It’s been some time since I’ve been as utterly stoked a few pair of door-to-trail footwear as I’ve been with the brand new Nike React Pegasus Path 4 ($140) shoe.
Maybe it’s as a result of it has been my magic slipper for a current spherical of return-to-running protocol on the benign, non-technical trails I’ve been frequenting after a flare-up of heel ache, however I can really say Nike knocked it out of the park with this shoe.
iRunFar did an intensive Nike Pegasus Path 3 evaluation in February 2022, the place gear reviewer Tom Caughlan mentioned among the historical past of Nike’s Pegasus line — 40 iterations of Pegasus street footwear up to now! On the path facet, the Nike React Pegasus Path 4 is the third model using the progressive React foam, and having worn every of those — from the Nike Pegasus Path 2 ahead — I feel that is by far the very best and most comfy experience but.
The Nike Pegasus Path 3 was one in all our prime picks in our Finest Path Operating Footwear information earlier this 12 months, and thus far this new mannequin is even higher. We’re together with it in our Finest Path Operating Footwear information replace, which can publish quickly.
Precise specs on the shoe are arduous to come back by as Nike isn’t posting them on their web site, however in line with the consultant we spoke with, the ladies’s dimension 8 has a heel-toe drop of 8.5 millimeters whereas the lads’s dimension 10 is 9.5 millimeters. I’m unsure why there can be a distinction, however I can attest to the ladies’s drop being not less than 8.5 millimeters, as a result of my posterior chain is totally pleased, and it’s slightly delicate to such issues. The precise weight is 9.5 ounces (270 grams) for a males’s dimension 9, which is a bit lighter than the earlier fashions.
What this all actually means, is that the well-cushioned Nike React Pegasus Path 4 is a comparatively svelte, higher-drop shoe that’s adept at cruising by shorter and longer runs with out slowing the tempo.
I discover the sizing to be very constant throughout the Pegasus Path line, and I put on girls’s dimension 9.5 which is equal to my dimension in La Sportiva, Brooks, Columbia-Montrail, and New Steadiness. For reference, I put on a girls’s 8.5 in Salomon.
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The Nike React Pegasus Path 4. All photographs: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Nike React Pegasus Path 4 Higher
The Nike React Pegasus Path 4 higher has developed positively with a newly designed light-weight engineered mesh with bigger pores by the entrance half of the shoe for improved breathability. These are glorious warmer-weather footwear, and will you end up dashing by a stream, they dry in a short time as properly. I’m not having any issue carrying them in our shoulder season both the place temperatures fluctuate from 35 to 65 levels Fahrenheit with some mud and packed snow scattered about.
Nike touts “runner-informed information” driving the match and really feel, and I do discover it’s an improved match over each the second and third variations of the shoe. The mesh could be very accommodating to my wider forefoot with out creating any strain factors, and even my grippy toes are utterly comfy with room to splay and no abrasions from the toebox.
The protecting rand alongside the entrance of the toebox is now changed by a a lot lighter, extra versatile, and fewer protecting pores and skin overlay with tiny dots to deflect particles and incursions. A wrap of the outsole provides a little bit of construction to the tip of the shoe and successfully wards off harm from catching a rock.
Additional lugs right here give added traction while you’re operating up a hill in your toes. At first, I used to be a bit of cautious given my penchant for catching my toe on the occasional root or rock, however thus far, it’s functioned properly given the sleek to average trails on which I’ve been operating.
At first look, the higher looks like it is perhaps a bit too versatile and unstructured. Minimal assist is offered by skinny overlays by the medial and lateral midfoot, however the unassuming Flywire know-how is fairly superb and with the mixing between the laces and the midfoot band, my foot stays safe even on rutted and scooped-out trails that overwork the posterior tibialis in most different footwear. The flat laces are simple to safe and keep tied with a easy double knot — no additional changes vital.
The totally gusseted and reasonably padded tongue is constructed with mesh material and is pretty versatile, which permits it to contour simply to the foot whereas nonetheless defending it from the laces. The tongue doesn’t lengthen too far up the ankle, so tendons keep pleased and vary of movement is full. The ankle collar is padded simply sufficient to be very comfy.
The one out-of-character a part of the higher, for me, is the Achilles tendon notch which, although the padding is ample, nearly jogs my memory of the primary La Sportiva Jackal — see our La Sportiva Jackal evaluation for extra on that shoe — the place it’s truly angled barely towards the Achilles greater than most footwear, thus creating some undesirable friction towards the Achilles.
I seen this significantly within the first 50 miles of damage, however I discovered it responded properly to handbook manipulation, forcing it to bend out and away from the tendon. Now that I’m at 150 miles in these footwear, the left one is totally comfy, and the fitting one is almost there. I haven’t learn one different remark stating this, so maybe it’s simply the footwear I acquired.
The heel counter itself is well-structured however nonetheless pliable, which makes for a really comfy experience even when the path will get a bit of sideways. I appreciated the extent of assist it gives over among the rockier trails I ventured out on — it retains me nimble and agile, however safe. A really useful pull loop is connected to the higher heel, which assists with pulling on the shoe if that’s one thing you like.
Lastly, the insole appears extra substantial in foam peak and arch assist than prior variations. My foot has appreciated this very a lot. Whereas most firms appear to be minimizing this very key facet of consolation, I really feel like Nike stepped it up right here. This — coupled with the best way they’ve constructed the midsole foam to stand up medially and laterally alongside the higher/midsole junction — gives next-level assist to the foot, thus enhancing the sensation of stride effectivity whatever the tempo. It truly is one in all my favourite elements contributing to the general pleasure of operating within the shoe.
With ample colorways accessible within the Nike React Pegasus Path 4, there’s sure to be one which speaks to you.
A lateral view of the Nike React Pegasus Path 4.
Nike React Pegasus Path 4 Midsole
Although the React foam know-how has been utilized in each the second and third variations of the Nike Pegasus Path, there’s one thing concerning the experience within the Nike React Pegasus Path 4 that looks like an enchancment. It might simply be the right mix of froth compliance and resilience, however for me, it seems like no vitality is wasted with every footfall. The graceful, responsive cushioning lets me glide alongside on the quarter mile of pavement and the mile of crushed gravel that take me to the rolling, comparatively {smooth} singletrack.
I really feel comfortable with this midsole in the way it responds by the gait cycle. The stack peak is properly inside my consolation zone, and I discover that it’s protecting sufficient on the smooth-moderate terrain that I don’t thoughts the shortage of a rock plate. If Nike wished to develop this line to extra technical trails, a rock movie is perhaps useful, however given the door-to-trail focus, it’s good as is.
At 150 miles of use and counting up to now, the midsole gives as comfy of a experience because it did out of the field, and the React foam stays wear-and-tear-free and with none compression creases. For those who haven’t had an opportunity to check this foam out for your self and in case your major trails aren’t tremendous technical and mountainous, it’s value trialing these.
A medial view of the Nike React Pegasus Path 4.
Nike React Pegasus Path 4 Outsole
The Nike React Pegasus Path 4 outsole is one other place I imagine this shoe has helpfully shed some weight as in comparison with prior iterations. Gone is the only layer of rubber and as a substitute, a very new and diversified 4-millimeter lug sample, with cutouts to enhance flexibility and conformability to the paths.
Once more, these footwear aren’t focused for extremely technical trails or important snow, ice, and dirt, however I’m discovering the multi-directional lug sample to be an enchancment over the Pegasus Path 3, particularly on brief, kicker uphills, skittery downhills, and the sand-over-hardpack filth surfaces I’m generally on.
The grip in all fairness efficient all-round within the seasonal transition the place it’s balmy within the low nation, however the mountain trails are utterly snowy. I discover they carry out adequately on the brief stints of roughed-up packed snow within the shady locations, however I positively ease up within the presence of greasy mud as they simply don’t have a lot buy.
The outsole rolls easily over filth roads, which makes me grateful for the Pegasus’s street shoe heritage, however the safety and stability stay true to the light-moderate path class.
The outsole of the Nike React Pegasus Path 4.
Nike React Pegasus Path 4 Total Impressions
I put on the Nike React Pegasus Path 4 nearly day-after-day proper now as a result of it’s completely designed for the non-technical singletrack, and sometimes average rocky segments I’m frequenting. I haven’t discovered one other shoe with that preferrred steadiness of cushioning and vitality return that facilitates such a straightforward stride whilst I work to get my health and paces again.
It’s not an enormous mountain shoe or one I’d connect a traction system to, however for low nation days, it’s actually arduous to beat. I positively recognize the lighter-weight really feel of this model in addition to the enhancements made within the higher and outsole.
We already beloved the Nike Pegasus Path 3 sufficient to incorporate it in our Finest Path Operating Footwear information earlier this 12 months, however there’s simply one thing about the best way the midsole helps the foot and integrates with the higher that stands out and makes the Nike React Pegasus Path 4 my favourite model of this shoe mannequin but. We’re publishing our up to date Finest Path Operating Footwear information shortly, and it’ll definitely embody the Nike React Pegasus Path 4.
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Name for Feedback
- Have you ever run within the Nike React Pegasus Path 4? What have been your impressions?
- Have you ever tried any of the earlier variations within the Pegasus Path line? How do you suppose this newest iteration compares?
[Editor’s Note: If you’re affiliated (i.e., an employee, ambassador, etc.) with a brand, please share your relation in each of your comments on this article. Thanks!]
A prime view of the Nike React Pegasus Path 4.
