Nike Says the Pegasus 42 Is the Most-Exciting Peg in Years

If you were a diehard Nike Pegasus fan prior to 2020, you've likely been waiting for the franchise to recapture the magic of some of its late 2010s and mid-aughts offerings.

With the Pegasus 42, the wait might finally be over.

Nike Running's overhaul at the end of 2024 and throughout 2025 saw many of its road products consolidated under just three categories that capture the main cushioning styles consumers tend to look for. The Vomero family exploded in popularity—in particular amongst new runners—thanks to its maximized cushioning setup. Another segment of the market was enamored by the Pegasus Premium, an innovative offering that leveraged a cushioning trifecta to achieve a ride that even won over lifestyle-focused audiences.

It's this second silhouette that informed the Pegasus 42 and got Elliott Heath, professional athlete and Product Manager at Nike, excited for the new Peg in that surpassed previous projects.

The Pegasus 42's most-defining detail is its curved Air Zoom unit, encapsulated in a slab of full-length ReactX foam. According to the brand, wear-testing found that the latest Peg provided an average of 15% more energy return relative to the Pegasus 41.

The sculpted Air Zoom unit in the Nike Peg is rooted in the unrivaled underfoot sensation runners have lauded within several Nike Racing products like the VaporFly. The Pegasus 42 doesn't have a carbon fiber stiffening agent to help propel it forward, but the shape and stiffness of the new unit gets at the same idea. A 10 millimeter drop (37mm in the heel, 27 in the forefoot) helps athletes feel the ground more than what an overly-cushioned running shoe might.

Elsewhere, the rubber compound across the outsole has been reworked and reduced to shave weight. The breathable upper has been fine-tuned with the aim of having it go unnoticed by runners. Nike is confident enough with these modifications to claim that they contribute to "the Best Pegasus Ride to Date"—a lofty statement given the series debuted in the early 1980s.

Enjoy e-commerce shots of the inaugural Pegasus 42 styles ahead. Pairs are expected to land via Nike.com and other retailers on Thursday, April 9.

For more performance footwear from the Swoosh, check out the latest Nike Mercurial offerings.