Nike Pegasus Premium Review: An Elevated Experience

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Nike Pegasus Premium

MEAGHAN: If you’ve read a Nike review recently, you’re likely aware of its new structure for road running shoes. If not, here’s the gist — there are now three categories of cushioning and the Pegasus line lands as Nike’s responsive cushioning offering (i.e. balancing comfort and performance). Within that line is the Pegasus 41, the Pegasus Plus, and now, the Pegasus Premium. Of the three, the Pegasus 41 is Nike’s icon (obviously, it’s been around more than most of our readers have been alive), with the other two slotting in just above it.

Nike first teased this shoe, the Pegasus Premium, back in April of last year. Initial responses were mixed– is it a lifestyle shoe or a running shoe? There’s some serious Air Max vibes, but also… a full Air Zoom unit was intriguing. It was a conversation starter to say the least. I’ve been eager to lace it up ever since. The upper is a combination of engineered mesh and circular knit, carefully reinforced in areas of the lateral and medial forefoot. Right under the foot sits a full layer of Nike’s top-tier ZoomX foam on top of a sculpted, full-length Air Zoom unit. Below that sits a smaller pad of ReactX in the heel to round off the massive 45 mm stack (35 mm in the forefoot, 10 mm drop).

As you can imagine, all this tech comes with some weight, and my US W7.5 weighs a hefty 9.3 oz. Honestly, there’s a lot happening in all parts of this shoe, so let’s see how it handled the streets of Baltimore.

THOMAS: Air in shoes. For most people, it’s been around longer than they have. In fact, I’ll bet that there are readers right now who never knew a world without Air. Not me. I have fond memories of my first pair of Air Jordans with a visible bubble in the heel. I remember begging my dad for the most expensive pair of shoes I’d ever seen — a pair of black Nubuck Air Jordan IV designed by Tinker Hatfield and costing a measly $110. In today dollars that’s $280, so for everyone complaining about the price of the Alphafly, well… in reality, not much has changed in the past 35 years.

Prior to the invention of Air, I was decked out exclusively in black Vans and vanilla Chucks, both of which cost closer to $35 back in the day. And yet, my cheap skateboarding shoes just weren’t gonna cut it on the basketball court. Surprisingly, my dad relented to my pleas for Jordans, and I walked out of the Downtown Locker Room with what felt like a bag full of gold and pockets full of dreams.

A lot has changed from the Air unit that aerospace engineer Marion Franklin Rudy first introduced to Phil Knight back in 1977. I’ll admit I got a little annoyed when we posted the unboxing of the Pegasus Premium on Instagram, as a few people commented that Nike wasn’t innovating by using old 90s tech in its latest ultra-premium running shoe. At a glance, I can see why they’d think that way and why you might too. But I’m here to tell you that you’d be wrong.

Well, half wrong. Yes, back in the day, Nike used Air, which was essentially a compressed pod of air that provided cushioning. Now, though, it uses Air Zoom, which adds tensile strands inside the capsule that help even out the displacement of the foot’s crashing force, providing a more even bounce and better energy return. Slam it all you want, but that big bounce tech works pretty damn well in the Alphafly and Nike’s top-end track spikes. So, to all the nay-sayers, I’d say this: you’re probably not gonna pop this Pegasus bubble.

What we like about the Nike Pegasus Premium

MEAGHAN: The Pegasus Premium is a wild looking shoe. Admittedly, the full-length Air Zoom unit looks retro/lifestyle, but on step-in they feel pretty great (albeit a little tall and unstable). Despite looking very narrow, they fit fine and run true to size. It’s definitely not a roomy toe box, but it’s comfortable enough for everyday running.

The engineered knit upper is comfortable with plenty of support and structure thanks to several overlays and reinforcements. The heel and collar are highly padded along with the guessed tongue that features lots of holes for added breathability. The laces are pretty standard, but work well to lock the foot in place.

The midsole is by far the shining star of this shoe. The ZoomX underfoot, paired with a full length Air Zoom unit and some ReactX foam in the heel makes for some bouncy fun. This is one of those shoes that gets you excited to get out the door. It’s almost like lacing up little trampolines for your feet. The air unit serves a similar purpose to a carbon plate, but it’s a different sensation; more of a squish and bounce vs. a rigid propulsive feeling. It’s just a lot of fun, and who doesn’t want a fun shoe?

THOMAS: The first thing you notice about the Pegasus Premium is the full-length Air Zoom insert. It looks wild. Last March, we ran into a guy wear-testing the shoe for Nike. The air bubble was taped over, but we had already seen leaked images. I couldn’t help but ask him what he thought. I was shocked when he gushed over them and told me they were legit.

So when they arrived, I took them from the box for a 12-mile run without hesitation. I have to admit– I loved every mile. The shoe’s upper is Nike’s best to date. The circular knit breathes over the toes, the mesh on the side secures the foot, and the padded tongue and collar add comfort. The stack is higher, so you need a solid upper to secure your foot. Small details are hidden all over the shoe, and a band of reflective material will have you glowing at night.

While the upper is stellar, the magic is in the midsole sandwich. It all starts with a healthy slab of ZoomX, with the most generous amount right under the fat pad. Under that is the full-length Air Zoom unit. This thing adds to the pop. And finally, to add to the shoe’s stability, a layer of ReactX is added. I have been reviewing running shoes for over 15 years and it’s unlike anything I have tried before, these ingredients have a unique cushioning effect with a responsive bounce.

The nearly full-coverage outsole finishes off the Peg Premium. The shoe will be durable and provides excellent traction and grip.

What we don’t like about the Nike Pegasus Premium

MEAGHAN: All right we all know what’s coming. This shoe is heavy AF! I know the Air Zoom unit itself is a culprit, but come on. That upper? Surely that could be slimmed down. We’ve got a gusset, some mesh, circular knit, some overlays. It’s a lot. All that to say, I’ll take the extra weight for the bouncy fun. I’d also love to try this shoe with a little less rubber on the outsole. I think we could get even a little more squish out of this one.

Also, the shoes are pretty high and narrow which makes them inherently a little unstable. It wasn’t something that really bothered me, but for someone who has weak ankles (looking at you, Robbe), I might opt for a max cushion shoe with a wider platform (i.e. Brooks Glycerin Max).

THOMAS: Meaghan said it. The Pegasus Premium is heavy on the scale at 12.2 oz./345 g. But that’s not the whole story. Remember when I told you I took it out for 12 miles? I posted a reel after and saw comments about how heavy the shoe is. I honestly didn’t think it was heavy and was ready to combat the comments. I took the shoe to my scale and was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw the weight. It felt so bouncy on the run. I felt like maybe I didn’t perceive the weight correctly, so I took it out for a 6-mile hill repeat session. Focusing on the weight, I did notice it more, but the run still felt fantastic. My guess is that the midsole’s responsive feeling offsets the Pegasus Premium’s weight.

Meg is also correct when she mentions that the Peg Premium isn’t a stability shoe, and I would not recommend it to anyone needing stability.

Final thoughts on the Nike Pegasus Premium

MEAGHAN: The Pegasus Premium lived up to the hype for me. I’m not exactly sure where this shoe falls (somewhere between a super trainer and daily trainer I think), but I’ve been using it for just about every run that isn’t long (over 13+ miles) or requires speed work. This is that shoe that’s perfect for helping you get out the door and enjoy the miles. It’s simply fun.

THOMAS: Meg is right. This shoe is fun. It is like having cups of coffee on your feet. You feel energized, and the bounce is undeniable. While the price is high at $210, it isn’t crazy compared to the other shoes in the category, like the Brooks Glycerin Max ($200), On Cloudmonster Hyper ($225), or Hoka Skyward X ($225). The look is wild, the ride is effortless, and the fit is praiseworthy. There are a couple of shoes that are must-try in 2025. The Pegasus Premium is one of them.

Maybe there’s a kid out there who will spend his spring 2025 trying to talk his dad into buying him the $210 Pegasus Premium. Maybe it’ll be the shoe that ignites his passion for gear. Honestly, I’m still surprised that I got that pair of Jordan IV past my typically frugal dad. Anyway, thanks, dad — that day and that experience are deeply etched upon my being.

You can pick up the Nike Pegasus Premium for $210 in spring 2025 from nike.com by using the buttons below.