Our verdict

The P-6000 is here to celebrate Nike's running heritage. Mixing two iconic Air Pegasus models, the Peg 25 and the Peg 2006, this shoe boasts some incredibly trendy Y2K vibes in a retro-futuristic structure. Its materials are durable yet incredibly breathable, making the P-6000 a wonderful companion for summer adventures (as long as you're ready to be complimented left and right because of its cool aura, that is). Its over-the-top comfort levels and lightweight nature make it suitable to be worn all day every day, and its running soul is always ready to shine in case you gotta dash. Even though it doesn't have any specific Nike technologies, we believe this shoe offers incredible value for money.

Pros

  • Incredibly comfortable for all day wear
  • Amazingly lightweight yet padded
  • Soft and flexible yet slightly bouncy ride
  • Trendiest Y2K vibes
  • Can be used for light runs
  • Great for summer
  • Compliment magnet in any colorway
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Not the best for winter
  • No midsole technologies

Audience verdict

89
Good!
  • Top 25% most popular sneakers

Who should buy

Don't let this old running soul run away from you if you're looking for:

  • A very comfortable pair with durable materials that won't hurt neither your feet nor your wallet.
  • A soft and padded yet extremely breathable pal for your summer adventures.
  • A trendy Y2K shoe with a retro-futuristic vibe that attracts all the looks.
  • Sneakers with a running past that will work if things get sporty.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_01

Who should NOT buy

This shoe is incredibly versatile, and it mixes functionality and style, so we don't really have many negative points to address here. Even though these look like running shoes, they are still sneakers, though. Even though we can actually say you can run in this Nike pair after trying it ourselves during our wear tests, we believe you should have a look at our running shoes catalog if you want to take running seriously.

If you're not on a budget and you're looking for a shoe with a similar vibe and Nike technologies, the Nike Zoom Vomero 5 might be ideal. It features a large Zoom Air unit under the heel, making it one of the best Nike casual models for all-day wear. Also, the P-6000 is extremely breathable, scoring a 5/5 in our test. If you're looking for a shoe that you can wear in winter (and you don't want to be thinking about pairing it with warmer socks to compensate), we suggest you check our winter sneakers.

Nike P-6000_cut_in_pieces

Breathability

The very first moment we saw this shoe, we knew it would be breathable. Just by looking at its upper, we could clearly see a big mesh layer, and that's gotta let the air go in and out!

But we're in the lab to perform tests, right? Not just to hypothesize. Alright, smoke machine, it's your time to shine.

Wow, wow, wow! Look at that! All the smoke comes out so easily through the P-6000's toebox. No obstacles, no complicated overlays, no limitations... nothing! Just a shoe that breaths in and out easily. Consequently, it has earned an incredible 5/5 in our breathability test. Unlike the Nike Blazer Mid 77, which has a full-leather upper that won't let your feet get some fresh air, the P-6000 has proved it's a wonderful companion for summer adventures!

You can see in the video how easy it is for the light to shine through this shoe's upper, showing once again its breathability levels remain unmatched.

Nike P-6000 Breathability_3

We wanted to know more about the materials, so we grabbed our microscope and started analyzing these Nikes' toebox. Apart from the red tail of the Swoosh, we can see a mix of leather (silver) and mesh (white). In the latter, there are multiple ventilation holes with a thin layer underneath.

Nike P-6000 Breathability_4

The top white overlayer has thicker thread patterns, yet the ones after those seem to be thinner. This promises great breathability, but also nice durability. Let's check it out!

Test results
P-6000 5
Average 3.1
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

When a shoe gets a high score in breathability, it usually underperforms in durability, especially in the toebox. Nevertheless, our microscope showed us that the P-6000 might be ready to break that rule.

We aimed our Dremel directly at the mesh, and when we saw the results we couldn't keep our mouths closed. Like, we did expect this Nike's upper to do great, but... this great? It's a budget shoe!

Nike P-6000 Toebox durability_2

With the smallest of scratches, the P-6000 proudly showed it's made to last! If you look at the picture, you might not even believe we used our Dremel at 5K RPM and 3.2N during 4 seconds.

Well, this is what a clean 5/5 in durability looks like. Nike, you've got our utmost respect!

Test results
P-6000 5
Average 3.9
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Before we start with this section, there are two things that we want you to know. First, the heel is usually the weakest point of a sneaker; second, the upper and the heel padding durability might not get the same score.

Don't get fooled by thinking the shoe's structure and materials are all the same!

Another great victory, we would say! The Dremel has been defeated twice in a row, and trust us, that's not something very common.

Nike P-6000 Heel padding durability_2

We can see in the picture that the heel's material is slightly messed up. But just enough for the P-6000 to get a 4/5 in our heel padding durability test. Another great and better-than-average score!

Test results
P-6000 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Once we turned this shoe upside down, we were welcomed by a heavily running-inspired outsole. And we loved it!

Nike P-6000 Outsole hardness_1

At 84.8 HC, our durometer knows it well: this shoe's outsole is just as hard as the average. This usually means a wonderful mix of traction and durability. Stay tuned and check with us if it's actually true!

Test results
P-6000 84.8 HC
Average 85.2 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
72.9 HC
Outsole hardness
90.5 HC

Outsole durability

After two strepitous losses, our Dremel had one last chance to regain its honor as our main shoe destroyer.

At 10K RPM and with 3.2N of force, our tool attacked the P-6000's outsole during 22 seconds.

It went all in for that specific lug you can see in the picture, yet the damage wasn't big. We measured the dent with our gauge, which returned barely 0.6 mm! This is a whole 40% less than average.

Nike P-6000 Outsole durability_2

In other words, this shoe is made to last from head (or... collar?) to toe!

Test results
P-6000 0.6 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

After checking how durable the P-6000's outsole is, we were curious to see Nike's approach regarding its thickness. Would the brand go for a thick rubber piece to make it even more durable? Or would it opt for a thinner layer to reduce the shoe's overall weight?

Nike P-6000 Outsole thickness_1

At 3.5 mm, our caliper indicated that this shoe's outsole is way thinner than average. Honestly, we believe this is a very smart move from Nike. That is, the P-6000's outsole is already durable and hard, so why would the brand use more material? This would just increase the overall weight, and we definitely don't want that!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_011

Test results
P-6000 3.5 mm
Average 5.5 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Outsole thickness
12.5 mm

Weight

In our wear tests, our feet felt incredibly happy with this shoe. And trust us, it's not just because of its wonderful breathability, but also thanks to how lightweight it felt!

Walking around town was a breeze, and we enjoyed every single step of the way. Its featherlike nature made the P-6000 even more comfortable. And that is A LOT. For real, this shoe is just every foot's dream.

When we took this Nike to our lab (and yeah, we were pretty sad we had to take it off!) our scale showed 10.3 oz/292.0g. In other words, this shoe is an incredible 38% lighter than the other models in its category.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_010

We absolutely loved it, and so did our feet! This stylish sneaker mixes 3 incredible key points that are very rarely seen working together: breathability, durability, and lightness. The best part of it all? It comes in a trendy Y2K design!

And we can't get enough of it.

Test results
P-6000 10.30 oz (292g)
Average 13.83 oz (392g)
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
22.61 oz (641g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

At 29.7 mm, our caliper indicated that this Nike's heel stack is just about average.

Nike P-6000 Heel stack_1

We found this pretty interesting. The P-6000 doesn't have any technologies in its midsole, and it's not like its heel is the highest ever, yet our feet found this shoe incredibly comfortable. It feels super soft on foot:

Believe us, we could walk and walk..., and then walk some more! We're not gonna lie, we didn't expect this model to include all the brand's fancy stuff, it's a budget shoe after all. But we also didn't expect it to be THIS comfortable.

Test results
P-6000 29.7 mm
Average 29.6 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

On the other hand, its forefoot stack is just a little high higher than average.

Nike P-6000 Forefoot stack_1

At 20.7 mm, our feet enjoyed a mix of cushioning and ground feel. We can't say we felt every pebble under our toes, but we also didn't feel unstable when we were walking around town.

Test results
P-6000 20.7 mm
Average 18.7 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
28.3 mm

Drop

Once we had the forefoot and heel stacks, we calculated this shoe's drop. At 9.0 mm, it's once again average, so our feet didn't feel anything different when went to the shops or on a night out.

Nike P-6000 Drop_1

Do you remember that we were saying this shoe doesn't have any specific technologies from the brand? You can see it better in this picture. We cut every single shoe that gets the VIP pass for our lab in half so we can check even the smallest details!

In this case, we can see a small plastic shank in the midfoot (that gray wave you can see following the black outsole). This added some extra support to the P-6000's ride, which is always super welcomed!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_013

Test results
P-6000 9.0 mm
Average 10.9 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
4.6 mm
Drop
22.6 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The softer foam of this shoe is one of the main reasons why our feet loved walking in it so much.

Nike P-6000 Midsole softness_1

At 20.4 HA, our durometer indicated it's softer than average. Which translates into...? Right, you guessed it! Comfort!

But wait, wait. It's not just comfort! When we tried this shoe in our wear tests, we could even feel a little bit of bounce from it. With no Nike technologies around!

Test results
P-6000 20.4 HA
Average 29.2 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 56 sneakers
Number of shoes
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
60.0 HA

Insole thickness

In order to keep such a low weight, Nike went for a pretty thin insole.

Nike P-6000 Insole thickness_1

At 3.2 mm, our caliper indicated there's nothing special here. Just a thinner-than-average insole that can easily be changed for your own orthotics (oops, spoiler alert!).

Test results
P-6000 3.2 mm
Average 5.2 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
14.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

As a former running shoe, the P-6000 proudly showed us its sporty past in our lateral stability test.

Its durable materials and ribcage structure held our ankles and feet in place when we walked around town. So, apart from being comfortable, this Nike's upper is also well-structured.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_06

We just can't believe this shoe is that cheap yet that... crazy? Comfy, stylish, and also stable!

Torsional rigidity

Even though we did feel safe when we walked around town in this shoe, its structure and materials were not too rigid.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_08

Wait, let us explain. When you get a shoe like the Nike Air Force 1 07, which scored a 5/5 in our torsional rigidity test, it will most likely require a break-in period. Why? Well, because its upper materials need to give it a little bit before the shoe can give you its maximum comfort levels.

Here we have the AF 1 07 and its 5/5 in our torsional rigidity test

And there, the P-6000 and its 3/5 in the same torsional rigidity test

As you can see, our fingers struggled way less in this second case. That's another reason why we found this shoe so comfortable right out of the box!

Test results
P-6000 3
Average 3.4
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

Tracking back once again to the P-6000's running past, its heel counter is quite stiff, making sure our feet stayed right where they should.

It's clearly designed to hold your heel in place, and we couldn't get enough of it. The best part is that it scored a 4/5 on our heel counter stiffness test, which means it gave us all the support without a rough start. So, yeah, no blisters and no hot spots!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_07

PS: Can you see the tiny Swoosh at the very back of the shoe and the P-6000 in red? We are big fans of the minimalistic yet stylish branding of the P-6000!

Test results
P-6000 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Another average measure: our caliper indicated the midsole width in the forefoot is neither too wide, nor too narrow!

Nike P-6000 Midsole width in the forefoot_1

At 109.0 mm, our feet felt pretty comfortable, and it's not like we felt we lacked space to land. In other words, the P-6000 base is wide enough for our ride to be full of confidence.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_016

Test results
P-6000 109.0 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

Midsole width - heel

The heel is also pretty much average, and we had no complaints!

Nike P-6000 Midsole width in the heel_1

Our caliper reading at 84.4 mm and this shoe's snug structure in the heel are a perfect combo. Our standard-sized feet felt comfortable and safe. Ready for any adventures the tomorrow would bring!

Test results
P-6000 84.4 mm
Average 83.0 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
67.7 mm
Midsole width - heel
103.1 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

One more section where we get to praise the P-6000! There's a lot we want to say about this shoe's flexibility, but let's start with our flex test.

Only 13.9N of force were needed to make this shoe bend all the way up to 90 degrees. And that's literally nothing! An incredible 43% less than average. This explains why this Nike happily bent alongside our feet every single time. This makes the ride incredibly comfortable, and we agree that's this shoe's main feature!

As a side note, this shoe's interiors are quite padded and, as you can see in the video, its upper materials are even a little bit stretchy!

We love it. Our feet love it. People around us love it (based on the crazy amount of compliments we've got). And our wallet loves it!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_03

But it gets even better. Even though we'll talk about the P-6000's outsole more deeply when we address its traction, there's something that we want to mention. Let us give you a hint before we get to that section: the grooves in between the lugs rows are the key!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_04

Test results
P-6000 13.9N
Average 22.9N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
5.8N
Stiffness
60.5N

Grip / Traction

The P-6000's running past didn't let us down regarding traction, as its outsole bit on every surface.

This model's outsole is the same as the Air Pegasus 2006's and it features the brand's typical waffle pattern, look at those square lugs! Additionally, the rubber is widespread, which means the midsole exposure in this model doesn't jeopardize its durability.

Nike P-6000 Lug depth_1

As we mentioned before, there are white lines in between the lug lines. That's another reason why this shoe is so flexible. It accommodates our feet' moves because there's no rubber in those rows, so the sole bends easily, following our path.

Size and fit

Size

Nike P-6000 is true to size (143 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how do you like the size?

Small True to size Large
Compared to 80 sneakers
Number of shoes
Small
True to size
Large

Toebox width - widest part

At 99.8 mm, this shoe's toebox width at the widest part is, once again, average.

Nike P-6000 Toebox width at the widest part_1

Our standard-sized feet didn't feel like they needed some extra space. Overall, as we've mentioned countless times throughout this review, we felt really comfortable!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_012

Test results
P-6000 99.8 mm
Average 98.8 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
91.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
107.7 mm

Toebox width - big toe

When a shoe narrows all its way up to the tip, some people might feel uncomfortable. That is, when the space starts getting smaller and smaller, your toes might feel cramped and end up hurting.

Nike P-6000 Toebox width at the big toe_2

But... that's not the case of the P-6000! At 79.4 mm, its round toebox was like a dream come true for our feet. We could spread our toes comfortably, and this amount of space also led to stable landings. Yeah, we know these are sneakers. But it has a running soul. So, if needed, believe us when we say you can actually run in this!

If you want to take running seriously, though, then please have a look at our running shoes catalog. If you're late to the shops or the bus is right about to leave, don't worry, you can trust the P-6000 to be the Yohan Blake to your Usain Bolt!

Test results
P-6000 79.2 mm
Average 74.8 mm
Compared to 70 sneakers
Number of shoes
63.7 mm
Toebox width - big toe
83.0 mm

Comfort

Tongue padding

Our caliper is not used to measuring tongues THIS thick! It had to open wide to let us see an incredible score of 16.9 mm. Only the Vans Half Cab (20.4 mm), the Adidas Campus 00S (23.0 mm), and the Vans Knu Skool (38.4 mm) have tongues that are more padded according to our lab results.

Nike P-6000 Tongue padding_1

A 4th position in a ranking where loads and loads participate is pretty impressive, if you ask us. All this padding leveled up the shoe's comfort, and it made us forget that lace bite or any kind of hotspots existed!

It also has the coolest detail in the tongue, look.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_05

There's a lace which, apart from keeping the laces in place, also shows everyone the surname of one of Nike's co-founders: Bowerman. William Jay Bowerman was an American track and field coach who founded Nike, previously called Blue Ribbon Sports, with his athlete and friend Phil Knight.

Nike P-6000_outdoor_015

We absolutely loved this detail and hint to one of the company's fathers. If you want to know more about Nike and/or you're a little bit of a number geek (just like us), don't forget to check this article out!

Test results
P-6000 16.9 mm
Average 9.1 mm
Compared to 71 sneakers
Number of shoes
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
38.4 mm

Heel tab

Neither the Air Pegasus 2006 nor the Air Pegasus 25 feature a heel tab, and the P-6000 follows their example!

Nike P-6000_outdoor_09

Even though heel tabs are always helpful, it's not like we missed it in this shoe. It was pretty easy to put on and off, so no complaints here!

Test results
P-6000 None

Removable insole

Matching this colorway's details, the P-6000 features a red removable insole!

Nike P-6000 Removable insole_1

Another wonderful detail from the brand. Not only in terms of practicality, as a removable insole means you can use your own orthotics, but also regarding style!

Nike P-6000 Removable insole_2

Test results
P-6000 Yes

Misc

Reflective elements

Yeah, we know it's hard to believe this is a budget shoe! But it doesn't include any of the special reflective elements that some more expensive pairs might feature.

Nike P-6000 Reflective elements_1

Nevertheless, Nike indicates that this shoe does have reflective materials. Well, as you can see in the picture above, we'll have to disagree regarding this colorway!

Test results
P-6000 No