Nike Pegasus 35 Performance Review

The Good

Thomas: The Pegasus 35 is remarkable simply because it is an entirely new shoe that still has the characteristics of the Pegasus lineage. Nike received a lot of feedback from athletes on this model including one of the Pegasus’ biggest fans Mo Farah. Awhile back I watched a video featuring Mo Farah; He had a custom pair of Pegasus that had a lower heel counter. Nike has applied Mo’s preference in heel counters to the Pegasus 35. Typically, heel counters will use padding to come up the back of the ankle to create a locked-down feel. The Peg 35’s padding grips along the lower side of the ankle and then bends away from the Achilles. At first, this feels a little odd, but once you get running you don’t notice it, the heel stays comfortably in the shoe, and there is no rubbing. Nike also moved the bottom eyelets up, it doesn’t sound like much, but it totally changes the way the upper fits and flexes. With the eyelets moved the toebox opens up and accommodates more foot shapes, it also creates more flex in the toe. The mesh upper looks different but isn’t that much of a change from the traditional Peg. The interior of the Peg 35 features soft mesh with a stitched in tongue. I don’t go sockless, but in this shoe, it would be very comfortable.

The Midsole isn’t revolutionary; it sticks with a combo of Zoom Air and Cushlon foam. While not as exciting as the new Nike React foam or the ZoomX material, the Cushlon with the Zoom Air works. The full-length Zoom Unit shaped like the carbon plate in the VaporFly 4% gives the Pegasus 35 a lively ride and gives the Peg 35 its stride personality. While running, you get a soft landing with the Cushlon and a little pop and firmness from the Zoom Air. It is a very nice sensation. The outsole looks familiar with full coverage of durable rubber.

I weighed my size 10.5 in at 10 oz. (283 grams) on the dot. This shoe feels even lighter on foot. Nike sticks with a 10mm drop giving the Peg 35 a little forward lean. This shoe glides through your stride. The fit is true to size and has a fair amount of arch support.

“It’s the Taylor Swift of running shoes. GORGEOUS, an amazing performer, and super versatile…” –Seth Hasty, Cushnoc Brewing Co. Sales Manager

Meaghan: I’ve always liked the Nike Pegasus models, but I love the Pegasus 35. The style and design of the shoe’s upper has changed a lot. Most notably: the tongue is now attached to the sides, the bottom eyelet was removed which makes the shoes feel wider and the collar is directed away from the Achilles, so there’s less rubbing around the heel. The mesh upper is really comfortable. It’s got stretch and support in all the right places. The Flywire cables tighten with the laces, so you get an excellent, secure fit.

The midsole contains the same materials as its predecessor: a mix of Nike Zoom Air and Cushlon foam. The ladies version is softer than the men’s.  It’s comfortable. There’s plenty of rubber on the outsole for traction, yet Nike still kept the Pegasus fairly light. My W7.5 came in at 7.85 oz. Not bad for a durable daily trainer.

The Bad

Thomas: My only knock on the Nike Pegasus 35 is the long high tongue. It doesn’t affect the fit or cause any irritation; it seems its only purpose is style. One other observation is about the Cushlon foam; it seems to be affected by temperature. When running in temps above 88º F, the Cushlon gets noticeably softer underfoot. Maybe too soft.

Meaghan: I know the beveled heel is the “look” right now, but does anyone else think these are little elf-like? Also, Nike made a ladies version for this model, which features a slightly softer foam cushioning (great) but apparently women have narrower heels and higher arches when compared to men. I have wide, flat feet so not sure these are to my advantage. No issues with the fit, though.

The Nike Pegasus 35 Conclusion

Thomas: This is a superior daily trainer. There is only one shoe we have reviewed this year that I like better. If you follow my reviews then you know my top shoe this year to date is the Nike Epic React. The Epic React doesn’t work for every runner though, while the Pegasus 35 will work for the majority of runners. With the laces moved back, the Peg 35 has more room in the toe box without feeling sloppy. Both narrow feet and wide feet will work in the Peg now. The ride of the Pegasus 35 is super smooth, and it is light enough to do double duty as a daily trainer and a tempo shoe. I highly recommend the Pegasus 35 it can be summed up as a mix between the Pegasus 33/34 and the Nike Elite 9. The price is very reasonable at $120.

All the testing and research the Nike team has done in the past couple of years is paying off in tremendous running shoes. Nike is the most exciting brand out there right now and is leading in innovation. The Pegasus 35 is a phenomenal illustration of the point. The fit of the upper is a new sensation with a silhouette that looks familiar but hides smart updates to the heel counter and the lacing that changes the feel for the better. Both of these updates came from working with their elite athletes and tweaking the design. Nike is just getting started, just wait until the Pegasus ZoomX, and more models using React foam come out later this year.

Have a question or think we left anything out? Leave a comment, and we will address it.

Meaghan: The Nike Pegasus 35 has become my go-to for every day, easy runs. They’ve actually replaced my HOKA Napali (a rare occurrence). From the upper to the midsole, it’s just a really comfortable shoe. The mesh hugs the foot but isn’t constricting. The cushioning is super soft, yet responsive. I haven’t worn these for runs over 10 miles, but I would feel comfortable lacing these up for a 20 miler. I think this shoe will work for just about anyone.