Article by Steve Gedwill and Sam Winebaum
Nike ZoomX Pegasus Plus ($180)
Execs:
Versatile: sufficient springy ZoomX cushion for day by day coaching, mild and responsive sufficient for tempo runs, effectively shod with sturdy gripping rubber for street and filth. Sam/Steve
Combine it up: versatile, full of life supercritical foam journey that works the ft in another way than plated footwear. Nike’s solely efficiency non plated Sam
Very breathable higher Sam/Steve
Cons:
Well-known v1 heart of toes pink webbing strap returns and as earlier than can press on the large toe, particularly when new Paint it! Sam
Forefoot may use extra stack/snap. Steve/Sam
Worth: Sure, ZoomX midsole, sturdy outsole, versatility and decently mild weight however at $180 for a non plated shoe pricing is up there and above aggressive footwear. Sam/Steve
Introduction
Sam: The Pegasus Plus is a versatile, reasonably stacked uptempo street coach powered by Nike’s supercritical ZoomX foam. It stands out as a better drop (10mm), non plated coaching possibility In a market more and more dominated by plated excessive stack trainers and racers. It competes with the few remaining (and all wonderful) footwear in its class such because the Adizero SL2 and ASICS Noosa Tri 16. It supplies an possibility for the “traditionalists” and for all runners to differ their rides and provides the ft a distinct extra engaged exercise.
The mannequin first emerged in 2018 on the heels of the Vaporfly (RTR Assessment), had a second model in 2019 (RTR Assessment) then the heavier Nature model in 2022 (RTR Assessment). So primarily apart from the lighter Streakfly Nike had no mild uptempo non plated coach of their line up lately.
The Pegasus (Turbo) now known as Plus returns with a barely greater stack top (and weight), ZoomX magic and a stout higher in a visible design primarily similar to the unique from 2018.
We got down to take a look at the Plus. The place does it slot in a rotation? Is such a shoe nonetheless related? And the way does it examine?
Stats
Approx. Weight: males’s 8.6 oz / 244g US9
Pattern Weight: males’s 8.42 oz / 239g US8.5 (Peg Turbo 2: 7.4 oz / 211 g US8.5)
Stack Peak: males’s 35 mm heel / 25 mm forefoot ( 10 mm drop)
Platform Width: 85 mm heel / 65 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
Most comparable footwear
Pegasus Turbo 2 (RTR Assessment) Sam
ASICS Noosa Tri 16 (RTR Assessment) Sam
Adidas Adizero SL 2 (RTR Assessment) Sam
.
First Impressions, Match and Higher
Steve: The Pegasus Plus marks the return of a legendary shoe from Nike which was recognized earlier than because the Pegasus Turbo. Will it stay as much as the hype of the unique? Or will it fall flat like most film sequels are likely to do?
What I can say for certain is that the shoe seems improbable and delivers the nostalgia of the unique Pegasus Turbo. There’s something to be mentioned concerning the stripe down the middle, it’s traditional and it seems quick!
I love the signature Swoosh that’s painted on the completely different textures of the higher and midsole.
The higher is a breathable mesh that contains a non-gusseted tongue that’s held in place by the laces through a loop within the tongue close to the highest. The laces are run by way of plastic eyelets which have a skinny plastic backing that runs nearly the size of the tongue. The tongue is skinny however effectively padded and fairly comfy.
The heel counter supplies a pleasant maintain, is effectively cushioned and jogs my memory of the Hoka Mach when it comes to the peak and luxury.
At step in, the shoe feels nice! It has that signature Pegasus really feel, mild, tender and the consolation you’ve come to anticipate. I didn’t expertise any points with lock down and felt like my males’s 12 ran true to measurement. The Pegasus Plus higher is the proper center floor of safe and roomy.
Does it carry out pretty much as good because it seems? “Pegasus Nation, Let’s journey!” -Quarterback Russell Wilson (most likely)
Sam: The shoe above the Pegasus Plus. The shoe beneath..the 2018 Pegasus Turbo..
Apart from the OG’s extra pointed achilles collar and completely different outsole configuration they are often exhausting to inform aside. We do know the Plus has no less than 3-5 mm extra stack top back and front with the identical 10mm drop.
The higher is reasonably thick “two tone” engineered Flyknit. I discovered it surprisingly breathable throughout runs in our very excessive humidity summer season climate.
A signature characteristic, visible for certain, but in addition for entrance of higher assist is the pink sewn on webbing strap down the middle of the toe field.
As with the OG, I completely seen it urgent on my dodgy huge toe at first strive on and for the primary run. After that first run it turned far much less noticeable because the Flyknit stretched some and the sockliner packed down a bit. I want Nike got here up with a distinct much less intrusive strategy to this cool visible aspect which I assume additionally supplies some entrance construction with out resorting to thicker mesh or overlays because the foot is for effectively held in what’s in any other case a fairly unstructured toe field.
Within the photograph above, peaking out beneath the tongue are the midfoot underlays. They not the frequent plasticky ones however a tender liner kind mesh bonded to the higher. The tongue has no gusset.
The midfoot maintain is excellent with the padded but nonetheless skinny tongue with unpadded wings, slender skinny flat laces and eyelets all working effectively collectively. Do ensure you double knot as they simply come undone in any other case.
The heel counter is notably inflexible all the best way to the highest of the achilles collar, very comfy and contributing for certain to the notable rear touchdown stability.
The match is true to my typical measurement US8.5. As mentioned above, the sharp toe field and heart strap do require some break in because the strap has solely a contact of stretch and fewer so than the remainder of the higher.
Midsole & Platform
Steve: The midsole contains a full slab of ZoomX foam at 35/25mm rear/forefoot stack top, so a 10mm drop. I felt just like the 10mm drop was fairly noticeable at step in, which isn’t shocking as a result of I’ve spent a variety of time not too long ago in 4 and 5mm drop footwear. I’m actually a little bit stunned by the stack top numbers, because it seems to have a thicker midsole.
The ZoomX feels springy, however I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it felt just like the ZoomX featured within the Vaporfly or AlphaFly. It feels barely firmer and extra dense within the Pegasus Plus, which may very well be partly as a result of kind/quantity of rubber on the outsole. The insole is your typical Nike insole and isn’t glued down.
Sam: Pure 100% ZoomX PEBA foam right here with a complete stack top of 35mm heel / 25mm forefoot, a top and 10mm drop that just a few years in the past would have been present in a effectively cushioned day by day coach. At the moment that stack top is on the extra “minimal” facet, particularly upfront.
The ZoomX foam is as we anticipate, springly and vitality returning however considerably extra dense in really feel than in Nike’s ZoomX racers.The heel cushion is for certain deep and as a lot as I may want for.
The forefoot is “thinner” and in consequence versatile with the outsole offering some reasonably snappy flex. There’s loads of entrance cushion for the uptempo focus of the shoe and for these preferring a extra conventional day by day coaching journey with good street really feel. The drop is for certain seen with, after a steady stable heel touchdown, a definite sensation of plunging ahead to a versatile toe off. Not so skinny or versatile upfront that my ft obtained drained however for certain a distinct option to work the ft than in a better forefoot extra inflexible rocker kind shoe which are so frequent the final couple years.
Outsole
Steve: The outsole supplies good protection of rubber with the middle of the midsole being uncovered.
The crimson stripe on the higher continues on the outsole and even says “Pegasus Turbo” regardless that Nike is technically calling this the Pegasus Plus. As with different Pegasus fashions, the grip is stable and will present loads of sturdiness.
Sam: Nike by no means spares rubber and grip of their trainers and right here once more we’ve got loads of rubber and traction from the waffle sample lugs for “terrain”, in fact street, but in addition filth and gravel with one among my runs on a tough pack granite mud rail path the place I had improbable traction.
I might add that the intensive entrance rubber clearly supplies stability and a few response to what’s a comparatively tender midsole.
Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions
Steve: I’ll say I’ve been a very long time fan of the Pegasus Turbo line. The Pegasus Turbo was what I might take into account to be my first “racing shoe.” So to say I used to be excited to run within the newest mannequin can be an understatement. I even delayed my morning run ready on the Fedex truck to drop these off. Properly sufficient about my obsession, let’s get into how they carried out!
My first run was 6 miles with strides which was a pleasant take a look at with getting a little bit pace going. The 10mm drop had that feeling of pushing me ahead or “up on my toes” however actually I form of loved it.
The ZoomX foam was energetic sufficient, however lacked that typical softness I’ve come to know within the Alphafly and Vaporfly. The forefoot additionally left a bit to be desired, extra cushioning would have been good.
Nonetheless, I’ll say the Pegasus Plus actually shined through the strides, it felt mild, nibble and responsive. Which is strictly what I felt just like the Pegasus Turbo of previous did greatest. The subsequent day featured a 14 mile long term and I felt the Pegasus Plus held its personal. For longer, simple miles I’d most likely want a tad extra stack up entrance and a extra conservative drop top. My legs and ft didn’t really feel destroyed afterwards so it’s secure to say you possibly can simply run a half marathon in these.
It is a powerful one for me, I needed to like this shoe extra, however it’s not a lot of an improve to the Pegasus Turbo of the previous. With so many nice footwear available on the market, the Pegasus Plus doesn’t actually stand out among the many rivals. For $180 I feel there are higher choices and at a greater value level as effectively. I’d gladly pay $140 for the Hoka Mach 6 or the New Steadiness Insurgent V4, that are each higher footwear in my view.
When you love the unique Pegasus Turbo, you’ll probably get pleasure from this shoe. For me it’s simply lacking a little bit of that ZoomX magic and with so many nice choices available on the market, I can’t justify spending $180.
Steve’s Rating: 8.0/10
Experience 8 (50%): Match 9 (30%): 6 Worth (15%): Model 9 (5%):
😊😊😊
Sam: Very comparable in seems and journey to the OG Turbo with reasonably extra cushion, the Plus is a throwback to less complicated, greater drop, much less cushioned footwear of the close to previous with, in fact, state-of-the-art foam in ZoomX. The higher is comfy and safe, the journey whereas extra “minimal” than what’s now frequent is energetic and effectively cushioned notably on the heel.
I examined them at varied paces together with a tempo 7 miler on the rail path in addition to simpler day by day paces and it was at tempo paces that it shined. Gentle, fast if tender and a bit skinny off the entrance, and plentifully cushioned on the heel with a pleasant steady rebound attributable to its 35mm top and really stable heel counter
I do suppose the mid to forefoot may profit from a small shank or plate to extend snap and response for tempo functions or a contact extra foam top up entrance which may acoomplish the identical.
Whereas for certain an excellent high quality shoe with an excellent higher, nice supercritical foam, sturdy higher and nice versatility its priding at $180 for a fairly easy building shoe was a superb “worth” within the authentic Turbo in 2018.. At the moment its direct competitors in weight, stack top, functions and “nearly” in foam efficiency (for me) such because the Adizero SL 2, Hoka Mach 6, and ASICS Noosa Tri are priced $40-$50 much less
As one of many few decrease stack, greater drop trainers nonetheless obtainable the Plus ought to attraction to runners in search of a extra conventional journey for all or no less than a few of their exercises and to Nike followers in search of a efficiency mild day by day coach. It certain appeals to me as I discover it necessary to combine in additional versatile, greater drop, decrease stack footwear with as we speak’s plated inflexible rocker behemoths.
Sam’s Rating: 8.9 / 10
Deductions for pricing, webbing entrance strip and a bit extra toe off snap
😊😊😊 1/2
4 Comparisons
Pegasus Turbo 2 (RTR Assessment)
Steve: The higher is a lot better on the Pegasus Plus, which results in the Pegasus Plus being the extra comfy shoe. A lot better lock down and heel maintain on the Plus as effectively. The efficiency is analogous, each are fairly mild and nimble. I’d give the sting barely to the Plus because it does really feel a little bit extra protecting.
Hoka Mach 6 (RTR Assessment)
Steve: By way of a non-plated throughout shoe that may do all of it, I assumed this was a superb comp. I feel the Pegasus is a little bit bit extra comfy on foot, however the Mach outperforms it in nearly each different class. I like the texture of the midsole foam higher on the Mach (appears to be only a bit softer and bouncier). Each are fairly light-weight and may deal with pace work effectively. However for $40 {dollars} much less, I’m taking the Mach 6.
Sam: The primary distinction between the Mach and Plus is the forefoot stack top. The Mach has a 37 heel mm / 32mm forefoot which suggests it has 7mm extra forefoot cushion than the Plus. That is felt in fact as a extra cushioned forefoot and a stiffer flexing one. The Plus is extra agile feeling given its 10mm drop and thinner forefoot. The Mach leans extra day by day coach and for longer distances whereas the Plus leans extra uptempo and shorter distances. Each have efficiency becoming kind uppers.
ASICS Noosa Tri 16 (RTR Assessment)
Sam: Lighter and better stacked at 7.6 oz / 215g for close to maximal 34.5 /29.5 stack top, the 6nm drop ASICS has a rocker profile vs the e flex profile of the Nike. Its FF Blast FF Plus will not be fairly as energetic as ZoomX and is a bit firmer if extra shortly responsive. Its journey and geometry are extra steady if it’s not fairly as a lot of a “enjoyable” journey. AT $135 it’s clearly a greater worth. Each match equally.
Adidas Adizero SL 2 (RTR Assessment)
Sam: The SL2 is in some ways almost similar to the Plus sharing the identical stack top, weight, stout outsoles and, in their very own methods, energetic fashionable midsoles. The SL 2 is considerably softer and is much less steady. Its higher is easy and fewer supportive thus making it much less appropriate for tempo coaching than the Plus and its stouter higher. Preserving this in thoughts, at $130, $50 lower than the Plus,.it’s a higher worth as a average mileage enjoyable day by day coach.
Comparability Assessment Pegasus Plus vs Adizero SL 2 (10:12)
Index to all RTR evaluations: HERE
Tester Profiles
Steve: A former highschool monitor runner, turned physique competitor who then jumped again into the operating scene. I’m 38 years previous, 6’0 tall, 180 lbs and presently operating 30-40 miles per week. My most up-to-date Half Marathon time is 1:45:59 and I’m presently coaching for my second Chicago Marathon this Fall. I’m from Tampa, Florida initially, however have known as Chicago, IL dwelling for the final 6 years. I’m an enormous operating shoe geek and work within the craft beer business! @steve.runs.chicago on Instagram.
Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Street Path Run. He’s in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th 12 months of operating roads and trails. He has a a long time previous 2:28 marathon PR. Lately he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week principally at average paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, mountain climbing or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he isn’t having fun with too many superb New England IPA’s.
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