The Nike React Infinity Run Was Made to Help Reduce Injuries

After helping Eliud Kipchoge do what was once considered impossible by breaking the two-hour marathon barrier, Nike Running is starting a new initiative that aims to reduce runner injuries — an effort that’s racing out of the gate with the new React Infinity Run. Loaded full of React foam and featuring plenty of advanced tech, the React Infinity Run marks a bold new chapter in Nike‘s never-ending sprint for practical performance innovation.

In the past, runners would often have to choose between maximum cushioning and standout stability, but the React Infinity Run aims to provide both in equal measures. The cushion is handled by the aforementioned React foam, a technology that was first introduced in 2017 and has graced everything from performance silhouettes like the Epic React Flyknit line to lifestyle favorites like the React Element 87.

Here however, it’s used in a much more copious quantity than ever before, thanks to a midsole that boasts 24% more React foam than its predecessors. This is a cushion that doesn’t bottom out either. Previous Nike Running shoes with React foam were designed to go 300-350 miles without any noticeable mechanical decompression, but the React Infinity Run has been certified for almost twice that, as it boasts a significantly extended lifespan of 500-600 miles.

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No support is sacrificed in the quest for ultra-plush comfort either. Instead of using midfoot shanks, arch supports or bulky heel clips to offer stability and reduce injuries, the React Infinity Run simply uses its extra foam to provide a wider — and taller — than usual platform for the footbed. Combining with an “engineered rocker” that places the foot in a slightly forward position, this tech gently guides a runner’s strides in a smooth and straight line. A Flyknit upper provides the security of a sock-like fit.

This flips conventional wisdom on its head. It’s long been believed that chronic running injuries are caused by excessive pronation and supination due to a lack of support, not a lack of cushioning. So what certifies the value of these performance features and this alternate way of thinking? The wear testing. An external study conducted by the British Columbia Sports Medicine Research Foundation of 226 runners who wore both the React Infinity Run and the Nike Structure 22 — a more traditional motion control silhouette — during daily mid-distance runs showed that the participants who opted for the Infinity Run reported 52% less pain in their knees and feet then their Structure-sporting counterparts.

The React Infinity Run is just another stride — albeit an extra-comfortable one — in Nike’s fully-integrated running experience. It’s also set to be tied into training available from the free-to-join Nike Runner’s Club, which encourages participation, dedication and goal-setting for weekend warriors and professional runners alike. From breaking records to reducing injuries, Nike’s running footwear certainly has lofty goals, and it hasn’t failed in its pursuit of them yet.

The Nike React Infinity Run will debut in “Platinum Tint/Pink Blast” as a NikePlus member exclusive on January 3, then receive a full retail release via Nike.com and select retailers on January 16. The retail price has yet to be announced.

Moving from the track to the courts, Nike recently debuted Kyrie Irving’s new Kyrie 6 in a full set of city-exclusive “Preheat” makeups.