Nike Pegasus 41 Performance Review

The Nike Pegasus 41 follows a run of Pegasi (the 37, the 38, the 39, and the 40) that never quite nailed the Pegasus’ value proposition. Between cushion downgrades, price increases, and fit issues, it was just an uninspiring run for one’s of running shoes’ most time-tested models.

My entire life, especially the years spent running, the Pegasus has been a fixture. So it’s disappointing whenever it’s not a shoe I can recommend. I recommended my favorite all-time Pegasus, the Pegasus 35, to various friends and family while grabbing two pairs for myself. In fact, the entire run of Pegasi from 33-36 was really really good. Like competing for best daily trainer of the year good.

Every year I get the new model I hope that the Pegasus design team has rekindled the Pegasus’ glory days. And this year, though it’s not perfect, the Nike Pegasus 41 is does a lot of good things and inches closer to the Pegasus the running world wants.

Performance

The Nike Pegasus 41 changed a lot from the Pegasus 40 but didn’t change the last (foot shape around which the shoe is built). The MR-10 last stays which means the upper of the Pegasus 41 fits largely the same as the Pegasus 40. The tongue’s slightly thicker and more padded but otherwise it has the same basic lacing structure, lockdown, and comfortable engineered mesh upper. That’s a good thing because the upper of the Pegasus 40 was a winner.

What really differs from the Pegasus 40 is the midsole. Its geometry and cushioning are changed and thus it produces a much different feel under foot.

Forefoot and heel Zoom Air bags, the typical oval and rectangular versions, return on the Nike Pegasus 41 but they’re encased in ReactX foam. ReactX, introduced in the Nike InfinityRN 4, is 13% more responsive than regular React in lab tests. When running, it feels like a more bouncy, resilient version of React. That’s a good thing in a shoe built for lots of miles.

But more than the cushion itself changing, the shape of the midsole feels more like the InfinityRN 4 than it does the Pegasus 40. The Pegasus 41 adds 4mm of foam and the rocker is reshaped at the forefoot and heel to feel like a more modern running shoe. This change was instantly noticeable upon walking around the house in the Pegasus 41. For my money, this is the biggest improvement made by the design team. Though it’s not an aggressive rocker, it makes a big difference in the smoothness of the ride.

The toe off still has a lot of ground feel in comparison to our favorites on the best running shoes list, but it doesn’t feel jarring or harsh like some previous Pegasi. If you enjoy ground feel on toe off and find it lacking in modern running shoes, the Nike Pegasus 41 is both a good place to find it and one that still sufficiently cushions your toes.

Pros

• Midsole geometry, extra foam, and smooth ride
• ReactX midsole foam
• Durable outsole
• Ground feel
• Lockdown
• Comfort

Cons

• 10mm drop feels high
• Not wide foot friendly

Is the Nike Pegasus 41 wide foot friendly?

As you likely noticed in the Cons section, the Nike Pegasus 41 isn’t wide foot friendly. That said, Nike does offer an Extra Wide version on its website. The Extra Wide version comes in less colorways than the regular version but that’s fairly typical of wider variants.

It’s still Nike, so even the extra wide version won’t placate the widest of wide footers…but Nike’s return policy is solid. If you’re not sure it will fit, you can buy it, try it on, and return if it doesn’t work for your feet.

Is the Nike Pegasus 41 worth $140?

This is a tough one. There’s a lot of really good shoes at the $140 mark these days. The Nike Pegasus 41 checks most of the boxes to fit in at the $140 price point but it lacks some oomph in terms of cushion and protection. I’d feel more comfortable with the Pegasus 41 priced at $130 (its previous price point). That’s the sweet spot. If you can grab the Nike Pegasus 41 for $10 off, you’re getting good value.

Nike Pegasus 41 Summary

The Nike Pegasus 41 is the best Pegasus since the great Pegasus 35. It’s still not perfect and lacks a bit of cushion and fun factor when compared to other daily running shoes at the $140 price point. But the modern rocker shape, durability, and comfort provide a solid shoe that cushions just enough while still offering old school ground feel on toe off. The Pegasus 41 is a good running shoe that will make Pegasus fans happy with the model’s current direction.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Nike did send a pair of the Nike Pegasus 41 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and have not attempted to influence it.