The Nike Pegasus, now in its 41st iteration, is equipped with a ReactX midsole, a light and breathable mesh and thick forefoot and heel Zoom Air units.
The Asics Cumulus, in its 26th iteration is equipped with a dual density FlyteFoam midsole, a 3D printed upper and a hidden heel gel unit. The Cumulus is the same price as the Pegasus. Which is the right shoe for you?
The Pegasus is and has always been a Swiss army knife. Its versatility makes it capable of handling long runs, tempo runs and everyday runs. The ReactX based midsole of the Pegasus is light and provides deep cushioning for longer runs when your feet need protection. Zoom Air bags are situated in the forefoot and heel which provides a nice “pop” on toe-off.
The Cumulus has a single-foam midsole setup comprising of FF Blast+. It has a medium-soft, cushioned ride experience which is not too firm or too mushy. There is a gel unit in the heel (hidden) to absorb impact. The difference between the two midsoles is that the Cumulus has a lower density midsole which translates to a softer ride than the Pegasus.
Ride transitions are smoother on the Cumulus than the Pegasus. The forefoot air bag in the Pegasus can be felt underfoot whereas the gel unit of the Cumulus can’t be felt.
Stability in both shoes is great because their midsoles are not overly soft but the Pegasus is more stable due to its firmer midsole.
A new, rubberised EVA layer is on the outsole of the Cumulus. This results in more ground feel but less durability.
The Pegasus uses Duralon blown rubber on its outsole in the forefoot and a BRS1000 rubber lateral crash rail to absorb impact. The Pegasus has the more durable outsole.
The upper of the Pegasus is made from an engineered sandwich mesh. It has a long, padded tongue and it is sleeved so there is no tongue slide. The heel counter of the Pegasus flares away from the Achilles to not irritate and foot lockdown is good. The forefoot of the Pegasus is accommodating but the shoe is available in additional narrow, regular, wide and extra wide versions if you need them.
The Cumulus has a thicker and more padded upper than the Pegasus. Its heel counter is soft and filled with generous amounts of foam. The Cumulus’s upper is superb at locking the foot down with zero heel slippage. The Cumulus comes in regular, wide and extra wide versions.
If you’re a runner looking for an everyday neutral shoe which has a comfortable upper, the Cumulus is the shoe for you. The upper of the Cumulus is supremely comfortable with a padded heel collar and smooth inside lining that locks the heel in place with no slippage. The FF Blast+ midsole of the Cumulus shines on long runs when you need cushioning and comfort in spades.
If you’re a runner looking for a more versatile everyday neutral trainer, get the Pegasus. The Pegasus can handle long runs as well as tempo runs with extra responsiveness coming from its thick forefoot and heel Zoom Air units. The upper of the Pegasus is stripped down compared to the Cumulus and the heel is not as secure but it’s the more stable and lighter shoe.
