Nike Pegasus 41 review: a brilliant everyday all-rounder

Nike Pegasus 41: Two-Minute review

The Nike Pegasus 41 isn’t the best running shoe in nearly any of the specialist categories you can think of, and for that reason, it’s probably the best shoe for nearly everyone.

The Pegasus 41 is a mainstay, your only dance move, ol’ reliable. There’s a reason this shoe has been around since 1982. It doesn’t have a carbon plate or a super light upper, it’s not a race-day shoe or a high-mileage hero with more foam than a mattress. Quite simply, it’s the one running shoe that I’d recommend for almost everyone in nearly every situation.

Of course, if you’re an experienced runner with multiple shoes in rotation and a bandolier full of Kendal Mint cake, the Pegasus 41 might not be on your radar. Even still, I’d argue it’s a brilliant middle-distance everyday trainer and a perfect starting point for beginners and enthusiasts looking to return to running. There’s a running shoe for every distance and discipline these days, but if you only ever buy one, I’d probably make it the Pegasus 41.

I’ve had the Nike Pegasus 39 for a number of years, variously used for running, the gym, grocery shopping, and beyond. I couldn’t quite believe just how much the Pegasus had improved when I first laced on the Pegasus 41.

New for the latest Pegasus is a full-length foam midsole made from Nike’s ReactX foam (the first Pegasus to feature it). My 39s definitely feel pretty squashed and battered, so it’s great to see Nike boosting overall durability and responsiveness, an upgrade that is immediately evident underfoot.

At any pace, there’s a lot more cushioning than I expected with the Pegasus 41. It’s not going to offer the ultra-plush ride of the Nike Invincible 3 or the upcoming Vomero 18, but I was pleasantly surprised nonetheless.

The cushioning is loaded towards the heel, as you can probably tell from the profile of the shoe, and this is definitely a shoe engineered more for heel strikers. The heel stack clocks in at 37mm, 4mm more than the previous trainer, a good indicator of how much more cushioning Nike has added.

If you fall somewhere in the middle you should be fine, but anyone running on the forefoot might find the sensation a little strange because there’s not much cushioning up front. You do get a forefoot (and heel) Air Zoom unit, but I found this leads to a pretty firm feel at the front. At the back, it works much better.

The entire upper of the Pegasus 41 is really very comfortable. There’s a more breathable mesh compared to previous versions, and something Nike calls the Dynamic Midfoot Fit system. The laces are tied to an internal midfoot band that wraps around your entire foot. The shoe feels really snug and secure from heel to toe and comes laced, out of the box, so you can get running without doing any rewiring.

I also think the Pegasus 41 is unbelievably stylish. I normally wouldn’t go for a black colorway, but even the dark option I was sent is a head-turner in my opinion. There are a ton of colorways including the stunning Blueprint and the electric Racer Blue, which is new for 2025.

You’ll find that the Pegasus is a little heavier than other everyday shoes like the Saucony Ride 17, but it’s not clunky or cumbersome.

As mentioned, this isn’t really a specialist shoe. If you’re a runner looking for the softest, plushest ride possible, then there are far squishier and more pliable options on the market. Likewise, if you want something with a bit more rock and responsiveness underfoot, you’ll definitely find zippier shoes out there. For races and speedwork, any speed shoe or carbon-plated alternative will give you the edge, and the Pegasus 41 isn’t a shoe for lighting up the timesheets.

During my runs I found the Pegasus 41 to be extremely neutral. The ride is very inoffensive and pretty comfortable, but it doesn’t give you a sense of being propelled along the ground. There’s certainly a bit more response compared to my Pegasus 39s, and the rocker motion is also a lot more noticeable than that older shoe. Nike has definitely improved the formula relative to that model, though it’s still modest compared to the wider market.

It’s also noticeably more stable than my previous Pegasus. I found very little lateral movement inside the shoe, and even over bumpier or uneven ground, stability felt very solid.

I’d say for longer distances the Pegasus 41 will probably start to fall off; that firm and thin forefoot just doesn’t offer enough cushioning. However, I think it’s excellent as a short and middle-distance shoe. While it can’t match the best gym shoes on the market, it’s also perfectly good for your warmup and stretching, and even a bit of strength and agility work.

The shoe is snug but pretty spacious, I have fairly large feet and didn’t feel any cramping in the toe box or any discomfort.

Nike Pegasus 41: price & availability

• $140/£129/$200 AUD 
• Men’s and women’s options, myriad of colors
• Frequently discounted

The Nike Pegasus 41 is available from Nike.com and a plethora of third-party retailers. Its list price sits at $140 / £129 / AU$200 but even a cursory glance around the web will score you a pretty hefty discount.

There’s a huge range of colors, these vary depending on whether you’re picking men’s, women’s, or juniors. There’s also an Extra Wide variant for the larger-footed among you. The Pegasus 41 runs true to size, so no need to size up or down.

Nike Pegasus 41: specifications

Nike Pegasus 41: Scorecard

Should I buy the Nike Pegasus 41?

Buy if it…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

How I tested

I used the Nike Pegasus 41 for a series of longer and shorter runs, including some interval training, over several days.

First reviewed: February 2025