After a long hiatus — five years to be exact — the Nike Pegasus Turbo is back and rebranded as the Pegasus Plus.
The Pegasus Turbo was Nike’s first “Super Trainer” back in 2018. As the world of runners was being introduced to super shoes such as the Vaporfly, Zoomfly, and Alphafly (soon after), the Turbo gave runners the option to stick with one of Nike’s signature, less obscure models—the Pegasus—while also being able to push faster paces due to the ZoomX foam that propelled the runner forward.
Many elite runners backed the shoe, most notably four-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mo Farah, who was eventually granted his own colorway in the shoe after repeatedly saying that it was his favorite trainer due to the mix of cushioning and responsiveness, allowing for a wide range of running to be done in the shoe. But does that still apply five years later? Yes, it does!
Changes and Notable Features
The Pegasus Turbo’s successor, the Pegasus Plus, keeps many notable features from the original model, but the most nostalgic by far is the infamous colorway with the stripe down the center. Starting with the similarities, the Pegasus Plus still uses Nike’s patented ZoomX foam, but removes the React midsole, which leads to a firmer, more responsive ride.
This, paired with a slightly higher stack height of 34mm, allows for greater impact protection with a more stable ride, which seems to be the direction Nike is taking the Pegasus Plus—positioning it as a stable trainer that also allows for upbeat tempo running.
Nike also added my favorite feature: their Flyknit upper, which not only gives the shoe a stylish look but also provides much better breathability and lockdown, great for faster-paced running or running on hot days.
Lastly, my favorite feature is the increased firmness in the midsole. In today’s era of running shoes, where many brands are looking to make the softest shoe, having a firm and fast (responsive) shoe in your rotation is a breath of fresh air.
Even though I enjoy this feature, it comes at the cost of added weight—over an ounce—which you can definitely feel at the end of a long run or if you’re not at your freshest. Overall, the new Pegasus Plus offers a breath of fresh air and moments of nostalgia due to its heavier, firmer, more durable ride compared to many shoes released recently.
Personal Opinions
As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of the Nike Pegasus line, I can confidently say the Nike Pegasus Plus pleasantly surprised me.
The shoe goes in a different direction from many shoes that have come out in the past two years. With a firmer feel, the shoe is perfect for around 10 miles, though I would personally trade the responsiveness and firm feeling for a lower drop and some added cushioning and heel height for longer runs.
The Pegasus Plus shined the brightest for me in the 4-7 mile range on easy and tempo/uptempo runs where you don’t want to wear carbon-plated shoes. I often find myself dipping 10-15 seconds under my easy pace unknowingly because of the responsive ride. I’ve even jumped into some workout reps with the Pegasus Plus and think they’re a good option when you don’t want to wear carbon-plated shoes.
Overall Thoughts
The Nike Pegasus Plus is a great shoe for uptempo, tempo, easy runs, and workouts. The shoe bridges the gap between the Pegasus and Streakfly/Vaporfly, allowing for a responsive ride while also providing some support and comfort.
The only drawback I have is the price point. At $180, the Pegasus Plus comes in at about $20-30 more than other shoes offering a similar experience, though the Nike quality might make it worth the cost.
THE BREAKDOWN
Specs for the Nike Pegasus Plus
· Weight: (9.4 oz / 266.4 g) and (7.2 oz / 205 g)
· Stack height and drop: 35mm and 10mm
· Important features: Flyknit upper, ZoomX midsole, design is a reminder of the Pegasus 35 Turbo from 2018
· Price: $180
· Release date: August 2024
How We Tested This Shoe
· Men: Size 12.5 (9.4 oz / 266.4 g)
· Women: Size 8 (7.2 oz / 205 g)
· Running conditions: Tempo, recovery runs along with speedwork on asphalt, the track and crushed gravel/dirt roads
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Nike Pegasus Plus – Men
Nike Pegasus Plus – Women
