Written by

Brandon Law

Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
The Pegasus is Nike's oldest and most popular running series. There are 2 different kinds of Pegasus versions available: the Plus and the 41. Here we will be comparing these 2 versions.
Nike Pegasus Plus vs Nike Pegasus 41

The Pegasus Plus is the 4th version of the Pegasus Turbo series. It's designed to be a faster, more premium version of the regular Pegasus. It costs $180.

The regular Pegasus is on its 41st version. It's a mid-range, neutral daily trainer and is a crowd-pleaser. It's affordable, widely available, comes in a variety of widths and suits various different types of runners, from beginners to professionals. It costs $140.

This comparison will tell you which version you should buy.

Similarity and differences: Pegasus Plus vs Pegasus 41

Brand
Expert score
Expert score
7/10
Expert score
7/10
Weight
8.6 oz
10 oz
Heel Drop
10 mm
10 mm
Verdict
The Nike Pegasus Plus is a fun but overpriced daily trainer with a super soft ride. Its easily compressed midsole limits its versatility but it has a faster, more engaging ride than the regular Pegasus 41. It doesn’t feel like previous versions of the Pegasus Turbo because it has less cushioning depth and more ground feel.
The Nike Pegasus 41 is a comfortable fitting, bland daily trainer best suited to relaxed runs which are short or middle-distance. It has a firmer ride than most daily trainers due to its airbag setup and while it has a new ReactX midsole, it doesn’t feel significantly different to prior versions. It also doesn’t feel more energetic than its predecessors. Version 41 has an increase in stack height which makes it one of the heaviest versions in recent years.
Recommended for
Daily training
Daily training
Cushioning type
Plush
Balanced
Cushioning amount
Medium cushioning
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
flexible
flexible
Stability
not particularly stable
some stability
Sizing
true to size
true to size
Retail price
US$180
US$139.95

Sole unit: Pegasus Plus vs Pegasus 41

The midsole of the Pegasus Plus is made of ZoomX, Nike’s top of the range, racing foam. It compresses very easily and has a high amount of energy return. It’s made of PEBA foam.

The Pegasus 41‘s midsole is ReactX. This is a denser training foam which feels firmer. It has less energy return but has better durability and is cheaper to produce.

The ride of the Plus is much softer than the 41. It is also noticeably more lively and has more bounce than the 41. The Plus is more suited to lighter runners whereas the 41 is more suited to heavier runners due to its higher level of structure and stability.

The Plus is better for short and fast runs whereas the 41 is better for long, slow runs. The 41 has more cushioning depth with more long-distance comfort.

The 41’s durability is much better than the Plus. It has more outsole rubber coverage and its midsole doesn’t puncture/chip/scratch as easily and the Plus’ ZoomX.

The Plus has a more flexible forefoot due to its soft midsole whereas the 41 has a stiffer forefoot due to its denser foam and harder rubber outsole.

Upper unit: Pegasus Plus vs Pegasus 41

The Plus has a stretchy Flyknit upper which feels warm. The 41 has a traditional engineered mesh upper which feels softer and has better breathability. The 41 has a padded tongue compared to the flat, racing tongue of the Plus. Overall, the 41 feels more comfortable and has more padding compared to the Plus.

Both versions are true to size but the Plus doesn’t come in additional widths whereas the Pegasus 41 comes in wide and extra wide versions if you have wide feet and you need the extra width.

Which one to buy: Pegasus Plus vs Pegasus 41

If you enjoy super soft rides and you’re looking for a short/middle distance trainer, the Pegasus Plus is the shoe you should buy. It has the more energetic midsole but it lacks cushioning depth for long runs. It also isn’t as stable as the 41 but it has a much more fun ride.

If you’re looking for a long-distance trainer for mostly relaxed runs, the 41 is the better shoe for you. It has more long-distance comfort, more stability and it also has better durability. The Pegasus 41 is $40 less than the Plus version and it has more width options.

Best price online: Pegasus Plus vs Pegasus 41

Pegasus Plus


This expert review is written by

Brandon Law

Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
Brandon is a South African who lives and trains in Malaysia. He is a marathon runner who eats, sleeps and dreams running shoes. While most people wear shoes to run, he runs to wear shoes.