The defining neutral cushioning shoe sports a new React foam midsole and a big forefoot air bag.
The RW Takeaway: The Pegasus gets more responsive and more cushioned without losingany versatility.
- A new React foam midsole adds 2mm to the stack.
- The air unit is now just in the forefoot, but it’s twice as big as previous iterations for extra snap.
- Testers loved the smooth, energetic ride.
Price: $180
Style: Road
Weight: 285g (M), 235g (W)
Drop: 10mm
When Nike puts out a new Pegasus, the brand’s longest-running trainer, you had better believe a lot of thought went into it—especially now that the company has made 37 versions. And we can report that the update is a great one, subtly improving on an already excellent all-rounder without putting a foot wrong. The midsole is all new, with springy React foam instead of Cushlon ST and a forefoot air unit—a pocket of air within the midsole. Nike says the air unit is twice as big as previous Pegasus forefoot air units (the previous shoe had a full-length air pocket), and the entire shoe has 2mm more foam than the Pegasus 36. The resulting shoe hits a sweet spot that so many trainers strive for. ‘The ride is comfortable, responsive, and snappy,’ said one tester. ‘Normally you don’t get all three from shoes.’
Soft, smooth, and fast
Nike nailed the cushioning system of the new Air Zoom Pegasus 37. The tall React midsole gives the shoe a similar profile to the Zoom Fly, and the Pegasus 37 does deliver a similar sensation of running atop springy, responsive foam. (Although the new Peg doesn’t feel nearly as bottom heavy.)
Testers heaped praise on the midsole’s ability to provide a snappy, exciting ride that didn’t sap their legs after many miles. ‘The foam material offered a great ride, as well as the Air Zoom to give you that extra snap,’ one said. ‘[The shoe] had a great cushioned ride that didn’t feel slow or sloppy. I am normally a trail runner more than street because my body seems to get a bit beat up on the road, and I really didn’t feel like I took a lot of impact with this shoe.’
Foot-hugging upper
The upper is a textile mesh that’s a bit thinner than the previous perforated mesh; one tester noted that it felt reminiscent of the form-fitting upper on the Vaporfly. The forefoot has ample room but isn’t overly spacious, and a midfoot band, rather than Flywire cables, takes care of midfoot stability. The new design seems to spread out the tension from the laces better than Flywire, which created pressure points for some runners. At the rear, you get an upturned collar with extra padding behind the Achilles, helping keep your heel stuck to the footbed. Some testers got a locked-down fit, but others said the heel cup could’ve held their feet more securely. The upper ventilates well but retains moisture for longer than other mesh constructions.
No skimping on outsole rubber
Nike has largely balked the trend of deleting outsole rubber in favour of weight savings, and we tend to appreciate that: A few millimetres of rubber at every point of the shoe that touches the pavement usually improves the ride and makes us feel more surefooted over sketchy terrain. The Pegasus 37 is no exception, with long strips of rubber on the lateral side (where you tend to see the most wear) and rectangular lugs on the medial side for traction as you push off. Grip was excellent, giving us no problems on wet and dry pavement and gravel.
What one tester said
John K., tester since 2020
Arch height: Flat | Pronation: Overpronator | Footstrike: Midfoot
This durable shoe cushions impact well and really leaves me with a general feeling that I could run more, even when I am finished with longer runs. I found it to be firm and responsive, almost snappy, and work well on speed work days. The shoe has almost a racing fit, but still feels comfortable for the everyday. Tread wear is exceptional as well as construction.
What our deputy digital editor, Jane McGuire said
I’ve been clocking up the miles in these over the past few months and these have soon become my go-to shoe, in a way no other model of pegasus ever has. They are lightweight and responsive and the air zoom bag in the forefoot gives you an extra push you can’t get from foam alone. A good half marathon or marathon shoe for most runners, however the speedier runners out there might find it a little clunky for speed work or race day.
