Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo

91 / 100 based on 13 expert reviews

• Marijke van den Hamer

  Level 4 expert

  Verified

  90 / 100 | RunRepeat Marijke van den Hamer

  Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo - Does it really make you fly?

  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.

   

  This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.
• Rachela Lack

  Level 3 expert

  Verified

  90 / 100 | RunRepeat Rachela Lack

  Getting closer to the 4%, The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo

  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!

  This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.
• Dan Biagi

  Level 3 expert

  Verified

  85 / 100 | RunRepeat Dan Biagi

  Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo: Built for your speed workouts

  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.

  This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.
• David Wieland

  Level 2 expert

  Verified

  98 / 100 | RunRepeat David Wieland

  Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo - by far my favorite Pegasus

  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.

  This expert has been verified by RunRepeat. Reviews are neutral, unbiased and based on extensive testing.