The Nike Pegasus Series - Everything You Need To Know

Introduction

One of the best selling shoes of all time, the Nike Pegasus continues to thrive on its 50th year anniversary. With premium material, a simplistic design, and a name drawn from Greek mythology, the Nike Pegasus range was destined to be a success. 

In this article, we’ll look at exactly why the Pegasus range is so special, athletes who wear the Nike Pegasus range, and three of our favourite models for comfort and high performance. 

The History of the Nike Pegasus 

Whilst the Nike Pegasus has just seen its 40th iteration in 2023, the shoe first entered the market in 1972. Whilst the Pegasus range has become one of the most popular designs in shoe history, it didn’t start like that. 

Being Second Best.

Through a series of iterations, the Nike Pegasus range really rose to popularity in the 80’s - more than 10 years after its release. 

What may come as a surprise is the Pegasus shoes were marketed as being the second best in every department that was relevant to a running shoe. 

In everything from comfort-ability to performance, there was always a trainer that edged the Pegasus’ in each department. 

However, Nike took advantage of that by marketing the Pegasus range as an all-rounder; from there, the Pegasus really took off. 

Beginner runners along with the experienced runners who has no special preferences all gravitated towards the Pegasus range because of the all-rounder marketing and the power of Nike’s brand. 

A Rocky Patch

Despite the success of the Pegasus range through the 80’s, the line suffered throughout the 1990s. 

Nike’s own running leader Kevin Paulk stated that Nike became too concerned with “how the shoe looked at retail” compared to how it actually performed as a running shoe. 

Sales continued to drop all the way up until 1997 where Nike decided to pull the plug on the Pegasus range. The shoe simply wasn’t bringing in enough revenue for it to be worth continuing. 

During this time, Nike released different running trainers but none of them caught on which allowed competitors such as Adidas and Asics to capture a bigger share of the market.

Resurrection 

From 1997 to 2000 there was no Pegasus range anymore, a reality hard to imagine with its recent success.

Nike decided to revert back to their original way of thinking where they really put their focus on what runners wanted. They studied performance, comfort, and design to ensure that they really got a grasp on what the marketplace needed. 

Only then did the Pegasus see a revival with a range of new features that simply blew runners away. Everything from the longer air unit to the phylon midsole was revolutionary to the running shoes market.

Listen to what Sean McDowell (a Nike Pegasus designer) had to say ahead of the Pegasus revival - “We’re not going to listen to anybody but runners. We’re not going to listen to anybody in upper management”.

Success

As you know since the relaunch, the Nike Pegasus range rose to the top of the running shoe market and have stayed there for over 20 years. 

Since the relaunch, we’ve seen iteration after iteration to the model. 

We’ve seen the first womens-only model in 2006 - led by a team of scientists that studied the optimal ergonomics for women resulting in the design still being incredibly popular to this day.

We’ve also seen the Nike Pegasus 27 model which were the first to include the well known Zoom Air Unit. And since that drop in 2010, the Zoom Air Unit range is still included in Nike trainers today.

Perhaps the most popular drop was the Nike Air Pegasus 30 with the promotion led by Sir Mo Farah. Not only did he lead the promotion but he was incredibly hands-on with ensuring that the trainers could be suitable for both beginners and olympic level athletes. 

Who Wears The Nike Pegasus Range 

One of the strongest indicators for a high-quality product is social proof. Are olympic athletes really wearing these trainers or are they simply paid to promote it?

Mo Farah

In recent years, the Nike Pegasus range has become synonymous with Sir Mo Farah. One of the greatest long-distance runners of all time, Sir Mo Farah has won event after event whilst wearing the Nike Pegasus range. 

The Zoom Pegasus 34 was even designed as a celebration of Farah’s success; the 34’s feature Sir Mo Farah’s favourite colours along with the Great British flag inspired signature swoosh.

Conor Mcgregor

The former double UFC champion and one of the highest paid athletes of all time often wears the Nike Pegasus range when training.

The sport of MMA is a brutal one so top notch endurance is a must for all fighters. Conor chooses running as his form of cardio and has been spotted wearing the Pegasus runs for his regular 10km runs. 

Eliud Kipchoge

A world record holder, Eliud Kipchoge often swaps between the Nike Pegasus and the Vaporfly range. Now hailed as the greatest marathon runner of all time, he holds two olympic titles (2016 and 2020) and holds the world record time for the marathon. 

If these trainers are good enough for a superhuman who ran a sub 2 hour marathon, we can bet they’re good enough for the masses. 

Mat Fraser

The 5 time Crossfit World Champion is a massive fan of the Pegasus range. And it makes complete sense - the trainers designed to be an all rounder are a perfect fit for the man that is an all-rounder athlete. 

For his Crossfit games, Mat has to train for everything from sprints to long distance running and everything in between. He regularly opts for the black and red Nike Pegasus 38s which allow him to perform at a high level for each of these distances.

Our Favourite Nike Pegasus Shoes

With so many variations of the Nike Pegasus range, it can be incredibly difficult to make a decision regarding which ones you should go for. That’s why we’ve listed out three of our favourite models for you to consider - each with a unique feature designed for performance, comfortability or aesthetic.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 92

First up on our list is the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 92, a re-launch of the early 90’s Pegasus series. As we mentioned the early 90s Pegasus eventually succumbed to competition due to a lack of focus on the performance of the trainers. However, despite the shortcomings of the 90’s trainer, the aesthetic was always respected. 

With this re-launch the Air Zoom Pegasus 92, Nike have produced a high-performance shoe whilst keeping the same aesthetic of the 90’s Pegasus’. Essentially, they’ve kept everything good about the original Pegasus whilst ensuring that it performs like the latest editions.

As with the majority of the Pegasus range, the goal of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 92 is to provide the user with a daily runner that they can rely on for all distances and paces. One thing worth noting is that the low profile fit works excellently to absorb the majority of the shock when your foot collides with the ground.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39

Hailed as one of the best Nike Pegasus editions, the Nike Pegasus 39’s are one of the most popular running shoes on the market today. Similar to the 92 edition, the 39’s are made for versatility; whether you want to attempt a personal best or a leisurely jog, this Pegasus model will definitely do the job. 

There are a few things that make this trainer different to the previous generation (the Nike Pegasus 38). Firstly they’ve significantly reduced the weight of the shoe by almost 10%. Nike have also added Zoom Air Units to the heel and toe section of the shoe for more spring and traction. And lastly, Nike have redesigned the fit for a more “locked in” feel. 

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40

Last but not least on this list is the latest Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40. The Pegasus range has been through it’s ups and downs since it’s very launch in 1972 - we’re glad to say that the Pegasus 40s are definitely a high point in the series. 

For the 40th anniversary of the longest running shoe series on the market, Nike have dedicated the new model to a range of incremental gains. The improvements come in the way of comfort; Nike have looked to squeeze more support into the more sensitive areas of your foot such as the arch and toes. They’ve molded the shoe to help deal with each of the most common running injuries whilst still ensuring that it’s as light and responsive as ever.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has been helpful in understanding exactly why the Nike Pegasus range is so special, the ups and downs of the Pegasus story, and which models would be best for you. If you want to browse a collection of Nike Pegasus trainers, head over to our running shoes section for more information.