I've Tested Running Shoes for Nearly a Decade—My Absolute Favorite Pair Just Went on Sale
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In This Story
Why We Love This Deal
The sun’s out, temperatures are warming up, the days are getting longer—and I’m switching back to my absolute favorite running shoes, the Nike Pegasus Premium, after a long winter of jogging in ice spikes. I test running shoes for a living, which means I’m constantly rotating through different shoes, but the Nike Pegasus Premium has been my go-to pair over the past year or so. I love their ultra-cushioned, incredibly bouncy ride, and if you haven’t tried ‘em, now’s your chance: They’re on sale at Champs Sports with a deep discount.
The Nike Pegasus Premium is on sale for $150, a 32% discount from its normal price of $220. That’s the best price I could find for this shoe anywhere online—it beats the prices at Nike, Foot Locker, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Champs is offering the Peg Premium for $150 across two colorways, and an additional colorway is on sale for $200.
Nike Pegasus Premium, $150 (was $220) at Champs Sports
Pros
- Well-cushioned and propulsive ride
- Roomy toe box
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Heavy compared to other trainers
- Somewhat unstable
What Shoppers Should Know
- Colorways Available: 2 for $150, 1 for $200, 5 full price
- Sizes Available: 8-12, 13
- Midsole: ZoomX foam, Zoom Air unit, ReactX foam
- Weight: 11.5 ounces
- Drop: 10mm
The Pegasus Premium is the top-spec version of Nike’s vaunted Pegasus trainer, and its midsole is packed with tech not found in the regular model or the Pegasus Plus.
The main difference? The Premium features a three-layer midsole. The top layer is ZoomX, Nike’s lightweight, soft, and bouncy cushioning foam used in elite racing shoes like the Alphafly. Under that, the Premium has a full-length Zoom Air unit. Essentially, it’s a cell filled with pressurized air that acts like a shock absorber. Under the Zoom Air unit is a layer of ReactX foam, a durable cushioning material used in many Nike training shoes. Together, these three layers create an exceptionally well-cushioned shoe with plenty of propulsive bounce.
The shoe is topped with a breathable engineered mesh upper, and padding around the ankle collar creates a comfy fit. On the bottom, a grippy “waffle” pattern outsole keeps the shoes locked to the pavement.
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My Honest Thoughts
From the moment I put the Peg Premium on my feet, it impressed me with its superb ride. Looking over my testing notes, the word I kept coming back to during those first few runs was “fun,” and that’s still the case a year later. The shoes felt well-cushioned, sure, but the layered midsole also imparted a spring-like jolt to each toe-off that helped me keep my pace and really enjoy every stride.
In addition to the bouncy feel, I also appreciated the shoe’s comfy fit, which helped me zone out and cruise through my miles. Despite being quite heavy at 11.5 ounces, the Peg Premium never once felt clunky or bulky on my feet. In fact, it seemed to feel better as I went faster—the foam softened up, and the bounce effect became even more pronounced.
While the Peg Premium’s toe box was plenty wide for my feet, it is quite narrow at midfoot (a common issue with Nike running shoes). That narrow silhouette, combined with the tall sole, makes this shoe a tad unstable. That’s the main reason I hung them up for winter—I didn’t think they’d be a good choice for slippery sidewalks and streets. If you have wide feet, you may need to size up for a good fit and extra stability.
At just $150, this Champs Sports deal on the Pegasus Premium is a fantastic opportunity to try some of Nike’s top-tier running shoe tech for the cost of an average training shoe. Don’t miss out: Snag your pair today before your size goes out of stock.