Nike Pegasus Plus 2 First Run Review: A Softer, Bouncier Daily Trainer

Introduction

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 is a daily trainer built around responsive cushioning, aiming for a smooth, energized ride on everyday miles. It costs £155 or $170, weighs 249 g (8.8 oz) for men in a size 8, and has a 10 mm drop.

Compared with the original Pegasus Plus, this version feels softer and bouncier, and it has moved in a direction that makes daily training a bit more fun without adding much weight. It is not a super trainer or a dedicated speed shoe, but it slots neatly above the standard Pegasus.

Design and Updates

The forefoot pairs ZoomX foam with an exposed curved air zoom unit, designed to give the shoe a propulsive feel through toe off. Nike also reshaped the silhouette with more toe spring, adding a greater curve through the toe box.

The upper has been redesigned with a sleeker mesh built for breathability. Through the mesh you can see the mid-foot containment band, which locks the foot in for a secure, speed-ready fit. The forefoot shape has been tweaked for more comfort around the toes.

Fit and Sizing

Fit is refreshingly simple: stick to your normal running shoe size. Testers found a good amount of room around the toe box, roughly a thumb’s width or slightly more, with a comfortable, slightly spacious forefoot for average-width feet.

There is good hold around the heel and midfoot, a fairly thin tongue, and not too much padding at the back of the shoe. Overall it does not feel oppressive, and it was comfortable from the very first run.

Ride and Feel

The ZoomX in the heel and midfoot feels tweaked for daily runs. It is soft and very comfortable rather than loaded with energy, and it rolls you through the gait nicely once you get moving.

The forefoot air zoom unit is a different story. You notice the transition from the soft ZoomX onto the slightly firmer, more structured pods under the forefoot, and it delivers a bit of responsiveness and pop as the run continues. That said, the shoe does not beg you to run faster. It felt fine and comfortable at around 5 minutes per kilometre, and it picked up the pace acceptably, but it is limited for speed sessions. Think of it as a comfy daily trainer with a little added pop, in the realm of a Nova Blast, rather than a Zoom Fly-style all-rounder.

Outsole and Grip

The outsole uses an updated waffle pattern that runs diagonally with sharper edges, built to improve grip and ground feel across different surfaces. New flex grooves help the transition feel smoother.

It is reminiscent of the outsoles on older Nike models like the Pegasus Turbo and Turbo 2: a nice, thick layer with good traction. On wet ground and light mud it felt really good during the first outings.

Pegasus Plus 2 vs the Original

Run with one shoe of each generation, the differences are clear. The Pegasus Plus 2 is definitely softer and fuller, with a more cushioned feeling underfoot, especially as you come through to the forefoot, where it feels a lot fuller. Weight has not really changed, which is a win.

The original Pegasus Plus had a full ZoomX midsole, was not the softest shoe, but turned over well and was fairly lightweight. On longer runs in the old version, testers felt a bit flat toward the end. The new forefoot should translate to more bounce and comfort late in a run.

Who Should Buy It

If you head out for 10K to 20K runs and want daily cushioned comfort with occasional pace, this shoe ticks the boxes. Anything longer and you may want a bit more energy return; marathon-training testers planned to trial it on longer runs to see how it fares.

It is also a step up on the standard Pegasus for daily training: a bit more fun and responsive, and slightly lighter. Nike’s Vomero and Zoom Fly still sit above it for softness, bounce, or speed respectively, but the Pegasus Plus 2 is closer to that level than the previous version was.

Nike Pegasus Plus 2

The Pegasus Plus 2 costs £155 or $170, weighs 249 g in a men’s size 8, and has a 10 mm drop. It pairs soft ZoomX cushioning with a firmer forefoot air zoom unit for a comfortable daily ride with a touch of pop, and the updated upper, waffle outsole, and roomy toe box make it easy to live with from the first mile.

Conclusion

Based on first runs, the Nike Pegasus Plus 2 is a solid, comfortable daily trainer that has moved in the right direction: softer, bouncier, and a little more fun, without a big weight penalty. It will not bring serious speed to the table, but for everyday miles with the occasional pickup, it does exactly what a Pegasus Plus should.