! The other pair cost $117! Sweet!). So, I'd say the strategy for buying shoes that cost a few shekels is to get lucky enough to see the shoes right when they go on sale so you can get them in the right size before they sell out. The shoes are supposed to arrive in a few days. I'm excited! :-)
QOD: As I am going more and more into longer runs, and is now able to know the best shoes (for my running style) after trying dozens of shoes through the years, I get them at a discount if I can. I am about to be in my 3rd pair of novablast for my long run shoes. The price and performance is just so good that at the current financial climate where we should be smart on spending even this full zoom x trainer is not tickling my fancy.
Late post. QOTD. Purchase at the end of the year. November all shoes go on sale because they are clearing for next year. I got the Nike Invincible Run Flyknit for $79 at the clearance store. And they are $150 on the app. I've used this strategy for years and hasn't failed me yet!
Shoe buying strategy: I either want performance to the max or comfort, but the limiting factor for me is the toe box height. So a priority is to try it before buying or at least stick with a known brand with a known style and known size. Worst case scenario if I'm uncertain: buy a used model on eBay. I even buy used of astronomically priced models on eBay, like Alphafly: after the new models descend back to MSRP then the lightly used ones could be relatively affordable. An extra option is a local running store, ours organized demo runs regularly with various vendors, of course pre COVID. I cannot wait to demo run again. Besides that some discount can push me towards impulse buy. When I find a good shoe I hoard, like I still have some Clifton 1, Mafate Speeds, some Stinson Tarmac (OG!) and Stinson Trail (OG!) and even a Mafate 3.
QD: I try to find a tweener shoe. Because i only run for about 30-40 km per week, so i just buy 1 pair of shoe that can do many tasks. Right now i have Asics Novablast, about 400+ km on that shoe, and i glad that i have it. Greetings from Indonesia. 🙏🏽
the difference at least in my country between the Novablast and this Nike shoe is that you get 3 pairs of Novablasts or 2 pairs of Invincibles for 400 euros. However, sometimes Novablasts are discounted, which means that you might get 4 or even 5 pairs for the same price that 2 pairs of Invincibles cost. When I wrote about the Invincible in the blog my concern was that what if the midsole lasts less than for example the midsole in React Infinity, the added value is not justified if you don't get more kilometers out of the shoe than what you get when you buy Novablasts. I ran a 32 km LR on Sunday incl. 4x5 km at MP (Canova style) in a fresh new pair of Novablasts and felt a difference compared to my previous pair that has now 361 km. In my opinion, almost all shoes are fine for 400 km. After that they become slower. That is a reason why I don't run easy runs in new shoes because a shoe like Clifton or Invincible or Novablast still has plenty of cushioning left when it has 400 or 500 km in it but when a shoe is expensive, one might want to save and not buy a new pair. Then it will be more difficult to hit target paces when the midsole is not what it used to be. I need to run in that Invincible but somehow I don't see why a shoe that costs so much should be purchased and used as a daily trainer because there are so many good shoes that are available at lower price points. However, for a runner who runs maybe only 2-3 times a week, the price might not matter. He buys probably one pair of running shoes every spring and wears it for a year. In winter he doesn't run at all. Then when spring arrives, he goes to the running shoe store and buys a pair again. If the shoe is comfortable and reduces the risk of injury, the price can be higher but for active runners who run 6000 or 7000 kilometers a year, it makes a huge difference if one always pays a 50% premium or double price.
Got these today and just smashed my 5k PB, definitely the bounciest shoes ive ran in but when worn casually they feel normal. really enjoyable shoe and hopefully if i can keep up my fitness journey i can knock another minute off my 5k and run my first
Seth I know you may not see many, but most other reviewers I'm watching are finding that the outersole is wearing very fast so I feel that your durability prediction may be high. They are also finding that the midsole is pushing up into the arch. However in your smaller size the ratios look different so would be interesting to see if this is related to length.
Hi Seth. I discovered your channel when you were dealing with your PF (I was suffering from PF too at the same time, and was looking for advice). I haven't had any problem on this front for the last 18 months, but I recently purchased a pair of Nike Invincible and after my first run in them, my plantar fascia was litteraly on fire! I could barely walk afterwards... They're fun, bouncy and "fast" shoes (despite their weight), but they're so soft and unstable that it can cause serious problems for some people. Well, it did for me... Buyer beware!
interesing.. i have pf, too. and i was using specialized insoles in my other shoes. but this one didnt even need any different insoles and proctected my feet more than anything so far.
@@Nivek_Fartswamy Thanks for your input. You may very well be right. The pain was not located directly under my heel, but more sideways (which intrigued my PT). Hallux abductor is a definite possibility (even though my PF was thickened on the ultrasound). But it was clearly a "PF-like" pain in the sense that it hurt for almost a year before it went away...
@@Nivek_Fartswamy That's incredibly useful information. Thank you very much! I've done more or less the same exercises, a lot of intrinsic foot muscles reinforcement. I love the footlogger as a tension-relieving tool (I also use all sorts of balls, but the footlogger is really great). Eventually the pain faded away, but I've incorporated those exercises in my daily routine, I know it can come back in a flash... Good luck with your problem, I hope you'll do fine soon.
Wait until version 2 comes out and buy version 1;or they discontinue a color or can buy an odd color that is on clearance . Usually the best ways to get a great deal in my experience.
A little late here but my Mach 4s finally died and I needed to try something different. I only have one run in these shoes so far but they are Amazing! That bounce is no joke! 7 miles today with 3x1k at 3:05-3:10 per k and it handled that with ease, as well as the rest of the slow miles. Yeah, it’s that good. Expensive but I’m happy
I am an ASICS fan and have found the best time to buy is Black Friday. I target previous year's model and I can usually get discounts on shoes that are already marked down. Last year I bought a pair of Gliderides for $84 and Nimbus 21 for $55!