When they say Air Max Invigor is a poor man’s Nike Air Max 95, they mean that it is a budget-friendly shoe that gives low-budget consumers something close to the Air Max 95 in terms of design, comfort, durability, and value for money. Nevertheless, the Air Max 95 is a Nike lifestyle shoe on the upper tier.
The Air Max Invigor is not an ordinary budget-friendly sneaker from Nike. It is addictive. I have had two pairs for the last two years. I have a lot of words to describe them, but most importantly, they are low-budget Air Max that can take whatever you throw at it, and they are cool.
I love my Nike Air Max Invigor in black, but there are other colorways. The black color is very readily available.
Nike Air Max Invigor Upper Design and Fitting
The upper design almost imitates the Air Max 95’s silhouette shape except for the detailing. Air Max Invigor has a mesh upper and more of a nylon fill, which could pass for a flyknit material. Quite deceitful! It looks cool when you overlook the material. The upper part has a bit of structure, and it is somewhat breathable.
The patterns on the medial and lateral sides offer structure and aesthetics to this shoe. The matte finish on the mudguards and two Nike swoosh on both sides of the silhouette are the few frills in the Air Max Invigor. The Swoosh don’t pop as much as they should, but they look fine.
Everything is up to standard, including the lacing system and flat laces, which I find long enough to get the job done when looking for a snug fit. The tongue and heel collar are made of cotton mesh, hence hugging the foot comfortably.
The fitting is true to size and exceptionally comfortable because I have pretty narrow feet, and Air and Max Invigor run somewhat narrow. Therefore, wide-footed individuals should consider going a size up.
Overall, the upper looks fantastic. There is sufficient protection, and the design is cool.
Nike Air Max Invigor Sole Unit Design and Performance
There is the firm midsole foam with air units at the heels. The thick outsole rubber covers the entire midsole foam. The outsole has a waffle design pattern that makes it grippy across surfaces. The stack height is lower than other Air Maxes.
Is anyone asking if you can run in Nike Air Max Invigor? Kindly note that the midsole foam is not comparable to the progressive ZoomX or React foams. Therefore, I don’t run in my pair of Nike Air Max Invigor. However, I have put them to the test before and found them to be firm for anything longer than a 5k run. The cushioning is okay for a couple of weekly miles at slow paces with no pop-ups or responsiveness. The best part is that the Air Max Invigor offers more than weekly running miles.
For instance, I use my Air Max Invigor pairs for gym workouts and casual wear, especially on weekends.
What to Expect from Nike Air Max Invigor
- It is a shoe you can misuse because it is an all-round trainer
- Cool Designer
- A budget-friendly version of Air Max 95
- Standard width
- 9mm heel drop
- Weight within the favorable limit range (Less than 11 ounces)
- Neutral shoe
Final Thoughts
The Air Max Invigor is a down-graded version of the Air Max 95 without the two air pods in the forefoot. It is an all-round trainer with exceptional comfort. It is not responsive enough for racking up long miles. I suggest confining it to casual wear, gym workouts, and short, slow runs.
