Nike Downshifter 14 vs Pegasus 42

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Nike Downshifter 14
Nike Pegasus 42

Tested using Methodology v0.10

Updated Jul 14, 2026 03:58 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.13

Updated Jun 30, 2026 08:26 PM

SEE PRICE
DicksSportingGoods.com
Nike Downshifter 14 Picture

Track

Nike Pegasus 42 Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Nike Downshifter 14

Nike Pegasus 42

The Nike Downshifter 14 and Nike Pegasus 42 may both sit in Nike's daily trainer lineup, but the Pegasus 42 is the more complete running shoe. It offers more cushioning and a lighter build, and is a dedicated running shoe, whereas the Downshifter 14 is more of a gym shoe that can handle occasional runs.

0 

Variants

  • Downshifter 14 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Men - US 9))
  • Downshifter 14 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Women - US 7))
  • Pegasus 42 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Men - US 9))
  • Pegasus 42 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Women - US 7))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

3.6
5.6

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

2.4
5.0

Heel Stack Height 
 

33.9 mm
37.4 mm

Plate 
 

None
None

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

22.5 mm
26.7 mm

Heel Energy Return 
 

0.9
3.8

Weight  

4.2
5.1

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.2
5.1

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

303.5 g (10.71 oz)
282.6 g (9.97 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

33.9 mm
37.4 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

22.5 mm
26.7 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

11.4 mm
10.7 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
10.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Nike Downshifter 14 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus 42 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
89 mm (3.5")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

58 mm (2.3")
63 mm (2.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

113 mm (4.4")
111 mm (4.4")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.71
2.37

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

5.02
4.15

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Nike Downshifter 14 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus 42 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

275 mm (10.8")
281 mm (11.1")

Internal Heel Width 
 

63 mm (2.5")
63 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

93 mm (3.7")
92 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

8.7
8.6

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

0.3 mm (0.013")
3.3 mm (0.131")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-5.0 mm (-0.197")
-3.3 mm (-0.131")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

6.5
4.9

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-4.2 mm (-0.166")
-6.0 mm (-0.234")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

2.3
9.6

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-9.1 mm (-0.359")
-1.0 mm (-0.039")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

7.4

Heel Rocker Photo  

Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

20 mm (0.8")

Heel Apex Position 
 

19.0%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

20.0°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

5.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo  

Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

40 mm (1.6")

Toe Apex Position 
 

62.1%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

20.0°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture  

Nike Pegasus 42 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture  

Nike Pegasus 42 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

ReactX

Primary Foam Type 
 

TPEE

Secondary Foam Name 
 

N/A

Secondary Foam Type 
 

N/A

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

0.9
3.8

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

64.1%
70.4%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

2.4
5.0

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

68.6%
71.8%

Heel Cushioning 
 

5.7
6.7

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

2.76 J
3.07 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

7.33 J
8.42 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

12.58 J
14.14 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

4.4
5.3

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.05 J
3.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

4.81 J
5.69 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

6.79 J
7.87 J

Heel Firmness 
 

6.8
8.7

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Heel Firmness

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

64.8 N/mm
48.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

141.7 N/mm
60.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

286.5 N/mm
85.9 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.6
9.8

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Firmness

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

193.8 N/mm
84.0 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

432.1 N/mm
112.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

733.5 N/mm
159 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

4.2
4.8

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Downshifter 14 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

4.69 J
5.28 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

4.60 J
5.14 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

4.54 J
5.07 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

4.50 J
5.02 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.0

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

42 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

4.6

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

55.5%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

7.1

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture  

Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

12.5 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

278 N

Nike Downshifter 14

Nike Pegasus 42

Comments

  1. Comparison

Nike Downshifter 14 vs Nike Pegasus 42: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Members have direct access to buying advice on our member forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones