World Balance Invictus Reveal First Impressions

The World Balance Invictus Reveal is the next one up in the line of the brand’s lifestyle sneakers. The success of the previous model, the World Balance Invictus, has us having a lot to hope for this time around. It even became a conversation piece with the “More Good, Less Evil” colorway that was made in collaboration with Secret Fresh, especially now in this time of nearing national elections in the Philippines. I’m personally so glad and excited to see that people are finally respecting and supporting this local brand.

First Impressions

First of all, these definitely give off Balenciaga vibes with the chunky midsole, torsional midfoot shank, and exaggerated heel. Beginning with the midsole, it is definitely soft and fluffy in hand and it’s no different on foot. The brand has not stated what kind of foam they used, but I would compare it to Nike’s Cushlon compound where there you feel a lot of compression and plushness. What’s even more interesting is that the midsole itself is glow-in-the-dark. They also inserted their own Bounce Pad Insole System which definitely adds to the comfort.

Most of the upper is made up of a ripstop material that is comparable to the one found in the Nike React Element 55. It’s thin and breathable which is great for the hot and humid climate of the Philippines. A nice, soft cut of synthetic leather serves as the toe cap and there are reflective hits on the forefoot, too. In the midfoot, we have suede and plastic overlays. The rear is mainly mesh with suede and reflective materials on top. Additional suede and leather overlays are found on the eyelets. The tongue, meanwhile, is half mesh and half leather. Nothing is insanely premium, but they feel extremely nice and good quality for synthetics.

Fit is true to size for everyone. Since this is a casual shoe, a bit of wiggle room is recommended. Wide footers will be happy getting these in their usual size, while narrow footers can go down half a size if that snug, one-to-one fit is desired. The lacing system is traditional and the laces add a bit of flare with their reflectiveness.

Traction really isn’t looked at with casual shoes, but the brand seems to really have thought this one out. With rains pouring in the Philippines quite often, they used a gum outsole with herringbone pods. This’ll grip anything anywhere.

World Balance Invictus Reveal Conclusion

Overall, I am more than satisfied with how these turned out. They’re comfortable on all fronts. Cushion is one of the highlights of the shoe and another is the materials. If the major brands gave us something at this price point, it’d probably be and feel cheap. The local Filipino brand has proven to us with the World Balance Invictus Reveal that we can get quality shoes for a great price.

The World Balance Invictus Reveal is now available for $45.99 / Php2,299 at World Balance.