Nike Pegasus Plus 2 review

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 is an interesting running shoe for:

• Heel strikers seeking a responsive Pegasus (unlike the standard model) that works equally well for daily runs and tempo workouts.
• Those who liked the original Pegasus Plus but wanted more cushioning underfoot.
• Nike fans looking to complete their Pegasus rotation with a versatile option for faster paces.
• Runners tired of bulky and wide shoes who prefer a more agile ride.

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 brings some welcome improvements, but its traction still falls well behind many competitors. If you frequently run on wet roads and want more reliable grip, we recommend the PUMA Deviate Pure Nitro as an excellent alternative.

We also believe that despite introducing a new last, the Pegasus Plus 2 remains a poor choice for runners with wide feet. If that's your case, we suggest checking out the Topo Specter 2 instead.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the original Pegasus Plus was its limited shock absorption, which made it a risky bet for Nike in a market increasingly dominated by highly-cushioned shoes. Interestingly, Nike has taken a different approach with the Pegasus Plus 2, adding a visible Air Zoom unit and increasing the stack height compared to its predecessor.

And the extra cushioning really pays off. Our lab tests revealed 147 SA in the heel and 122 SA in the forefoot, both comfortably above average. That's a massive improvement over the original Pegasus Plus, which delivered just 125 SA and 79 SA, respectively, in the same test back in 2024.

One of the biggest talking points of the Pegasus Plus 2 is its combination of ZoomX foam and a forefoot Air Zoom unit, which Nike has introduced to make this second generation more responsive.

We registered a solid 69.0% energy return in the forefoot, comfortably above average. The heel also performed well at 65.5%. However, these results are remarkably similar to what we measured in the previous generation, and we simply couldn't find the massive boost in responsiveness that Nike promised in its marketing.

The Pegasus Plus 2 features a substantial amount of cushioning under the heel, and we confirmed this with our calipers, measuring 37.7 mm.

That's a major departure from the previous-gen design and puts the Pegasus Plus 2 in a much stronger position within today's tempo shoe market, where the winning formula combines responsive cushioning, high shock absorption and a lightweight build.

Moving to the forefoot, we measured 27.3 mm, almost identical to the average and very close to Nike's stated 28 mm.

Our photo of this measurement also reveals just how much space the Air Zoom unit takes up in the forefoot, leaving the ZoomX foam with a much smaller role in this area.

The Pegasus series has already passed its 40th edition as we write this, and one thing we've come to expect year after year is its iconic 10 mm drop.

With the Pegasus Plus 2, Nike sticks to this classic formula, and our measurements revealed just a tiny deviation at 10.4 mm, a difference so small that it's virtually impossible to notice underfoot. As usual, we believe this high-drop geometry works especially well for heel strikers.

It's important to remember that not every ZoomX formulation delivers the same underfoot experience. The Pegasus Plus 2 uses a version tuned for training, and we measured 29.8 AC in our softness test. That's a noticeably softer-than-average result that confirms the shoe's plush cushioning.

Even more impressive was its performance after spending 20 minutes in our freezer. The foam became just 3% firmer, an outstanding result that demonstrates remarkable consistency in its softness when exposed to cold temperatures.

Nike has added some curvature to the forefoot and especially the heel. That said, Nike remains one of the few brands that favor a more conservative forefoot rocker design, even in speed-focused shoes. In fact, we found a similar approach in its super shoes, including the Vaporfly 4.

The most exciting upgrade to the Pegasus Plus 2 is undoubtedly its single, full-width Air Zoom unit. It's very clear that the original Pegasus Plus was clearly inspired by the legendary Pegasus Turbo, while this second generation borrows some DNA from a short-lived but fan-favorite Nike shoe: the Air Zoom Tempo Next%.

It's also worth mentioning that Nike adjusts the Air Zoom unit's dimensions and internal pressure based on shoe size, although this size-specific approach is nothing new for the brand, especially within the Pegasus series.

Nike claims that the redesigned MR-10 2.0 last provides a more accommodating fit than the original Pegasus Plus, particularly around the forefoot. However, our measurements revealed that this isn't an especially spacious shoe.

We created a gel mold of the interior and measured 94.0 mm at its widest point, slightly narrower than average.

We measured just 71.3 mm in this area, another narrower-than-average result. 

In our opinion, this makes the Pegasus Plus 2 a solid option for runners with narrow or medium-width feet, but those requiring a genuinely wide forefoot should look elsewhere, especially as there's no 2E (Wide) size available.

Fortunately, the Pegasus Plus 2 doesn't feel particularly unusual when it comes to vertical toe space, at least according to our measurements.

We recorded a toebox height of 26.8 mm, almost identical to average. This means Nike hasn't gone for an excessively low-profile racing fit, which is cool as many will use the Peg Plus 2 for daily runs or even casual wear too.

Our traction test delivered a rather ordinary result, with a coefficient of just 0.49. We were hoping for a stronger performance here, especially considering how much progress most brands have made in outsole grip.

While this is far from a poor result and traction remains reliable on dry surfaces, we expected more from Nike.

Nike uses a more segmented outsole layout with diagonal patterns and flex grooves instead of a continuous layer of rubber, while retaining some design elements from the iconic Turbo series.

This approach also leaves more of the midsole exposed compared to previous generations, following an increasingly common trend among performance-focused trainers looking to shed unnecessary weight.

One of the biggest changes compared to the original Pegasus Plus and the legendary Pegasus Turbo series is the noticeable increase in forefoot stiffness, largely caused by the addition of the Air Zoom unit. Our 30-degree bend test required 15.7N, putting the Pegasus Plus 2 close to the average and significantly above the 10.5N we recorded in v1.

Therefore, if losing that highly-flexible forefoot feel is a deal-breaker for you, this update might not be the right choice.

At 8.7 oz (247g), the Pegasus Plus 2 weighs almost the same as its predecessor, and we see that as a positive. After all, Nike has added more foam, a big Air Zoom unit, and a more comfortable upper, so keeping the weight under control was no easy task.

On the other hand, some competing tempo trainers manage to weigh significantly less despite packing even more foam underfoot. Therefore, we believe Nike still has room for improvement in this area.

The Pegasus Plus 2 is firmly in neutral territory, and Nike clearly hasn't prioritized stability in this design. In our view, it's not a good match for runners who need extra support, and those looking for a more guided ride should consider the Nike Structure Plus.

The Air Zoom unit may add considerable longitudinal stiffness, but we found that the Pegasus Plus 2 remains easy to twist and surprisingly adaptable from a torsional standpoint. After securing it to our testing machine, we confirmed our initial impressions with a low reading of just 9.7 Nm.

Nike has redesigned the heel area of the Pegasus Plus 2 with a more structured upper and additional padding, aiming to improve comfort and lockdown over the original version.

We assessed the heel counter stiffness at 3/5, almost identical to average.

We found that Nike hasn't followed the increasingly popular trend of making performance trainers exceptionally wide, and we really liked that decision. The Pegasus series has always been known for its agile feel, and the Plus 2 stays true to that tradition.

Our calipers confirmed this approach, revealing a forefoot width of 114.1 mm, slightly narrower than average.

The Pegasus Plus 2 follows a similar philosophy in the heel, where we measured a width of 89.5 mm, slightly below average.

Nike has replaced the Flyknit upper of the original Pegasus Plus with a new engineered mesh, and we were pleased to find that toebox durability remains solid. Our test returned a respectable 3/5, which doesn't set any records but is far from disappointing.

We were pleasantly surprised by how the Pegasus Plus 2 performed in our heel padding durability test, especially considering the additional attention Nike has given to rearfoot comfort.

After attacking the inner lining with our Dremel, we awarded it a solid 4/5, an above-average result. This is excellent news for runners who frequently experience friction around the heel.

The outsole is arguably the weakest point of the Pegasus Plus 2, although we can't say we're particularly surprised given Nike's track record in this area. Grip was meh, and while the 1.1 mm of wear we recorded in our durability test is acceptable, it's still far from impressive.

Nike opted for an outsole thickness of just 2.4 mm, which is noticeably below average but actually quite common among tempo running shoes.

The Pegasus Plus 2 comes with a conventional insole that provides +4.7 mm of foam between the foot and the ZoomX midsole.

We're happy to confirm that the Pegasus Plus 2 features a removable insole, which is always a useful feature in a daily training shoe.

This allows runners like you to replace the original footbed with an aftermarket alternative or your preferred orthotic.

We inspected the shoe and found no reflective details at all. It's a bummer considering how amazing was the Pegasus Premium in this same test.

Nike has redesigned the lacing system, opting for a hybrid setup that combines traditional eyelets at the ends with loops in the middle to help reduce pressure across the instep. We also loved the textured laces, which provide excellent grip and help keep everything securely in place.

Moving to the tongue, we found another clear nod to the tempo running category. Nike has opted for a weight-saving design with just 2.6 mm of padding.

Nike has equipped the Pegasus Plus 2 with a semi-gusseted tongue, attached to both sides of the upper. In our view, this construction helps keep the tongue centered while working alongside the redesigned midfoot containment system. 

The heel features a simple, no-frills design without any pull tab, although we appreciated the overlay featuring the Pegasus+ branding.

It's extremely rare for us to say this, but here we go: Nike has actually lowered the price!

The Pegasus Plus 2 costs $10 less than its predecessor, a welcome surprise in today's market, where price increases have become the norm. However, competition remains fierce, and we believe Nike could benefit from undercutting some of its rivals to regain lost ground in the performance running shoe market.