Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo

I almost immediately fell in love with these shoes, or perhaps I was an easy victim of Nike’s amazing marketing. I last ran on Nike shoes only a few hundred kilometers a couple of years ago, and I have never been a fan of Nike because, generally, I don’t believe they are a great fit for my wide feet.

I was in a Nike store for buying running socks and a hat, but I went away with a pair of Nike Pegasus Turbo too. I loved it as soon as I saw how light this model is.

Stride & transition

This is the light/race version of Pegasus. So, compared with the parent model, these trainers are much lighter and more suitable for faster sessions or race day.

I think that if you train with Nikes, Nike Pegasus Turbo is a perfect choice for race day, especially for distances above 5k.

I really like the heel pad. Some models tend to have a cumbersome heel pad, which promotes a heel strike. With Pegasus Turbo, this doesn’t happen.

This shoe will help you run with your natural type of strike, regardless of whether you have a heel, mid-foot, or forefoot strike. The transition is very smooth, and the cushioning is just enough.

Design

The design is great. I prefer the version with the red stripe, but I could only find the blue stripe version in my size.

I think there is no argument in saying that these trainers are among the best designs in the market. There is nothing I dislike about the design; everything is very cool.

Fit

They are true to size, but if you have big toes, you may have some issues. In the shop, I managed to run a minute in the shoes before my big toe started rubbing with the stripe. I thought that it was just a matter of giving it time and running some miles in them. 

However, even after dozens of miles, I still had that problem with my toe. So, the Nike Pegasus Turbo is not a good model for my feet, especially for long distances. You can not run hours at a steady effort, with discomfort like that.

That is one of the reasons why I didn’t switch to Nike Pegasus Turbo for race day.

Runner profile & workouts

Nike Pegasus Turbo is a must for those runners who do daily runs on Pegasus and for those who are generally neutral Nike runners. They are suitable for fast workouts and race day, especially for longer distances from 5k up to marathons.

One note of warning, most neutral Nike models, especially the lightest ones, amplify gait problems. I have very mild pronation, and this is more pronounced on my right side compared to what it is when I am wearing most neutral shoes.

For that reason and lack of room for my big toe, I decided not to wear these shoes on race day. If you don’t have the issues above, go for them. They are great trainers, but you must have the gait for them.

While, for that concern, the surface track and road are fine, while I wouldn’t use them for trails, especially in the winter. They are one of the lightest shoes for road running available on the market. For example, UK 7 (EU 41) is only 209g.

Durability

I didn’t log a lot of miles on these shoes, but the overall quality seems to be one of the best, considering the market. I have seen shoes that sell at a similar price but are much lower quality.

The outsole and upper sole seem very durable, and I estimate its life to last 400 miles. Considering the weight and the purpose of the shoe, that’s a lot.

Comparison

Compared to the Pegasus, the Nike Pegasus Turbo are much lighter and more suitable for race day. As such, rotating between Pegasus and Pegasus Turbo would be a smart choice. Both shoes have the same kind of fit.

When compared with Zoom Fly, people typically consider Zoom Fly to be more suitable for race day. However, Pegasus Turbo has nothing less (it’s a 50/50). It is really up to the athlete which shoe to wear for race day.

Compared with Vaporfly 4%, Pegasus Turbo shares ZoomXfoam with Vaporfly 4%, but without the carbon plate. If you cannot find or afford Vaporfly, Pegasus Turbo is a very good option.

Pros

• Good-quality materials
• Captivating design
• Light
• Just enough cushioning

Cons

• Price tag
• No much room for a big toe

Conclusion

In recent years, Nike has invested a lot of effort in improving their offer regarding their running shoes becoming one of the best brands. Pegasus Turbo is a perfect choice for runners who already train on neutral Nikes. 

However, the comfort is not the best, the captivating design is at the expense of comfort, and the stripe doesn’t give enough room for the big toe. Also, as in the case with other light neutral running shoes from Nike, the Nike Pegasus Turbo tends to amplify defects in the gait, especially if you have a mild pronation.

My verdict is that it is a must-have shoe but only if you already run on Nikes, or your gait is perfect, and you don’t have wide feet.

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is actually a combination of some of the previous Nike running shoe models. It has elements from the Pegasus 35, the React and from the Vaporfly 4%.

There has been a lot of hype around this shoe, as is often the case with the running shoes Nike launches. I was just really curious to find out if it could live up to that hype or not. Nike promises an 85% energy return, their highest yet, and therefore making it a fast shoe. It’s also a very light shoe, it only weighs 238 grams.

This shoe is basically a somewhat cheaper version of the Vaporfly 4%, but without the carbon fiber plate. The Vaporfly 4% claimed to make you run 4% faster (which could bring down your marathon time by minutes).

The New York Times has proven that the Vaporfly actually does make you 4% faster and that it isn’t only an empty marketing promise. Although the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo doesn’t make any such promises, it does use the same kind of foam as the Vaporfly 4% and it does promise a high energy return.

Upper

The upper is made out of Flymesh with Flywire on either side of your foot to give it a more secure fit.

The upper is made out of two layers, the see-through mesh layer (which feels a bit like plastic) and an inner mesh layer underneath which looks more like Flyknit. Even though the mesh looks very breathable, the shoe was a little hot. Apparently, the two layers of mesh together made the shoe a little less breathable.

The shoe has a tight heel counter that keeps your heel in place and the collar extends upward and outwards to guide your achilles.

I have a bit of a wide forefoot and a small heel and this sometimes becomes a problem, but I had no issues with the heel of this shoe since I was securely locked in.

Midsole

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo has the same ZoomX foam which was used in the Vaporfly 4%.

The initial feeling you get with the midsole is that it’s a very cushioned shoe. It’s a kind of marshmallowy feel where you sink into it a little bit. But while running in it you also have a surprising amount of ground feel.

Outsole

The outsole is made of rubber and foam which small lugs to give you some traction. And although the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is a road shoe, it does hold up reasonably well on easy trails. It is also quite durable, after more than 50 miles in the shoe the outsole hardly shows any signs of wear.

Performance

The shoes are very responsive and have a good energy return, it feels like someone is slightly pushing you forward the entire time you’re running.

It does feel a little bit like you’re flying. It is, therefore, a good 5k or 10k running shoe (I actually ran my new 10k PB in them), but the amount of ground feel makes it a bit difficult to run longer distances in them. Especially when you’re a heel striker and not a super fast runner (this is probably less of an issue if you’re a 2-hour forefoot striking marathon runner).

I found a 10 miler to still be reasonably comfortable in the shoe, but the ground feel did start to bother me towards the end of the run. Even though the midsole feels like a marshmallow, that marshmallow flattens quickly when you land on it, so you can still clearly feel the road beneath your feet.

I also wonder how long the marshmallow feel will last in this shoe (although so far I haven’t had any issues yet). This combined with the lack of support on the inside of the shoe makes that I would not use this shoe to run a marathon in.  

Fit

The shoe has a wide enough toe box to give your toes enough room to play. And the mesh fabric is flexible enough to give you enough room where you need it. The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo just isn’t very high in the front, which might be an issue for some.

I had half a size bigger than my normal size and that gave me just about enough space in the front. Could have probably gone a full size up.

Look

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo comes in several color options.

I had the clearly recognizable seafoam green/grey with hot pink ones, although to me it looked more like neon orange. Seafoam green with hot pink would not be the colors I would have personally picked when buying a running shoe, but it actually kind of works.

The shoe also has a very recognizable stripe running from the tongue down the front of the shoe to the outsole. It makes the shoe look fast.

Conclusion

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is a fast shoe and you do feel a bit like you’re flying down the road.

It is a good 5 or 10-kilometer racing shoe and it is also still comfortable for slightly longer training runs. But the medial instability and the ground feel prohibit it from being a great marathon shoe.

Yes, the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is very comfortable and a good road shoe, but will not protect you enough during hours and hours of pounding on the roads.

I got the Nike Pegasus Turbo because as someone with a lot of running injuries in my past, I am always looking for some cushioning. When I saw the hype train that these are very springy shoes, with ZoomX and React foam, I had to try it out.

Unboxing

The box that they came in was nothing special, just the standard orange Nike box, but I was very pleased when I opened the box up. The colors online did not do justice to the vibrant colors that I saw when I opened it! 

The shoe itself looked like the Vaporfly 4% and the Pegasus 35 got together and had a child that liked to compete in bowling, despite being an elite runner.

The stripe down the upper of the shoe carries into the outsole on the front of the shoes. I actually really liked that it was reminiscent of a bowling shoe since I think it gave the shoe some personality, as opposed to a lot of other running shoes that aren’t exciting to look at. 

I was a little confused as to why the tongue was so long. I am not sure why Nike made this design choice since it didn’t seem to add to the performance of the shoe, and the aesthetic of it seemed a little odd to me. Not too distracting, but just odd.

Overall, I think it’s a good-looking shoe, but how does it perform?

Performance

I have put about 20 miles into this shoe and so far, I don’t think that my impressions of the shoe have changed much since the first run. But I did get to know the shoe a little bit better after I put some miles on it.

Fit

The shoe was very comfortable from the first time I laced it up. The shoe hugs your foot along the top with the Flywire lacing that allows a tight lockdown on the foot. I am a big fan whenever Nike uses this since the way that Nike shoes tend to fit requires me to go a half size up. 

The lacing system allows for the shoe to still feel snug along the top of the foot but allows some room in the toe box. 

The toe box looks really narrow, but I still found that I was able to splay my toes within the shoe.

The collar of the shoe is nicely padded, and the ankle tab is kind of funky looking since it flares out, but I still didn’t feel like there was slippage of the shoe because of it. The flare out was actually kind of nice as it makes it easier to put on. 

Ride

Full disclosure, my review may be different than others that you have read since I am a mid-foot striker and a heel striker might feel differently about the shoe.

With that out of the way, I should say that this is a noticeably cushy ride. From the moment your foot touches down, I felt the compression of the cushy foam underfoot. 

As I pushed forward, I felt that the shoe pushed me forward, with a rocker motion. Not quite like a heavily padded Hoka shoe, but I still noticed it a bit. 

One thing that I was a little disappointed in was that I didn’t necessarily feel the energy return that I felt in the Vaporfly or even the Pegasus 35. It wasn’t a springy ride, but I definitely felt the shock absorption in the shoe. 

Pros

• Nice cushion/shock absorption
• Comfortable upper
• Interesting aesthetic of the upper
• Outsole has a nice grip on it

Cons

• Responsiveness is lacking
• Stripe down the middle limits flexibility
• Durability seems like it will be an issue on the outsole

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo is a shoe that, when I first tried it on, I simply had to have it. It was one of those Wayne’s Worlds moments: “oh yes, they will be mine.”

The only issue for me was the shocking $180 price tag. As a teacher and coach (a.k.a. not someone who is rolling in expendable funds), this is a big investment.

When the new Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 came out, and the original Turbos went on sale. I decided to try out my first pair of Nike road running shoes. 

These Nike turbo's have quickly become my favorite running shoes. In all honesty, with the cost of these, I should really only wear them for races.

I just can’t help putting them on for workouts and even occasional easy runs. I just love running in these shoes.

Introduction

First things first, I want to explain something about Nike running shoes in general and my own experience with them.

When I first started working at the running store, I’m not going to lie; I was a Nike trash-talker. I had used a pair of Nike Free sneakers when I first started running.

Let me repeat, these were not Nike Free Run’s. They were simple sneakers not designed for distance running. When I first started running at almost 215 pounds, these were not supportive enough for both my experience level and gait.

My ankles hurt. My feet hurt. My arches hurt. I took this experience so negatively that I just assumed Nike’s didn’t work for me. I told this to a lot of people.

It wasn’t until a coworker of mine convinced me to give them another shot. After all, “those Frees were not real running shoes.”

The difference between that experience and the first time I went for a tempo run in these Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo’s is truly night and day. If you have never run in a pair of Nike running shoes, I suggest you give them a try.

The Nike Pegasus Turbo simply feels fast from the moment you lace it up. At 10 ounces, it is a lightweight shoe but not nearly as light as some racers.

This added weight makes this an ideal race shoe for distances 10K and up. For a 5K racer, there may be lighter options, but perhaps none with the energy return feel that the Pegasus provides.

Tech specs & fit

The Turbo uses the ZoomX foam, which is the same foam used in the wildly popular Vaporfly 4%. These game-changing racers have revolutionized the distance running community.

The main difference between this and the Vaporfly is the carbon plate. With that said, for some, this is even a better option as the carbon plate can be aggravating for some. This shoe has a great road feel despite the amount of cushion the shoe provides

From a fit perspective, the shoe is relatively narrow compared to other shoes in the same category. This shoe true to size, as I normally wear an 11 and this shoe in size 11.

The 11.5 I tried on felt like the heel was slipping slightly, so be wary of that if you go a half size up. Moving up a half size will be critical for those looking for more toe box room.

I must admit, especially on longer runs, I wish I had more room for my toes to flex properly. The toe box, while adequate, is certainly not roomy. These fit more like racers than everyday trainers, which is the kind of fit I am looking for.

However, there are times, especially after longer runs, where I wish I had just a little bit more room. If the toe box is a major concern for you, I would have to advise you to look in another direction. 

Upper

The upper is made out of two layers - one see-through mesh and an inner mesh layer underneath. Overall the upper is light, somewhat flexible, and breathable.

The Turbo has a pronounced and firm heel counter that locks the heel in place and works to guide the Achilles. The fit is very comfortable. Very, very comfortable. 

The lacing system allows for the shoe to be tied snugly and wraps the middle of the foot. The heel collar is pronounced and somewhat stiff. The ankle tab in the back looks odd and flares out, but helps create the ground feel and adds some extra grip.

The 10mm drop works well for race purposes, as I usually train in other lower drop shoes like the Saucony Kinvara or Hoka Clifton. These shoes are around 4-5mm, so when I put on the Nike Turbos, I feel like I am up on my toes and in a more aggressive running position than normal.

This is ideal for racing. I have set PR’s for 5K and 5 miles in my Turbo as well as received a few age group awards in them. I plan to wear these for my upcoming half marathon in Philly.

Concerns on value

My main concern with these shoes is the price point vs. durability. Retail, Turbo’s go for $180! This is a very expensive shoe (in my opinion) when compared to the market.

However, I will say the shoe is so good that it makes me recommend it in spite of the high price point. As a teacher and coach, I certainly don’t have a ton of expendable funds, so when I make a choice, I need to make sure I am getting a lot of value.

I waited until the Turbo 2 came out and got these for around $130, which is more reasonable. However, I should note that I am seeing a lot of wear on the foam for a shoe that expensive.

I generally look at the foam breakdown as an indicator when to get new shoes. As for me, my foam starts to break down way before the rubber would start to wear out.

I have a little over 100 miles in my Turbo, but the wear looks to be about double compared to other shoes I have in my rotation. I don’t think these will last much more than 200 miles, which is not a very long life for a shoe retailing close to $200.

At a buck a mile, these shoes need to perform at the absolute highest level; fortunately, they do just that.

Stride

I hear a lot of people say that this shoe is simply a lighter version of the Pegasus, but I disagree with this statement. The Pegasus is much firmer, and the ride is completely different, in my opinion.

The heel pad and cushion in the mid-foot feels totally different from the Pegasus. The heel pad, while adequate, is not too large. I find that this shoe helps promote mid-foot striking.

The transition towards the toe-off is natural and smooth. The 10mm drop helps put the runner in an aggressive and fast position. This shoe is truly neutral.

If anything, the shoe is so neutral in gait that I would strongly advise against using this shoe if you either pronate or supinate. There is very little medial support, so I have heard that in some cases, the shoe can make pronation more extreme.

Style

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo comes in several color options. Nothing exudes “cool” like Nike. At the running store I worked at, getting a high school athlete to pick something “not Nike” is generally a challenge because there is nothing that matches the cool factor Nike provides.

If you look out onto the infield at any high school track meet, you will witness a sea of lime green Nike bags. The stripe down the middle of the shoe is one of my favorite visual elements.

It reminds me of a racing stripe and just makes the shoe look fast. Some have commented that this makes it look like a bowling shoe, but I strongly disagree. And with that said, if Nike did make bowling shoes, you already know they would be the “coolest” bowling shoes on the market.

Summary

These are my favorite running shoes. Period.

If I had to pick on a pair of shoes to train and race in, it would be these. They are stylish. They are light. They are bouncy. They have a ton of energy return.

If you train in neutral Nike’s and have not tried Turbos, it is an absolute must. If you pronate or supinate, I would look elsewhere, as these shoes seem to amplify gait issues.

Another major concern is the toe-box room and overall width. If they were more reasonably priced, these would have received a higher score.

I give these shoes my highest recommendation for those with relatively narrow feet, don’t need a ton of toe-box room, and run neutral.

Fascinated by the epic 4% magical shoe, I made the jump and bought Nike’s newest and closest model the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo. Priced at $180 and the selling point was that it features the Nike Zoom X foam cushioning used in their VaporFly 4%.

While I was excited about new shoes, I wanted to see how they would compare to handling long distance and was hoping they could last 300-400 miles for that price. Plus the big question can they last for that price tag?

A brief background on my Nike experience includes Nike Zoom Streaks, Nike Zoom Fly, and Nike Epic React Flyknit. So I already had high expectations before I hit the ship button.

Upon arrival, I already knew what I was going to put this shoe though. They arrived on Tuesday the week before my two back to back marathons.

Appearance & Fit

They were flexible, light and colorful. However, the way they mold a foot is important to me. I have been fortunate to have zero black toes and still have somewhat presentable feet.

Most of my running shoes I wear a size 8 or 8.5. So I ordered an 8. They are a bit wide around the forefoot. My upper foot moves.  

Yes, when I am running, I always analyze my form, my foot, my drop, and the way my body feels. They fit the heel perfectly and the material molded quickly to my heel area. I did one shake out run with them for about 5 miles and packed them for my marathon.

Specs from Nike

• Weight 6.9 ounces (size 8)
• Offset 10 mm
• Heel collar tapers away from your Achilles
• Raised rubber for traction
• Beveled heel and rubber outsole strip to help landing and better transition

The Ride

After 55 extra miles, two courses, two temperatures, and two different paces, I am comfortable rating the shoe at 4.5 stars. The first course was hilly, and a lot of steady climbing.

It was also a paved run with temperatures at 45/55 but high humidity and drizzle. I mention this because in my experience a shoe can change in temperatures and also can have different benefits or failures in a course.

The shoe has waffle-pattern outsole which quoted by Nike provides a multi-surface grip when you push off the ground. I believe it does.

With a slickness to the road mixed with drizzle and humid conditions, I felt the shoe provided good traction. Even at water stops where it can get slick at times, I felt excellent traction.  

Yes, I have worn shoes which I have almost slipped at water stations! I wore light socks by Features and had no issues with my foot and movement.

When I felt exhausted from climbing, the shoe provided a bounce and a slight forward push off to keep me from getting tired. The first course was close to 1,000 feet in overall elevation gain.

Pace & Distance 

I believe these are excellent for speed workouts, tempo runs, and long distance.

The first marathon was a practice tempo run for me since I know going into a second one was going to be much slower. It was colder, and I wore thicker socks.

I would avoid this because they rubbed a lot with the extra movement in the forefoot. On Mile 23, I developed a small blister between the big toe and second toe. It was small enough I was able to pop it during the run and continue with little discomfort.  

The second marathon had very little humidity, and the pavement was dry.

Conclusion

I would wear these shoes again. I will keep them as a trainer.

I will not wear them in a marathon again because I have my favorites. I will, however, use them for easy runs ranging from 8-10 miles, perhaps a fast half marathon.  

Nike offered to exchange them for a size down; however, I do not think that will change the slight movement in the forefoot. They are light, they will and do help with your form.

I have worn so many shoes that I know shoes can change a drop, a form, and can cause you a race or create pain. For the price tag, I am not 100% sold, but do not regret the purchase, and they do look amazing, and you can wear out of the box!  

I wore them for a few more miles after the marathon, and after 75 miles the thread of the sole still is maintaining. Good signs!

With Nike celebrating one marathon victory after another while the top athletes were equipped with the Vaporfly 4%, I could not withstand to follow the hype and wanted to try a running shoe featuring the ZoomX foam.

The main reason for me to choose the Turbo was my budget as these are a lot cheaper than the Vaporfly and shall last longer. If you compare them in detail, the Turbo is missing the carbon fiber plate in the midsole and the foam is a hybrid mixture of ZoomX and React technology which aims to provide a balance between energy return and long term durability.

And indeed, Nike once again did a great job with this shoe! Light, comfortable and responsive for a high, but from my point of view, fair pricing considering all the tech features.

From my point of view, this shoe is not really a typical Pegasus but it is meant to be an everyday trainer like the former shoes of this model.

Key facts

The shoe weighs 260g in US size 11,5 which I would judge as mid-range when comparing to other brands fast trainers/competition models.

However, the foam does a great job in terms of energy return which results in a quite lightweight feeling at the end. The stack height is 22mm with a 10mm offset and designed for neutral running, mainly on streets.

My main usage

I bought this model to use them for every type of training and for competitions along the year. At the wings, for life run in Munich, I ran in these shoes.

Beforehand, I only accumulate 50km in them at various pace zones to be familiar with the Turbo.

During the event, I was able to complete the marathon distance which was actually the first time I ran this far, and I was really happy to have this shoe equipped.

During my training, I went from paces as fast as 3:00 min/km up to 5:30 min/km, and yes, the shoe feels very good at every speed and also with the help of the 10mm offset, it pushes you forward to maintain running speed.

Fitting

The upper may be the only thing which fits into the Pegasus series. Compared to the other top models, Nike did not choose the Flyknit material.

Nevertheless or maybe exactly because of that, this shoe feels very comfortable and soft with plenty of room in the toe box. I would even rate it more comfortable than the Nike zoom fly Flyknit which I use in rotation.

After the 44km in Munich, I did not suffer any irritations or blisters at my feet which I did not experience with many of my shoes, so far.

Cushioning & outsole 

The combined ZoomX and React foam delivers a soft and responsive ride which supports you when aiming for long distance and at a high pace. I even put them on when running on the track and I also love them there, which I was not expecting due to the soft feeling when running on the road.

During my wings for life run, the streets were wet as it was raining from time to time during this day. Also in sharp curves, I felt confident with the provided grip of the sole.

Durability

As I did not use them for a very long time by now, I cannot provide detailed feedback in terms of durability. However, after 200km the feeling is still great like it was in the beginning and I cannot observe any wear out marks at the upper or the outsole so far.

Pros

• Suitable for fast and slow runs
• Feels great from 5km to marathon distance
• Very comfortable
• Good grip

Cons

• Nothing, aside from the price if you have a small budget

Summary

Overall definitely one of the best running shoes I owned so far. Very comfortable fitting/material and the ZoomX let you fly forward.

In the past, I was using the Adidas Adios 3 for my competitions, but this year, I will switch to the Turbo. Taking into account my latest interval training sessions, I'm pretty sure that some new PBs can be set with them.

I was about to retire my Nike Pegasus 34 running shoes and had to start thinking of my next option when I found out that Nike revealed the new Nike line of Pegasus shoes called the Turbo Zoom.

The range of colors offered on the Nike website was still very limited. However, my next 10KM race is fast approaching, and I needed a decent, fast running shoe before that day comes.

Thus, it left me no other option but to buy the Blackened Blue/Orange Peel-Flash Crimson-Black-Moon Particle-White (Style Code: AJ4114-486), which would not have been my first style choice.

Nevertheless, they still have a unique design that attracts attention from other runners with its “Circus Clown” style and narrow looks.

I paid around $220 on the Nike website—not a cheap price. But, it's a price one has to pay to have a new style out of the production line.

Opening of the box—primary impression and appearance

Don’t be deceived by the looks described above. These are extremely nice-looking and comfortable shoes.

At first try, size 11 fits my feet just right like a glove to hand. The sole provides a squishy feeling and builds high expectations for the future.

The material appears to be the regular Nike high-standard material. Flywire technology and double mesh construct the upper part, which is a heritage from the Pegasus family.

One of the faults in most Nike shoes and this shoe, in particular, is the shoelaces. They never seem to hold up the tie.

I always double tie them, and in some cases, there is not much room the make the second tie.

Being a Nike fan, this fact disappoints me again and again with every shoe. I did not have any expectations and double-tied the shoes before my first run. Sadly, they did not prove otherwise.

First run

I tried the Turbo on the 10k paved road, 28ºC hot, humid weather with climbs and drops of total 80 meters each.

The squishy feeling didn't affect the shoes' responsiveness. They were very fast and leaving the ground with a spring-like response. The toe box felt right to size, supporting, and roomy on the other side.

The Turbo Zoom are lightweight shoes, and at no stage did I feel they were a burden on my feet. I am a mid-striker and I feel the shoes' motion fits forward foot strikers and faster runners more.

The reason for this is that the heel strikers, strike the narrow back sole. And, they lose much of the bounce-back energy concentrated in the wider forward area of the sole.

Slow runners will not benefit the advantages of this fast shoe and can consider buying cheaper and good options like the Pegasus 35.

The ventilation of the shoes thru the double mesh worked perfectly of me. Feet stayed dry and fresh. Shoelaces failed to hold as described already and loosened after a few strikes.

Long usage - running report

After completing almost 1000km in these shoes, they still look nice on the outside as if they were almost new. The sole still had a supportive feeling.

However, feet felt fatigued on the half marathon runs, a feeling I do not recall having in its first days. Still, these are flying horses. I’m still not sure when I will put them out of service.

They still do a great job on the shorter runs.

Material

Upper

The upper is made of dual-layer mesh, and it uses the Flywire technology-based lacing. The dual-layer on these shoes, similar to all Pegasus later styles.

This upper is breathable and removes heat properly in hot weather and holds out cold winds in cool weather. Cleaning the outer mash was easy and after a little wipe looked brand new.

I have run with them a 16km difficult dusty trail. One wipe and these shoes are good as new. No tear or sign of deterioration was noted.

Midsole

The midsole has a combination of React and ZoomX foam. It has a 10 mm drop. It is a fair drop, which is common to most running shoes.

Outsole

The outsole is made up of carbon rubber with exposed foam midfoot. The sole bottom contains small lugs for paved road usage. They do not show any signs of wear after long usage.

The grip had been proven to work well for me even on off-road trail runs. The only place I lost grip was running downhill on gravel steep, uneven road.

On wet paved surfaces, the shoes did not lose grip. However, I did not try them out in the rain.

Conclusions

Ups

• These are my favorite running and racing shoes. For that reason, I did not retire them yet.
• They are comfortable from day one.
• These are very fast running shoes with excellent energy return.
• It has a unique appearance that might be controversial for some.
• They are extremely durable.
• The shoe has a great grip on different running surfaces and is suitable for different weather conditions.
• They are lightweight.

Downs

• The laces need to be double-tied; otherwise, it will come undone quickly.
• The cushion support on long runs drops after around 600km of usage.
• Color variation and design are very limited.
• The price is on the high side of the scale.

The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 Turbo is an upgraded version of Nike Air Pegasus 35. It is significantly lighter and more breathable. So, all the good things I wrote about 35s, apply here too.

Now, I will focus more on the differences between these two shoes.

Fit

Both the fit and feel is quite similar to Pegasus 35. Actually, it is because of these shoes that I decided to purchase the Turbo. The fit was true to size for me.

The heel is properly and securely locked—something that I think is very important and was struggling to find in other shoes. Flywire laces work well, too.

Comfort

Yes, this is why you wish to try these shoes. This shoe is for runners who prefer a very soft and squishy ride. I’m pretty sure many people will be genuinely impressed after a few steps.

High flexibility and cushioning come at a price of lower responsiveness. Some serious runners will prefer a stiffer shoe for their races. Nonetheless, I’m not a professional athlete, so I’m good with that.

Weight

How much lighter are they compared to the Pegasus 35? There is about 30g difference for 42.5EUR sized single shoe, so you can definitely feel it. At approximately 225g, this is a very competitive weight.

Usage and durability

For me, it is more like a race type of shoe. But, often, I cannot resist to put it on even when not racing.

Are you chasing a Strava CR or some hard intervals with a friend? Then it is time for Turbos. So far, I have run 230km.

In the beginning, I already thought it would not last very long; everything went fine, but then the soles started to separate.

This seems to be a common problem, and I've learned that many people have had the same issue.

Luckily, I was given a new pair, as these shoes were bought from a reputable shop—still, I’m not impressed.

Upper

The upper of Turbo is more breathable as compared to the Pegasus 35. These are much better!

Sole and traction

Much of the sole is exposed foam, so I would not recommend using these shoes for trail running. Although there are some wrinkles on the sides that showed after a first run, the outsole, after 230km, looks very good. 

It has this ZoomX type of foam that is found on the crazy expensive Vaporfly 4% shoes paired with React foam, which makes it a lot more durable.

Still, it feels a bit less durable than the regular Pegs (400km but almost in a pristine condition!).

Nonetheles, I have not had any issues with traction, but I mostly ran on hard surfaces.

Price

They are more expensive, but is it worth the price? You may get it for around 100€ (vs 80€ for regular Pegasus), so I think it is. Is it worth the RRP? No, but very few shoes are.

Summary: Would I recommend it?

Well, yes and no.

I feel this is an ideal shoe for a road running enthusiast. The very soft and plush ride allows a runner to go very hard.

While some serious runners may prefer a stiffer shoe for their race days, these are pretty much the best 5k, 10k, and half-marathon race shoes for me.

But, given that the soles separated after 200km, I don’t know I can recommend them. These are by far the most comfortable and lightweight shoes, but they should definitely last longer.

I want to believe that this replacement pair will be better. But, at least, I can enjoy a new pair.

Having owned Pegasus 35 and Pegasus 35 Turbo made me buy Pegasus 36 Trail shoes. I’m curious to see if this will be a similar success.