The Pegasus has been around for 41 years and is one of the most popular running shoes in the world. It has always been a reliable, durable trainer with excellent value. It costs $140.
The Novablast is only on its 5th iteration but has become a very popular trainer in such a short time. Runners love its fun, bouncy ride which is unlike anything else on the market. It costs $140.
Which one of these neutral trainers is better for you?
The midsole of the Pegasus is made of ReactX foam which is medium soft in density. It has a thick, large Zoom Air unit in its forefoot and a Zoom Air unit in its heel. The Zoom Air units add extra responsiveness during toe-offs.
The Novablast’s midsole is made of FF Blast Max which is softer than the ReactX midsole of the Pegasus. It doesn’t have an air unit but the geometry of its midsole results in a bouncy, lively ride.
The Novablast feels better on slower, easy-paced runs because of its softer ride whereas the Pegasus handles faster efforts better because of the Zoom Air unit which provides a firmer platform to push off from.
Long runs are better in the Novablast because it has more long-distance comfort whereas shorter, faster runs are better in the Pegasus which has a more snappy forefoot.
The Pegasus has a stiffer forefoot than the Novablast. It feels more snappy but doesn’t have the flexible, natural feel that the Novablast has.
Stability is better in the Pegasus because it has a firmer midsole with less lean bias. The Novablast feels slightly unstable because of its narrow, tall midsole.
Ride transitions are smoother in the Novablast because it has a single-density midsole so the heel and forefoot feel very similar. In the Pegasus, the forefoot is firmer than the heel so ride transitions don’t feel as smooth.
The outsole of the Pegasus uses very tough, durable rubber which can last over 1000 kilometres. The outsole of the Novablast uses softer, more flexible rubber which is durable but not as durable as the Pegasus.
The upper of the Pegasus is made of sandwich mesh which is soft and of average breathability. It has a lightly padded heel and tongue with excellent foot lockdown. The Pegasus fits true to size and comes in a variety of widths.
The upper of the Novablast is made of engineered mesh which is slightly harder but more breathable than the mesh of the Pegasus. It has a heel tab and collar which are more padded than the Pegasus. The tongue is semi-gusseted and there’s no tongue slide. The Novablast fits true to size and comes in a standard and wide width.
Pick the Pegasus if you want a faster shoe for shorter distances. It has better stability, a more durable outsole and costs the same as the Novablast. The biggest difference is its forefoot and heel Zoom Air units which adds extra spring and pop at toe off.
Pick the Novablast if you want a softer shoe for slower runs and longer distances. It has a more cushioned midsole and smoother ride transitions. The Novablast is also lighter and more flexible than the Pegasus.
