The link between running shoes and injury is one of the most hotly debated subjects among biomechanists and footwear experts—not to mention barefoot enthusiasts and maximalist runners. So leave it to Nike Sneakers to design a shoe aimed at injury prevention and dub it “Invincible Run.” Nike’s testing of the shoe included a commissioned three-month study with North Star Sports Medicine Research in 2020, which used the same protocols and running-focused training program as during an earlier study that compared the Infinity Run and the Zoom Structure in 2019. This time, Nike swapped in the Invincible for the Infinity, but the results remained consistent: Runners training in the Invincible reported 52 percent fewer injuries (defined as “missing three or more consecutive runs due to running-related pain”) than runners who trained in the Structure 22.

A Shoe Still Can’t Make You Invincible

While Nike doesn’t claim that this shoe will cut your injury risk in half, the drop in injuries among the study’s 226 runners was significant—and also makes sense when viewed alongside the highly regarded work out of the University of Calgary’s Human Performance Lab. UCalgary’s research suggests that choosing a shoe simply based on comfort may be one of the best ways to mitigate the risk of injury. New Drop Jordans ,If that’s ever proven, the Invincible Run is supremely well equipped for the job. Every tester on our team gave the shoe a score of either 6 or 7 (out of 7) in the comfort category, with one tester deeming it the “most comfortable shoe” he’s ever worn.

Superior Energy Return

Most of that comfort comes from the ZoomX midsole made from Nike’s top-tier Pebax-based foam. It’s among the lightest, plushest, and most responsive around, and has the capacity to return about 70 percent of energy with each footstrike, the most of any material we’ve tested at the RW Shoe Lab. ZoomX delivers exceptional bounce and bottomless softness, without packing out or feeling overly mushy, and the Infinite Run has more of it underfoot than any other daily trainer in Swoosh’s lineup.

Tightly woven portions of Flyknit yarn reinforce a strong and snug heel fit. LAKOTA GAMBILL

Soft, But Less Stable

To keep the Invincible Run riding smoothly atop all that foam, the sole uses a slightly curved rocker while a horseshoe-shaped heel counter holds the back of your foot steady on touchdown. Nike also widened the forefoot and flared the foam around the heel to further stabilize landings. Sneakerheads2020 ,Still, testers said the shoe felt a bit wobbly on tight corners and crowned roads or buckled sidewalks. That said, the expanded forefoot did have one very noticeable benefit—the fit felt more accommodating to runners who had experienced cramped toes in the narrower Peg 38.