Breaking Down the Hyped Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo

 

A post shared by Fleet Feet (@fleetfeetsports) on Jul 11, 2018 at 7:36am PDT

If you’re a fan of Nike’s legendary Pegasus line, you’re in for a real treat on Thursday, August 2nd.

The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus has been a staple in Nike’s running shoe line for 35 years. Known for its comfort and ability to withstand high mileage, the shoe can be considered by some to be a bit too heavy and a little too soft to really be used for any kind of speedwork.

Using direct feedback from their elite runners, the neutral, medium cushioned Nike Air Zoom Pegasus gets a serious speed upgrade via a new model, the Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo. The new iteration keeps that legendary fit and feeling, but delivers the lightweight sensation of a racing flat. Perfect for speed sessions with the Racing Team or race day.

If you’re thinking this shoe looks a bit like the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Elite and 4% vibes, you’re on to something. The Turbo was inspired by these dominant marathon shoes but it doesn’t include the carbon fiber plate (you just don’t need that snap in every stride). For just the third time ever, the Turbo employs the same highly responsive ZoomX foam in the midsole and taking on the same aerodynamic shape of the heel.

Not familiar with ZoomX? You should be. It’s causing race officials to rethink the equipment being used due to its efficiency proved through data and science.

Three things to know about Nike ZoomX Foam:

• It delivers 85 percent energy return — the greatest of any Nike foam.
• It’s also Nike’s lightest foam (a single men’s size 10 shoe weighs in at 8.4 oz while a women’s 8 is 6.9 oz).
• It’s currently used in three silhouettes: the aforementioned Zoom Vaporfly Elite (which was worn by Breaking2 athletes) and Zoom Vaporfly 4% and now the Zoom Pegasus Turbo.

What does energy return in your shoes have to do with your running? Here’s a quick science lesson from Nike.

A quick physics refresher: Energy can only be transferred — no system can create or destroy it. What foam can do is help to reduce the amount of energy being lost by your shoe every time you compress it by applying force to it (with running this is typically a combination of your stride, pace and weight). It does this by springing back toward its original shape every time your foot leaves the ground. The closer it can get to its original shape, the more energy transfers back into the foam.

How does it differ from the normal Air Zoom Pegasus 35?

The cushioning.

As previously mentioned, the innovative ZoomX foam is used in combination with a thin layer of React foam to the bottom to help with durability (it also stabilizes the ZoomX foam in the midsole).

The upper.

The new off-white colored mesh helps make the shoe lighter but it also makes the shoe feel roomier. And the racing stripe looks damn cool if you ask us.

The weight.

The new technologies used make the shoe 1.8 ounces lighter.

The price.

To get the advantages you have to pay the price. $180.

How do I buy a pair?

The Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo will be available at Fleet Feet Old Town, South Loop, and Lakeview starting on August 2nd and will retail for $180. First come, first serve.