It seems like a lifetime ago, but it’s really only been seven years since Nike introduced its first Vaporfly racing shoes with carbon-fiber plates embedded in their midsoles. It started a revolution in both shoe design and marathon racing, ultimately leading to several new world records (and countless new PRs for age-group runners!) while also rekindling competition among top shoe brands on how to optimize the new design paradigm. The rest, as they say, is history, because every brand has released numerous versions of carbon-plated racing shoes, as well as models intended for training since about 2020.
But as much as the rigid carbon-fiber plates were the catalyst of these new models, the real juice was – and still is – coming from new midsole foam compounds that provide both cushioning and a high level of energy return. For Nike, that foam became known as the hyper-responsive ZoomX midsole compound.
When Nike was wear-testing its original carbon-plated models, it made more than 100 prototype variations and its elite-level wear-testers raved about the shoes – some with and some without plates – for long runs and shorter, faster workouts. Nike put the unplated version on pause, but eventually released it as the Pegasus Turbo in the summer of 2018 as a lively shoe meant for training and short-distance racing. That evolved to the Pegasus Turbo 2 before it faded out of the line.
Now, five years later, Nike has brought back a version of that high-energy trainer in the newly released Pegasus Plus ($180). It’s not quite the same as those original Pegasus Turbo shoes and it might just be a tease to next year’s Pegasus Premium with a full-length Zoom Air unit. But for now, I’m quite happy with the emergence of the Pegasus Plus, especially because it’s a much better shoe than the Pegasus 41 that Nike released in June.
What’s New: The biggest thing that’s new about this top-shelf version of the Pegasus is that it’s built on a full-length layer of the updated ZoomX midsole foam. It also has a stretchy, perforated Flyknit upper that creates a conforming fit on a wide range of foot shapes even without a gusseted tongue. There’s not a lot to the shoe other than that, but those two elements are pretty spectacular.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The Pegasus Plus fits true to size with a medium/narrow interior volume and a low-volume but not cramped toe box. The stretchy mesh tongue helps create an accommodating locked-down fit that contributes to the fast, agile feel this shoe exudes the moment you lace it up. The upper feels light, airy, breathable, and sparse (but also seamless and secure, thanks to an interior support band), while the step-in feel of the sockliner is as smooth and soft as it needs to be with an added bit of heel cushioning around the collar for added comfort as it provides great rear-foot fit.
The ZoomX midsole is the secret sauce of this shoe, but it really isn’t so secret. That foam creates a light and lively ride, just like it does in Nike’s Vaporfly shoes, but it feels softer and smoother without the snappiness of a carbon-fiber plate. Unlike the ReactX foam midsole of the Pegasus 41 (which is enhanced with Air Zoom units and a new slightly rockered geometry), it doesn’t take much effort to rev up the Pegasus Plus to faster paces.
Why It’s Great: It’s great because it’s a light and fast training shoe that’s both cushy and extremely responsive without the aid (or burden) of a carbon-fiber plate. It’s better (lighter, faster, more versatile) than the Pegasus 41, and in some ways a better choice as an everyday trainer, even though it’s not as thickly cushioned. Both the Pegasus Plus and the Pegasus 41 are built with a more traditional 10mm heel-toe offset, but the Pegasus Plus is slightly lower to the ground, which enhances its proprioceptive feel for the ground and its agility running at tempo pace or faster.
Specs
Weights: 7.2 oz. (women’s 8), 9.2 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 10mm; 35mm (heel), 25mm (forefoot)
Why You’ll Love It: I love it because it's so light, lean, and responsive for a model that can be used as an everyday training shoe. What it sacrifices in overall cushiness – this shoe does not remotely compare to the cushion of a high-stack trainer – it more than makes up for with quick stride turnover, agility, and all-out speed. It’s faster and more responsive than the nylon-plated Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, but also not as comfy for longer runs. I have loved the Pegasus Plus for its quickness and its ease at running quick-cadence paces, especially for workouts like 6 x 800 meters on the track. I also loved it for moderate-length tempo runs and spontaneous fartlek workouts in which I mixed faster and slower paces over 6 miles or so. I have to admit it wasn’t my favorite shoe for slow recovery runs or longer slow runs, but I did like it a lot for a 14-mile long run that got progressively faster.
Pro: I would consider this a great speed-day shoe, a versatile everyday trainer that veers to the speedier side of the spectrum, and even a 5K race-day shoe. I like how it easily accelerates and holds a faster pace without any extra effort.
Con: Although the ZoomX foam is bouncy and responsive, this shoe feels less cushioned than most of the shoes I’ve worn this year. It’s lower to the ground than most shoes I see, but it’s more that it feels like the foam in the forefoot bottoms out as I roll through the toe-off phase of a stride. While that contributes to a very agile sensation at faster paces, it also feels a bit bare-bones on recovery runs and longer runs.
I absolutely love the customer service at Stitch Fix for both their footwear and clothing! From the moment I reached out with a question about sizing, the team was incredibly helpful and responsive, also find customer service contacts at https://stitch-fix.pissedconsumer.com/customer-service.html . They made sure to address all of my concerns and even went above and beyond to suggest some additional pieces that would complement my style. The experience was seamless and enjoyable, and I felt like a valued customer throughout the entire process. I can't wait to continue shopping with Stitch Fix and experiencing their top-notch customer service firsthand!