Nike Pegasus 41: First Look

Intro to the Nike Pegasus 41

We’re not gonna lie– we were a bit disappointed when the 40th anniversary of the iconic Pegasus came and went last year, with nothing special, nothing new, nothing remotely exciting. The Nike Pegasus 40 was essentially the Pegasus 39, which meant it was still a solid workhorse of a shoe, but come on– 40 years of running, from Joan Benoit to Eliud Kipchoge, and that’s all ya got?

Some things are better late than never, and it looks like the Nike Pegasus 41 is getting some significant upgrades to move it forward into the next era of training excellence. What does that entail? Let’s dig in.

What’s New in the Nike Pegasus 41

For years now, the Pegasus has used its tried and true React midsole foam that first debuted in the much-beloved and now extinct Epic React. It was a good balance between bouncy and resilient and worked well. But as we know, things change and tastes move on. We’re in an era of high stack and ultra comfort, and the Pegasus 41 isn’t immune to the trend.

Which means we’re getting more comfort and more softness with the full-length ReactX midsole, which we first saw in the Nike InfinityRN 4 last year. That foam is a lot softer, but it’s a bit heavier (we don’t actually have the weight of this shoe yet). According to Nike, ReactX foam “provides over 13 percent more energy return compared to React foam while reducing the carbon footprint in a pair of midsoles by at least 43 percent.”

As with the past two versions of the Pegasus, this one will keep the Air Zoom units in the forefoot and heel which help give a more propulsive toe-off (forefoot) and dampen impact on landing (heel).

Fit-wise, the Pegasus has always been pretty solid, but Nike’s made it a point to create an even more comfortable upper for the Pegasus 41. A Dynamic Midfoot Fit system ties the lacing directly to an internal midfoot band wrapping around the entire foot for complete support. At first glance, it looks similar to the fit and comfort of the Vomero. 

Weight and price are unavailable at the moment, but we’re guessing it’ll fall into the 10-ounce range for a US M9. Last year’s Pegasus saw a $10 increase, and it will stay at that $130 price point, which is $10 less than most shoes in its range, like the Asics Novablast.

Our Thoughts

We actually enjoyed the debut of ReactX in the Nike InfinityRN 4, but we were definitely in the minority. It got a lot of hate, mostly because the ReactX foam is heavier (true) and the InfinityRN seemed more like a lifestyle shoe than a performance runner. It was, however, an incredibly comfortable shoe for pretty much anything, and if you like a softer landing and don’t mind a bit more weight, then you probably enjoyed it.

We’ll be getting miles in the Pegasus 41 soon, so check back for the official review, but we’re interested to see how the softness of ReactX translates to the Pegasus. Does it become more of a max cushion shoe or does it stay in the reliable daily trainer range? 

Also, what happens when the Pegasus Premium comes out in spring 2025, a shoe that will feature a top layer of ZoomX foam and a heel section of React X, sandwiched around a full-length, visible Air Zoom unit? Obviously that shoe will come in at a much higher price point, so it’s likely the Pegasus 41 will remain the go-to Nike trainer for the everyday runner.

The good news is that the Pegasus tradition continues to evolve and it’s not going away anytime soon. Four decades later, it’s still an icon and the gold standard for a reliable running shoe.

The Nike Pegasus 41 will be available June 2024 for $130 on nike.com and select retailers.