The Pegasus, now in its 40th iteration, is a durable, dependable workhorse. It’s one of the most popular running shoes in the world because of its competitive price, wide availability and its consistent fit. It costs $130 and uses some of Nike’s older technology.
The Invincible Run 3 is a new running shoe and is unlike any other Nike trainer. It’s a top of the range neutral trainer and uses Nike’s premium materials. It costs $180.
Which one of these very different Nike trainers is for you?
The midsole of the Pegasus is React foam which is medium soft in density and offers plenty of long-distance cushioning. It’s not as squishy as the Invincible Run but is a good balance between soft and firm.
The midsole of the Invincible Run is made of Nike’s most advanced midsole foam which is Pebax-based ZoomX. ZoomX is super soft and super bouncy. It’s also lighter than most midsole foams which is why it’s considered a super foam.
The Pegasus which is firmer than the Invincible Run, is better suited to faster, shorter runs because it’s easier to pick up the pace whereas the Invincible Run is better for long distance runs and easy/recovery runs. The Invincible Run offers more cushioning and better long-distance comfort.
In the forefoot of the Pegasus is a thick, large Zoom Air unit which gives the Pegasus more responsiveness. In the heel, there is also a Zoom Air unit for extra cushioning. The Invincible doesn’t have any air unit in its midsole.
Stability is better in the Pegasus than in the Invincible Run. The Pegasus has less lean bias because its midsole is firmer. The Invincible Run feels wobbly when cornering because its midsole is so squishy under foot.
The React midsole of the Pegasus has more durability than the ZoomX midsole of the Invincible Run. ZoomX compresses more than React so over time it will lose more cushioning than the firmer React.
On the outsole of the Pegasus, you can find plenty of thick, hard-wearing carbon rubber which is super tough and capable of lasting hundreds of kilometres. It also makes landings firmer.
The outsole of the Invincible Run uses soft, flexible rubber which is less durable than the Pegasus’s outsole rubber but it has more flexibility. The entire midsole is covered in this soft rubber whereas the Pegasus has some midsole foam exposed but the Pegasus still has the more durable outsole.
Flexibility is better in the Invincible Run than the Pegasus because of its softer outsole and the absence of a Zoom Air unit in the forefoot.
The upper of the Pegasus 39 is a traditional sandwich mesh which is thick and doesn’t stretch. It has a padded tongue which is sleeved so there is no tongue slide. The heel tab and collar are lightly padded and overall foot lockdown is good. The fit is true to size and the Pegasus 39 is available in narrow, standard, wide and extra wide widths.
The upper of the Invincible run 3 is made of Flyknit which has a bit of stretch to it. It has more padding than the upper of the Pegasus 39 but overall foot lockdown is below average. The tongue is thick and padded and it is also not sleeved but no tongue slide occurs. The Invincible Run 3 fits true to size and is only available in a standard width.
If you’re a runner looking for a cheaper trainer for shorter, faster runs, the Pegasus is the one you should choose. It has a durable outsole and midsole with a comfortable fit. The Pegasus has more stability than the Invincible Run and it is also more widely available.
If you’re looking for a plush, super soft trainer for mostly relaxed runs, the Invincible Run is the shoe for you. It has a super soft ride with a comfortable upper. The Invincible Run has incredible energy return and bounce but it comes at the cost of stability. The Invincible Run is also not as durable as the Pegasus but it has a more unique, fun ride.
