Nike Pegasus 42, ACG Pegasus Trail Release Dates

The Year of the Horse will bring at least two new iterations of the Nike‘s four-decade old running franchise named for a mythical mount, as the company unveiled Tuesday both the Pegasus 42 and the ACG Pegasus Trail.

A full-length, curved Zoom Air unit is the headline update for the former model, the inclusion of which is traced to the Pegasus Premium that launched last year. The propulsive cushioning element isn’t visible on this balanced daily trainer, but it fills in the gap created previously by separate Zoom Air units at the forefoot and heel and helps to deliver 15 percent greater energy return than the Pegasus 41.

While stack height remains the same as its predecessor at 37mm at the heel and 27mm at the forefoot, 3mm of additional ReactX foam have been tucked beneath the toes by creating a new last with greater curve. Weight for a men’s size 10 comes in a tad heavier at 300g for a men’s size 10.5 compared to 281 grams on the Pegasus 41.

The Pegasus 42 is now the second hero model for the franchise since Nike repositioned its running slate around it and two other banners: the max-cushioned Vomero and stability-oriented Structure. All three have numbered editions as well as Plus and Premium versions that offer increasingly better technology.

Elliot Heath, senior footwear expert for Nike running, pointed to the configuration of silos during a virtual briefing Monday and said it allows the Pegasuses to push more of an edge. He added: “With the Pegasus 42 and the upcoming Pegasus Plus, you’ll see Pegasus give more and more direction for a runner that’s looking for a tool that they can go out for easy runs but that they feel the most comfortable going faster in.”

Over at ACG, which was recently relaunched with a focus on performance, the Pegasus Trail finds a new home and has also been crafted with a new last that prioritizes a wider toe box. This last will be used on other ACG running footwear going forward, including the newest Zagama.

Durability is an area of focus on the upper with a mesh that’s received a higher abrasion score, as well as the new proprietary All Terrain Compound 2.0 used for an outsole that’s now 25 percent more durable and provides 30 percent greater traction in wet conditions. Like the Pegasus 42, more foam has been added underfoot, but the addition reduces the offset from toe to heel to 8mm compared to 10mm on the Pegasus Trail 5.

The ACG Pegasus Trail, which is the sixth iteration of the shoe previously under the Nike Trail line, continues its positioning in the road-to-trail or gravel space, which is starting to be emphasized by more running brands. With the new outsole compound also comes a multi-directional hex pattern that enables a runner to dig in on soft ground without being overburdensome on pavement.

Andrew Bumbalough, expert product line manager for Nike, also said he sees it as an invitation to runners who are trail-curious, as it can handle moderate terrain and give way to other models for more extreme paths. “It’s kind of a do-it-all shoe,” Bumbalough said. “It might be the one shoe you bring on a trip because you need a shoe that’s going to function in all these different environments.”

The Nike Pegasus 42 will release April 9, and the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail has been given a more broad release window for the same month. Pricing for either model has yet to be announced.