Today, we’re going to be reviewing two of the most comfortable Nike shoes of 2021 and 2022.
I’m going to tell you, according to my experience, whether these two sneakers are actually as comfortable, more comfortable, or less comfortable than their previous iterations.
Not only that, I’m going to talk about their uppers, midsoles, outsoles, sizing, price, and more.
Sounds interesting?
Let’s dive right into it…
Related
Most Comfortable Nike Shoes
The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 1 and 2 and the Nike Pegasus 38 are my two top picks for the most comfortable Nike shoes of 2022 (and actually 2021).
They’re also two of the most comfortable sneakers of all time for me.
Before we dive into the sneakers, I should preface this review by saying this is not a running review or a performance review of these sneakers.
I’m purely talking about these shoes for lifestyle wear and for comfort.
While I have run a little bit in these shoes, I haven’t run anywhere near close enough to feel comfortable giving them a full performance review.
I have worn the shoes around though so I do know how comfortable they are on foot and I do want to talk about the differences between these shoes and the previous versions of these shoes.
First, I’m going to talk about the ZoomX Invincible and the Pegasus in terms of comfort. Then I’m going to give you a detailed review of both shoes.
Here we go…
Related:
Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2
The ZoomX Invincible 2 is the follow-up to the wildly popular Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit. This is a ridiculously long name, but honestly, the shoe is so comfortable that I don’t care.
Because the first version of this shoe was so incredibly comfortable that it topped my top 10 most comfortable sneaker lists two years in a row, I was really excited for the second version of this shoe.
A lot of people are not grabbing this shoe to run in. They’re grabbing it because they want a max cushion shoe to wear around every day and the ZoomX Invincible 2 is a max cushion sneaker.
But before we dive into the tech of the Nike ZoomX Invincible 2, let’s first talk about the comfort.
Is Nike ZoomX Invincible a very comfortable shoe?
Comfort-wise, the Nike ZoomX Invincible 2 is incredibly comfortable.
There’s a reason why the original Invincible Run Flyknit was the top of my list and the top of a lot of people’s lists because this shoe is so comfortable underfoot.
The midsole is awesome and so soft underfoot. The midsole itself isn’t that pretty in my opinion, but it’s worth the trade-off because of how comfortable it is underfoot.
ZoomX is one of the softest cushions if not the softest cushion that Nike makes. And the fact that they made an entire midsole out of ZoomX and made it this thick means that this shoe is like walking on clouds. It’s nuts.
I used to think that Adidas Boost was the most comfortable cushion out there, but ZoomX trumps it. I mean it feels like double the amount of softness underneath your foot.
Again, comfort-wise, the Nike ZoomX Invincible 2 is genuinely incredibly comfortable. I guess it’s the most comfortable Nike shoe on the market.
It’s not that much more comfortable if more comfortable at all than the original version of the shoe.
But if you’ve never tried the Nike ZoomX Invincible whether it’s the new version or the old version, you got to try it.
It’s a stupid comfortable shoe and you’re going to absolutely love it if you like max cushion.
Pros
- Plush ride
- Shoelaces are better than the last version
- Energy return is unparalleled
- Great heel lockdown & roomy toe box
- Transitions are smooth & seamless
- Versatility is great
Cons
- Upper is a bit warm
- A bit slippery on wet surfaces
- Expensive
Now let’s talk about the Nike Pegasus 38…
Related:
Nike Pegasus 38
The Pegasus is one of my favorite running/lifestyle sneaker lines, but this is not a performance review.
Every year since 1983, Nike has released a brand-new Pegasus running sneaker, and, somehow, Nike has held off the urge to change the name of the sneaker to something stupid and they just kept with the numeric theme.
Related:
- Are Nike Pegasus Good for Running?
- Are Nike Air Max Good for Running?
- Are Huaraches Good for Running?
Is Nike Pegasus 38 a very comfortable shoe?
Since they’ve updated the cushioning of the Pegasus line and most notably the Pegasus Turbo, the Pegasus 37, and the Pegasus 38, these shoes have become incredibly comfortable for casual and lifestyle wear.
So, I actually have a couple of pairs of Pegasus because I wear some of them casually and some of them for running. It’s just an all-around really comfortable and good-looking shoe.
Actually, the midsole was the part that got changed up the most from the Pegasus 36 and was the part, in my opinion, that made the shoe as comfortable as it was.
So this midsole is also the reason why I love wearing this shoe casually.
Just like with the 37s, in addition to the React, you still have that forefoot Air Zoom unit which feels incredibly comfortable underfoot.
So, when you pair the super-soft React foam cushioning with the very bouncy Air Zoom unit in the forefoot, you get an incredibly comfortable ride.
Again, the midsole is incredibly soft underfoot, it’s incredibly comfortable, and this is one of the best Nike shoes for standing all day.
I’m a huge Nike React fan. I love the Epic Reacts and I love the Air Zoom unit in the forefoot because it just gives you a nice little bit of extra spring.
Last but not least, the tongue is just so much more comfortable against your foot. And because it’s not just this thin piece of material around the edge anymore, it doesn’t scrape against your foot when you walk or run.
This is a much more plush, much more comfortable approach on the tongue and I prefer it so much.
Pros
- Comfy wide toe box & stable ride
- Fits wider than Peg 37
- Versatile
- Cushiony yet peppy toe-off
- Upper is padded & hugs your foot
- Durable
Cons
- Grippy but not ideal for off-road running
Now that we’re done talking about the comfort of these shoes, let me give you a detailed review of the Nike Invincible Run 2 and the Pegasus 38…
Related:
Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2
Price
The Invincible Run 2 is definitely priced at a premium price point of $180. That honestly makes a lot of sense or at least it’s not surprising because this is definitely one of Nike’s more premium sneakers.
It features their more premium and expensive Nike technologies like ZoomX cushioning and Flyknit upper material.
So the fact that this shoe is priced at $180, again, isn’t surprising, but for most people, it is on the high end.
Related:
Nike Invincible 1 vs Invincible 2
At first glance, this shoe looks almost identical to the original Invincible Run.
The silhouette is the exact same shape, the midsole seems relatively unchanged, and other than the colorway, I wouldn’t even be able to tell if this was a different shoe than the original.
With that being said, there are some minor changes to the ZoomX Invincible Run 2.
Moving down on the sneaker, you get to by far the best part of the shoe and that’s this full-length super thick max cushion ZoomX midsole…
Midsole
As I said earlier, this full-length ZoomX midsole is super comfortable and super-soft.
But for some people, this might be too much cushion and you might prefer a more firm ride. In that case, don’t get this shoe.
But if you’re looking for a max cushion with a lot of bounce, this ZoomX midsole literally gives you the best experience out there.
With that being said, the midsole is unchanged from last year.
It’s just as wide, which I guess is good for stability although this is still not an incredibly stable shoe because this midsole is so thick and so soft you can still slide around a little bit in the shoe.
So, if you liked the previous version of this shoe, you’re going to love the Invincible Run Flyknit 2 because it’s the same exact thing.
Related:
Upper is different
On the Invincible Run 2, there are three different distinct zones of flyknit that are knit differently from one another so that they serve different purposes.
So, right off the bat, the first thing that I noticed about the toe of this sneaker is that the flyknit feels a little bit stiffer than last year’s version.
I’m not totally sure if that’s because I’ve just worn last year’s version a bunch and it’s softened up a bunch or if they actually did change up the material to make it a little bit stiffer and also provide more structure, which I actually think might be the case.
On either side of the toe, you’ve got these little reflective details which were also on the original version of the shoe.
And then as you continue back on the sneaker, the knit material does change up a little bit just to provide a little bit of added durability around the high-wear areas of the sneaker.
Then continuing up on the shoe, you do find a couple more changes from the original version of the shoe albeit minor changes.
Related:
Eyelets & Laces
The eyelets are no longer made up of one piece of fused overlay that wraps all the way around the tongue of the sneaker. Now they’re just individual pieces of fused overlay weaving through those lace eyelets. You now have a new style of lace on the new version of the shoe.
The shoe now comes with more standard oval laces rather than flat laces. According to some Reddit message boards, apparently, people are happy with the update.
I personally didn’t have any problems with the flat laces on the original version of the shoe, but it seems like Nike was listening to runners when it comes to these.
Related:
Tongue & Gusset
Underneath the laces, you do have a slightly redesigned tongue. Again, it’s not that different, but I guess it’s a little bit different.
I guess the material on top of the tongue is now knit instead of a sort of neoprene material, which doesn’t make that big of a difference because the top of the tongue doesn’t really stretch.
It doesn’t really feel like those changes will have that big of an effect on you actually wearing this shoe.
However, one thing that I did notice that I actually did appreciate is that the elastic or the gusset holding the tongue in place is a little bit bigger than it was in the previous version and it’s a little bit less stretchy.
So, you do have a slightly more snug fit when you put your foot into the Invincible 2, which I do like.
It’s not oppressively snug, but it definitely feels better on my foot than the old version of the shoe, which I didn’t think it could get any more comfortable.
Padding
Just like on the original version of this shoe, you still have this ridiculous amount of outer padding on the top of the ankle collar, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to a lot of people, including me.
I mean the padding around the top of the ankle collar is nice. However, there is still an excessive amount of padding on the outside of the ankle collar which your foot doesn’t even come in contact with.
However, unlike the original version of this shoe which used sort of neoprene material to cover up the ankle collar, this time around, they use a flyknit material.
Again, I don’t think it makes that big of a difference just like on the outside of the tongue, but I guess it looks better.
Heel Clip
This is probably the biggest difference on the sneaker and that’s this slightly enlarged heel clip.
On the original Nike Invincible, the heel clip was very small and was supposed to provide some heel support and I guess a little bit of heel lockdown.
It didn’t do that much because it was so small.
On the new ZoomX Invincible 2, they’ve extended up the heel clip a little bit and I guess it does provide a little bit more stability when it comes to the heel but not incredibly noticeably so if that makes any sense.
Maybe I haven’t felt it that much because my heel didn’t need much support, but if your heel does need that heel lockdown and security, you might find it more helpful than I did.
Now let’s get to sizing and fit…
Sizing & Fit
The Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2 fits just like the original version of this shoe. So, I’m happy to report the Invincible Run 2 fits true to size and fits me great.
I rarely have trouble with Nike sizing when it comes to their performance running sneakers, and this shoe is no different.
The good thing about Nike is that if you buy this shoe directly from Nike, they have this great 30-day return policy where you can wear the shoe, try it out, and if you don’t like it, you can return it and get your money back.
It’s awesome and it kind of gives you no excuse to not get the right size of this shoe.
Related:
Seam
The Invincible 2 now has an external seam that separates one half of the flyknit from the other half of the flyknit. There’s slightly different knits of flyknit and so they do look different.
I’ll be honest, when I first saw this seam, I was a little bit worried because a lot of times when there’s a seam on a shoe, especially on a flathead shoe where your foot is just right up against the flyknit, the seam can end up rubbing.
But in this case, it’s right where the padding starts and so your foot doesn’t really rub against it that much. I mean there is an internal seam which I guess is a different seam altogether.
Regardless, it doesn’t really cause any problems, I don’t mind it, and it looks kind of nice.
Outsole
You have a rubber outsole which comes in this sort of rocker shape. This rocker geometry will give you these really nice smooth transitions into the next step.
In terms of the traction, it’s the same exact traction pattern that you had on the original Nike Invincible.
It works fine and it provides enough traction. It’s not incredible traction, but it’s also not bad traction.
Wrap Up
Overall, is the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit 2 more comfortable than the original Invincible?
In my opinion, not really or at least not noticeably so.
There are some improvements on this shoe, which I guess I do prefer. This heel clip, while not that noticeable, I guess does provide a little bit of extra support.
The new version doesn’t really feel any different and it’s just about as breathable as the original, which is not that breathable.
With that being said, when the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit finally does release, if you’re looking to grab this shoe or grab a version of this shoe, I would go with last year’s version because this version will go on sale and this version will still be full price at $180.
But if you had the original, you beat it to the ground, and you want to try the new version of the Invincible Run, go for it if you have the disposable income. Otherwise, grab the old version on sale.
Related:
Nike Pegasus 38
Again, this review of the Pegasus is from a lifestyle wear end of the spectrum.
I actually grabbed a special edition pair of the Nike Pegasus 38 that comes with this very interesting mismatched upper, which I’m actually kind of into.
I like it when the colorway of my sneakers is a little bit crazy because I’m running in the shoe and wearing it for casual lifestyle wear.
I guess the question then becomes is the Pegasus 38 a worthy improvement over the Pegasus 37?
Nike Pegasus 38 vs Older Versions
One thing you might notice about the Pegasus 38 is how similar it looks to the Pegasus 37.
There are definitely some changes around the sneaker on the toe box, on the tongue, and on the heel, which in my opinion actually really helped the shoe out a lot.
Midsole
Personally, I’m happy to report that the midsole on the Pegasus 38 midsole remains pretty much the same as the Pegasus 37s and still features a full-length React foam cushion setup.
Just like the Invincible above, some people might find the midsole on the Pegasus a little too well cushioned and I totally understand that.
But for someone who loves cushioning under your feet especially when you’re running, this shoe feels amazing.
The only Nike cushioning setup that’s softer than React is ZoomX and ZoomX is incredibly soft.
However, React won’t bottom out on you over time like ZoomX does because it has a little bit more structure.
Upper
There’s actually a couple of changes that take place on the toe of the sneaker from the 37 and the material is one of them.
This textile mesh feels very soft and very premium and reminds me a lot of what was on the Pegasus 36. However, on the Pegasus 37, the material that they used seemed a little bit more premium.
Honestly, the Pegasus 38 textile mesh just feels a little bit more basic and just not as premium.
Updated Last
There is, however, one pretty big change on the toe of the sneaker and actually the entire fit of the shoe that I know a lot of runners have been asking for and that’s that Nike used a completely different last in the top of the sneaker, which makes the entire toe of the sneaker much wider and it’s not going to cramp your foot like the older ones did.
I’ve got to say the wider toe is definitely noticeable and it’s something that I didn’t have a problem with on the 37s. But now feeling it in the 38s, I’m like “I can get used to this”.
Laces
As you move up in the shoe, you find these flat laces that weave through these very colorful nylon loops.
One thing I really love about this shoe is that the nylon loops are actually attached to a midfoot webbing system.
This means that when you tighten the laces, not only does it pull the top half of the midfoot towards your foot, it pulls the entire midfoot towards your foot.
It’s actually a very similar system to Nike’s flywire and it works in a very similar way and, for me, it does provide a much more snug fit. So, when I really want to lock down the shoe and tighten the laces, I really feel it around my midfoot.
Aesthetics
Visually, I actually really like what Nike did with the Pegasus 38.
They added this synthetic leather eyestay, but the way they attach this eyestay to the rest of the sneaker is a cool touch.
Nike is using an exposed contrasting stitch detail, which reminds me a lot of more hyped-up sneakers like Off-Whites.
And while not every runner will like this new aesthetic, I think it definitely brings the sneaker into that new modern aesthetic.
Underneath the laces, you get to another change from the Pegasus 37, the brand-new Pegasus 38 tongue…
Tongue & Pull Tab
On the 38s, the tongue is actually its own separate tongue, which I love. The way the tongue is constructed is actually one of the biggest differences between the Pegasus 38s and the 37..
Not only that, Nike has decided to go with a much more standard tongue over the not-so-standard tongue from the 37s and give it some really nice plush foam as cushioning.
One of my favorite details, which is one of the least important details, is the brand-new pull tab that features the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 text in metallic.
I just think that looks really cool especially because it kind of pops when you’re running in the sun.
Inside & Heel
On this colorway in particular, the sockliner comes in a dark gray.
The insole on this colorway comes in a mismatching theme. You’ve got green and orange on the right shoe and purple and pink on the left shoe.
From what I can tell, it does feel like Nike has revamped the heel portion of the shoe as well. They’ve added a little bit more padding around the top of the ankle and they’ve actually made it a little bit more of a secure fit around your heel.
I’ve run in this shoe about twice since I’ve gotten it and I’ve got to say from just that little bit of experience, you can definitely notice that there is some more heel lockdown in the 38 over the 37s.
Overall, the heel counter definitely feels more plush and more secure than the previous Nike Pegasus 37.
Outsole
Moving to the bottom of the shoe, you’ve got this rubber outsole that comes in blue and gray. The traction pattern is exactly the same as what you had on the Pegasus 37s.
One little thing I noticed about this outsole is that it has these speckles throughout the rubber and I’m wondering if that’s because they’re using some recycled materials.
Nike is really pushing recycled materials at the moment and so that could be what they’re doing, but it seems they didn’t call it out in their marketing materials.
Usually, when they do something like this where they use recycled materials, they make sure to call it out, but they didn’t and so it’s possible that they’re either not using any or they’re using very little.
Price
As a casual runner who loves wearing their running sneakers as everyday sneakers as well, the Pegasus 38 is perfect for me and I would definitely recommend it at a crazy price of just $120.
You’d think Nike would bump the price point up to like $150 or $160, but no, they kept it at $120 and I love that. But I’m surprised it kept that price point because this is a great shoe.
If you can grab a pair of 37s at discount at maybe the Nike outlet or something like that, I would probably suggest going with the 37s over the 38s if you don’t feel like you care about the tongue or the toe box because that shoe feels just so similar on foot.
Wrap up
Overall, the Nike Pegasus 38 is an incredible everyday running shoe and also a great casual shoe.
If you’ve worn the Pegasus 37 before, you know exactly what you’re getting into with the Pegasus 38.
But if you didn’t like the way that the Pegasus 37 felt underfoot and you didn’t like the overall feel of the shoe, the Pegasus 38 still feels pretty similar.
There are some minor improvements in the toe, the tongue, and the heel. And if you liked the Pegasus 37 but didn’t love it, that might actually make you love the Pegasus 38.
So, again, are the Pegasus 38s worth upgrading to over the 37s?
I’m not so sure.
If you already have a pair of 37s and it’s not worn out, maybe wear that pair to the ground and then grab a pair of 38s.
But as far as upgrading to the 38s, if you don’t really need to upgrade if your shoes aren’t worn out, I don’t know if it’s worth it.
Maybe wait until the 39s and then grab a pair of 38s on discount, but with that, we pretty much wrap up this most comfortable Nike shoes review for today.
But now, I would love to know your thoughts on the new versions of the Nike Zoom X Invincible Run Flyknit 2 and the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 and whether these are shoes that you’re considering picking up.
Online shops to buy these easy-day shoes…
Invincible | Pegasus |
|---|---|
| Nike | Nike |
Make sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below.
As always, thanks a lot for making it to the end of this “most comfortable Nike shoes” article and I’ll see you all in the next one.
