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The Nike Pegasus has been one of the brand’s most trusted daily trainers for the better part of four decades. But its latest update is such a leap forward it warrants a whole new model: the Pegasus Premium.
This just-launched model fits neatly within the burgeoning "super trainer" category of running shoes. While many shoes in this group combine advanced foam materials with carbon or nylon plates, the Pegasus Premium distinguishes itself by incorporating a full-length Nike Air "plate." This innovative design aims to provide runners with a smoother and faster ride, positioning the Pegasus Premium as a super shoe tailored for everyday running.
After our early testing, we can confidently say: We’re into it.
Nike Pegasus Premium
$210
The Pegasus Premium supercharges responsive cushioning with a triple stack of our most powerful running technologies: ZoomX foam, a sculpted Air Zoom unit and ReactX foam. It’s the most responsive Pegasus ever, providing high energy return unlike any other. With a lighter-than-air upper, it decreases weight and increases breathability so you can fly faster.
Colors: 2 | Sizes: US 6–11 | Weight: 9.7 oz | Heel-to-toe drop: 10 mm
Pros:
- Air technology acts like a carbon plate but puts less stress on the legs
- Combines ZoomX and ReactX foams, Nike’s two best cushioning technologies
- Versatile enough to be worn on everything from easy runs to race day
Cons:
- It’s a little heavy
- High stack height may not work for all runners
- Nikes tend to run a little narrow
First impressions of the Nike Pegasus Premium
The Pegasus Premium looks more like a lifestyle shoe than a running sneaker—I love the flashy, 360-degree reflective strip wrapping around the upper—but saving it for walking around would be a waste of its potential. You can’t miss the brand-new neon Air unit sandwiched between two layers of foam in the midsole. I’m used to seeing Nike Air technology as inflatable bladders or pods under specific areas of the foot (maybe you’ve seen it under the forefoot in the race-day Alphafly?). But this version extends throughout the entire shoe, just like a carbon plate—except it’s flatter and more flexible, which allows for more natural movement of the foot.
My (honest) review
What I love
I’m pumped that Nike is investing in a super trainer for the everyday runner. The reason so many runners are drawn to super shoes—and now super trainers—is because they really do feel easier on the body. I used to race in a fresh pair of Nike Alphaflys, then wear that used pair for long runs to help keep my legs from getting too beat up during marathon training. After running 12 miles in the Pegasus Premium instead, my legs still felt fresh during the next day’s hour-long easy run. Unlike a rigid carbon plate, which snaps your foot forward, this new Air Zoom unit has a little give to it, which rolls the foot forward more gently. That puts less stress on your foot without sacrificing that propulsion.
The Air Zoom unit is only part of the equation in the Pegasus Premium. A slab of soft, resilient, and lightweight ZoomX foam extends for the full length of the shoe above the unit, while under the heel is a thick chunk of ReactX foam; as your foot hits the ground, that ZoomX foam allows you to deflate the Air unit, then the resiliency of the ReactX gives you the “pop” or bounce you need to spring forward. Overall, it’s a less jarring experience than a carbon plate, especially at slower speeds. Nike says this shoe returns more energy to the runner than any other model in the Pegasus franchise to date, and—as someone who has never really been a fan of the regular Pegasus—I definitely agree.
And while super shoes can feel unstable, especially for runners clocking slower paces, the Pegasus Premium felt super supportive to me. A wide base keeps your ankles from wobbling, and the upper has reinforced support zones on the sides to keep your foot locked down.
What I don’t love
Shoes are getting lighter and lighter, so—believe it or not—nearly 10 ounces is on the heavier end of the spectrum. I didn’t feel like I was pulling around extra weight running in these, but I did feel like all the material on the upper could get hot in warmer temps.
Shoes with higher stack heights (the amount of material between your foot and the ground) and higher drops (the difference between the amount of foam under your heel and under your forefoot) work for me, but not for all runners. With 45 millimeters of foam under the heel and a 10-millimeter drop, this is definitely a high stack, high drop shoe—and runners who aren’t used to this style of running shoe may need to work their way up to it.
Final thoughts
The Pegasus Premium is a fun addition to the super trainer category, and I’m glad to finally have a Pegasus model that works for me. I know that $210 is a serious investment in a shoe, but the Pegasus Premium is more durable, more versatile, and more affordable than Nike’s race day options—and most runners would actually be better served by an elevated daily trainer like this than the aggressive race-day options designed for elite athletes.
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