The Nike Pegasus Plus is a modern trainer that puts an interesting spin on the iconic brand's classic Pegasus series. Gone is the dense ReactX foam and plastic air pods of the Nike Pegasus 41, and in their place is a bouncer PEBA-based ZoomX foam. Longtime fans of the Pegasus series will find that the Pegasus Plus feels similar when you lace it up, but rather different once you start running. The ZoomX midsole definitely gives back more of the energy you put into it, but it doesn't do a great job of cushioning the impacts of the road. Overall, the Pegasus Plus feels like an experiment that still needs refining.
Our Verdict
The Nike Pegasus Plus is a sub-par shoe for running a marathon. While the ZoomX midsole does have good energy return, the cushioning just isn't up to the task and bottoms out well before you've covered 26.2 miles.
Cushioning bottoms out too quickly.
Very thin midsole.
The Nike Pegasus Plus does a satisfactory job in shorter races. The incredibly firm forefoot, which can become harsh over longer distances, provides good responsiveness during intense efforts. The energy return from the ZoomX midsole is very good, but this shoe doesn't have the explosive pop of a dedicated racing shoe.
Incredibly firm forefoot.
ZoomX foam has good bounce.
Not enough ZoomX foam in forefoot to get fully propulsive rebound.
The Nike Pegasus Plus gives good energy return. It's not explosive, but the heel rebounds quickly, helping heel strikers bounce forward onto their toes, and the forefoot also gives a bouncy feel at toe-off.
ZoomX foam has good bounce.
The cushioning of the Nike Pegasus Plus is disappointing. The ZoomX foam in the midsole feels soft, but there's not enough of it to withstand heavy pounding. That lower stack height makes the Pegasus Plus feel especially inadequate for long runs.
Cushioning bottoms out too quickly.
Very thin midsole.
The Nike Pegasus Plus has great lateral stability. In this regard, the lower stack height and exceptionally firm forefoot are an asset, helping to maintain a very grounded sensation.
Incredibly firm forefoot.
Low stack height keeps shoe grounded.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Nov 20, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.9, which adds a Forefoot Long Run Cushioning test to our performance section. Read more in our changelog.
- Updated Nov 06, 2025: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Nike Pegasus Plus in men's US size 9, as noted on the label. The colorway shown here is Vivid Purple/Black/Hot Punch. This model is available in other colorways depending on your region, but only in standard widths. The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other sizes to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Nike Pegasus Plus is a running shoe that doesn't neatly fit into any category: it incorporates a modern, PEBA-based midsole into classic daily trainer design, but bucks the trend of taller stack heights and deeper cushioning. For runners who appreciate ground feel, it offers a snappy alternative to lightweight trainers like the Brooks Hyperion 3 or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5, but the Pegasus Plus has even less cushioning than these shoes. But runners who want better cushioning and energy return and are willing to sacrifice a bit of lateral stability might be better served by the adidas Adizero Evo SL.
Within Nike's daily trainer lineup, the Pegasus Plus is part of a revamped lineup that is organised around three legacy series: the Pegasus, Vomero, and Structure. Each series will have an 'icon,' which is the base model, as well as a Plus version, which has a full ZoomX midsole, and a Premium version, which adds Zoom Air pods to the midsole. In the case of the Pegasus series, the icon is the Nike Pegasus 41, which is the no-frills classic daily workhorse that offers a stable and predictable (if somewhat boring) ride. The Nike Pegasus Premium is an even wilder, taller shoe that features a triple-density midsole and is certainly not boring, but not very cohesive either.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best Nike running shoes, the best long-distance running shoes, and our picks for the best running shoes overall.
The Nike Pegasus Plus is a spin-off of the Nike Pegasus 41, which is the iconic classic daily trainer. The Pegasus 41 has a midsole made of dense ReactX foam, with two Zoom Air pods inside, while the Pegasus Plus' midsole is entirely made of bouncy Zoom X foam. That ZoomX midsole does make the Plus version lighter and bouncier, but the cushioning is much less reliable. If you're a smaller runner going very slow, you might not feel the difference; larger runners, or anyone applying more force when running, will get less protection from the Pegasus Plus' cushioning.
The Nike Vomero Plus and the Nike Pegasus Plus are the first two 'Plus' models to be released as part of Nike's daily trainer reshuffle. They follow a similar formula: take the basic geometry of the iconic model's upper, and put a full stack of PEBA-based ZoomX foam in the midsole. In terms of energy return, the result is similar, as both shoes have a good bounce. But when it comes to cushioning, they couldn't be more different: The Pegasus Plus becomes harsh and bottoms out quickly, while the Vomero Plus offers truly excellent impact absorption, thanks to its much taller stack of ZoomX. That said, if you prioritise ground feel and lateral stability, the Pegasus Plus could still be a good option, but if comfort is queen, the Vomero Plus is the better shoe.
We buy and test running shoes with a very data-oriented approach. While we're just getting started, our methodology already has dozens of tests to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs. Not only do we use high-end equipment to gather objective data, but we also order multiple sizes of the same shoes for team members to be able to log in miles. This real-world testing is done at various paces and conditions, and with different types of workouts, to cover all the bases. This allows us to verify our results and ensure they align with what you might feel with a specific pair.
Test Results
The Nike Pegasus Plus is over 40 g lighter than the Nike Pegasus 41, thanks to its lighter, bouncier ZoomX foam.
The heel of the Nike Pegasus Plus is much bouncier than the Nike Pegasus 41 and is similar in performance to the Nike Vomero Plus. If you are a heel striker, the midsole does a good job of bouncing you forward to your toes.
The forefoot of the Nike Pegasus Plus is very good at returning energy and responds much better at toe-off than modern daily trainers like the Nike Vomero 18, the Brooks Glycerin 22, or lightweight trainers like the Brooks Hyperion 3 or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.
The cushioning under the heel of this shoe is disappointing. It starts out mediocre and only gets worse if you apply more force. Heavy heel strikers will find it harsher than the Nike Pegasus 41.
This shoe does a poor job of cushioning your forefoot. For the lightest of runners going at an easy pace, it offers mediocre protection. For anything more than that, it gets very harsh very quickly.
The heel of the Nike Pegasus Plus is definitely on the firmer side, which aids with ground feel and lateral stability. But it's considerably firmer even than a dedicated stability shoe like the Nike Structure 26 or the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25.
The forefoot of the Nike Pegasus Plus is exceptionally firm, even more so than a short-distance racing shoe like the Nike Streakfly 2. This rigidity can be an asset if you plan on doing hard track workouts, but an unnecessarily harsh sensation if not.
This shoe doesn't have the cushioning to keep you comfortable on long runs. The relatively thin stack of foam bottoms out quickly and absorbs less impact over the long haul than the Nike Pegasus 41 or even the Nike Streakfly 2.