John Kim Before the Air Max 95, Air Max TL 2.5 and other bubbled icons became smash hits as casual lifestyle shoes, Nike’s Running shoes were entirely meant for…running. It’s the crossover from track to street that provided the roots of what the Swoosh calls its Sportswear division, and as design and performance engineering became more and more technical, so did the shoes that were meant for the sport.
Running shoes of the modern day look nothing like the aforementioned Air Max classics. You won’t find leather, suede, or mesh, but rather super-thin skin-like synthetics and state-of-the-art foams to keep the sneaker as light as possible. The AlphaFly 3 and upcoming Nike VaporFly 4 may be concept cars in sneaker form, but realistically, they look absolutely goofy when worn with anything but running shorts or tights.
That’s why when Nike unveiled the Pegasus Premium in Paris last April, many sneaker media folks reported experiencing a visceral reaction. For myself, it was similar to the one I felt when I first laid eyes on the Air Max 93 at the Foot Locker on Roosevelt Ave. in Flushing decades ago.
Full length Air will never not grab attention, despite various iterations coming to market. But the Pegasus Premium is different. It’s not exactly a thick, fat bubble like you see in Air. It’s not the first time full-length visible Zoom was done either (see: Air Zoom All Out Flyknit).
But the ergonomic shape, the choice in Total Orange, and the orange “eye-liner” to enhance the dimensions is all I needed to start budgeting for several pairs upon its retail arrival. Above the technical aspects, the Pegasus Premium brings us back to the era when wearing performance kicks was the preferred choice.
Where To Buy The Nike Pegasus Premium
Onto the brass tax: The Nike Pegasus Premium is set to release on January 30th, 2025 with an MSRP of $200. The pair pictured below is listed as a women’s release. Several colorways are also planned for Spring 2025 and on, including a grey pair with a full-length Zoom Air unit in Volt neon.
WHERE TO BUY
Nike Pegasus Premium
US 01/30/2025 Thursday
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| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nikestore US | Standard | Coming Soon |
Nike’s Road Running Footwear Line-up
The Pegasus Premium is part of Nike’s new Road Running Footwear Line-up category. Obviously under the Pegasus family, the top-level Premium version offers the utmost in Responsive Cushioning via the full-length Zoom.
Within each of these columns exist an icon silhouette, an elevated Plus option, and the super-powered Premium. As of now, only the Pegasus family has iterations on all three tiers. The below infographic best lays out how Nike’s simplified structure can help you pick the right road running shoe.
