The Nike Pegasus Premium is Nike's most experimental take yet on the classic Pegasus line, with an unprecedented amount of technology thrown into the shoe's triple-density midsole. A layer of bouncy ZoomX foam sits on top, with a Zoom Air pod sandwiched in the middle, and a layer of denser ReactX foam underneath. With so much going on inside, the ride of the Pegasus Premium is, perhaps unsurprisingly, less than cohesive. At slower paces, transitions feel relatively smooth and rolling, but the ride gets increasingly harsh and chaotic the more you try to pick up the pace. It's not entirely clear what the Pegasus Premium is trying to be: a cushioned daily trainer or a flashy lifestyle shoe. The shoe looks and feels like a concept that's still in development and in search of an identity.
Our Verdict
The Nike Pegasus Premium isn't a shoe built for race-day efficiency. Though it offers decent step-in comfort, its narrow fit will become increasingly restrictive as your foot swells, and the inconsistencies in its triple-layered midsole make it too chaotic to reliably go the distance.
Protective layering of three different midsole compounds.
Not responsive under higher forces.
Very heavy and bulky.
The Nike Pegasus Premium is unfit for shorter, faster races. The sheer weight of the shoe, as well as its Frankenstein midsole, makes it feel too clunky to pick up the pace.
Not responsive under higher forces.
The Nike Pegasus Premium provides decent overall energy return, with most of its responsiveness coming from the forefoot. The tall stack height and layer of ZoomX foam keep the rebound feeling comfortable rather than explosive.
Consistent bounce under light to moderate loads.
Very heavy and bulky.
The Nike Pegasus Premium delivers great cushioning that feels soft from heel to toe when walking or lightly jogging, but quickly becomes very firm when force increases. As such, this shoe feels most comfortable on short, easy runs.
Protective layering of three different midsole compounds.
The Nike Pegasus Premium provides moderate lateral stability at best. At slower paces, the shoe's softness makes it wobbly, which is only exacerbated by the shoe's relatively narrow platform. The Zoom Air pod has a skeleton core surrounded by air, which can create inconsistencies from one impact to the next, making it hard to have much confidence when taking tight corners.
Firm forefoot platform.
Unstable in the heel.
Zoom Air unit is too pliant.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the shoe in a men's US size 9, as noted on the label for our pair. Our pair is the Grey/Multi/Orange colorway. This model is also available in a multitude of other colorways, such as Cannon/Seaweed/Barely Volt, Crimson Tint/Washed Coral/Hyper Orange, Light Army/Jade Horizon, and many more, though availability can vary by region and retailer. There are no wide widths offered. The design section of this review applies only to the exact pair we tested, but we expect other sizes and gender variants to perform similarly.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The Nike Pegasus Premium is an odd shoe that has some characteristics of a max-cushioned daily trainer that is built on the platform of a classic daily trainer. For runners seeking a similar level of cushioning but a lighter, nimbler package, the ASICS NOVABLAST 5 delivers more bounce and a livelier forefoot through its FF Blast Turbo foam. The PUMA Magnify NITRO 3 is a similarly stacked modern daily trainer that leans firmer and more responsive, making it better suited for steady, everyday mileage. Meanwhile, the HOKA Clifton 10 delivers similar protection but a smoother rocker and lower overall weight, giving it greater versatility for a wider range of paces.
Nike has reorganized its daily trainer lineup 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 has the same triple-density setup as the Pegasus Premium. The Pegasus series is anchored by the Nike Pegasus 41 and is the no-frills classic daily workhorse that offers a stable, predictable (if somewhat boring) ride. The Vomero series is built around the Nike Vomero 18, a modern daily trainer that is built for more comfort and has better cushioning. The Nike Structure 26, meanwhile, is a dedicated stability shoe with multiple support features to support over-pronators.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best Nike running shoes, the best running shoes, as well as the best running shoes for men and the best running shoes for women.
The Nike Pegasus Premium and the Nike Vomero Plus are both designed for comfort-focused daily training, but achieve it differently. The Pegasus Premium uses a triple-layered midsole of ZoomX foam, a Zoom Air pod, and ReactX foam that offers the runner a deep cushioning and a chaotic, fun feel, while the Vomero Plus gives a softer, bouncier, and more responsive ride thanks to its full ZoomX midsole. The Pegasus only provides comfort and soft rebound at lighter loads, making it suitable strictly for easy miles. Whereas the Vomero Plus delivers a muted and more protective ride that works better for moderate efforts, long mileage, and recovery runs.
Both the Nike Pegasus Premium and the Nike Vomero 18 sit in Nike's cushioned trainer lineup, but differ in their feel and intent. The Vomero 18 is a no-nonsense workhorse built for consistent comfort, offering a firmer ride that feels more traditional underfoot. The Pegasus Premium introduces a taller stack of ZoomX foam with a Zoom Air pod, creating a softer ride at light loads and a firmer ride as pressure increases. It's best suited for easy runs. Runners valuing stability and a classic ride will prefer the Vomero 18, while those who want a more plush impact absorption for short mileage will find the Pegasus Premium more rewarding.
The Nike Pegasus Premium and the Nike Pegasus 41 share the same DNA but serve very different roles in Nike's daily trainer lineup. The Pegasus 41 feels lighter, quicker, and more agile underfoot, making it a more natural fit for runners who want a more grounded feel for easy miles. The Pegasus Premium, on the other hand, leans into its thick ZoomX midsole, delivering a more cushioned feel with its Zoom Air pod, but trades away some snap in return. Runners chasing versatility and pace will find the Pegasus 41 more engaging, while those insisting on short mileage comfort and softer landings will appreciate the Pegasus Premium.
The Nike Pegasus Premium and the ASICS NOVABLAST 5 both fall into the daily trainer category but deliver very different ride experiences. The NOVABLAST 5 feels lighter and more energetic, with its FF Blast Turbo foam providing a lively rebound that encourages quicker pacing. The Pegasus Premium takes the opposite approach, emphasizing more impact absorption at lighter loads and easy runs. Those looking to chase a fun, bouncy feel will prefer the NOVABLAST 5, while those who prioritize plush comfort will appreciate the Pegasus Premium.
We've recently started buying and testing 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
This shoe is noticeably heavy even among similarly stacked peers. For those prioritizing comfort over pace, this might be an acceptable trade-off, but overall, it's lacking in any agility or versatility.
This shoe has a snug interior with a narrow toe box. While the padded heel and midfoot offer a secure, comfortable hold, the limited space may feel restrictive for long distances with foot swelling.
This shoe replaces a traditional plate with a full-length Zoom Air pod, giving the shoe a unique balance of structure and softness. The internal frame of the air pod is rigid and supportive. Since it's surrounded by air rather than dense foam, it delivers a cushioned, flexible ride, but at the expense of some stability.
This shoe delivers okay heel energy return at best. While the ZoomX foam provides a bit of bounce on landing, the thick midsole and Zoom Air pod absorb much of that energy, resulting in a soft push-off. This is really only beneficial for runners doing easy or recovery runs.
The forefoot energy return in this shoe is good and feels best at lighter paces. It's not a snappy forefoot, as the midsole becomes inconsistent as the load increases.
This shoe has excellent heel cushioning, feeling soft, protective, and forgiving for heel strikers.
This shoe's forefoot cushioning delivers a soft, but balanced feel that keeps transitions smooth and comfortable. It’s best suited for lighter or slower runners, as the cushioning struggles to absorb heavy loads, making it most suitable for easy or recovery runs.
The heel of this shoe feels soft under light loads, but quickly stiffens at higher pressure. This design enhances comfort and impact absorption for easy mileage, but sacrifices stability, especially for heel strikers.
This shoe's forefoot firmness provides a rigid, stable platform during toe-off under heavy loads and helps maintain control through transitions. Otherwise, under light to moderate pressure, the midsole remains soft and feels inconsistent. Due to the sharp increase in firmness under heavier load, this shoe will feel most comfortable for short, easy mileage.