Nike Pegasus Plus Review — A High-Performance Daily Trainer

The Nike Pegasus Plus is a stable, propulsive daily trainer that practically wants to run faster than you do. Many runners have fond memories of Nike’s Pegasus Turbo line, and in August 2024 Nike released the Pegasus Plus — essentially the Pegasus Turbo 3 in all but name.

The Pegasus Turbo 2 left a strong impression on me, so I had my eye on the Pegasus Plus from the day it launched.

This review covers what I actually felt running in the Pegasus Plus — how it compares to previous Pegasus Turbo models, how it stacks up against shoes from other brands, and which workouts it fits best.

By the end of this article, you’ll have everything you need to decide whether the Pegasus Plus belongs in your rotation.

Product Specs

Item	Details
Product Name	Pegasus Plus (PEGASUS PLUS)
Brand	Nike (NIKE)
Retail Price	¥19,800 (Japan)
Stack Height	Forefoot: —, Heel: —, Drop: 10 mm
Weight	US Men’s 9.5 (27.5 cm): 260 g (measured)

Why I Bought the Pegasus Plus

I owned the Pegasus Turbo 2, and it felt exceptional — versatile enough for almost any training session at VO2 max pace or slower.

The one glaring flaw was durability. The upper developed a hole after roughly 300 km (186 miles), and I never bought a second pair.

The Pegasus Turbo series was hugely popular, but its poor durability became just as well-known. Not long after, Nike discontinued the line entirely — and runners waited years for a successor.

In August 2022, Nike released the Pegasus Turbo Next Nature — a shoe built with recycled ZoomX foam, billed as the return of the Pegasus Turbo.

In practice, it rode very differently from the original Pegasus Turbo or Turbo 2. Among recreational runners, it never quite caught on.

Enter the Pegasus Plus — Nike’s long-awaited answer. The outsole is stamped with “PEGASUS TURBO,” a clear nod to its lineage.

My go-to shoe for fast jogging through easy threshold work — the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 — was wearing out, and I needed a replacement.

My shortlist came down to the Pegasus Plus, the Adidas Adizero EVO SL, and the Brooks Hyperion 2. I may end up buying all three eventually, but I started with the Pegasus Plus.

Running Review

Before writing this review, I logged runs covering 8:03–7:15/mile (5:00–4:30/km) easy jog, 7:31–6:10/mile (4:40–3:50/km) moderate jog, and 6:10–4:34/mile (3:50–2:50/km) strides.

At 8:03–7:15/mile Easy Jog pace, two things stood out: a reassuring solidity and a propulsive feel that seemed to push me forward on its own.

The shoe is built with clear structure — it lacks the featherlight feel of a racing shoe. That carries over to the run: each footstrike feels planted and stable.

Yet there’s a level of propulsion you simply don’t get from a standard jogging shoe. Try to hold back and it keeps pulling you forward — to the point where I thought a different shoe might be better if the goal is purely easy recovery.

I’d start the easy jog at 8:03/mile but naturally drift up to around 7:15/mile in the back half without consciously picking up the pace. The shoe nudges you faster if you let it.

Next, I tested it at 6:58–6:10/mile (4:20–3:50/km) moderate pace.

Fatigue may have been a factor, but when I tried to increase my running cadence, the shoe’s weight became noticeable. The fit is excellent — the weight is simply what it is.

My pair measured 260 g for a US Men’s 9.5. If the midsole had more bounce it would mask the weight, but the ground feel is on the firm side with little spring sensation.

Subjectively, the pace that felt moderate in this shoe was around 6:42/mile (4:10/km) — on par with the FuelCell Rebel v4. In a racing shoe like the Asics Metaspeed, that “moderate” sensation extends closer to 6:26/mile (4:00/km).

Finally, I ran at 6:10–4:34/mile. The 6:10–5:22/mile (3:50–3:20/km) range was threshold intensity; around 4:50/mile (3:00/km) covered strides, including uphill repeats.

The threshold pace experience mirrored the moderate run: it takes real effort. Compared to a racing shoe, the perceived exertion is noticeably higher.

Strides, on the other hand, were more comfortable than I expected. The ground feel response is quick — fast strides and hill training are well within this shoe’s range.

Being able to finish a jog with strides matters. I run strides after most easy sessions, so a daily trainer that handles them without feeling sluggish is a real requirement.

The standard Pegasus line, for comparison, feels slightly sluggish during strides — the Pegasus Plus has a clear advantage there.

Ride feel is always influenced by accumulated fatigue. I’ll keep updating this review as I put more miles on the Pegasus Plus.

Rebound, Propulsion, Stability, and Fit

Rebound is moderate. The midsole uses the same ZoomX foam found in the Vaporfly, but at a different density — and the landing feel reflects that difference significantly.

It lacks the soft, plush feel of the Vaporfly. Instead, you get a firm, stable platform underfoot.

If you’re picturing the Pegasus Turbo 2, reset your expectations. Gone is that soft, lightweight feel — replaced by a solid, high-stability ride.

At jogging paces, propulsion is the standout quality. The 10 mm heel-to-toe drop likely contributes — landing feels like it naturally rolls you forward.

The firmer midsole also means outstanding stability. The Pegasus Turbo 2 had a soft, sink-in feel that introduced some wobble at footstrike — none of that here.

Fit is excellent. The Flyknit upper feels slightly stiffer than the version used on the Infinity Run 4, but in a good way — it wraps the foot securely.

The toe box is cut generously, and the Flyknit stretches to accommodate, so there’s no cramping at the forefoot. That said, runners with very wide feet may still find it tight.

Traction

Traction on dry roads is solid.

Wet-surface traction is something I pay close attention to. Running in rain is not something I avoid, so being able to trust the grip on a wet road matters.

I haven’t run in the Pegasus Plus on wet surfaces yet. I’ll update this section once I have the chance.

Recommended Workouts

Here are the workouts I’d recommend the Pegasus Plus for:

On easy jogs, the Pegasus Plus pushes the pace more than expected. If you specifically need to hold a very slow recovery pace, it may not be the right tool — but for any easy jog where natural effort is fine, I’d reach for it readily.

I find moderate-intensity running the sweet spot for the Pegasus Plus. For me, that means 8:03–7:15/mile for easy jogging and 7:15–6:10/mile for moderate pace.

Long runs often fall between easy jog and marathon pace — a range where the Pegasus Plus performs well and feels like a genuinely good fit.

Marathon-pace runs are achievable, though they require real effort. One practical use: when racing flats tempt you to run too fast, the Pegasus Plus naturally keeps the effort in check at a controlled pace.

Sizing

I wear US Men’s 9.5 (27.5 cm) in nearly all my running shoes, and the Pegasus Plus fits exactly true to size.

Even with thicker socks, there’s no cramping. Rather than a wide last, I think the Flyknit upper’s stretch is what makes this work.

If you have wide feet and are unsure about sizing, I’d recommend trying a pair in store first.

Weight

At 259 g for US Men’s 9.5, it’s heavier than I expected.

I assumed the weight would disappear once I was running, but the shoe’s solid construction remains perceptible throughout. The firmness underfoot is part of it — this is a shoe you feel on your foot.

Durability: Is the Pegasus Plus Built to Last?

I update this section as the mileage climbs. The bottom line: durability is poor — critically so for a shoe marketed as a daily trainer.

Out of the Box

The midsole feels reasonably firm straight out of the box. Despite being ZoomX, it looks like it should hold up.

The outsole is fully covered in rubber all the way to the heel — a durability-conscious design choice.

At 250 km (155 miles)

The midsole shows some creasing, but cushioning is still intact.

The outsole shows wear on the ZoomX-exposed areas. Because the contact patch is wide, erosion starts from the outer edges.

At 400 km (249 miles)

Heavy creasing throughout the midsole. Cushioning has noticeably degraded.

The rubber outsole isn’t severely worn down, but the exposed ZoomX foam has eroded considerably.

At 400 km (249 miles), the damage is severe and the cushioning is gone. The shoe now feels tilted underfoot. Despite the cost, I retired this pair at 400 km.