Nike Pegasus Plus Review

Upper

Grace: "The Pegasus Plus's Flyknit upper has a premium, durable, and breathable feel. The fit is true to size, snug, and highly secure in the heel. The Pegasus also provides an accommodating fit in the toe box. I love the Plus's aesthetic, reminding me of the original Nike Pegasus Turbo and Turbo 2."

Kaleb: "The Pegasus Plus’s Flyknit upper is lightweight and secure, but above all, it has style. Seriously, this shoe is super handsome and other people will notice when you have the Pegasus Plus shoes on your foot. There is a secure hold through the midfoot before opening up to a slightly more spacious forefoot, allowing for toes to splay on longer runs. I also had no problems with overheating, hot spots, or other irritations."

Midsole

Grace: "The midsole was not as soft or cushioned as I expected. I replaced the insoles that originally came with the Nike Pegasus Plus with SUPERfeet insoles, as I am recovering from a posterior tibial tendonitis injury. While testing, I felt the ground quite a bit in the forefoot, and after asking other testers who ran in the shoe, they shared the same underfoot feel.

I owned four pairs of the Nike Turbo 2's, as they were one of my favorite shoes to run in, but the Pegasus Plus did not deliver the same level of underfoot protection for longer distances. I still enjoyed the feel of this shoe for shorter, faster runs up to 8 miles, but the new ZoomX foam midsole did not have the premium, bouncy, protective feel that the Pegasus Turbo was known for. I wish the rocker geometry was just slightly more prominent as well."

Kaleb: "I have to preface this by saying that I never had the opportunity to test the Pegasus Turbo. That said, I have accumulated my fair share of Pegasus miles. I have also heard nothing but good things about the newly revamped Pegasus 4, but back to the shoe at hand.

I was not overly impressed with the ride or responsiveness during my first couple of test runs. The shoe felt protective, bouncy, and secure, but the Pegasus Plus did not necessarily distinguish itself from the competition. I just wanted a bigger 'PLUS,' especially given the price. Again, I want to emphasize that the overall experience in the Pegasus Plus was good, and I would have no issue reaching for it for daily runs and even some faster tempo efforts, but I was expecting more given the price."

Outsole

Grace: "The Plus's outsole is simple, featuring Nike’s signature waffle pattern. The center section of the midsole is exposed, which led to some minor aesthetic wear, but it wasn't an issue for me. The waffle pattern provided plenty of traction and durability on paved roads, gravel paths, and even fire roads."

Kaleb: "The name change has already sparked some spirited debate among our testers, but the thing I do not understand is why the outsole still says 'Pegasus Turbo.' If nothing else, it just adds to the confusion.

That aside, the high-abrasion rubber outsole performed well throughout testing. The grip was dependable, and I had no issues with traction, regardless of surface or weather conditions. However, there is a large area of exposed foam, which has taken some abuse, showing signs of wear and tear and raising concerns about long-term durability. Given the price point, I would have preferred full-rubber coverage to help extend the shoe's lifespan."

Comparable Models

Nike Pegasus Plus vs. Nike Pegasus 41

Grace: "The new Nike Pegasus 41 has a more premium feel, especially for higher mileage, thanks to the added protection from the higher stack and more pronounced rocker geometry. Although I enjoyed running in both shoes, it’s hard to overlook the fact that the Nike Pegasus Plus is priced $40 higher than the Nike Pegasus 41."

Pegasus Plus vs. Brooks Launch

Grace: "I have not run in a Brooks Launch in a long time, but while testing the Pegasus Plus, the underfoot experience kept reminding me of it. The specs of both shoes are very similar, with 10mm drops, identical stack heights, and similar weights. I tend to lean towards more cushioned shoes, so the ground feels in the forefoot was the main aspect that linked these two shoes in my mind."

Pegasus Plus  vs. adidas Ultraboost 5X

Kaleb: "Like the Pegasus line, the adidas Ultraboost line is known for its comfortable, bouncy midsole. Both the Plus and the 5X offer a ride suitable for daily training, though the Ultraboost feels slightly heavier, with a more premium and responsive Boost foam midsole. Both shoes straddle the line between performance daily trainers and lifestyle athleisure shoes, with signature styles that attract many fans. The Pegasus Plus wins my vote in the looks department. If you prefer a more natural, connected-to-the-ground ride, go with the Plus. If you want more protection, I would recommend the Ultraboost. And if you want unbeatable all-day style, you can’t go wrong with either model."