AFTER 100K IN THE NEW PEGASUS 42, HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS
Published: 20/04/2026 | By: Ben Felton
Nike first released the Nike Pegasus in 1982 as an affordable, reliable workhorse for training miles. With the new Pegasus 42, that purpose remains the same. To celebrate the launch of the 42nd edition of one of Nike’s most iconic shoes, our ambassador Ben Felton ran 100K in them - here’s his review.
So let’s talk about the Peg’s humble beginnings as a reliable everyday trainer. The first model had ‘Air Units’ throughout the full length of the sole, and in the second model, Nike positioned the Air unit to be just in the heel, perfect for heel strikers. Runners have used the Pegasus as their everyday shoe for years, but do they still have a place in modern running culture? I don’t doubt it.
One major development of the Pegasus has been its constant updates using the best available technology in the shoe industry, and that has seen the 42nd iteration use a full-length Air Zoom unit inside the shoe’s React midsole. In layman’s terms, that’s a bubble of air in the shoe that helps absorb the impact of your foot hitting the ground. Although this is not new technology for Nike, it’s the first time they have introduced it to the Pegasus lineup, and the result is a shoe that offers a much more soft, bouncy, and cushioned feel than before. In fact, Nike claim ‘15% greater energy return’ than the previous 41.
That stat is felt immediately underfoot as you step into the shoe, as the foam under your foot is much more forgiving and provides a nice, cushioned running sensation without moving too far away from the legacy of the Pegasus being a slightly lower-profile and direct option. So for those loyal Nike Pegasus fans, I would say the 42 is a great update from the 41.
But let’s be totally honest here, the Nike Pegasus in recent years has been deemed somewhat boring in comparison to the extremely fun and innovative designs in Nike’s other daily trainers such as the Nike Vomero Plus, with its crazy stack of responsive ZoomX, or the Nike Pegasus Premium, that’s like running in a pair of protective moon boots.
So where does the Nike Pegasus still sit in Nike’s lineup? The softer midsole, in my opinion, definitely brings it a little more of a modern feel, however the shoe remains as, yes, a little bit underwhelming in comparison to its brothers and sisters in the Nike family, but having run 100k in the shoe, you cannot fault its reliability at a price point that is very much affordable.
Despite only having the shoe for a month or so, I can already tell the price per mile in this shoe is going to be hard to beat, making it a great first running shoe for a beginner runner. There’s a strong chance that your great uncle John or Auntie Janet, who ran the London Marathon back in the 90’s, did so in a sturdy pair of Pegs, and that’s definitely a strength that’s still found in the 42 - high durability from the upper, all the way down to the outsole.
So who is the shoe best suited for and what shoes does it currently compare with, in Nike’s daily trainer lineup? So firstly, the Peg 42 is a very affordable shoe at a price point of £129.99, especially given its high durability (this thing is built to last). So I would recommend it to someone who’s just getting into running and is looking to move maybe away from their gym shoes into a proper running shoe. For that type of runner, you really can’t go wrong with the Peg 42. I would also say that it can appeal to more experienced runners who are looking for a comfortable, reliable shoe that they can do 80% of their training in. Those everyday easy-paced runs, long runs, and even some gym work given the shoe’s general stable feel. In terms of other options, specifically from Nike, if you’re looking for a shoe at a similar price, the Nike Vomero 18 is probably the shoe that is most similar but offers a slightly more cushioned ride. Or if you’re looking to do some faster running, say at your local parkrun or down at the track, the Nike Pegasus Plus would be a better choice.
Overall, the Nike Pegasus 42 is a shoe that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of Nike’s newer models, but it’s a truly reliable running shoe that will guarantee hundreds, if not thousands, of miles. It’s a shoe that stands the test of time.
