Nike Pegasus 39 vs Pegasus Turbo Next Nature: Which Daily Trainer Fits Your Running?

Introduction

The Pegasus line is one of Nike’s longest-running daily trainers, while the Pegasus Turbo has come and gone from the lineup. After a couple of popular editions a few years ago, the Turbo was discontinued and has now returned in a new form: the Pegasus Turbo Next Nature, a version built with a large amount of recycled materials.

These two shoes share the same daily training brief but go about it differently. The Pegasus 39 costs £109.95 in the UK and $120 in the US, while the Turbo Next Nature sits at £145 in the UK and $150 in the US. Both have a 10 millimeter drop and a fairly similar weight: the Pegasus 39 weighs 279 grams (9.8 oz) in a UK 9, while the Turbo Next Nature comes in at 265 grams (9.3 oz), though that is a UK 8.5, a slightly smaller shoe.

Design and Build

The Pegasus 39 uses a mesh upper with Flywire cables and some padding around the tongue for comfort. Its midsole pairs React foam with two Air Zoom units, one in the heel and one in the forefoot, which add a little more pop to the ride and help keep the shoe lighter. The outsole is a real strength: fairly deep lugs, very good coverage, and a thick layer of rubber that grips well on both roads and light trails and should hold up over time.

The Turbo Next Nature takes a different approach. The Flyknit yarn upper gets extra structure through overlays around the midfoot, and the midsole uses two foams. The main one is recycled Zoom X, which weighs a bit more and feels firmer than the fresh Zoom X found in shoes like the Invincible or Vaporfly. It is wrapped in an SR-02 carrier foam that adds structure, especially around the heel, and is itself slightly firmer. The shoe has a rocker design and a Waffle outsole that is fairly shallow but covers the foams well, and the SR-02 sits underneath so you never hit the recycled Zoom X directly, which helps durability.

Fit and Sizing

Fit is where the two shoes diverge. The Pegasus 39 runs true to size, consistent with several previous editions of the Pegasus. The Turbo Next Nature does not: sizing down half a size produced a much better fit. That brings a slightly tighter midfoot, which suits narrower feet well, with a good amount of room in the toe box. At regular size, it would likely feel a little long. If you have a wider foot, balancing length and width could be tricky, so trying both sizes is a sensible move.

Ride and Performance

The Turbo Next Nature is a versatile all-rounder. Testing covered easy runs, a track session, another speed session, and long runs up to about 15 miles. It feels firmer and less soft and springy than the original Pegasus Turbo, but it remains quite energetic. The firmness is never uncomfortable or harsh, and the shoe feels nimble and good at pace. It does everything the old Turbo did, just in a less exciting way, and without quite the top-end speed of the original or of rivals like the Saucony Endorphin Speed. On the longest easy runs you may prefer a more cushioned option, but it proved enjoyable even on a 15 miler.

The Pegasus 39 is also a capable all-rounder with a more traditional ride that feels slightly more stable, though the Turbo Next Nature is not unstable. The React foam and the more padded upper give it a cushier, more relaxed feel on easy runs, and it generally feels roomier and more relaxing to pull on. It still has some pop, and it handles daily training tasks like progression runs, tempo runs, and steady paces very well. It lacks a little top-end speed compared to the Turbo Next Nature, but it counters that with more comfort on long easy runs and a far more durable, versatile outsole.

That outsole difference matters in mixed conditions. In autumn, with light mud on forest paths, the Turbo Next Nature is best confined to roads, while the Pegasus 39 remains perfectly happy on towpaths and forest trails. In faster work, both shoes took on a long run of around 22k, track reps, steady mile repeats, and 300s and 200s. The Pegasus starts to feel a bit blocky and cumbersome at high speed, though it can still do the work. The Turbo Next Nature feels more nimble and agile, and the recycled Zoom X delivers more response as pace rises.

Which One Should You Buy?

On paper, the Pegasus 39 is the more obvious choice: cheaper, durable, reliable, and frequently in Nike sales, where you can likely pick it up for well under £100 or $100. Its grip and outsole make it the shoe for racking up miles, long runs, and off-road detours.

But the Turbo Next Nature has the more appealing ride for many runners. Some find it a bit firm, yet it broke in well after around 50 to 60 kilometers, and it works well for easy runs and clearly better for faster runs than the Pegasus 39. If you do a lot of progression and tempo work, a shoe that feels more capable at those paces can outweigh easy-day comfort.

The practical counterpoints are availability and price. The Turbo Next Nature has not been widely embraced despite being a good shoe, and if Nike does not continue it or discount it, the Pegasus 39 remains the safer, more affordable bet. Put simply: if you want a more nimble, speedy all-rounder, the Turbo Next Nature is the pick. If you want a versatile workhorse that handles different terrains with more comfort, it is the Pegasus 39.

Conclusion

Both of these Nike daily trainers cover a wide range of training. The Pegasus 39 wins on price, comfort on easy days, durability, and terrain flexibility. The Turbo Next Nature counters with a lighter, more dynamic ride that suits speed work and tempo days. Choose based on where most of your miles fall.