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I’ve tested the Nike Pegasus 41 and the Nike Pegasus 42 — here's why I’d opt for the older model
After over a decade of testing running shoes, my main piece of advice for anyone seeking value is to buy last-gen models rather than the latest version of popular shoes.
This advice is based on the fact that brands often only make minor updates to new shoes, so the older shoe will offer the same level of performance for less.
However, sometimes there are significant updates to a new shoe, and that’s the case with the Nike Pegasus 42, which has a new midsole design that I have found improves the ride compared with the Nike Pegasus 41.
The question then becomes whether it’s worth making the saving to get the older shoe, even if it's not quite as good as the new one. In the case of the Pegasus, I still think it’s the case, because you can get the Nike Pegasus 41 for just $79 at Nike right now using the code START.
Even if a deal as good as that isn’t always available on the Pegasus 41, it’s always likely to be in a sale somewhere now that the Pegasus 42 is out, so it’s still worth considering over the new shoe.
If you’re picking between the two shoes, here are the questions you need answered.
What’s new with the Nike Pegasus 42?
The main update to the Pegasus 42 is that it has a full-length Air Zoom unit in the midsole, surrounded by ReactX foam. The Pegasus 41 instead used two Air Zoom pods, one under the heel and one under the forefoot.
When testing the Pegasus 42 and doing a short run with it on one foot and the Pegasus 4 on the other, I found that having the full-length unit creates a smoother ride, and the new shoe has a little more pop off the toes, too.
According to Nike, the new shoe somehow also has 3mm more foam under the forefoot while keeping the same stack height and 10mm drop as the Pegasus 41, which also smooths out the ride a little and makes it a little more comfortable under the toes.
Nike has also tweaked the upper on the new shoe to improve the breathability and fit, but I didn’t really notice a big difference on this front — brands almost always say they’ve improved the fit and breathability of an upper with new shoes, I find.
The outsole has been changed to, with the new shoe having less rubber coverage than the Pegasus 41, which might mean the Pegasus 42 is a little less durable in that area, but I expect both shoes to be very long-lasting.
Finally, the Pegasus 42 is actually heavier than the Pegasus 41, probably because of the full-length Air Zoom unit. It’s 10.8oz in my US men’s size 10, whereas the Pegasus 41 is 10.3oz in the same size.
How much will you pay for the Nike Pegasus 41?
The full price of the Pegasus 41 is $140 and the deal you can get right now in the Nike sale is exceptionally good, because it stacks the START code on top of an existing discount of the sneaker. I expect $70-$79 is about as low as the shoe will go this year in big sales periods.
I think you’ll often be able to get the Pegasus 41 for under $100 though — the shoe is widely available for that at sites like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Footlocker right now, which is a considerable saving on the $145 the Pegasus 42 will set you back.
It’s worth clicking around the various colors of the shoe when shopping on the Nike site too, as older designs will usually be reduced by more.
For its part, the Pegasus 42 could well start to appear in sales itself later this year, especially during the Black Friday period. It’s unlikely it will be as cheap as the Pegasus 41, but the equation could change if the price difference is more like $10 rather than $40+.
Nike Pegasus 41 vs Nike Pegasus 42: is it worth paying more for the latest model?
There are improvements to the Pegasus 42 that make the ride smoother and livelier, but these are a little offset by the gain in weight and reduced outsole coverage.
Most importantly, however, they don’t make a significant change to the performance of the shoe, in my opinion. It’s still a comfortable daily trainer that’s good for easy runs and gym workouts, and not particularly impressive at faster speeds.
At the same price, or for $5 more, I’d get the Pegasus 42 myself, but with any sizeable discount, I do think the Pegasus 41 is the smarter buy for most runners, so I’d keep your eyes peeled for deals on the older shoe.
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