Nike's posher, plusher, premium Pegasus

Let's start by saying that it's been 9 years since we last tested a pair of Nike Pegasus - arguably the most iconic shoe in running. Nike moved their local office to Europe and we lost touch so it's been great to see them active again in SA recently and it was a pleasure to try out their latest high quality footwear and clothing.

The Alphafly and Next% have been disruptive and insanely impressive game changing shoe models but the Nike Pegasus was the shoe that every South African runner, yes every single one, aspired to owning a pair of at some stage between 1983 and 2010. This was the shoe that ignited an industry when Phil Knight and his mates created the super brand from waffle iron souls to basketball rebound technology. Before other brands started creating modern running shoes Nike had shoes in our stores and were creating super cool ad campaigns and most of us had an inspiring 'you are not done' poster prestik'd up on a wall at home.        

There have been 41 iterations of the Pegasus and somehow a consistency has remained. Relatively narrow, well made, comfortable and eye-catching always. Nike's visible air pocket cushioning system has been around for years and remains a signature design element and it's more prominent here than ever, running full length from heel to toe. This shoe is less of a performance shoe than a statement shoe, indulging the design team to create a shoe that resembles a sports car - that runners who enjoy shorter energised runs will enjoy as much as they do styling them in track pants at the gym or at the mall. This shoe spares no detail or fabric (we can talk about the weight later) and looks super chic and well made. It screams high price tag and carries one - you don't wear these to remain under the radar at your local park run. 

Let's take a look back at the heritage here. 10 years ago Nike launched a performance running shoe called the Air Zoom All Out with a visible, 3-quarter length Zoom Air cushioning system. They were very early into the uber trend of energy return and this shoe was marketed as a speed shoe. Nike claimed this as 'the most responsive ride for your fastest runs!' They looked a bit like a low profile basketball shoe for gym and coffee shops and with so much heavy EVA material they weren't great for more than a 10km easy run. It seems that the Pegasus Premium was inspired by that shoe but now the dense and durable phylon foam has made way to a combination of ZoomX and ReactX midsole cushioning layers with the now full-length air zoom layer for more consistent toe-heel transitions.

The Pegasus Premium is the top-of-the-range trainer in the Pegasus road family with a stack height now a massive 45 mm rear and 35 mm forefoot. Launched a year before it became available, the PR strategy worked wonders because the shoe sold out fast all over the world.

My first impression was wow this looks and feels classy and comfortable - silky to the touch inside, muscled and multi layer moulded on the outside. A Mclaren perhaps. Despite the obvious maxed stack height the feel wasn't top heavy or unstable, I couldn't wait to run in them. That first run was a 5km pre Cape Town Marathon shakeout run. I was surprised how much energy was returned with each foot strike and the firm under foot yet bouncy ride was very surprising. If you’ve ever run in the Alphafly, you would have experienced the Air pods in its forefoot that makes them feel different, these make the shoe feel so springy on toe-off.

In the Premium, you get that feeling but throughout the entire length of the shoe, propelling you like a coil spring. I didn't feel fast but it was easy to build up to & hold a steady tempo pace around 5min/km in social mode thanks to the energised ZoomX foam and the springy full length Air Zoom unit. I have a sense that slower runners would get less benefit and may even feel sloppy. Despite the highest weight in my extensive locker, this 366 gram shoe in size 10.5 didn't feel cumbersome. The o-net mesh upper with equally ventilated non gusseted tongue is super soft and lightweight despite the additional anti-abrasion outer layer, so the upper is comfortable, light and very breathable, but the triple layered sole makes them feel bottom-heavy. At 90kg the weight and well padded & decorated shoe didn't worry me but i could tell this wasn't a shoe for more than 15km, max 21km. 

The collar and the heel tab are generously padded for extra comfort but until I used the additional lace hole I did experience some heel slippage. With a reflective strip all around plus reflective laces the shoe has great night visibility which adds to the sense of quality. A typical Nike narrow fit means they aren't ideal for wide feet but mine are at least medium width and I have no discomfort at all from the midfoot to the toe-box. True to size Euro 45.

Despite the absence of a plate the thick Zoom Air layer acts like a stiffening device - these shoes are stiffer than max cushioned trainers like Puma Magmax so they feel snappier.  The contrasting midsole foams do two things - the upper layer ZoomX provides energy return and the ReactX down below the air pocket provides stability and durability. I felt stable but the narrow midfoot and rearfoot could make rear to midfoot strikers struggle on longer runs, especially given the extra weight. Underneath the signature waffle grip rubber covering the whole outsole feels soft and very grippy which is a real plus, with seemingly good durability. One real concern for me is the noise they make - what's with the squeaky noise, it's distracting.

Overall I feel this shoe sits in a category of its own, a glamorously stylish yet responsive trainer for cruising days. Other shoes with this stack height are designed for longer runs and are lighter, more propulsive & cheaper.  The Premium are responsive and enjoyable to jog in but too heavy to compete with the likes of Asics Superblast or Saucony Kinvara Pro. It's truly a premium product and no doubt there will be a lifestyle market who lap them up.

RRP R4299