Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Review: A Comfy Daily Trainer That Lost Its Speed

Introduction

The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 has arrived with a significant overhaul, and it needed one. The original Pegasus Plus launched a couple of years ago to fairly mixed reactions, trying to recapture the spirit of the much-loved Pegasus Turbo from 2018 but falling short with a firm, unengaging ride. This second version brings a bold new look, a bigger midsole, a redesigned upper, and a lower price. The question is whether it can genuinely deliver an uptempo, fun daily ride, or whether it simply cannot keep up with rivals like Adidas, New Balance, and Asics, who are all in excellent form right now.

What Changed From the Original Pegasus Plus

The updates are substantial. The price drops by £10 in the UK and in most markets worldwide, although Australia misses out on the decrease. The midsole stack grows from 36mm to 38mm while keeping the standard Pegasus 10mm drop. ZoomX foam remains, now paired with an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot, intended to add responsiveness and pop. The upper moves from a knit-style material to a much thinner engineered mesh, built on the same last as the Pegasus 42, which creates a wider forefoot, more accommodating fit, and extra toe box height. The outsole has been stripped back slightly to save weight. The overall result is a shoe that looks much closer to the standard Pegasus than the OG Pegasus Turbo the original was chasing.

Specs and Fit

Positioned as an uptempo daily trainer for easy miles, long runs, and faster sessions, the Pegasus Plus 2 sits in the middle tier of Nike’s restructured Pegasus line, between the regular Pegasus 42 and the premium model. It cost £155 in the UK at launch, a decrease from the original, which feels like a response to a highly competitive market. The rear stack measures 38mm with a 10mm drop.

Weight is a weak point: 326g on the tested pair, significantly heavier than much of the competition, including the Adidas Evo SL at 267g, the Puma Deviate-like options around 263g, and other popular daily trainers in the 296g range. The fit is very relaxed and roomy, similar to the Pegasus 42. Runners used to Nike’s racing shoes may want to go half a size down; the tested pair ran a little spacious in the regular size but completely wearable. At launch there is a single colourway, which is genuinely attractive.

The upper uses thin engineered mesh with a racer-like feel, thicker overlays for structure, and a gusseted tongue on both sides. The midsole combines ZoomX foam with a curved Air Zoom pod in the forefoot. Interestingly, the pod pressure varies by shoe size, with larger sizes getting firmer pods to support heavier runners. Underfoot is a thick waffle rubber outsole with very good coverage, and grip has been solid throughout testing.

What We Liked

The first big win is forefoot space. For wide or broad feet, the Pegasus Plus 2 offers a wider platform and a higher-volume toe box than a typical running shoe, a welcome change from the fairly narrow and shallow original. Second, the upper is noticeably more comfortable, with generous padding around the heel, secure lockdown at all paces, no rubbing or hot spots, and performance-style laces similar to the Vaporfly that hold the foot nicely. It ranks among the most comfortable shoes Nike has released in recent years.

Third, the bulk buys durability. The thick outsole should wear well, the grip has been excellent, and the stripe down the midfoot is a nice tribute to the 2018 Pegasus Turbo. In hand it feels like a well-made product that should handle light trail or gravel and rack up serious mileage. Fourth, the ride is stable and predictable however you land, with a slightly softer heel and a bevel that should suit heel strikers.

What We Didn’t Like

The tongue is short and slides down, which is frustrating, and it is thin for a shoe of this type, apparently to save weight. If you like heel-lock lacing, you will be lacing over your socks. More concerning is the Air Zoom pod itself: it is hard to feel it adding any real responsiveness or pop. You can sense it underfoot, but a full-length slab of ZoomX without the pod would likely have been lighter and better. The shoe feels laboured at faster paces given the weight and the stiffness the pod creates.

Weight remains the headline problem at 326g, well above rivals. Runners with narrow feet should pass entirely, since the fit is generous. Finally, in 2026 the competition is simply stronger: easy recovery jogs are fine, but anything quicker becomes a struggle for a shoe marketed on its uptempo ride. There is little forward propulsion, and the ride can feel clunky and slappy rather than smooth.

Should You Buy It?

From a pure running standpoint, this is a hard shoe to recommend. Alternatives are stronger: the New Balance SC Rebel v1 is 73g lighter, far more responsive, and better in almost every way for the uptempo role this shoe targets; the Adidas Evo SL is 59g lighter, cheaper, more fun, and more engaging, though the Nike is more stable and better over long runs; a lighter Puma daily option is £25 cheaper and 63g lighter with a snappier, nimbler feel; and a budget contender around £35 to £60 cheaper weighs an incredible 99g less with a livelier, more aggressive rocker ride. The Nike keeps the better laces and more stability, but loses on speed, fun, and value across the board.

Where the Pegasus Plus 2 does make sense is casual use: a comfy, stable shoe for the gym, a couple of easy runs a week, walking the dog, or running errands. As a responsive uptempo trainer, though, it is simply too heavy, and the forefoot pod is not doing enough to change that.

Conclusion

The Pegasus Plus 2 is a comfortable, durable, stable daily shoe with a roomy fit that many runners will appreciate, especially those with wider feet. But it misses the mark on the speed and pop that define its category, and rivals currently offer lighter, faster, and cheaper alternatives. For easy miles and everyday wear, it works. For genuine uptempo running, look elsewhere until Nike finds its form again.