Nike Pegasus 41 Prm Review

Nike Pegasus 41 PRM Review 

Introduction 

For Nike, the Pegasus is the gift that keeps on giving. You just have to search “Pegasus” on Nike’s website and you’ll see pages and pages of different Pegasus styles, spin-off series and limited edition versions. As time goes on, the Pegasus product line gets bigger and bigger without showing signs of slowing down.  

Year after year, the Pegasus is a bestseller for Nike without them even having to spend much on advertising it. For 41 years, the Pegasus has been a staple in the Nike performance running range. And during that time, it has become known for its affordability, its consistency and its high level of build quality.  

There are 3 main pillars in the Pegasus road running family: Icon, Plus and Premium. This is the Icon version or “base” model. The lighter Plus version was launched in the second half of this year with a full ZoomX midsole and the Premium version with a full-length Zoom Air unit will be launched in the first half of next year.  

The Pegasus is a neutral, mid-range daily trainer which is designed to be a crowd-pleaser. It competes with other massively popular daily trainers like the Brooks Ghost, Hoka Clifton, New Balance 880 and Adidas Supernova Rise.  

This year’s Pegasus 41 is a completely different design to the 40th version- it has a new upper, midsole and outsole. It weighs 23 grams more than the Pegasus 40 and it has 4 mm more stack height in both the heel and forefoot.  

This is the PRM special edition of the Pegasus which has an engineered lace toggle, reflective lace eyelet strips and additional Pegasus details throughout the upper which the regular version doesn’t have.  

Specifications 

Sole 

The Pegasus 41 is the first Pegasus to get a ReactX (TPE + EVA) midsole. The previous 4 models had React midsoles. Nike claims that ReactX is 13% more responsive than React. Its carbon footprint is also 43% less than React thanks to a reduction in manufacturing process energy. This is the same foam used in the Nike InfinityRN 4. 

The biggest difference between last year’s midsole and this year’s is the extra stack height. The Pegasus 41 has 4 mm more foam in its heel and 4 mm more in its forefoot, which results in a softer ride with more cushioning depth. The offset between the heel and forefoot is still 10 mm, the signature Pegasus offset.  

Another signature Pegasus feature is the Air Zoom. There are 2 Air Zoom units, 1 in the forefoot and 1 in the heel. The heel unit is covered by a thick cellulose board so you don’t feel it but you can feel the outline of the unit in the front, underneath your forefoot. The Air Zoom units are designed to provide a more energised ride.  

On the medial side of the midsole by the midfoot, it looks like there’s a firmer wedge to support the arch but it’s just painted to look that way. The Pegasus has a single-density midsole with no additional stability features. The Pegasus 41 has a slightly wider base than its predecessor which results in a slightly more stable ride.  

Outsole 

The outsole of the Pegasus is perhaps one of the toughest and most durable on the market. Almost the entire outsole is protected by thick, hard-wearing rubber and the exposed midsole foam is also resistant to scuffs, scratches and chips.  

There are no horizontal flex grooves in the forefoot, so the forefoot of the Pegasus 41 is stiffer than your average mid-range daily trainer. The large airbag in the forefoot also contributes to the stiffness. There are holes punched into the rubber which help to save a bit of weight.  

The Pegasus 41 outsole has the signature Pegasus Waffle lug pattern to help with grip. The raised rectangles bite into the ground to provide more traction during foot strikes. You should easily be able to get 800-1000 km of mileage out of the Pegasus 41 before the outsole wears down.  

Upper 

The double-layer engineered mesh upper of the Pegasus 41 is soft to the touch and conforms to your feet. There are numerous ventilation holes on top of the toe-box so breathability has improved over the Pegasus 40.  

There’s an internal heel counter which is stiffer than the Pegasus 40. This results in better heel structure/support and better overall stability. The inside of the collar and heel are covered with a smooth, velvet-feeling lining that feels luxurious.  

The main difference between this PRM version and the regular version is the type of laces used. An engineered race toggle replaces the standard, flat laces. The toggle laces make it quicker to tighten and quicker to loosen when you want to take the shoe off. The fully gusseted tongue is padded and doesn’t move around.  

There are double first-row eyelets for if you want to use a runner’s knot but you’ll have to change the laces. You can’t tie a runner’s knot using the toggle laces. An image of the Pegasus wings are on the eyelet protectors- another feature unique to the PRM version.  

The Pegasus PRM version also  has better low-light visibility than the regular Pegasus. The eyelet straps on both sides are reflective, and there are also thin reflective strips on the sides of the heel counter.  

The Pegasus 41 has a true to size fit with a typical Nike narrow fit. It also comes in wide versions if you have wide feet and you need the additional width.  

Ride 

One of the reasons why runners keep coming back to the Pegasus is because of how little its ride changes from iteration to iteration. If you were to close your eyes, put on the Pegasus 41 and run in it, you would instantaneously know that it’s a Pegasus without even seeing the shoe.  

The Pegasus has a very distinct ride, with most of its cushioning concentrated in the rear of the shoe. It’s a trainer that’s more suited to heel strikers than forefoot strikers as there is 10 mm more foam in the heel than the forefoot.  

It has smooth transitions from the heel to the midfoot, and then when you reach the forefoot, you can feel the prominent airbag. The flexible forefoot makes the ride feel natural and relaxed.  

It has a medium-firm ride which is best suited to distances up to 25 kilometres at a relaxed pace. There’s no plate or shank in the Pegasus 41 so it doesn’t assist you in speeding up. It’s best for easy or recovery runs.  

The Pegasus 41 is a daily workhorse designed for eating up mileage. It’s the default shoe that you reach for, for most of your easy runs when you want a trainer that’s comfortable, cushioned and durable.  

Conclusion 

The Pegasus is the oldest running shoe series in the world and it will continue being a stalwart for the foreseeable future. The latest version is a definite improvement over last year’s Pegasus 40.  

The Pegasus 41 has more cushioning and more long-distance comfort than any previous Pegasus. It has a slightly more energetic ride and it has a more environmentally friendly midsole foam. The only category it hasn’t improved in is weight.  

Compared to other competing mid-range daily trainers in the same category, the Pegasus is by far the most consistent from version to version. If you don’t like change, and you want a ride which you know and expect, the Pegasus is the trainer for you.  

The Pegasus could be improved by reducing the weight. Nike could change the midsole foam to make it lighter. They could also remove the airbag and replace it with ZoomX foam to make the ride smoother and more lively.  

In an all Nike rotation, the Pegasus 41 fills the role of the daily trainer for most of your runs. The Zoom Fly 6 can be used for speedwork and the Vaporfly 3 or Alphafly 3 can be used for racing.  

Reviewed by Brandon law

Check out the Nike Pegasus 41 PRM here