Foot Doctor Zach's Nike Pegasus 42 Review

The Nike Pegasus 42 features an incredibly light, two-layered upper with a padded mesh cage, providing high breathability and overall comfort, especially around the forefoot and tongue.

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The integrated lace eyelets contribute to good lockdown, and while moderate heel slippage exists without a runner's knot, it becomes mild when one is used. The padded tongue ensures comfort even with a tight runner's knot.

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The Pegasus 42's midsole, with top-loaded parabolic Zoom and ReactX foam, offers superior resilience, liveliness, and durability compared to the Pegasus Premium's ZoomX, which was prone to breaking down.

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The shoe lacks a shank and exhibits low torsional rigidity, bending easily under minimal force (37 Newtons to 45 degrees), indicating a flexible feel.

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The shoe demonstrates good initial shock absorption (54 Newtons compression) with foam that becomes more compliant after repeated cycles. Bounce height varies, with a higher bounce in the forefoot (40 cm) compared to the rearfoot (26 cm).

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The outsole features a basic but decent design with peripheral rubber, a lug pattern, a forefoot landing pad, and serrations for grip, while being hollowed out for weight reduction.

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The Pegasus 42 has a generous 8.9 cm rearfoot width contributing to stability, 5.3 cm of vertical toe box height, and runs true to size at 28.9 cm in length. However, the metatarsal width of 9.9 cm tapers to 9.8 cm in the toe box, which can lead to initial cramping for wider feet.

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With a 1 cm heel-to-toe drop, the shoe can accommodate a low-profile orthotic, making it suitable for conditions like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. However, it is not ideal for arch pain or big toe arthritis without orthotics, and offers only "okay" support for forefoot pain or knee/back pain, often requiring inserts.

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Upper Breathability and Construction

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The uppers are described as incredibly light with two layers, including a padded mesh cage. A breathability test demonstrated high airflow, with fog shooting easily out the forefoot, indicating good breathability.

Tongue Padding and Comfort

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The shoe's tongue has high gussets on both sides and two layers of thick padding, enhancing comfort and preventing nerve compression when a runner's knot is used.

Heel Slippage with Runner's Knot

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The reviewer observed moderate heel slippage without a runner's knot, which improved to mild slippage when a runner's knot was employed.

Midsole Material and Durability Comparison

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The midsole features a top-loaded parabolic Zoom unit and ReactX foam, a configuration deemed by the reviewer to be more resilient, lively, and durable over time compared to the Nike Pegasus Premium's ZoomX, which was prone to breaking down.

Torsional Rigidity Measurement

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There is no shank in the shoe, and it demonstrates low torsional rigidity. A tensiometer test showed it requires only 37 Newtons of force to bend it 45 degrees.

Shock Absorption Measurement

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Shock absorption testing indicated an initial compression of 54 Newtons, which reduced to 34 Newtons after three cycles, suggesting the ReactX foam becomes more compliant with repeated impact.

Bounce Height Measurement

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A bounce height test revealed 26 cm in the rearfoot and 40 cm in the forefoot, with the higher forefoot bounce attributed to greater ground-reactive force.

Outsole Design and Grip

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The outsole incorporates peripheral rubber, a lug pattern, a forefoot landing pad, and serrations under the big toe for grip, with strategic hollowing for weight reduction.

Rearfoot Width and Stability

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The shoe features an 8.9 cm rearfoot width, which significantly contributes to its unexpected stability on foot, making it difficult for the reviewer to roll his ankle.

Toe Box Vertical Height

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With a toe box height of 5.3 cm, the shoe provides ample vertical room for the toes.

Shoe Length Measurement

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The shoe's length is measured at 28.9 cm (likely men's size 10), indicating it runs true to size, possibly slightly long.

Forefoot Width and Taper

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The metatarsal width is 9.9 cm, reducing to 9.8 cm in the toe box, a 1 mm taper. The inflare measures 37 degrees.

Lateral Foot Cramping and Resolution

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The reviewer noted initial cramping on the lateral side of his wider left foot, which he alleviated by breaking in the shoe and utilizing a runner's knot to prevent overtightening in the midfoot.

Heel-to-Toe Drop and Orthotic Compatibility

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The Pegasus 42 has a 1 cm heel-to-toe drop and can fit a low-profile orthotic, which the reviewer recommends for issues like plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis.

Suitability for Arch/Toe Arthritis/Knee Pain

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The reviewer advises against the shoe for arch pain or big toe arthritis without orthotics, stating better shoes are available. For knee and back pain, he describes it as "a little soft" but potentially acceptable with an orthotic.

Is the Nike Pegasus 42 breathable?

According to the reviewer's breathability test, the uppers push fog out "like crazy" and "shooting right out the forefoot easily," indicating excellent airflow and breathability.

How is the midsole performance and durability of the Pegasus 42?

The reviewer praises the midsole's combination of top-loaded parabolic Zoom and ReactX foam, finding it more resilient, lively, and durable throughout the shoe's life compared to the Pegasus Premium's ZoomX, which was prone to breaking down. It provides a springy, shock-absorbing, and pillowy feel without bottoming out.

Is the Nike Pegasus 42 stable?

The reviewer found the shoe "way more stable on foot than you would think it does" due to its 8.9 cm rearfoot width. He notes that he "actually had a hard time rolling these," making them okay for ankle sprainers in their intended use.

How does the Pegasus 42 fit, especially for wider feet?

The shoe runs true to size in length (28.9 cm) and offers ample vertical toe box room (5.3 cm). However, the metatarsal width of 9.9 cm narrows slightly to 9.8 cm in the toe box. The reviewer, with a wider foot, experienced initial lateral cramping which was resolved by breaking in the shoe and using a runner's knot. For 2E widths, true to size might work casually, but a half size up is recommended for more room; 4E widths should definitely go up a half size.

Can I use orthotics with the Nike Pegasus 42?

The reviewer states that the shoe is wide enough in the rearfoot to fit an orthotic. He specifically recommends using a low-profile orthotic for plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. For conditions like arch pain, big toe arthritis, or knee/back pain, orthotics are strongly suggested to improve comfort and support.

Is the Pegasus 42 good for specific foot conditions like arch pain or big toe arthritis?

The reviewer gives a "no" for arch pain, suggesting the torsional rigidity might not be sufficient to hold the arch up, though an orthotic would improve it. For big toe arthritis, he also says "not on their own," recommending a Morton's extension orthotic and noting that better options exist.

How is the cushioning for knee and back pain?

The reviewer describes the cushioning as "a little soft" but better than some due to the tensile air. He cautions that it's not the best shoe for knee and back pain on its own and strongly recommends using an orthotic for better support.