There are few running shoe stables that make it to 40 years. To achieve such longevity is a tricky feat: you need to provide athletes with the innovations of today without straying too far from the blueprint that made the silhouette popular in the first place.
Well, Nike has managed to do just that with its Pegasus lineup over the decades, delivering consistent performance in multiple running disciplines and truly defining what a daily running shoe could and should be.
Of course, though, any sneaker profile that’s this long in the tooth opens itself to scrutiny. Can Nike’s latest Pegasus design, the Pegasus 40, still be a worthwhile running shoe option, especially when other brands are offering big innovations in the running shoe arms race? Can this winged icon that’s been helping us log countless miles for decades still run with the pack ... or should it be put out to pasture?
To answer these questions, I laced up in the Peg 40s for multiple weeks to tackle my daily running needs. Having experience with previous Pegasus iteration, I knew the lineage and performance history of the profile, so getting to the bottom of what’s changed and what’s faltered was an easy endeavor. I also looked at the Peg 40 independently, highlighting its on-road efficiency at varied mileage and paces, as well as the shoe’s overall comfort and aesthetics.
Nike Pegasus 40: What We Think
Nike knows how to play the hits, and this daily training silhouette is the perfect encapsulation of that. I really enjoy how soft and bouncy the React foam midsole is for routine jogs, and the comfort is heightened thanks to the redesigned single-layer mesh upper. This doesn’t need to be a fast-paced racer or max-cushioned cruiser; Nike already has well-to-do silhouettes for these needs. Plus, Nike’s attention to style is more than present across this Pegasus 40 what with the shoe's sleek colorways and appealing construction.
Some might not enjoy the added weight, and some may want a little more innovation under the hood of a landmark 40th iteration — but for my money, this is still a fantastic daily trainer. It’s no longer the thoroughbred of the space, but there’s still get-up left in this pony, and the future looks bright for the footwear staple.
The React foam midsole creates a soft, bouncy ride ideal for consistent training.
When looking for an ideal daily running shoe, you want a silhouette that’s soft enough to make those miles approachable while also feeling responsive. I think Nike has cornered that market quite well with its React foam midsole technology, which is why I often recommend the Pegasus 40 as a worthwhile running shoe for beginners. Across my paces, I was pleased with the underfoot coziness and still felt enough energy return to keep me going throughout the workouts.
The Pegasus 40 is neither max-cushioned or fast by any means, but I don’t mind that, since this shoe is intended for those daily jaunts that aren’t pushing the distance or speedometer to advanced readouts. Think about it: do you really want to (or have the time to) run 15-plus miles daily or withstand a week’s worth of sprints and tempo days? No. There are other shoes more attuned to those more specific workouts. This profile is the filler — and if you view the Peg 40 in this fashion, you soon realize how good of a sneaker it actually is.
The upper redesign is not as bad as some may claim.
Call me crazy, but I like my running shoes to be comfortable from top to bottom. The all-new single-layer mesh upper of the Pegasus 40 makes that possible, as it cozily cloaks your foot in a somewhat bootie-like fit. Plus, the mesh is flexible enough to give some room for toe splaying, which I always prefer for a proper toe-off. The tongue is also thicker in this Nike iteration, which helps add to the over-the-foot plushness.
The upper is the most substantial update across this latest silhouette, which forgoes the previous Flywire construction of the Pegasus 39. This has caused a divide amongst Peg faithful, as there’s a definite drop in breathability with this new construction. Yes, the shoes can run hot at times, but I didn’t think it hindered my experience day in and day out. I typically run in the mornings and evenings when temperatures are a little more temperate, though, so my assessment could be swayed given this fact.
Unfortunately, however, the comfortable mesh upper does pose a greater dilemma to the Peg 40 beyond causing some excess sweat.
The Pegasus 40 is heavier than previous iterations.
The Peg 40s are more Clydesdale than race horse when it comes to overall weight. At 10.35 ounces for my size 9.5 profile, they’re one of the heavier road running silhouettes on the market. While pickups and transitions weren’t heavily affected by this girthier build, I had to acknowledge the mass when comparing this latest iteration to previous Pegasus sneakers. (I attribute this weight gain to Nike’s upper alterations, which beef up the thickness of the fabric across the top of the foot.) I’m willing to accept the added weight for the sake of overall comfort, but I can see where this would be an issue for other athletes looking to get the most performance possible each and every day.
For a landmark 40th iteration, this Pegasus had its wings clipped in terms of innovations.
The 40th iteration of a running shoe is no small feat, but if you take the updates made to the Pegasus 40 and compare them to the previous Peg 39, it feels as if Nike sort of phoned it in. In testing, I found both sneakers performed relatively similar in terms of responsiveness and comfort, with the major differences being shown in the upper. I would have liked to see the brand build up this landmark release a little more; I think the innovative stable deserves a few more revisions beside an upper rework.
In my opinion, the Pegasus 40 is simply a product of bad timing. Most shoe brands offer large overhauls to popular silhouettes every other year, so if the Peg 39 was the latest profile to receive such treatment, that left little on the bone for the 40 despite it being a landmark offering. Rather than looking at this as a dropped ball from the brand, I think it’s best to view this as a taste of what’s to come; if Nike keeps operating under the same schedule, the Pegasus 41 could be a major player in the market of daily running shoes of the future.
Nike Pegasus 40: Alternatives
If any of the above points have you looking elsewhere for daily running shoes, today’s landscape has you covered with plenty of worthwhile options. For an innovative silhouette that’s filled to the gills with plushness, there’s the Asics Gel Cumulus 25. This updated profile packs in loads of style and comfort, but can feel a little clunkier than the Peg 40 at certain paces. If weight is your main concern, consider the Mach 5 from Hoka. At just 8.2 ounces, it’s one of the lightest sneakers ready for tackling those weekly jogging goals. Admittedly, though, the style is more aggressive and may be too “training focused” for some.
