Nike Pegasus 41 Introduction
New and improved. But outdated and the identical. That’s the headline of a 2005 Pegasus commercial which impressed the designers once they created the Pegasus 41.
When designing the Pegasus, extra emphasis has been positioned on the second a part of this tagline, “outdated and the identical” quite than the primary half. With such a giant fanbase, why would they ever wish to change the experience of the great outdated Pegasus?
Final yr’s Pegasus was the large 4-0. 40 is an enormous milestone for a working shoe but all we obtained was a model with an up to date higher. It was OK within the efficiency division. There was nothing fallacious with it however I simply discovered its experience boring. It didn’t have an lively or partaking experience.
The Pegasus is likely one of the hottest trainers however I’ve seen that almost all Pegasus wearers aren’t hardcore runners however health club or health fanatics. It’s used for informal put on, cross coaching and also can deal with some working. A newbie runner may begin off utilizing a Pegasus however will then graduate to one thing else and by no means return.
Each two years, the Pegasus will get a complete, prime to backside replace so this yr’s Pegasus 41 will get a brand new midsole foam, new higher design and an up to date outsole.
It weighs 10.5 oz (297 g) for a US 9, which is a considerable improve over the Pegasus 40 that weighed 9.7 oz (275 g). It additionally has a 4 mm thicker midsole in each the heel and forefoot.
The Pegasus 41 will get a worth improve and now prices $140 which is similar worth because the Saucony Experience, Brooks Ghost, ASICS Cumulus and Adidas Supernova Rise.
Nike Pegasus 41 First Impressions
My first run was a 21 kilometre, steady-paced run. The brand new experience was respectable however not mind-blowing. I anticipated a little bit of a softer experience from the ReactX midsole however the agency forefoot Zoom airbag made it really feel similar to earlier Pegasus variations.
With 37 mm of stack peak within the heel, it’s now categorised as a excessive stack peak coach but it weirdly nonetheless felt like a medium stack peak. It didn’t really feel as cushioned as different each day trainers just like the Experience 17 or the Supernova Rise which each have decrease stack heights than the Pegasus.
The higher was maybe the very best becoming, most snug of any earlier Pegasus I’ve tried. It match me like a glove and wanted no adjusting mid-run.
Nike Pegasus 41 Higher
This yr’s Pegasus higher is the spotlight of the shoe for me. It’s spacious however not too dishevelled and it feels plush. The mesh can be extra breathable than previous variations.
Foot lockdown is de facto good and there are reflectors on the aspect of the toe field, tongue and heel for security. The semi-gusseted tongue doesn’t slide round and it has the proper quantity of padding.
Match is completely true to dimension for me. It has an accommodating match which is snug for many foot shapes however it’s additionally accessible in wider widths.
Nike Pegasus 41 Sole Unit
If you happen to have been hoping that the experience of the Pegasus 41 will likely be extra thrilling, partaking and enjoyable, you’ll be annoyed as a result of the experience continues to be very “Pegasus”: predictable and constant. The rearfoot is ever so barely softer than the Pegasus 40 however the forefoot is comparable in softness due to the pressurised airbag taking over a giant portion of the forefoot.
That is the 2nd Nike highway coach to characteristic ReactX (TPE+EVA mix): the primary was the InfinityRN 4. It’s a really dense, rubbery midsole foam which doesn’t really feel energetic- there isn’t a lot rebound. It’s lightyears behind different new-age foams that are supercritical or have PEBA in them. Nike claims that it’s 13% extra responsive than the earlier model, React however in actuality, I don’t really feel the distinction.
The forefoot homes the Pegasus’ signature Zoom Air unit and I really feel that the air strain of it’s too excessive. It makes the experience very agency as a result of the rearfoot has to match the agency really feel of the forefoot or else there will likely be too huge a distinction. The airbag additionally feels flatter in profile than within the Pegasus 40 and 39. It doesn’t bulge out as a lot so the forefoot feels thinner. The massive airbag is located above the flex level within the forefoot and it acts as a stiffening agent, making the forefoot stiffer than different each day trainers.
I can solely do simple/restoration runs within the Pegasus 41 as a result of it’s too heavy and I really feel no bounce from the ReactX foam. It’s a shoe that doesn’t need you to select up the tempo. Again within the day, the airbags used to really feel springy however new, groundbreaking foams have been created, and now the airbags simply really feel antiquated and agency.
After working 80 kilometres within the Pegasus 41 for every week and utilizing it for nearly each run, I seen that my legs have been extra sore than standard, notably my knees. I discover that it doesn’t present as a lot influence safety because the trainers that I often use.
The Pegasus is now one of many heaviest sneakers in its class, weighing greater than the Ghost 16, Experience 17, Cumulus 26 and Clifton 9. That is actually disappointing contemplating the Pegasus 39 weighed simply 9.2 oz (261 g), greater than an oz lighter than the Pegasus 41.
My longest run within the Pegasus 41 was 33 kilometres. It wasn’t a enjoyable expertise due to how agency and flat the experience felt. For the complete run, I wanted that the experience was softer. There’s additionally no rocker to help you thru transitions so the experience feels very old-fashioned. For many runners, the Pegasus will likely be appropriate for runs of solely 21 kilometres and beneath.
The Pegasus 41 has the signature Pegasus 10 mm drop which feels old school. Loads of the opposite each day trainers have switched to eight mm drops (or decrease) as a result of runners want to have extra cushioning beneath the forefoot which creates extra long-distance consolation. There’s a giant distinction in softness between the rearfoot and the forefoot of the Pegasus so it’s higher suited to heel strikers or walkers.
I seen that the 41’s insole is thinner than in earlier variations so there isn’t as a lot step-in softness- it doesn’t really feel as plush. That is noticeable when you have got each variations in your toes on the similar time.
The waffle-rubber outsole supplies actually good traction. It rained closely throughout the long term and grip was excellent. The outsole isn’t flat- there are protruding sq. items (the waffles) designed to grip onto the highway and different surfaces. This outcomes is these protruding items strike the bottom first and put on down considerably within the first 100 kilometres.
The rubber that the Pegasus 41 makes use of is more durable than the typical working shoe, so the outsole is comparatively sturdy though it reveals important put on initially.
Nike Pegasus 41 Conclusions
It would simply be me however the Pegasus 41 doesn’t really feel new and improved; it’s heavier and there’s nonetheless not a lot bounce. It does nevertheless really feel outdated and the identical, so Nike succeeded with that facet.
If you happen to haven’t run in different, “extra superior” trainers, otherwise you’re used to it, I believe you’ll discover the Pegasus 41 completely nice. It’s snug, it has sufficient cushioning for distances as much as a half marathon and it seems gorgeous visually. It’s additionally constructed to final a very very long time.
After this replace, the Pegasus might be going to be an much more in style shoe: not due to its efficiency however due to its design. On the Nike web site, the Volt colourway has been offered out for weeks. Nike’s advertising and marketing is so good that the Pegasus just isn’t solely purchased for the aim of working but additionally for casual-lifestyle put on, strolling and cross coaching.
As a efficiency working shoe, it may well’t fairly compete with the mid-range, impartial each day trainers of ASICS, Adidas, Saucony, New Stability, Hoka and Brooks. It doesn’t have as a lot cushioning, versatility or vitality return.
And now at $140, the Pegasus 41 has much more actually robust competitors. It’s not thought of a “nice bang in your buck” each day coach. The Adizero SL2, Kinvara 15 and Propel v5 all undercut the Pegasus by $20.
I want the 41’s higher to the 40’s however the experience of the 41 simply isn’t as satisfying. Though it has 4 mm further stack peak, it doesn’t really feel far more cushioned or considerably softer. The brand new ReactX midsole isn’t a giant enchancment and the experience continues to be bland. It doesn’t really feel environment friendly (no rocker) or partaking and through lengthy runs, the experience feels harsh.
The Pegasus 41 is now one of many heaviest mid-range, impartial each day trainers. It weighs as a lot because the Pegasus 34 from 7 years in the past. I might decide final yr’s 40 over the 41.
