Nike Pegasus Premium

Bota, která dostala prémiovou nadstavbu - Nike Pegasus Premium

Few shoes have a history as long and consistent as the Pegasus – a model that has been in Nike's catalog longer than any other. Nike Pegasus Premium is the latest, premium branch of this legacy, which for the first time in the series' history visually carved a visible Air Zoom unit directly into the midsole. Nike's engineers achieved something they claim they had never done before – bending the cushioning unit along the entire axis of the foot. The result is a shoe that, after decades of stability, has taken one of the most significant technical leaps in the entire history of the Pegasus.

History: The Best-Selling Running Shoe of All Time

The original Pegasus was created in 1983 under the internal name "Air Wedge Trainer" – it was the first shoe ever to feature an air unit placed directly in the heel, known as the Air Wedge, which according to the then Nike catalog improved shock absorption by 12% compared to a classic EVA wedge. At $50, 8,000 pairs were sold in the first month, over 35,000 the following month, and more than 300,000 pairs in the first half of 1983. The name Pegasus referred to the winged horse from mythology – a symbol of movement, speed, and the ability to "fly." Since then, the Pegasus has become Nike's best-selling running shoe of all time and remains the longest-produced model in the brand's history.

Pegasus Premium was created as a premium extension of the classic line and was released on January 30, 2025 (a week later in China, on February 6). According to Kathy Gomez, Nike's Vice President of Footwear Innovation, the team had long sought to bend the cushioning unit along the axis of the foot, but had never succeeded – until Pegasus Premium finally solved this problem.

Technology: ZoomX, Visible Air Zoom, and ReactX

What makes the Pegasus Premium the most technologically advanced model in the history of the series are these three layers of the midsole:

• ZoomX Foam: A lightweight and energy-returning foam that forms the main layer of the midsole, providing a responsive bounce.
• High-Profile, Visible Air Zoom Unit: For the first time in Nike's history, this air unit has been shaped to bend along the entire length of the foot – giving the ride a feeling of bouncing on a series of small trampolines.
• ReactX Foam in the Heel: A newer generation of React foam with higher energy return and a lower carbon footprint in production, complementing the overall cushioning system.

Durability

The outsole with two zones of dense diamond lugs in the forefoot and heel is built for high mileage – reviewers report minimal wear even after 80 km of use. Premium running shoes in the Pegasus segment generally last around 480–800 km, and thanks to more thorough rubber coverage, the Premium version can be expected to last at the upper end of this range.

Who the Model is For

The Pegasus Premium is a sports shoe for you if you run regular daily kilometers and want maximum bounce at the cost of higher weight – it is among the heaviest models on the market, so it's not the ideal choice if you prioritize lightness over cushioning.