Running Shoe Reviews
Nike Vomero Plus
Nike Pegasus 42 Review
April 23, 2026
Snapshot
The Pegasus 42 is Nike's standard daily training shoe intended to help you tackle a variety of runs. With the new version 42, the Pegasus has seen a top-to-bottom refresh, targeted to make it a more propulsive ride with more energy return. Let's see how these shoes held up.
- Full-length Air Zoom unit
- Extra width in the toebox
- Well-padded tongue and heel collar
- The big heel/shallow forefoot combination felt disjointed to some testers
- Slightly heavy
Best Use
Daily TrainersDaily Trainers
Surface
Roads & PavementRoads & Pavement
Stability
Neutral
Stable
Cushioning
Minimal
Low
Medium
High
Maximal
All Men's Road Shoes
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Daily TrainersDaily Trainers
As the broad base of the running shoe pyramid, daily trainers are the definition of a go-to running shoe. They prioritize dependable comfort, support, durability, and routine versatility. They're a staple in every runner's closet. If you're newer to running shoes, you can confidently start your journey here.
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Performance TrainersPerformance Trainers
Performance trainers (or "super trainers") blend elements of daily trainers and super shoes, often giving you the benefits of advanced foams and plates while being adapted for daily training. They make fast runs faster and long runs easier. Their high versatility also makes them great choices as accessible racing shoes.
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Super ShoesSuper Shoes
The pinnacle of the pyramid, super shoes are the fastest running shoes you can buy. They're designed to race your absolute best and are the apex of running-shoe technology and innovation. Often built with carbon-fiber plates and cutting-edge superfoams for the highest energy return, they're made for ultimate racing speed.
Men's Running Shoes by Surface
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Roads & PavementRoads & Pavement
Road running shoes feature smooth outsoles that are designed for running on paved surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and bike paths.
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Smooth Trails & FireroadsSmooth Trails & Fireroads
Designed to handle most trail runs, these shoes prioritize comfort and a smooth ride. These shoes are great for anything from smooth singletrack, park trails, and fireroads making them ideal for those who run from their doorstep on streets before hitting the trail.
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Rocky & Technical TrailsRocky & Technical Trails
These shoes are best used for hard, rugged trails such as shale, granite or sandstone where grip on smooth surfaces and underfoot protection are important.
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Soft & Muddy TrailsSoft & Muddy Trails
Designed for use in muddy, soggy conditions, these shoes feature very aggressive outsoles that dig deep into soft ground for exceptional traction.
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Snowy & Icy TrailsSnowy & Icy Trails
These shoes feature technical outsoles designed to grip snowy and icy trails making them ideal for winter trail running.
Cushioning Level
Cushioning level, or stack height, refers to how much shoe is between your foot and the ground. For this category, we reference the amount of cushioning below the forefoot as the heel height will be equal to or greater than the forefoot height.
Learn more about stack heights and how we measure them.-
Minimal
14-18mm. The shoe has a thin midsole that allows for a natural running experience. Racing shoes and minimalist shoes are common here. These shoes offer a feeling of being connected to the road or trail.
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Low
19-23mm. The shoe has a slightly cushioned feel and may feature added cushioning technologies. Performance training shoes and some trail shoes are common here. These offer protection during footstrike but prioritize a lightweight, grounded experience.
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Medium
24-28mm. These shoes have a stack height that fall near the middle of the spectrum.The shoes in this category are verstaile and great for all types of runs and distances.
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High
29-34mm. The shoe has a thick midsole and ample cushioning. These shoes are highly protective and absorb more impact than the body.
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Maximal
35mm plus. The shoe has an extremely thick midsole and extra cushioning. The focus is on protection and soft foam underfoot with hardly any ground feel.
Stability Level
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Neutral Running Shoes
Neutral shoes support the foot through a normal range of arch collapse and generally do not have built-in technology to correct movement.
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Stability Running Shoes
Stability shoes are a great option for those who overpronate or need added support. These shoes help to limit the inward rolling motion of the ankle while running or walking and assist in guiding the foot straight through the gait cycle.
Shoe Specs
- WeightMen's: 10.3 oz | 292 g
Women's: 9.0 oz | 255 g - Heel Stack38 mm
- Forefoot Stack28 mm
- Heel Toe Offset10 mm
- SizingTrue to Size
The Nike Pegasus 42 is for you if...
- You want to push back (somewhat) against max stacked shoes
- You are a heel striker looking for big, compressing landing pads for your heels
- You like a noticeable, steep heel-toe drop
- You are looking for a unique underfoot experience for daily training and easier tempos
What is the Nike Pegasus 42 made for?
The Nike Pegasus is one of those classic trainers you see just about everywhere. In the gym, on the run, on the feet of determined walkers, or on the feet of elite athletes as they train. But over 42 iterations, this shoe has undergone some drastic changes. Year after year, the Pegasus has evolved with the times while still remaining a familiar friend that can do a little bit of everything from road to lifestyle.
This year, the Pegasus receives a worthy upgrade, introducing a full-length, curved Air Zoom unit. We’ve seen air support integrated into the shoe before, but typically in separate forefoot or heel pods. The one constant unit spanning from heel to toe, and curving towards the forefoot, provided a unique underfoot experience for our testers.
On daily runs and runs up to around 10 miles, the Pegasus was received as an overall improvement, appealing more to a heel-striking audience. But with a 10mm heel-to-toe drop and plenty of cushioning in the heel, this shoe feels steep as you roll forward, which may not agree quite as well with some footstrikes, especially forefoot strikers.
Our Breakdown
Performance
As a daily trainer, this shoe does what it needs to do. If you’re looking for a simple ride that’ll get things done, the Pegasus 42 will meet that requirement. The shoe can pick up the pace gently, and it performs best at a standard daily mileage pace. The forefoot feels a bit more nimble, while the heel is a bit bulkier. One of our testers commented that they had a tricky time getting over the heel and were unable to avoid it while finding their way towards the forefoot.
"Putting 38 mm of ReactX foam/Air Zoom in the heel forced me to heel strike, and felt like it contradicted the 'nimble' feeling of the front half of the shoe."
ReactX is a great daily training foam for standard, steady mileage. It provides compliant shock absorption and modest bounciness in good balance. At just over 10oz, the shoe is on the heavy side, even for a daily trainer, but it benefits from the Air Zoom’s added boost.
For a daily trainer to cruise around town, performance was satisfactory.
"ReactX nails a great balance of compliant shock absorption and modest bounciness."
Comfort
In terms of comfort, we were fans of the luxurious padding around the ankle collar and tongue. There’s a nice addition of cushioning, which adds to step-in comfort. In daily trainers, shoes can vary widely with the amount of padding around the tongue and collar, and Nike made sure to prioritize a plush foot-entry experience.
Underfoot, the ReactX foam paired with the Air Zoom unit provided satisfactory comfort for us, with the Air Zoom unit standing out for its uniquely padded contribution. ReactX gives a reliable, durable feel, while the Air Zoom unit gives a more dynamic, responsive punch to the overall ride. With a higher heel-to-toe drop, our team felt that the Air Zoom unit was particularly helpful in cushioning the forefoot, which otherwise would have felt less lively than we prefer.
Overally, the underfoot protection is too generous under the heel and midfoot, but still pretty minimal under the forefoot. Adding the few millimeters of foam under the toes is a big help compared to the previous version 41.
We did feel, however, that the amount of cushioning in the heel was a bit disruptive at times. We imagine this large, cushioning ‘crash pad’ will serve heel strikers well, but feels slightly disconnected from the forefoot and midfoot experience. For midfoot and forefoot strikers, the steep angle of the shoe is noticeable and may not provide the smoothest experience.
Fit
In the past, Nike has been known to occasionally run on the narrow side in certain models. Our team was pleased to see that the shoes fit them well, offering enough room to accommodate multiple different foot types. Additionally, the ankle dips in the collar are deep, which is a big thumbs up for people with larger and lower ankle bones.
We found that the volume of the toe box fit a bit shallow, which could be a bit irritating depending on your preferences. Loucas encourages anyone who hasn’t tried Nike shoes in a while or has disagreed with the fit in the past to give it a try.
This is one of the best-fitting Nikes I’ve tried. If Nikes haven’t fit well for you historically, or if it’s been a couple of years since you’ve tried one on, give this one a try.
Comparison
Nike Pegasus 42 vs. Nike Vomero 18
"The Nike Pegasus 42 is a much sleeker experience than its Vomero cousin. While the Vomero opts for wide bases and more consistent cushioning throughout the midsole, the Pegasus leans more into its slenderness and the steep drop into its forefoot." -Michael
"Right away on step-in, it's obvious that the Vomero feels significantly taller throughout. The Vomero 18 has that squishy bounce that feels like a treat for sore feet and joints, where the Peg 42 is more directly responsive, connected, and nimble. The heel-toe drop in the Peg 42 feels a little more noticeable. Mildly surprisingly, the tongue and collar padding are pretty identical." -Loucas
Nike Pegasus 42 vs. ASICS Novablast 5
"While both try to offer streamlined, swift daily training experiences, the Novablast boasts softer cushioning and moves us forward through its dramatic toe rocker. The Pegasus, on the other hand, does its work through our midfoot, dropping us into its cradle by the ball of our foot, then offering a tense, minimal toe spring to push off from. Their similar goals are reached through vastly different approaches that will appeal to runners with two totally different footstrikes." -Michael
"The Novablast is clearly taller throughout than the Pegasus 42, but the Novablast still seems almost as sleek and streamlined. The biggest contrast for me is that the Novablast is significantly more on the soft/squishy/bouncy side, while the Peg clearly feels more directly responsive. The Novablast feels more protective against impact, but still with a dose of fun energy to pick up the pace. In contrast, the Pegasus 42 would be my pick when I want to trust how and where I'm putting my foot down, especially at pace or taking corners." -Loucas
Spec Comparison
| Model | Nike Pegasus 42 | Nike Vomero 18 | ASICS Novablast 5 |
| Weight | Men's: 10.3 oz | 292 g Women's: 9.0 oz | 255 g | Men's: 10.5 oz | 298 g Women's: 9.1 oz | 258 g | Men's: 8.7 oz | 247 g Women's: 7.8 oz | 221 g |
| Heel Stack | 38 mm | 44 mm | 41 mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 28 mm | 34 mm | 33 mm |
| Heel Toe Offset | 10 mm | 10 mm | 8 mm |
| Price | $144.95 | $154.95 | $149.95 |
| Best For | Daily Training | Daily Training, Recover Runs, Long Runs | Daily Training, Long Runs |
| Shoe Type | Daily Trainer - Standard | Daily Trainer - Standard | Daily Trainer - Energetic |
Individual Thoughts
Loucas
For me, the Nike Pegasus 42 is the definition of a solid 8.0. It’s a strong update (a strong improvement on the previous version), and I’m favorably disposed to it overall. That said, there are at least a couple of notable areas that I’d prefer differently.
A 4-6 mm drop is my sweet spot, so I’d like to see 2-3 mm of stack removed from the heel and added to the forefoot. Since I land on my midfoot, closer to my forefoot, that’s where I need the impact protection. But for heel strikers, this Peg 42 should be even sweeter. I’d also love it to be at least a 0.5 oz lighter, with just the faintest hint of more wiggle room alongside the very end of the toe tips.
On the whole, the Peg 42 does what it’s supposed to do, and does it well: a reliable daily trainer that’s more connected and agile than the Vomero family. For routine miles, it has a subtle and unique bounce to it that won’t knock your socks off, but adds the right dose of pleasant sweetener on top of the steady, reliable base. Plus, for a standard daily trainer, the ankle/tongue/heel padding is quite premium, pairing nicely with that distinctive “air bag” padding directly underfoot.
| Loucas's Breakdown | |
| Performance | 7.5 |
| Comfort | 8 |
| Fit | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8 |
Michael
I feel conflicted about this shoe. On the one hand, a lot of the things that Nike tried seemed to work. While Nike’s ReactX foam doesn’t excite me, I do like the feeling that the full-length Air Zoom pocket lent to the shoe. The snug fit works well for me, and the widened toe box feels juuuuuust wide enough to keep me happy. But the 38mm heel is my elephant in the room. Even if Nike had gotten everything else perfectly right, the steep ramp and the bulky heel void a lot of what I hoped for when Nike promised a versatile, nimble experience.
| Michael's Breakdown | |
| Performance | 6 |
| Comfort | 7 |
| Fit | 8 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
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