Since it debuted in 1982, Nike’s iconic Pegasus has come out with a new iteration almost every year. That’s why there’s been a ton of anticipation for the 42nd-generation of the running shoe following the Pegasus 41’s release two years ago now.
Born as an answer to the running industry’s move towards niche sneakers, the Pegasus was made for every runner and has been Nike’s longest-tenured running shoe since. Today, we finally get a look at the Pegasus 42 to see what got revamped this time around.
A Lineage Worth Knowing
The Peg’s story starts in 1983 when Nike launched it as its first mid-priced daily trainer, a heel Air Wedge tucked inside a nylon upper for $50. It sold 300,000 pairs in its first half-year. After a brief and ill-advised hiatus in the late ’90s, Nike brought it back under the Bowerman Series and never looked back. The 27th iteration introduced Zoom Air in 2010, and by the time Pegasus 35 dropped in 2018, the franchise was moving 12 million pairs a year. The 41 brought ReactX foam and full-length Zoom Air together for the first time. Now comes 42, and by Pegasus standards, this one’s significant.
Carbon Fiber Mimicking
The headlining change here is the midsole, and more specifically, the Air Zoom unit inside it. Previous versions relied on separate airbags at the heel and forefoot, but the Pegasus 42 runs a single, curved, full-length Air Zoom unit from end to end. That curvature mirrors the geometry of a carbon fiber plate, promoting a propulsive sensation through the midfoot and into the forefoot push-off. Nike claims 15% greater energy return over the 41, and the architecture of this unit is the reason why.
The Air unit scales in size, pressure, and height with shoe sizing, so a size 13 isn’t just a bigger version of a size 8, but a different unit calibrated for that foot’s load. The Peg Premium, which debuted last year at a higher price point with an exposed full-length Air unit, was essentially the proof of concept. The 42 brings that innovation down to the flagship level.
Same Stack, Smarter Shape
Nike kept the stack height locked at 37mm heel / 27mm forefoot with a 10mm drop. In fact, it’s 90% identical to the previous version, with the remaining 10% concentrated at the toe. A built-in toe spring creates additional space under the forefoot, allowing Nike to sneak in an extra 3mm of foam up front without altering the overall stack. The toe box is also marginally wider, giving the foot more room to splay on longer efforts. These are minor adjustments on paper, but the compounding effect could make the 42 more comfortable over high mileage than anything the franchise has offered before.
Rounding out the construction is ReactX foam in the midsole, a molded footbed, a midfoot band for lockdown, a new breathable engineered upper, and an updated “mini waffle” outsole for traction.
Spec Sheet
Model: Nike Pegasus 42
Upper: Lightweight engineered mesh with midfoot support band
Midsole: ReactX foam with curved, full-length Air Zoom unit
Outsole: Mini waffle rubber
Stack Height: 37mm heel / 27mm forefoot
Drop: 10mm
Footbed: Fully molded sock liner
Sizing: Pressure-tuned Air unit scales with shoe size
Pricing & Availability
Price at $145, the Nike Pegasus 42 drops April 9. Two colorways have been confirmed so far, with more expected to follow. Pegasus Plus and Pegasus Premium variants are also on the way for runners who want more cushioning or a more performance-oriented build.
Recap
Nike Pegasus 42
Nike debuted the Pegasus 42, headlined by a new curved, full-length Air Zoom unit that delivers 15 percent more energy return than its predecessor. The stack height and overall fit stay familiar, but smarter geometry under the toe and a pressure-tuned Air unit that scales with shoe size show Nike put real thought into this one.
