The Nike Pegasus is the oldest running shoe series on the planet and it's not hard to see why: it's affordable, durable and consistent every single year. The Brooks Ghost is the quintessential Brooks shoe, known for its plush interior and balanced ride. The Brooks Ghost is more expensive than the Pegasus but which shoe is the right one for you?
The Pegasus has a uniform midsole density, resulting in smooth ride transitions. The Brooks midsole also has a uniform midsole density with DNA Loft v3 in the lateral side and the medial side.
The Ghost has a drop of 10mm with the Pegasus also coming in with a 10mm heel offset. This means that both are more suited to heel strikers than mid or forefoot strikers.
The Ghost rides softer than the Pegasus so it’s better for long runs but it can handle the occasional tempo outing. The Pegasus rides firmer so is more suited to short tempo runs. Both shoes have plenty of underfoot protection and can handle marathon distances with ease.
Both shoes are very stable. The Pegasus and the Ghost have very little lean bias. The Ghost has a wider base and is more stable than the Pegasus.
When it comes to responsiveness, the midsole of the Pegasus is ReactX foam, which is more responsive than the traditional EVA foam of the Ghost midsole. The Pegasus has the forefoot Zoom Air unit and heel Zoom Air unit which provides a “pop” on toe-off.
The Ghost outsole is made from soft blown rubber on the forefoot with many flex grooves which help the forefoot flex easily, and harder, carbon rubber on the heel. The Pegasus outsole is made from thick, harder rubber which is more durable than that of the Ghost.
The Pegasus’s React midsole is more durable and won’t lose much cushioning over the life span of the shoe compared to the Ghost’s EVA DNA Loft midsole which will eventually lose cushioning over time.
The excellent Ghost upper is supremely comfortable and made from jacquard air mesh which is soft to the touch. The heel dip and tongue are filled with large amounts of foam that cocoon the foot.
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.
Both of these shoes are excellent daily trainers capable of most runs you throw at them and are great value for money. You can’t go wrong with either of them.
If you want a plush, luxurious upper which is in a league of its own, the Ghost is the shoe for you. The Ghost is a medium-long distance cruiser that glides over the road. It’s a stable, mildly responsive-riding shoe that has no major flaws.
If you seek a medium-soft shoe with a “racing” feel that shines at fast-medium paces, the Pegasus is the perfect shoe for you. It’s stable, fits well and has a durable outsole which will last for hundreds of kilometres.
