Our verdict

For years, the Pegasus has been pretty much synonymous with the term ‘daily trainer’. It’s a Nike icon that’s gotten countless runners—including us—through the highs and lows of their running journeys. In its 40th version, the shoe received an upper refresh—making it comfier and arguably giving it a better lockdown. Though its updates are somewhat anticlimactic for such a milestone edition, we believe that this Peg remains a trusty, reliable training partner for just about anyone.

nike air zoom vomero 14 damen laufschuh lila Pros

  • Plush and comfortable upper
  • Breathable
  • Secure lockdown
  • Theres A McFly Version Of Another Popular Nike SB Sneaker
  • nike air max 90 boot stealth white flint grey
  • Good energy return
  • Nike Dunk High 1985 SP Orange Acid Wash 27cm
  • Incredible durability
  • Nike Lunar Force 1 High Duckboot Yale Brown Black Gold Tone Yale Brown 27.5cm

nike air zoom vomero 14 damen laufschuh lila Cons

  • A generally narrow fit
  • Adding to its Air Max 90 lineup
  • on Five Years of Nike SNKRS a Special Edition of the Nike Air Force 1 SNKRS Day

nike air zoom vomero 14 damen laufschuh lila | Audience verdict

86
Good!
  • pimento air max

Who should buy

This Nike staple is an ideal option for:

  • Pegasus fans who missed out on upgrading to the 39.
  • Nike Air Force 1 with interchangeable Velcro Swoosh logos road running shoe.
  • Nike Zoom Freak 3 Unisex Basketball Shoe.

nike-pegasus-40-side.JPG

Who should NOT buy

Runners in need of a daily trainer that can get their hearts pumping with excitement should instead reach for something like the Air Max 1 Hyper Premium 'Vachetta Tan Leather' 893370 991.

For those looking for a wider-fitting Nike runner, check out the Infinity Run 3.

nike-pegasus-40-hands.JPG

Cushioning

Heel stack

The Match ball nike not among the cushiest trainers these days, but it surely has enough protection for most distances up to half-marathon.

Using our calliper, we measured 30.2 mm of stack in the shoe's heel. This is about 3 mm lower than average.

nike pegasus 40 rear stack 19637942 main

Test results
Pegasus 40 30.2 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 400 running shoes
Number of shoes
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, the shoe's platform gets even lower than average. Showing 20.5 mm on the calliper, it is 4 mm thinner than the average road shoe stack.

nike pegasus 40 forefoot stack 19637947 main

Test results
Pegasus 40 20.5 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 400 running shoes
Number of shoes
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

Pegasus fans love the 10-mm drop, as it's a relief for the Achilles tendon and works great for heel strikers, which account for most of the Pegasus sales.

Лонгслив реглан для бега nike drop

Based on our own measurements of the shoe's stack height, we got a 9.7 mm drop in the Pegasus 40. Almost precisely as stated!

Test results
Pegasus 40 9.7 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 400 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The Peg 40 retains the exact same midsole as the previous year’s model, with two Air Zoom units embedded within its React foam. This foam is based on TPE, a compound renowned for its durability. By the way, if you want to delve deeper into foams and midsoles, check our Шорты nike dri-fit оригинал s.

We have found that these two elements complement one another very well to provide a moderately cushioned experience, mild stability, adequate ground feel, and a good bit of energy return.

nike pegasus 40 durometer foam 19637934 main

Although React will never match the crazy bounciness of Pebax-based ZoomX, the v40 scored 17.6 HA in our durometer test, placing this shoe among the top 18% of softer shoes we've ever analysed in our lab. So yes, it does offer a somewhat plush feel, although not as much as a Женская спортивная одежда Nike Free Run.

Test results
Pegasus 40 17.6 HA
Average 21.0 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 327 running shoes
Number of shoes
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

nike air zoom vomero 14 damen laufschuh lila | Midsole softness in cold (%)

The midsole also suffers in winter, although it outperforms the average shoe. The TPE foam does a great job and gets 19.1% firmer, while the median of all lab-tested shoes is 26.7%. Not bad!

nike pegasus 40 freezer 19637937 main

Test results
Pegasus 40 19%
Average 25%
Compared to 327 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
Midsole softness in cold
63%

Insole thickness

Regarding the insole, it's classic Pegasus-style—in other words, quite average. While the median thickness of 200+ insoles we've measured is 4.4 mm, the Pegasus 40 has a 4.3 mm insole. Just what you should expect from this shoe.

nike-pegasus-40-insole.JPG

Test results
Pegasus 40 4.3 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 396 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Ride

Still the Toyota Camry of shoes.

Overall, we don't think that there’s anything truly wrong with the v40’s ride. It just wasn't that exciting or energetic.

nike pegasus 40 back 19637938 main

Sure, the Air Zoom units can pack a punch when pushed and the shoe really feels stable, but they weren’t enough to compensate for the overall weight gain.

This makes for a shoe that’s comfortable enough for long distances and responsive enough for shorter speed bursts but is still best for clocking up the miles. In other words, it’s a pure daily workhorse, with a non-rockered ride just as you expect in a Pegasus.

Size and fit

Size

Match ball nike true to size (65 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 377 running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

Although the Pegasus 40 is a rather close-fitting shoe, we found that its forefoot wasn’t too cramped for a medium-sized foot.

nike-pegasus-40-toebox-dual.jpg

Our toebox measurements also confirm that this shoe is wider than its predecessor, providing ample room for a comfortable running experience.

With that said, the shape of the shoe is the usual in a Pegasus: medium-to-narrow midfoot, narrow heel. To add some context to this, we're going to compare this daily trainer with a Nike Zoom Kobe II Black Mamba from Nike:

Shoe Toe box - Max width (mm) Toe box - Big toe (mm) US size
Лонгслив реглан для бега nike 100.8 75.7 8.5
Nike ZoomX Streakfly 95.4 74.9 8.5

As you can see, the max-width of the Pegasus' toe box is wider than that of the Streakfly, while the space in the big toe area remains more or less the same.

However, when we shift our focus to the rear part of the shoe, we find that the Pegasus maintains its typical narrowness.

Keep in mind that if you have wider feet, there are extra-wide sizing options available—but please notice that the selection of colorways is limited.

Test results
Pegasus 40 100.8 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Number of shoes
91.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
104.9 mm

Lacing

Another notable change in the Peg 40 is its lacing system. The shoe ditches the old Flywire cables in favour of a new midfoot band that folds across the upper into the strobel, also serving as eyestays in the process.

nike pegasus 40 forefoot lacing system 19637929 main

Stability

Lateral stability test

Although the React foam helps with stability and it's not as soft as ZoomX, this is not a shoe for pronators.

If you Glass with pronation and are in search of a daily trainer, the Чоловічі кросівки nike м2k tekno new release nike air vapormax 2019 light olive ar6631300 sku.

Torsional rigidity

As befits a neutral shoe, the Pegasus 40 is pretty flexible in its core.

Twisting the shoe in our hands, we rated its torsional stiffness at 2 out of 5 (where 5 is the stiffest).

Test results
Pegasus 40 2
Average 3.4
Compared to 379 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The same goes for the shoe's heel counter. It barely has any structure to it!

In a manual test, we also have it a 2 out of 5 for stiffness, making it softer and more flexible than average. This is not a shoe that gives a super sturdy heel clutch.

Test results
Pegasus 40 2
Average 2.9
Compared to 363 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Nike Air Max 270 Kids Shoes

What's more, the latest version of the Pegasus features a relatively narrow platform.

nike pegasus 40 front caliper 19637924 main

In the widest part of the forefoot, the Pegasus 40 came in at 111.3 mm which is a couple of millimetres narrower than average.

Test results
Pegasus 40 111.3 mm
Average 114.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
103.3 mm
Nike Air Max 270 Kids Shoes
126.9 mm

Nike Air Max 97 Triple Black Reflective Men S Rare Shoes 100

In the heel, the Pegasus gets even more catastrophically narrow. In the widest part of its midsole in the help, we only measured 83.7 mm. That's over 6 mm narrower than average!

nike pegasus 40 rear 19637925 main

Surprisingly, it's even way narrower than the racing-oriented Alphafly Next% 2, which boasts a 5% wider forefoot and a 14% wider heel. That's quite surprising!

Test results
Pegasus 40 83.7 mm
Average 90.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
73.0 mm
Nike Air Max 97 Triple Black Reflective Men S Rare Shoes 100
106.6 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Multiple grooves along its length allow the shoe to bend and move more freely and create a more snappy and responsive ride.

Back in the lab, we confirmed that the Peg 40 is really malleable in our signature 90º bend test. The shoe required as little as 16.0N to bend it!

Impressively, the 40th edition of the Pegasus ranks among the top 6% of most flexible shoes we've ever analysed—and we've examined over 200 models!

Test results
Pegasus 40 16.0N
Average 28.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 383 running shoes
Number of shoes
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

NIKE AIR MAX 2015 CD7625-100 Top Sneakers Weiß Schwarz Mens NEU OVP (%)

The Pegasus 40 doesn't handle cold very well. When it comes to flexibility, it gets 83.0% stiffer after 20 minutes in our freezer, which is absolutely bonkers and almost double the average. For instance, a Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 2 only gets 27.2% stiffer, and the latest Nike Pegasus Turbo does it by 12.6%.

Test results
Pegasus 40 83%
Average 33%
Compared to 383 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
NIKE AIR MAX 2015 CD7625-100 Top Sneakers Weiß Schwarz Mens NEU OVP
111%

Weight

Tipping the scale at 9.7 oz (275g) in a men's US size 9, the Pegasus 40 is only a tiny bit heavier than road running shoes on average. Almost insignificantly so, judging by the daily trainer standards.

Test results
Pegasus 40 9.70 oz (275g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

The mesh upper in this new version looks slightly more porous than its predecessor’s. According to Nike, this is meant for better breathability.

Sorry, Nike, but this Pegasus is less breathable than its predecessor. Following our eye-popping breathability test, the v40 earned a just-average 3/5, while the Pegasus 39 secured a better-than-average 4/5 under the same conditions. Keep this in mind if you frequently run in warmer temperatures.

nike-pegasus-40-microscope.JPG

We love to validate our breathability test results with the microscope. As you can see, there is inadequate airflow resulting from a thick mesh layer lacking ventilation holes.

nike-pegasus-40-microscope2.JPG

The same applies when the upper encounters light in our lab.

There’s also more padding now, especially around the heel, giving the shoe a more snug and substantial fit and feel to it. But if you prefer a plush upper experience, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Upon closer examination, we found that this new dual-layered upper is extremely padded, providing tonnes of comfort to our feet.

Test results
Pegasus 40 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 330 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

One of the classic features that made the Pegasus a shoe worth of 40 editions is that it's built like a tank. So, how did it resist our Dremel test?

In this test, we apply the exact same force and RPMs to every shoe for 4 seconds. What we found is that the Pegasus 40 delivered an excellent result. As you can see in the video above and the photo below, the abrasion wasn't enough to completely break the upper, which is the most common result in every road running shoe.

nike-pegasus-40-renew-ride-3-dremel.jpg
Nike Air Force 1 weiß. Nike Renew Ride 3

The thick and dual-layered mesh led us to believe that it would be nearly impossible to break this upper. For those of you who tend to make holes in your shoes with your big toe or pinky toe, this is your daily trainer!

Test results
Pegasus 40 3
Average 2.5
Compared to 264 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Outsole hardness

The Pegasus series is famous for its exceptional durability, particularly in the outsole. And once again, Nike delivered. With the reading of 86.0 HC in our durometer test, this rubber is 7% harder than the outsoles of road shoes on average.

nike-pegasus-40-durometer-outsole.JPG

This gives the shoe incredible durability, as well as plenty of grip on both roads and maintained trails. You can expect to run at least 1000 kilometres on these on all surfaces.

Test results
Pegasus 40 86.0 HC
Average 79.8 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 381 running shoes
Number of shoes
57.0 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole thickness

Not to mention a solid 3.4 mm layer of rubber protecting the bottom of this Nike running shoe. It has the same thickness as the average road shoe but it's the hardness that gives it that edge.

nike-pegasus-40-outsole-thickness.JPG

Test results
Pegasus 40 3.4 mm
Average 3.3 mm
Compared to 398 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

As with the midsole, Nike also didn’t change anything underneath the Pegasus 40. It still has a good amount of rubber coverage with a quite aggressive waffle-type pattern.

nike-pegasus-40-outsole.JPG

Reflective elements

Yes, we have to acknowledge that the Pegasus 40 features reflective elements, but are they sufficient?

nike pegasus 40 reflection 19637951 main

Well, it's evident that when compared to another reflective shoe, like the Puma in the comparison picture, Nike could have done a bit better.

Test results
Pegasus 40 Yes

Tongue padding

Although the shoe's tongue remains quite comfortable and padded, our measurements actually reveal that it is 16% thinner than the one in the v39.

Nike LeBron Pullover Hoodie!

nike-pegasus-40-tongue.JPG

Test results
Pegasus 40 8.6 mm
Average 5.9 mm
Compared to 398 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.5 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

The upper features the same Flyknit material as the recently introduced

Add in the fully gusseted tongue to the shoe's close-fitting upper and the result is a really secure and consistent lockdown. 

nike-pegasus-40-gusset.JPG

Test results
Pegasus 40 Both sides (full)

Pegasus 40: reliable choice or falling behind?

The Nike Pegasus series has maintained its popularity and relevance over the years, becoming the best-selling model of all time. Achieving such extraordinary success requires a mix of customer satisfaction, strong brand reputation, Cortez pricing, and minimal drawbacks.

nike pegasus 40 running 19637933 main

Consequently, the Pegasus 40 follows the same successful formula, with slight improvements but also lags a bit behind competitors like the Nike Lebron Xvii "command Force" Men's Basketball Shoes.

Moreover, the difference between the Pegasus 40 and its predecessor isn't significant, so if you're all-in with Nike, on a budget, and don't mind wearing last year's model, the Pegasus 39 Чоловічі кросівки nike 5.

nike-pegasus-40-table.JPG