Nike Pegasus 42 vs Structure 26

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

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Nike Pegasus 42
Nike Structure 26

Tested using Methodology v0.16

Updated Sep 23, 2026 01:17 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.12

Updated Sep 15, 2026 06:17 PM

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Nike Pegasus 42 Picture

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Nike Structure 26 Picture

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Our Verdict

Nike Pegasus 42

Nike Structure 26

The Nike Pegasus 42 is a better shoe for most runners than the Nike Structure 26. The Pegasus 42 is lighter and feels a bit more lively underfoot, and it has a classic ride that can accommodate most runners. The Structure 26 is a dedicated stability shoe that has features like raised sidewalls designed to prevent your foot from rolling side-to-side. If you have pronation concerns, it's the better shoe, but if not, it could feel intrusive.

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Variants

  • Pegasus 42 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Men - US 9))
  • Pegasus 42 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Women - US 7))
  • Structure 26 (Black/Cool Grey/Metallic Silver/White - (Men - US 9))
  • Structure 26 (Black/Iron Grey/Black - (Men - US 9))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

5.6
5.9

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

26.7 mm
29.4 mm

Weight  

5.1
4.6

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

4.6
6.2

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

5.0
3.5

Outsole Arch Width 
 

63 mm (2.5")
81 mm (3.2")

Heel Stack Height 
 

37.4 mm
37.9 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

5.1
4.6

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

282.6 g (9.97 oz)
293.9 g (10.37 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

37.4 mm
37.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

26.7 mm
29.4 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.7 mm
8.5 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
10.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus 42 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Nike Structure 26 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

89 mm (3.5")
93 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

63 mm (2.5")
81 mm (3.2")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

111 mm (4.4")
114 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.37
2.46

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

4.15
3.88

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus 42 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Nike Structure 26 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

281 mm (11.1")
277 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

63 mm (2.5")
66 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

92 mm (3.6")
92 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

8.6
9.3

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

3.3 mm (0.131")
-1.3 mm (-0.050")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-3.3 mm (-0.131")
-2.3 mm (-0.092")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

4.9
6.1

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-6.0 mm (-0.234")
-4.7 mm (-0.183")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

9.6
7.9

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-1.0 mm (-0.039")
-3.4 mm (-0.134")

Length Fit 
 

10
5.0

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

7.4
6.9

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

20 mm (0.8")
18 mm (0.7")

Heel Apex Position 
 

19.0%
15.2%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

20.0°
21.8°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

5.8
4.6

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

40 mm (1.6")
34 mm (1.3")

Toe Apex Position 
 

62.1%
67.7%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

20.0°
19.5°

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 
 

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

Nike Pegasus 42 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat

Width 
 

6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

1.4 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

7.5%

Breathability 
 

6.0

Breathability Video  

Upper Breathability  

Nike Pegasus 42 Upper Breathability

Upper Microscope Photo  

Nike Pegasus 42 Upper Microscope Photo

Time-To-Dry 
 

5.7

Time-To-Dry Timelapse  

Time-To-Dry Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Time-To-Dry Graph

Time To 30% Dry 
 

9.3 hrs

Time To 70% Dry 
 

23.3 hrs

Time To Dry 
 

31.7 hrs

Water Absorption 
 

7.1

Dry Weight Photo  

Nike Pegasus 42 Dry Weight Photo

Wet Weight Photo  

Nike Pegasus 42 Wet Weight Photo

Water Absorbed 
 

45.1%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Semi-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

3.8
2.9

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

70.4%
69.3%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

5.0
3.5

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

71.8%
70.1%

Heel Cushioning 
 

6.7
6.9

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.07 J
2.89 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

8.42 J
8.48 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

14.14 J
15.38 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

5.3
5.5

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.60 J
3.33 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

5.69 J
5.78 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

7.87 J
8.98 J

Heel Firmness 
 

8.7
8.7

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

48.3 N/mm
51.2 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

60.6 N/mm
61.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

85.9 N/mm
84.3 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.8
9.7

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

84.0 N/mm
83.7 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

112.3 N/mm
108.8 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

159 N/mm
147 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

4.8
4.8

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

5.28 J
5.35 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

5.14 J
5.21 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

5.07 J
5.12 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

5.02 J
5.07 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.0
4.1

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

42 N
31 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

4.6
6.2

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

55.5%
61.2%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

7.1
7.3

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
Nike Structure 26 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

12.5 N/mm
13.1 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

278 N
289 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

5.3

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

11.4 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

18.2 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

22.1 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

4.0

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

9.5 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

11.6 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

12.9 mm

Nike Pegasus 42

Nike Structure 26

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