Nike Pegasus 41 review

7 expert score
7 user's score
As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples. We purchased this pair at Running Warehouse with our own money.
Review written on 24th June by Brandon Law Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
176 other reviews

Nike Pegasus 41 Verdict

The Nike Pegasus 41 is a comfortable fitting, bland daily trainer best suited to relaxed runs which are short or middle-distance. It has a firmer ride than most daily trainers due to its airbag setup and while it has a new ReactX midsole, it doesn’t feel significantly different to prior versions. It also doesn’t feel more energetic than its predecessors. Version 41 has an increase in stack height which makes it one of the heaviest versions in recent years.

The pros

  • ReactX midsole has a 43% carbon footprint reduction compared to React
  • Softer rearfoot compared to the Pegasus 40
  • Extremely comfortable upper
  • Excellent traction

The cons

  • Forefoot is too firm due to the pressurised airbag
  • Not much bounce or energy return
  • Weight and price increase

Where to buy

Best offers today in United States, all prices in USD

Rating breakdown

Comfort
9.0
Build quality
9.0
Upper
9.0
Sole unit
7.0
Landing
6.0
Transition
6.0
Toe-off
6.0
Traction
9.0
Durability
8.0
Value / Price
6.0

Facts / Specs

Brand
Model
Pegasus 41
Family
Weight
10 oz (283 g)
MSRP
$140.00

Heel
37 mm.
Toe
27 mm.
Heel drop
10 mm.
Carbon plate
No plate

Size/Fit

Sizing
True to size
Heel fit
Normal
Midfoot fit
Normal
Toebox fit
Normal

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Balanced
Amount of cushioning
Medium cushioning
Stability
Some stability
Flexibility
Flexible

Usage

Racing
Speedwork
Daily training  
Long distance racing
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Nike Pegasus 41 ?

If you’re interested in a firm-riding trainer for slow runs, the Pegasus 41 is an option. If you want a comfortable trainer that will last a long time, it’s also a good option. If you want a trainer which is similar to previous Pegasus versions, it won’t disappoint.

Who should not buy the Nike Pegasus 41 ?

If you’re looking for a lively daily trainer that will help you pick up the pace, the Pegasus 41 is not for you. If you want a versatile trainer which can efficiently handle long-distances, the Pegasus 41 is also not a good option.

Nike Pegasus 41 Introduction

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41

New and improved. Yet old and the same. That’s the headline of a 2005 Pegasus advertisement which inspired the designers when they created the Pegasus 41.

When designing the Pegasus, more emphasis has been placed on the second part of this tagline, “old and the same” rather than the first part. With such a big fanbase, why would they ever want to change the ride of the good old Pegasus?

Last year’s Pegasus was the big 4-0. 40 is a massive milestone for a running shoe yet all we got was a version with an updated upper. It was OK in the performance department. There was nothing wrong with it but I just found its ride boring. It didn’t have an energetic or engaging ride.

The Pegasus is one of the most popular running shoes but I’ve noticed that most Pegasus wearers are not hardcore runners but gym or fitness enthusiasts. It’s used for casual wear, cross training and can also handle some running. A beginner runner might start off using a Pegasus but will then graduate to something else and never go back.

Every two years, the Pegasus gets an entire, top to bottom update so this year’s Pegasus 41 gets a new midsole foam, new upper design and an updated outsole.

It weighs 10.5 oz (297 g) for a US 9, which is a substantial increase over the Pegasus 40 that weighed 9.7 oz (275 g). It also has a 4 mm thicker midsole in both the heel and forefoot.

The Pegasus 41 gets a price increase and now costs $140 which is the same price as the Saucony Ride, Brooks Ghost, ASICS Cumulus and Adidas Supernova Rise.

Nike Pegasus 41 First Impressions

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41

My first run was a 21 kilometre, steady-paced run. The new ride was decent but not mind-blowing. I expected a bit of a softer ride from the ReactX midsole but the firm forefoot Zoom airbag made it feel very similar to previous Pegasus versions.

With 37 mm of stack height in the heel, it’s now classified as a high stack height trainer yet it weirdly still felt like a medium stack height. It didn’t feel as cushioned as other daily trainers like the Ride 17 or the Supernova Rise which both have lower stack heights than the Pegasus.

The upper was perhaps the best fitting, most comfortable of any previous Pegasus I’ve tried. It fit me like a glove and needed no adjusting mid-run.

Nike Pegasus 41 Upper

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41

This year’s Pegasus upper is the highlight of the shoe for me. It’s spacious but not too baggy and it feels plush. The mesh is also more breathable than past versions.

Foot lockdown is really good and there are reflectors on the side of the toe box, tongue and heel for safety. The semi-gusseted tongue doesn’t slide around and it has the perfect amount of padding.

Fit is perfectly true to size for me. It has an accommodating fit which is comfortable for most foot shapes but it’s also available in wider widths.

Nike Pegasus 41 Sole Unit

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41

If you were hoping that the ride of the Pegasus 41 will be more exciting, engaging and fun, you’ll be frustrated because the ride is still very “Pegasus”: predictable and consistent. The rearfoot is ever so slightly softer than the Pegasus 40 but the forefoot is similar in softness because of the pressurised airbag taking up a big portion of the forefoot.

This is the 2nd Nike road trainer to feature ReactX (TPE+EVA blend): the first was the InfinityRN 4. It’s a very dense, rubbery midsole foam which doesn’t feel energetic- there isn’t much rebound. It’s lightyears behind other new-age foams which are supercritical or have PEBA in them. Nike claims that it’s 13% more responsive than the previous version, React but in reality, I don’t feel the difference.

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41

The forefoot houses the Pegasus’ signature Zoom Air unit and I feel that the air pressure of it is too high. It makes the ride very firm because the rearfoot has to match the firm feel of the forefoot or else there will be too big a difference. The airbag also feels flatter in profile than in the Pegasus 40 and 39. It doesn’t bulge out as much so the forefoot feels thinner. The large airbag is situated above the flex point in the forefoot and it acts as a stiffening agent, making the forefoot stiffer than other daily trainers.

I can only do easy/recovery runs in the Pegasus 41 because it’s too heavy and I feel no bounce from the ReactX foam. It’s a shoe that doesn’t want you to pick up the pace. Back in the day, the airbags used to feel springy but new, groundbreaking foams have been created, and now the airbags just feel antiquated and firm.

After running 80 kilometres in the Pegasus 41 for a week and using it for almost every run, I noticed that my legs were more sore than usual, particularly my knees. I find that it doesn’t provide as much impact protection as the trainers that I usually use.

The Pegasus is now one of the heaviest shoes in its class, weighing more than the Ghost 16, Ride 17, Cumulus 26 and Clifton 9. This is really disappointing considering the Pegasus 39 weighed just 9.2 oz (261 g), more than an ounce lighter than the Pegasus 41.

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41

My longest run in the Pegasus 41 was 33 kilometres. It wasn’t a fun experience because of how firm and flat the ride felt. For the entire run, I wished that the ride was softer. There’s also no rocker to assist you through transitions so the ride feels very old school. For most runners, the Pegasus will be suitable for runs of only 21 kilometres and under.

The Pegasus 41 has the signature Pegasus 10 mm drop which feels old-fashioned. A lot of the other daily trainers have switched to 8 mm drops (or lower) because runners prefer to have more cushioning under the forefoot which creates more long-distance comfort. There’s a big difference in softness between the rearfoot and the forefoot of the Pegasus so it’s better suited to heel strikers or walkers.

I noticed that the 41’s insole is thinner than in previous versions so there isn’t as much step-in softness- it doesn’t feel as plush. This is noticeable when you have both versions on your feet at the same time.

The waffle-rubber outsole provides really good traction. It rained heavily during the long run and grip was outstanding. The outsole isn’t flat- there are protruding square pieces (the waffles) designed to grip onto the road and other surfaces. This results is these protruding pieces strike the ground first and wear down significantly in the first 100 kilometres.

The rubber that the Pegasus 41 uses is harder than the average running shoe, so the outsole is relatively durable even though it shows significant wear initially.

Nike Pegasus 41 Conclusions

Picture of Nike Pegasus 41


It might just be me but the Pegasus 41 doesn’t feel new and improved; it’s heavier and there’s still not much bounce. It does however feel old and the same, so Nike succeeded with that aspect.

If you haven’t run in other, “more advanced” trainers, or you’re used to the Pegasus series, I think you’ll find the Pegasus 41 perfectly fine. It’s comfortable, it has enough cushioning for distances up to a half marathon and it looks stunning visually. It’s also built to last a really long time.

After this update, the Pegasus is probably going to be an even more popular shoe: not because of its performance but because of its design. On the Nike website, the Volt colourway has been sold out for weeks. Nike’s marketing is so good that the Pegasus is not only bought for the purpose of running but also for casual-lifestyle wear, walking and cross training.

As a performance running shoe, it can’t quite compete with the mid-range, neutral daily trainers of ASICS, Adidas, Saucony, New Balance, Hoka and Brooks. It doesn’t have as much cushioning, versatility or energy return.

And now at $140, the Pegasus 41 has even more really tough competition. It’s no longer considered a “great bang for your buck” daily trainer. The Adizero SL2, Kinvara 15 and Propel v5 all undercut the Pegasus by $10-$20.

I prefer the 41’s upper to the 40’s but the ride of the 41 just isn’t as enjoyable. Although it has 4 mm extra stack height, it doesn’t feel much more cushioned or significantly softer. The new ReactX midsole isn’t a big improvement and the ride is still bland. It doesn’t feel efficient (no rocker) or engaging and during long runs, the ride feels harsh.

The Pegasus 41 is now one of the heaviest mid-range, neutral daily trainers. It weighs as much as the Pegasus 34 from 7 years ago. I would pick last year’s 40 over the 41.

How does the Pegasus 41 compare?

Nike Winflo 11
Nike Pegasus 41
Asics Gel Cumulus 26
Expert score
10
7
8
User score
Retail price
US$105
US$139.95
US$139.95
Brand
Weight
10 oz
10 oz
8.9 oz
Heel Drop
10 mm
10 mm
8 mm
Recommended for
Daily training
Daily training
Daily training
Cushioning type
balanced/plush
balanced
responsive/balanced
Cushioning amount
Highly cushioned
Medium cushioning
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
medium
flexible
rigid
Stability
some stability
some stability
some stability
Sizing
true to size
true to size
true to size

Why you can trust us

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Nike at Running Warehouse  with our own money.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our policy.
Lowest price:

$109

Nike Pegasus 41 price comparison

Best offers today in United States, all prices in USD

Reviewed by Brandon

This review was written by Brandon Law on 24th June.
Brandon is a South African who lives and trains in Malaysia. He is a marathon runner who eats, sleeps and dreams running shoes. While most people wear shoes to run, he runs to wear shoes.

User feedback (2)

  • avatar-comment-1041528
    Luke H.
    2 weeks ago
    9 score

    I’ve been using the Pegasus line for years, and I really appreciated the improvements made in the Pegasus 41. The cushioning underfoot felt soft but responsive—exactly what I need on those longer marathon training runs. My only minor complaint is that the upper feels a bit stiffer than I expected, but hopefully, it will break in over time. Excellent traction as usual, and the fit is snug in the midfoot area, which works for me. Glad to see this level of durability too; I can easily log 400+ miles in them.

  • avatar-comment-1038079
    Vistasp Major
    4 months ago
    5 score

    Bland and heavy – I run up to 25% slower in these compared to my Noosa Tri 15s. The only use case I can think of for these is in wet conditions when the very grippy outsole helps. This is literally a ”nothing” shoe for me. Sorry Nike

Lowest price:
$109

Where to buy

Best offers today in United States, all prices in USD

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