Nike Pegasus Premium running shoes

The Nike Pegasus Premium Running Shoe, a comfortable, highly cushioned running shoe from the Pegasus line that can be used as a running shoe and will definitely become a fashion shoe because it looks good and is comfortable enough for everyday wear.

Nike is completely restructuring its line of running shoes for everyday running (not racing). Only 3 models will remain, Structure, Pegasus and Vomero, all other models will be discontinued. They call it 3 silos, 3 categories or 3 franchises.

• Structure: Stable running shoes
• Pegasus: Resilient running shoe for faster workouts
• Vomero: Highly cushioned, comfortable running shoes for longer distances

All three categories or silos will have 3 members:

• Icon model: this is the basic model we’re familiar with
• Plus model: in each category, a model that better emphasises the uniqueness of the category, i.e. more stable in the stable category, faster in the fast, responsive category and more cushioned in the highly cushioned category
• Premium model: a more comfortable model with better cushioning

The Nike Pegasus Premium is as much a running shoe as it is an everyday sneaker. It incorporates innovative new technologies, and as with many innovative things, it’s not how good the first product is, but how it starts something. Such was the case with the Puma Fast RB NITRO™ Elite, which was more of a good study than a good running shoe. The Nike Pegasus Premium is closer to the real thing, but at such a high price, it offers less to be a serious competitor to other highly cushioned, comfortable running shoes. I wish they could sell a lot of them, but I think the majority of buyers will not be runners or will buy them for running.

Nike Pegasus Premium upper

The upper of the Nike Pegasus Premium running shoe is made of several different materials. The forefoot is made of a mesh material with very good breathability at the forefoot, reminiscent of the Vaporfly upper. On both sides of the shoe, there is a more flexible mesh material with two layers for good support. The two different mesh materials are separated by an extra layer of good support, which helps to provide better foot support. The lacing holes are laced to fit the foot well. The tongue of the shoe is fixed, comfortable and well cushioned. The tongue is short, it is difficult to tie the laces in a way that protects the tongue from being bitten. The heel collar is stiff at the bottom and soft at the top so it doesn’t irritate the Achilles tendon. The heel is well cushioned, comfortable and snug the foot well. The upper fits true to size, wide at the forefoot but narrower than average at the midle of the foot, so if you have wide feet it may be worth going up a size.

Nike Pegasus Premium midsole

The Nike Pegasus Premium running shoe midsole is made up of 3 layers in the heel area. On top is the soft, dynamic and lightweight ZoomX foam, at the bottom is the slightly stiffer but more stable ReactX foam, and in between is an Air Zoom unit that runs the length of the sole. There is no ReactX foam in the forefoot, this part of the outsole is just two layers of midsole. The midsole is 45mm high at the heel and 35mm high at the forefoot with a 10mm drop. only considering the midsole, this is a versatile, dynamic and comfortable midsole. The Air Zoom unit adds softness and dynamics, but at the same time the Air Zoom unit frame stiffens the midsole like a thin carbon plate or plastic plate. The geometry of the midsole is unconventional, more like a general sports shoe than a running shoe. The midsole is very narrow in the middle, the heel is narrower than average, making it less stable at the heel and middle of the foot, but the forefoot widens out. Stability is further weakened by the fact that the Air Zoom unit gives a wobbly, soft feel. Not ideal for people with pronated or supinated feet. While there is flex in the midfoot geometry and the Air Zoom unit is also flexed, there is less rocker (rolling) in the midfoot. Since the midfoot is stiffer than average, it would help a lot to have a more curved midfoot geometry, to makes transitions smooter and faster.

Nike Pegasus Premium outsole

The Nike Pegasus Premium Running Shoe Outsole is thick, deeply ribbed and covers a larger-than-average area of the midsole. The outsole has great grip on both dry and wet surfaces and Nike promises high abrasion resistance. The now traditional waffle pattern gives the shoe very good traction in all directions. Since the outsole covers a large area of the midsole, it further stiffens the already inflexible midsole.

Nike Pegasus Premium vs Pegasus Plus vs Pegasus

The three models complement each other very well and can be so different that there are similarities within them. The Premium is the most cushioned and comfortable, the Plus is the most dynamic and lightest, and the Icon is a versatile everyday running shoe. One thing I don’t understand. Why not call it Pegasus 41 Premium? If the Pegasus 42 comes out and there will be a Premium version also (as Nike plans), will it be called Pegasus Premium 2 and will there always be a 40 difference between the versions? I think this is not well thought out.

Who and for what kind of runs the Nike Pegasus Premium running shoes are for. Summary.

The Nike Pegasus Premium running shoe is a highly cushioned, comfortable everyday running shoe with an upper made from premium materials. The midfoot is dynamic and supports faster runs, but the shoe’s heavy weight doesn’t allow for sustained fast, long runs. The midsole is soft, high and narrower than average, so stability is not very good, although the midsole is stiffer than average. If you want a comfortable and good-looking sneaker that in you can run also, and afford, the Nike Pegasus Premium is a good choice.