Deciding between the Nike Vomero and Nike Pegasus has been a long-standing conundrum. I love that brands have such diverse line ups and yet it’s also confusing to know what sets a shoe apart. We’re going to look at these two daily trainers to help you pick the right one for your goals.
As an experienced runner and shoe tester, I’ve spent time evaluating both models to provide you with a detailed comparison. Having done a lot of testing in the Nike Alphafly and Vaporfly as well the last few years, I’m getting reacquainted with exactly what the Nike line up has to offer.
It’s an incredible breadth of options, but today our focus is solely on these two very popular daily trainers. We’ll review the major differences, along with an overview of each shoe and features to help you decide.
Nike Pegasus vs Nike Vomero Overview
Honestly, I put on one of each shoe and jogged around for awhile to see if I could pin point the major differences. While there are some, the truth is they are so very minimal. Both of these shoes are designed to be a daily trainer for easy running.
Both are going to serve you well for easy runs and I’d say even long runs up to 15 miles. After that, I often look for a shoe with a tad more cushioning, but that’s a personal choice! Between the two, the Vomero might be slightly more comfortable for long runs due to the additional cushion underfoot.
The Nike Pegasus 412 and the Nike Vomero 18 provide really comfortable and stable rides. Neither is a stability shoe, but I feel like my foot is well supported in both. The tongues are padded and I’m not worried about anything digging in to my ankles.
Neither shoe has a plate or rocker, but both could work for speed if you want one daily trainer to act as a workhorse for your easy days and in to long tempo runs. Again…we know I am all about shoe rotation for longevity of the shoe and to prevent injuries, so I’d consider an additional lightweight running shoe.
Key Differences
I will go through all of this in more detail, but for a very quick overview some key differences:
- Vomero has a higher stack height (though similar heel to toe drop)
- Pegasus is just a tad lighter
- Vomero has the ZoomX cushion which feels a bit softer (also more stack means more cushion)
- Pegasus uses full length Air Zoom Unit paired with the ReactX foam
- Slightly thicker padding around Vomero heel collar
The foam as highlighted above is the major difference between these two models.
Remember the ZoomX foam is their newest and greatest which we see in shoes like the Vaporfly. Meanwhile, the React is what got me to fall in love with Nike running shoes all over again about 6 years ago.
You’ll find both have a similar outsole that will provide good traction and even give you the option of road to some gravel trail with plenty of grip.
Nike Pegasus 42
The Pegasus remains a well priced daily trainer that is going to be extremely durable, carry runners through a lot of easy miles without feeling heavy or clunky. It’s not a max cushioned soft trainer, that goes to their Vomero line up, and it’s not a speed workout shoe, but it can pick up the pace.
Nike is leaning hard into the idea of “more energy return” with the Pegasus 42, thanks to a full-length Air Zoom unit.
Everyone wants the bounce or cushion right now, but I love that the Pegasus is staying true to this line of shoes. It’s got plenty of tech in it and looks flashy, but really, it’s a great basic daily trainer.
This is a good option for your easy weekday runs or for the support of a marathon training run.
Unfortunately, the fit of the 42 is a little different from previous models due to the last.
The last is what the shoe is built on and thus changes the fit of the shoe. By adding more cushion under the forefoot the shoe now felt too small and way too tight through the toebox.
Specifications
Let’s dive in with some of the top line info that we all need to know about a shoe!
- Weight: 10.6 oz Men’s, 8.6 oz Women’s
- Stack Height: 37 mm
- Heel Drop: 10 mm
- Colors: 6 colors
- Available in wide: Yes for some colors
- Available at nike.com for $145
- Read our full review of the Nike Pegasus 42 here >>
Nike Vomero 18
As you’ll notice from the price, the Vomero is considered a bit more of a premium shoe, which is due to the newer ZoomX foam. I’d also say for some reason I thought the Vomero felt just a tad more narrow than the Pegasus, but both fit my foot just fine and I wouldn’t shift up in sizing.
My first run in this shoe, I thought “oh this feels familiar” and it should as noted from recent testing. That was a very welcome surprise and I immediately fell in to a nice flow with the shoe, even dealing with some piles of snow along the way.
The upper in this shoe feels a little thinner than the Pegasus, but both are very similar. Again the tongue felt good, not hitting to high or moving about. And the laces were long enough for a heel lock lacing, though I found it wasn’t necessary.
- Heel toe drop: 10mm
- Weight: 9.3 oz women’s, 11.5 oz men’s
- Available in 6 colors
- Not available in Wide
- Available at Nike.com $150
- Check our our full review of the Nike Vomero 18 here >>
Choosing Between Nike Pegasus and Vomero for Running
Trying to decide between these two models? Hopefully you’ve gained some insights from the details above, but my straight take is that I would select the Vomero.
In fact, I obviously have both and stopped running in the Pegasus pretty quickly for other shoes, while the Vomero continues to appear in my weekly line up for easy runs.
- Both are a neutral running shoe.
- Pegasus has a lower stack height which you might find feels more stable
- Vomero is going to be a little bit softer
- Both can be used for similar training from the easy daily run to medium long run
Looking for more lightweight running shoes? Check out all of our recent reviews to see if something catches your eye.
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