Among Nike's new 2026 shoes, the one with the clearest reason to buy is the Pegasus 42, released Apr 9 (about 287g in 27cm, JPY 17,600). It has 2 changes the maker states in numbers, and it is the cheapest of the 6. The 3 trail shoes changed to the ACG name, and the Alphafly 4 still shows "coming soon" on the Japan official site.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
This year at Nike, read the last (the shoe form) before the sole material. In 5 of the 6 shoes, the maker writes that it "widened the toe and forefoot." The Pegasus 42's new MR-10 2.0 last was carried straight into August's Pegasus Plus 2. I read it that the more your toes hit in the previous generation, the greater the point of switching to this year's generation.
Key points
- The new road shoes are the Pegasus 42 (Apr 9) and the Pegasus Plus 2 (late Aug). The gap is 38g in 27cm and JPY 4,400
- The trail shoes are the 3: ACG Pegasus Trail, ACG Zegama Trail and ACG Ultrafly Trail. Their drops are all different: 8mm, 4mm and 8.5mm
- The Alphafly 4 is announced as 5% lighter than the previous generation. Working backward, the previous generation is about 198g, a gap of about 10g
Nike's new 2026 shoes number 6. Checking release dates against official sources
Among Nike's 6 new 2026 shoes, the pick is the Pegasus 42. What changed is shown in numbers, and it is the cheapest of the 6.
On store shelves, last year's shoes carry a "new" tag too. So I picked only shoes whose release timing is written in Nike's own announcements (about.nike.com).
6 running shoes are stated as released within the first 10 months of 2026 (January to October) and have a product page on the Japan official site (nike.com/jp). 3 road and 3 trail.
This article writes only about "what changed this year." Nike's overall lineup and the explanation of sole materials are collected in how to choose among Nike's 10 running shoes.
The conditions I used
- Nike's announcement states a release timing within the first 10 months of 2026 (January to October)
- The product page opened on the Japan official site on Oct 13, 2026
- Color variants, waterproof and wide versions are folded into the original 1 pair
The release timing is from the worldwide announcement.
Quick table of the 6 new Nike shoes (release date and price)
| Model | Type | Release (official announcement) | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pegasus 42 | Road, everyday | Apr 9, 2026 | JPY 17,600 |
| Pegasus Plus 2 | Road, faster training | Late August 2026 | JPY 22,000 |
| Alphafly 4 | Road, race | Early release Sept 17, wide release Oct 29 | JPY 39,600 |
| ACG Pegasus Trail | Trail, entry level | April 2026 | JPY 17,930 |
| ACG Zegama Trail | Trail, rough ground | Summer 2026 | JPY 27,060 |
| ACG Ultrafly Trail | Trail, race | Spring 2026 | JPY 36,080 |
Quick table of the 6 (weight and drop)
| Model | Weight (27cm) | Drop |
|---|---|---|
| Pegasus 42 | About 287g | 10mm |
| Pegasus Plus 2 | About 249g | 10mm |
| Alphafly 4 | About 188g (26.5cm) | 8mm |
| ACG Pegasus Trail | About 286g | 8mm |
| ACG Zegama Trail | About 315g | 4mm |
| ACG Ultrafly Trail | About 276g | 8.5mm |
The first thing that catches the eye in the lineup is drop. Road everyday shoes are all 10mm, yet the 3 trail shoes are scattered at 8mm, 4mm and 8.5mm. The 3 ACG shoes only share a name; they are separately built shoes.
What readers easily overlook: what changed this year is the "last"
The last is the foot-shaped mold put inside when a shoe is made. Even with the same sole foam, a different last changes the toe room and how the instep fits.
The Pegasus 42 product page says "MR-10 2.0 last: updated from the Pegasus 41." Nike's August announcement says this MR10 2.0 was first used in the Pegasus 42 and also went into the Pegasus Plus 2.
The 3 trail shoes point the same way. The announcement lists a trail-specific last and a widened toe area for all 3.
| Model | Changes the maker states in numbers | Changes the maker states in words |
|---|---|---|
| Pegasus 42 | Energy return (the force returned from a step) up 15% from the previous generation. 3mm more cushioning at the toe | The air unit is now 1 piece from end to end. Wider toe and forefoot |
| Pegasus Plus 2 | Energy return up 18% or more over the original | A visible Air Zoom in the forefoot. The last is the MR10 2.0 |
| Alphafly 4 | 5% lighter than the previous generation (men's 8.5). Energy return up 10% | A lighter ZoomX LT layered on top of ZoomX |
| ACG Pegasus Trail | None | More ReactX. The sole rubber is a new blend. Wider toe |
| ACG Zegama Trail | None (ZoomX's return is explained as 85%) | ZoomX placed directly under the foot. A stretch fabric around the ankle |
| ACG Ultrafly Trail | None (ZoomX's return is explained as 85%) | The carbon plate is softer than the original. Wider forefoot and heel |
Only the 3 road shoes state their changes in numbers. The 3 trail shoes stay with explanations in words. This difference affects the conclusion later.
How do the Pegasus 42 and 41 differ? This year's foundation, in numbers
From the previous generation: The Pegasus 41 had its air unit (Air Zoom) split in 2, forefoot and heel. The 42 has 1 curved piece from end to end. The announcement says energy return is 15% higher.
Weight can be compared in women's 25cm, where the same-size numbers exist. The 41 is about 251g and the 42 about 243g. 8g lighter, about 3% (8 ÷ 251).
List price: women's 41 is JPY 16,500, 42 is JPY 17,600. For a JPY 1,100 increase, 3 things changed: the air unit, the last and the weight.
Difference from its sibling: The waterproof GORE-TEX version is about 323g in 28cm at JPY 20,900. It is 23g heavier than the standard 42 (about 300g) and JPY 3,300 higher. The sole uses a different rubber pattern called Storm Tread.
Strengths: It is the cheapest of the 6, yet has 2 changes shown in numbers. The explanation is detailed too: it adds 3mm of cushioning at the toe without raising the thickness elsewhere. It is the only one offering wide, waterproof and slip-on versions under the same name.
Watch out: The sole foam is the same ReactX as the 41, and the announcement says it carried over as is. The drop stays at 10mm. The official page has no number for sole thickness.
- Good fit: a first pair. Someone whose toes hit in the 41. Someone who needs a rainy-day shoe or wide width
- If lightness is the goal, the Pegasus Plus 2, 38g lighter, fits
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike Pegasus 42
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 17,600 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 64,100 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanThe story of the Air Zoom made into 1 piece and the last is dug into on one pair only in the Pegasus 42 review.
Pegasus Plus 2: 38g lighter, a model above on the same last
From the previous generation: The announcement says energy return is 18% or more higher than the original Pegasus Plus. The biggest change is in the forefoot, where a curved Air Zoom now sits in a visible position. The announcement also explains that air pressure and build change by size.
Difference from its sibling: Same last as the Pegasus 42 and the same 10mm drop. What differs is the sole foam: ReactX is replaced by ZoomX. The weight in 27cm is about 249g, 38g lighter than the 42 (287 − 249).
The price gap is JPY 4,400 (22,000 − 17,600). That works out to about JPY 116 to save 1g (4,400 ÷ 38).
Strengths: You can use the foam with the same name as the race shoes in the same fit as the everyday shoes. If the 42 fit your foot, you can move up with no size worries. That is where matching the last pays off.
Watch out: The original's weight no longer remains on the Japan official site, so whether it got lighter between generations cannot be said in numbers. The product page lists 2 weights, about 249g (27cm) and about 265g, so you need to read the sizes apart.
- Good fit: someone who wants to use a light shoe on faster days, in the same fit as the 42
- If you want 1 pair for everything, or need waterproof or wide, the 42 fits
ACG Pegasus Trail: only 1g different from the road Pegasus
In its announcement of Feb 2, 2026, Nike wrote that it would move Nike Trail to ACG (All Conditions Gear). That is why trail shoes now carry the ACG name.
Difference from the old generation: More ReactX than before, and the sole rubber changes to a blend strong on wet surfaces (All Terrain Compound). The toe and forefoot are wider too. The official source has no numerical comparison.
Difference from its sibling: Compared with the road Pegasus 42 in 27cm, about 286g and about 287g. A gap of 1g. Even in 28cm it is 5g (305 − 300). The price gap is JPY 330 (17,930 − 17,600).
What differs is the drop, 2mm smaller at 8mm, and the sole rubber. The other 2 ACG shoes use Vibram rubber, but this shoe uses Nike's own rubber.
Strengths: It gets trail rubber and toe protection at nearly the same weight as the road Pegasus. It is a shoe aimed at trails that still claims the "rebound familiar from the road." On paper, it is the least strained use for running paved roads from home and then entering the mountains.
Watch out: It is aimed at courses of middling difficulty. A plate that protects the sole when stepping on rocks (a rock plate) is not in the description. The GORE-TEX version is about 291g in 27cm at JPY 27,060, JPY 9,130 higher than the standard version.
- Good fit: a first trail pair. Someone who wears the road Pegasus and wants to enter the mountains with the same feel
- For races with rocky ground or long descents, the Zegama next fits
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike ACG Pegasus Trail
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 17,800 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 83,500 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanACG Zegama Trail: 4mm drop, the heaviest and the most protective
From the previous generation: The announcement calls this shoe the sturdiest of ACG's running shoes. The sole is 2 layers: ZoomX directly under the foot and Cushlon 3.0 below it for stability. The fabric around the ankle (the gaiter) became stretchy, and the tongue and heel patches were added.
The athlete in the announcement says it has more rebound with the same comfort and stability as the previous generation. The official source has no numerical comparison.
Difference from its sibling: About 315g in 27cm. 29g heavier than the ACG Pegasus Trail (315 − 286). The drop is 4mm, the smallest of the 6. The sole is Vibram Megagrip, with a rock plate in the forefoot.
Strengths: ZoomX, a rock plate and Vibram are all in 1 pair. It is also rare for a trail shoe that the announcement gives ZoomX's return as a number, 85%. It carries every part that protects your foot on rough ground.
Watch out: A 4mm drop is 6mm lower than the 10mm Pegasus. For a foot used to a high heel, it is a difference that feels like a different shoe. The weight is the most of the 6 too.
- Good fit: courses with lots of rocks and roots, long-distance trails. Someone already used to low-drop shoes
- If forest roads and park dirt paths are the main use, the Pegasus Trail, 29g lighter, fits
ACG Ultrafly Trail: a softer plate, for trail racing
From the previous generation: The original Ultrafly was released in 2023. The new generation makes the carbon plate softer than the original and cuts slits into the back of the plate so it flexes on rough ground. The forefoot and heel are wider too.
Road race shoes use a stiff plate to roll you forward. With the same stiffness on a trail, your foot tilts along with the plate on stones. That "softened the plate" is a selling point is specific to trails.
Difference from its sibling: About 276g in 27cm. 39g lighter than the Zegama (315 − 276) and JPY 9,020 more (36,080 − 27,060). About JPY 231 to save 1g (9,020 ÷ 39). Nearly double the Pegasus Plus 2's about JPY 116.
| The 3 trail shoes | Weight (27cm) | Official price | Per gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACG Pegasus Trail | About 286g | JPY 17,930 | About JPY 63 |
| ACG Zegama Trail | About 315g | JPY 27,060 | About JPY 86 |
| ACG Ultrafly Trail | About 276g | JPY 36,080 | About JPY 131 |
Strengths: ZoomX, a carbon plate and Vibram Megagrip: a build that pairs road race materials with trail rubber. The announcement says it went through 13 prototypes and over 30,000 miles of test wear. It is also the lightest of the 3.
Watch out: The weight is about the same as the road Pegasus 42 (276g and 287g). It is not a "race shoe, so around 200g" number. The price is about double the Pegasus Trail (36,080 ÷ 17,930 = 2.01).
- Good fit: someone chasing placing or time in trail races. Courses with long runnable sections
- If the goal is to finish, or for everyday training, the Zegama or Pegasus Trail fits
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 36,080 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 101,800 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanAlphafly 4: the announcement works out about 10g lighter. Japan still says "coming soon"
From the previous generation: The Sept 17 announcement says it is 5% lighter than the previous generation (men's 8.5) with 10% higher energy return. The Japan official weight is about 188g in 26.5cm, the equivalent size. Working backward, the previous generation is about 198g, a gap of about 10g (188 ÷ 0.95 = 197.9).
The reason for the lighter weight is a new foam, ZoomX LT. The announcement explains it is up to 17% lighter than regular ZoomX. It is a 2-layer build with this LT on top of ZoomX.
Difference from its sibling: The differences from the Vaporfly 4 are whether there is an Air Zoom in the forefoot, and the drop (8mm and 6mm). How the 2 compare is written in the article on 10 carbon thick-sole shoes, so I will not repeat it here.
Strengths: A shoe with many parts got lighter over generations. Coming in under 190g with an air unit, a plate and a 2-layer foam is a number you cannot reach without changing materials. It claims to be softer than the previous generation and quieter too.
Watch out: The announcement says wide release from Oct 29. On the day I checked, the Japan official page said "coming soon," and it could not be bought.
One more thing. On Sept 30, Nike announced an even higher-end race shoe, the "Apex," for January 2027. It is a completely different build, with 40mm thickness at both heel and forefoot and a 0mm drop. Someone who wants the top shoe has a reason to wait until the new year.
- Good fit: someone who wants the forefoot Air Zoom and the plate's rebound in half or full marathon races. Someone used to the tilt of an 8mm drop
- If you also use it for short races like a 10km, the Vaporfly 4 fits
Nike Alphafly 4
Before release: available from Oct 29
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike Vaporfly 4
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 23,980 (as of 10/13). It ranges up to JPY 31,000 depending on the shop. Prices move daily. Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit differs by brand, so read the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhether to wait for the release or pick a shoe you can buy now is written in the price and how-to-buy section of the Alphafly 4 review.
The 1 pair with the most reasons to buy among Nike's 2026 releases
It is the Pegasus 42. I decided on 3 conditions: the difference from the previous generation shown in numbers, the difference confirmable in same-size weight, and buyable right now.
Only the Pegasus 42 meets all 3. 15% more energy return and 3mm at the toe, and 8g lighter in women's 25cm. For a JPY 1,100 price increase, the changes line up concretely.
The Pegasus Plus 2 is a 2nd pair for someone whose foot fit the 42. For the 3 trail shoes, the path you go decides. Dirt paths: Pegasus Trail. Rocky ground: Zegama. Racing: Ultrafly.
If you have no complaint about the toe in the Pegasus 41, the sole foam is the same, so wearing it out first is still in time. For anyone who wants to compare with other makers' new releases this year, the article on 10 recommended shoes for 2026 lines up ASICS's new generations.
FAQ
For the discounted Pegasus 41 versus the 42, which should I buy?
If you have no complaint about the toe area, the 41; if you want the roomier fit and the air unit made into 1 piece, the 42. The sole foam is the same ReactX and the drop is the same 10mm. On the day I checked, the Pegasus 41 (women's) on the Japan official site showed a discount.
Did the Nike Pegasus Trail and Zegama become ACG?
Yes. In its announcement of Feb 2, 2026, Nike moved Nike Trail to ACG. On the day I checked, only items with the ACG name appeared in the Japan official search. The product pages for "Pegasus Trail 5" and "Zegama 2" were not found. Non-ACG items still in stores are the previous generation.
The ACG Zegama also has an item named "Hike," but the official category is hiking shoes, separate from running shoes.
When does the Nike Swooshfly go on sale?
February 2027 in China, and worldwide that spring (Nike's Sept 30 announcement). The explanation is that it uses the new foam SkyX and a carbon plate and is priced within reach among race shoes.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- Nike announcement (Feb 24, 2026; Pegasus 42. Released Apr 9)
- Nike announcement (Aug 20, 2026; Pegasus Plus 2, released late Aug)
- Nike announcement (Feb 24, 2026: ACG Pegasus Trail. On sale Apr)
- Nike announcement (Dec 2, 2025: ACG Zegama. On sale summer 2026)
- Nike announcement (Aug 24, 2025: ACG Ultrafly. On sale spring 2026)
- Nike announcement (Sep 17, 2026: Alphafly 4. Early release Sep 17, on sale Oct 29)
- Nike announcement (Sep 30, 2026: the new race lineup. Apex in Jan 2027)
- Nike announcement (Sep 30, 2026: Apex)
- Nike announcement (Sep 30, 2026: Swooshfly)
- Nike announcement (Feb 2, 2026: ACG relaunch. Nike Trail moves to ACG)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (men's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (women's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 41 (women's, discount shown)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 GORE-TEX (men's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus Plus 2 (men's)
- Nike Japan official: ACG Pegasus Trail (men's)
- Nike Japan official: ACG Pegasus Trail GORE-TEX (men's)
- Nike Japan official: ACG Zegama Trail (men's)
- Nike Japan official: ACG Ultrafly Trail
- Nike Japan official: Alphafly 4 (women's page; includes the men's 26.5cm weight)
