Nike Pegasus Plus 2 vs Pegasus 42

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Nike Pegasus Plus 2
Nike Pegasus 42

Tested using Methodology v0.16

Updated Sep 23, 2026 01:55 PM

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RoadRunnerSports.com

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Sep 08, 2026 12:57 PM

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Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Picture

Track

Nike Pegasus 42 Picture

Track

Our Verdict

Nike Pegasus Plus 2

Nike Pegasus 42

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 is a step up in almost every aspect from the Nike Pegasus 42. The Plus 2 has more cushioning and a lighter, bouncier, more responsive midsole. It's a good choice for runners who want a shoe with a broader pace and distance range. The Pegasus 42 has a firmer, more stable midsole that is less lively underfoot, and works best on long walks or steady-paced runs.

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Variants

  • Pegasus Plus 2 (Fennel/Lemon Venom/Palest Purple/Gridiron - (Women - US 7))
  • Pegasus Plus 2 (Flash Crimson/Black/Light Smoke Grey/Metallic Silver - (Men - US 9))
  • Pegasus 42 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Men - US 9))
  • Pegasus 42 (Black/Black/Anthracite - (Women - US 7))
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Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

7.1
5.6

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.5 mm
26.7 mm

Weight  

6.3
5.1

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.8
4.8

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.4
4.6

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

6.3
5.0

Heel Stack Height 
 

42.2 mm
37.4 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

6.3
5.1

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

252.2 g (8.90 oz)
282.6 g (9.97 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

42.2 mm
37.4 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.5 mm
26.7 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.7 mm
10.7 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
10.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus 42 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

88 mm (3.5")
89 mm (3.5")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

61 mm (2.4")
63 mm (2.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

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

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.09
2.37

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.52
4.15

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
Nike Pegasus 42 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

285 mm (11.2")
281 mm (11.1")

Internal Heel Width 
 

68 mm (2.7")
63 mm (2.5")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
92 mm (3.6")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

No
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

10
8.6

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

0.2 mm (0.007")
3.3 mm (0.131")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.2 mm (-0.008")
-3.3 mm (-0.131")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

6.1
4.9

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

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

Arch Fit: Width 
 

10
9.6

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-0.3 mm (-0.013")
-1.0 mm (-0.039")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

8.5
7.4

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

33 mm (1.3")
20 mm (0.8")

Heel Apex Position 
 

23.6%
19.0%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

25.2°
20.0°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

5.8
5.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

41 mm (1.6")
40 mm (1.6")

Toe Apex Position 
 

66.3%
62.1%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

22.3°
20.0°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Primary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Secondary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

ZoomX
ReactX

Primary Foam Type 
 

TPE + PEBA
TPEE

Secondary Foam Name 
 

No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Laces Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Sawtooth
Flat

Width 
 

4.0 mm (0.2")
6.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

1.4 mm (0.1")
1.4 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

8.5%
7.5%

Breathability 
 

6.0

Breathability Video  

Upper Breathability  

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Upper Breathability

Upper Microscope Photo  

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Upper Microscope Photo

Time-To-Dry 
 

6.5

Time-To-Dry Timelapse  

Time-To-Dry Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Time-To-Dry Graph

Time To 30% Dry 
 

6.9 hrs

Time To 70% Dry 
 

20.0 hrs

Time To Dry 
 

34.4 hrs

Water Absorption 
 

7.5

Dry Weight Photo  

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Dry Weight Photo

Wet Weight Photo  

Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Wet Weight Photo

Water Absorbed 
 

42.3%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 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 
 

6.9
3.8

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

75.8%
70.4%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

6.3
5.0

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

74.0%
71.8%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.7
6.7

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.72 J
3.07 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.43 J
8.42 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

15.51 J
14.14 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.0
5.3

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

4.76 J
3.60 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

7.69 J
5.69 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

10.40 J
7.87 J

Heel Firmness 
 

7.8
8.7

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

42.0 N/mm
48.3 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

54.1 N/mm
60.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

77.4 N/mm
85.9 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.8
9.8

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

61.3 N/mm
84.0 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

81.5 N/mm
112.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

116 N/mm
159 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.8
4.8

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

7.30 J
5.28 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

7.19 J
5.14 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

7.11 J
5.07 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

7.07 J
5.02 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

6.1
5.0

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

63 N
42 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.4
4.6

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

61.7%
55.5%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

8.0
7.1

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

20.0 N/mm
12.5 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

300 N
278 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

6.0
5.3

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Heel Compression Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

13.1 mm
11.4 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

20.3 mm
18.2 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

24.6 mm
22.1 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

5.5
4.0

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Forefoot Compression Graph
 Preview Graph
Nike Pegasus 42 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

13.0 mm
9.5 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

16.0 mm
11.6 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

17.6 mm
12.9 mm

Nike Pegasus Plus 2

Nike Pegasus 42

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