Editor rating:
9/10 on
DANIEL CHO
User's rating:

PROS

  • Plush, soft cushion
  • Flexible and smooth transition
  • Improved upper fit

CONS

  • None

OUR VERDICT

Thirty years old and the Pegasus is still serving up reliable cushion for high mileage, everyday training
SHOE INFO
Brand
Air Pegasus+ 30
Model
Type
11oz oz. (312 gr.)
Weight
100 US$
MSRP
Family
Previous model
WHO IS IT FOR
Neutral runners who are looking an everyday trainer with big, soft cushion

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Review

If I had to describe the Nike Air Pegasus in one word, I would choose: Reliable. For years, neutral runners have relied on the Pegasus for big, soft cushion. And the Pegasus has never failed to deliver the goods.

It is now back for its 30th iteration, and it is still delivering the cushion that neutral runners have come to expect.

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 First Impressions

Out of the box, the Pegasus 30 has an interesting colorway design: dark toe box, red midfoot, and pink (!) heel.

Gone is the Flywire—those dense strands of plastic that ran along the midfoot in order to provide a secure wrap. In its place is a different structuring technology that Nike calls Hyperfuse, which looks basically like a piece of plastic with cutouts.

While the upper looks quite different from the 29, the sole unit looks identical. Nike did this with the Vomero 8, so I was not at all surprised that Nike carried over the platform.

As one might expect from the carryover platform, the Pegasus 30 has excellent forefoot flexibility.

Side-to-side, the 30 also twists very easily. The Pegasus 30 still looks to be a true neutral shoe. And the heel counter remains firm, which should mean a secure fit around the heel.

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Sole Unit

The Pegasus 30 still has a thick midsole made of Nike’s Cushlon EVA foam. It’s the same foam in the Vomero, but unlike the Vomero, the Pegasus 30 still feels soft and plush, like memory foam.

For a big cushioned trainer, the Pegasus 30 is flexible on the run. Though it flexes and twists easily in my hands, that flexibility does not always translate to the run–the Vomero 8 and upcoming Mizuno Enigma 3 are good examples of shoes that flex fairly easily in my hands but feel rather stiff on the run.

But the Pegasus 30 is truly a flexible shoe on the run. That flexibility combined with full ground contact gives the shoe a very smooth transition. As a neutral runner, I really appreciate flexibility and a smooth ride. While I might appreciate a little bit of structure, my most pressing need is cushion, which is why I prefer the Pegasus (and Asics Nimbus) over either the Vomero or Mizuno Enigma.

Bottomline, the sole unit on the Pegasus 30 is built like a tank, like a big soft tank. It will take tons of miles before giving out. In fact, in my experience with the Pegasus, the upper has always broken down before either the midsole or the outsole. Any neutral runner who needs a dependable trainer for high mileage training should look at the Pegasus 30.

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Upper

The changes that were made to the 30 were made in the upper. And here, the focus was on fit, rather than on eliminating weight–in fact, at 11oz for men’s size 9, the 30 weighs slightly more than the Pegasus 29.

However, I could not feel the extra weight on the run, but what I did notice was the improved fit. The midfoot wrap is much more fitted than the 29, which I attribute to the Hyperfuse.

The toebox also feels more fitted. My toes still has plenty of room, as the Pegasus 30 is true to size. But the toebox is sleeker than the 29, which creates a more snug fit. All of this means my foot was not moving around while on the run. Finally, the heel collar feels more plush and comfortable.

I would not describe the changes to the upper as major. For example, Nike is still using the Engineered mesh found in the 29, which replaces traditional overlays with sections of denser mesh.

But enough minor changes were made to improve the overall fit of the 30. I would even go so far as to say that the 30 is the best fitting iteration of the Pegasus that I have ever worn.

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Opinion

After three decades, the Pegasus is still delivering reliable soft cushion for the neutral runner. Because of a flexible and smooth transition, the runner who needs big cushion does not feel like they are sacrificing ride quality.

Though the shoe is able to take on a high volume of daily training miles, its flexible transition allows it to double as a raceday shoe for the runner who is looking for a do-everything trainer.

Minor changes in the upper make the 30 the best fitting Pegasus yet.

We thank the nice people at Nike for sending us a pair of Air Pegasus+ 30 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Nike Air Pegasus+ 30 Price Comparison

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