Runner’s Tribe – Running Shoe Reviews
As with most Nike shoes, the Pegasus 35 Turbo comes with a lot of hype. Loaded with a new magic/hero foam (yes it has some of the same foam as used in the Vaporfly 4%) the shoe is simple, light, and the midsole is soft yet springy. And yes, it is crazy fast.
The Pegasus 35 Turbo is a lightweight trainer that feels at ease during a slow recovery run, a hard tempo, or a fast fartlek. It is very versatile in nature. Not designed for super long runs, the shoe is pretty good for nearly anything else. If you are familiar with the traditional Pegasus range, this is simply a lightweight version designed for faster running.
Specs:
- Surface: Road, smooth trails, track sessions.
- Km run during testing process: 225km
- Pronation: Neutral
- Stack Height: 28mm heel, 18mm forefoot.
- Heel-to-toe-drop: 10mm
Weight: - Men: 230 grams (8.1oz) – size men’s 10.
- Women: 181 grams (6.4 oz).
- Midsole: ZoomX Foam. Part Vaporfly 4% with ZoomX foam, part Epic React with React foam (synthetic rubber). ZoomX foam is an extremely lightweight and soft foam that sees the greatest energy return of any foams that Nike has tested.
- Upper: Multiple layers of mesh.
- Flexibility: Moderate.
- Heel cushioning: Soft.
- Fits: To size.
- Arch height: Medium to high.
- Heel width: Medium to narrow.
- Toe box: Width: medium. Height: Low.
- Midfoot volume: Medium to low.
- Marketing Hype: High.
- Does it live up to the hype: Yes.
- Price: $250 AUD at Nike Australia. $180 USD at Nike USA.
Cool things about this shoe
- Cushioning yet Springy: Not as cushioned as the Epic React, Vomero or Pegasus 35, but still plenty cushioned for a faster moving shoe. The combination of midsole (called ZoomX) from the 4% Vaporfly and the Epic React shoes, means it manages to be a very bouncy shoe yet maintain the feeling of adequate cushioning.
- Quality & Comfort: Such an expensive pair of Nikes, you’d expect quality, and it is. From the stitching to the materials, it is well made and feels high-end. It’s very comfortable with a precision fit.
- Midsole: ZoomX foam, which is a combination of midsoles from the 4% Vaporfly and Epic React shoes, means the foam used is soft and springy, yet fast. It is a very enjoyable midsole. ZoomX provides cushioned landings but that explosive take-off that ZoomX foam is famous for. The midsole is soft yet very responsive, a true tempo or workout shoe.
- Fit:
-Quite a forgiving fit
-Toe box not as wide as some shoes, but there is more room in the toe box than Nike -traditionally provides.
-Adequate midfoot lockdown with flywire.
-Adequate breathability.
-Heel counter moves away from the Achilles, avoiding unnecessary tension on the Achilles tendon. Adequate padding in the heel counter. - Looks: Has to be one of the best-looking pairs of Nikes around.
- Outsole: Plenty of rubber provides for ample traction.
- Durability: After 225km our pair of Turbos are fine. The ‘React’ component of the ZoomX midsole is incredibly durable. If you are a runner that does three ‘sessions’ per week and just wear the Turbos for the sessions and not your warm-ups, warm-downs or long easy runs, even if you average 8km for every session, these shoes should last you at last 16-20 weeks (or approximately 500-600km).
Uncool things about this shoe
- Expensive: It’s hard to get your head around paying $250 for a pair of shoes. But like most things in life, quality costs, and this is no exception.
- Toe Box: High-end Nike running shoes are really designed for runners with skinny narrow feet. If you have an incredibly wide forefoot, chances are the Turbos will be a little too snug around the toes and forefoot. We would love to see Nike embracing a wider toe box option.
- Upper Breathability: There are multiple layers of mesh. A plastic layer, a fine outer mesh layer, and an inner softer layer for comfort. The layers combine to reduce airflow compared to other shoes with more simple designs. However, the shoe is very comfortable. It is a trade-off between comfort and breathability.
To buy or not to buy?
For $250 bucks, it just depends if you have the moula. If so, then go for it, the shoes are high quality and incredibly enjoyable. Better than any other up-tempo training shoe we know about. You’ll enjoy the run.
Disclaimer: Runner’s Tribe were given a pair of Nike Pegasus 35 Turbo for free. We receive free shoes all the time, some of our reviews are brutally negative, some are positive. Either way, the free shoes keep coming. We like to think we offer fair and impartial reviews, but we leave it to the readers to decide that for themselves.
