Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Review

Cody

I’m not really a pink-colorway kind of guy, but I have to admit—this shoe looks really nice on foot. My daughters are also big fans of the look, so apparently Nike nailed this one.

More importantly, the ZoomX feels really good underfoot. For my normal daily mileage, especially runs up to around 9 miles, the Pegasus Plus 2 delivers a smooth and enjoyable ride.

What’s interesting is that Nike gives you newer technology while the shoe still has a somewhat old-school feel. It doesn't feel overly complicated or aggressive. You just lace it up and run, and I think there are plenty of runners who will appreciate that.

The versatility is probably its biggest strength. This is a shoe I could wear for daily miles, a workout, cross-training at the gym, or just running around with the kids afterward. It’s an easy shoe to reach for when you don't know exactly what the day is going to bring.

Emily

This shoe looks so damn good. The fiery colorway with the black accents is perfection, in my opinion. One thing about Nike is that their design team is always going to nail it.

The upper is also pretty solid. The shoe is built on the same last as the Pegasus 42, which seems to have a slightly wider toebox. It also includes an internal midfoot band that gives you a more customized lockdown. I had to cinch the laces down a bit due to my narrow foot, but once I did, the upper was pretty comfortable. I found it to be breathable, and it seems like it'll hold up for a solid amount of miles.

The ride of the shoe provides an upgrade from the standard Pegasus in terms of cushioning and liveliness. I found it to be really agreeable at all different paces and distances, and it kept my foot protected from the road without an abundance of foam underneath it. For that reason, I feel like the Pegasus Plus 2 will be a shoe that all different types of runners will be able to find a home in.

It's balanced, which is what you want in a daily trainer. It can handle the long run, the tempo run, and the everyday run with no problem. The midsole and outsole both feel like they will hold up as well.

Cody

The biggest limitation for me is distance.

I took the Pegasus Plus 2 out for a 13-mile run, and by around mile 10, I was ready for more underfoot. For shorter daily runs, I really enjoy the ride, but once I started pushing the distance, it just didn't give me the protection I wanted.

I also really enjoy ZoomX, but at this point, it's starting to feel a little stale to me. Maybe that's because we've seen the foam in so many Nike shoes, but for something with “Plus” in the name, I was expecting a little more wow factor.

There's nothing necessarily bad about the ride. I just kept waiting for the shoe to give me something that made it stand out.

Emily

I stand by my comments that the midsole is agreeable, balanced, and an upgrade from the regular Peg. That being said, I was still hoping for more from it.

The main talking point here is the exposed Zoom unit that's supposed to make the shoe 18% more energetic than the OG Peg Plus, but I didn't really get much from it. I maybe felt it a little more at tempo paces, but not in the way I was hoping to.

The ZoomX felt great, but in the land of ATPU foams, I feel like perhaps ZoomX is starting to feel just "great" and not "wow."

I think the Peg Plus 2 could have really benefited from a more rockered geometry as well. Perhaps that could have put more pressure on the Zoom unit, thus springing it into action?

The more I ran in the Peg Plus 2, the more I enjoyed it, but it still wasn't a shoe that I was dying to lace up.

Cody

If you're a Nike lover or you're looking for one shoe that can handle some daily miles, go to the gym, and then grab coffee afterward, I think the Pegasus Plus 2 hits.

For everyone else, I think this is probably a pass.

The daily-trainer category is absolutely stacked right now, and at $170, being a solid, versatile shoe isn't enough for me. There are too many great options competing for the same miles and the same money.

The Pegasus Plus 2 does a lot of things well. I just don't think it does enough to separate itself from the crowd.

Emily

I'm so torn on this one. It's really not a bad shoe, and my miles in it were pleasant. I feel like it's solid for runners who want a good-looking trainer to hit the road in, but I also feel like it was a bitttttt overhyped.

Now, if this was a new version of the standard Pegasus, I think we'd be having a different conversation. This is another case where this shoe should have just been the Pegasus 43 rather than a "Plus."

Cody

If you're a Nike person, $170 probably isn't going to be a dealbreaker. You're getting ZoomX, good versatility, and a shoe you can use for running, workouts, and everyday life.

For everyone else, I don't love the price.

At $170, I want more.

The daily-trainer category has become incredibly competitive, and every brand needs to bring its A-game. The Pegasus Plus 2 is good—but at this price, I need it to give me a reason to choose it over everything else.

Emily

Honestly...the price kind of puts this back on my recommendations list...so, kind of?

It's $170, which is cheaper than the SC Rebel ($200), which is the shoe I would directly compare it to. If you're a standard Peg fan and looking to upgrade, this is definitely worth the money.

However, for $170, you can also get the Topo Specter 3, and I'd recommend that over the Peg Plus 2, if you can find it in stock...