The Nike Pegasus 42 is a buy for people looking for a first pair and for people whose toes felt tight in the 41. A daily shoe with a widened forefoot last, about 287g at 27cm and a 10mm drop. Released Apr 9, 2026, official Japan price JPY 17,600.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
The Pegasus 42 is a shoe you pay for the 3mm under the toes. The sole foam is the same ReactX as the 41, but it adds 3mm of cushion only under the toes, widens the last, and joins the air unit into one piece. Because the changes are concentrated in the forefoot, I read it as: people who had complaints about the 41's forefoot have the best reason to replace.
Key points
- The official numbers state 2 changes: energy return up 15%, and 3mm more cushion on the toe side
- Width is regular and wide. Wide adds only 2g, and goes up to men's 31cm
- The previous Pegasus 41 (women's) shows a discount on the official Japan site. Foam and drop are the same as the 42
Official numbers: Pegasus 42 is about 287g at 27cm with a 10mm drop
The "42" in Pegasus 42 is the generation number, running since 1982. Because it is a long-running shoe, people tend to assume the yearly changes are small.
Yet the 42 has 2 changes you can state in numbers. First, the numbers from the official Japan product page and the global announcement side by side.
| Item | Official numbers |
|---|---|
| Release date | Apr 9, 2026 (global announcement) |
| Price | JPY 17,600 (JPY 18,700 in some colors) |
| Weight | About 287g (27cm) / about 300g (28cm) |
| Drop | 10mm |
| Width | Regular and wide |
| Plate | None (sole is ReactX and Air Zoom) |
| Sizes | Men's 24–30cm, wide 24–31cm, women's 22–27.5cm |
| Colors | 12 men's colors, 10 women's |
Since weights for both 27cm and 28cm are listed, you can see how much size changes it. The gap is 13g (300 − 287). If your size is 27.5cm, it is about the middle weight.
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 Japanvs the Pegasus 41: two changes you can state in numbers
The changes the global announcement puts in numbers are energy return (how much of your force comes back) 15% higher than the 41, and 3mm more cushion under the toes.
What I want readers to know is how the 3mm was added. The announcement explains it put a "spring" build on the toe side to add 3mm, without raising the thickness elsewhere. Thickening the whole shoe makes it heavier. The 42 thickened only the forefoot, so the drop stays at 10mm and the weight actually dropped.
The air unit (Air Zoom) was also rebuilt. The 41 had 2 separate units, one at the forefoot and one at the heel. The 42 has one curved piece running from heel to toe.
| Pegasus 41 | Pegasus 42 | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air parts | 2 units, forefoot and heel | One piece end to end | — |
| Midsole foam | ReactX | ReactX | Same |
| Last | — | MR-10 2.0 | Wider toe and forefoot |
| Drop | 10mm | 10mm | 0mm |
| Weight (women's 25cm) | About 251g | About 243g | −8g |
| List price (women's) | JPY 16,500 | JPY 17,600 | +JPY 1,100 |
Weight is down 8g, about 3.2% (8 ÷ 251). The list price is up JPY 1,100, about 6.7% (1,100 ÷ 16,500). The rise in price is bigger than the drop in weight.
So the 42 is not a shoe you buy because it got lighter. The JPY 1,100 pays for the air unit that became 1 piece, the wider last, and the 3mm under the toes.
vs the wide, Plus 2 and Premium: choose among siblings under the same name
Under the Pegasus 42 name come versions in different widths and a waterproof version. Above it are the Plus 2 and Premium, with swapped sole materials.
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Gap from the 42 | Official price | Who should pick which |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pegasus 42 | About 287g (27cm) | — | JPY 17,600 | A first pair |
| 42 Wide | About 289g (27cm) | +2g | JPY 17,600 | People whose little toe presses in regular |
| 42 GORE-TEX | About 323g (28cm) | +23g | JPY 20,900 | People who also race in rain in the same shoe |
| Pegasus Plus 2 | About 249g (27cm) | −38g | JPY 22,000 | People who want it lighter with the same last |
| Pegasus Premium | About 313g (27cm) | +26g | JPY 29,700 | People who choose the sole's tech over weight |
Wide, per the official size chart, is about 6.35mm larger around the toe area than regular. Weight rises only 2g (289 − 287) and the price is the same. Sizes go up to 31cm. For someone torn over width, there is no reason in the numbers to avoid wide.
The GORE-TEX version has a different rubber shape called Storm Tread on the sole. It is 23g heavier and JPY 3,300 more (20,900 − 17,600). People who only run in fair weather are fine with the original 42.
The Plus 2 is the upper model where the foam goes from ReactX to ZoomX. The last is the same MR10 2.0, so if the 42 fits you, you can guess your size. Details are in the Pegasus Plus 2 review.
If lightness is the goal, skip the Premium. It is the heaviest of the 3 siblings.
What I like
What I would praise most is where it draws the line between what changed and what did not. The announcement states clearly that the ReactX foam carries over from the 41. The base was not moved; only the forefoot was worked on. It is written so the reader can tell what extra they are buying.
The 2nd is the many ways to fit your foot. You can choose regular or wide, and there is a rainy-day GORE-TEX version. On the day I checked, the official Japan site also listed an easy-on that you put on without tying laces.
The 3rd is the price. Among the 3 Pegasus siblings, the 42 is the cheapest. Per gram it is about JPY 61 (17,600 ÷ 287). Compared with the Plus 2 at about JPY 88 and the Premium at about JPY 95, it is the lowest of the three.
Things to watch
The foam is the same as the 41, and even the official does not say the feel of the sole itself has become different. The 15% figure comes from the rebuilt air unit.
The price changes by color. Men's standard colors are JPY 17,600, but some colors at JPY 18,700 and an edition called SE are mixed in. For the same 42, there is a JPY 1,100 gap, so check the price color by color before buying.
Who is it for?
- It suits: people looking for their first running shoe. A shoe that lets runners from fast to everyday build distance across a wide range of paces
- It suits: people whose toes or forefoot felt tight in the Pegasus 41. What changed is exactly that place
- It suits: wide feet, and people who need a rainy-day version. Another version of the same shoe is enough
If your 41 soles are still there and the toes do not bother you, you have time to wear them out first. The foam and drop are the same. For lightness, the Plus 2, 38g lighter; for a plated race shoe, a different shoe fits better.
Price and where to buy
| What to buy | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| Pegasus 42 | JPY 17,600 | JPY 17,600–64,100 |
| Pegasus 41 (previous generation) | JPY 13,999 (women's, list price JPY 16,500) | JPY 12,999–56,200 |
| Pegasus Plus 2 | JPY 22,000 | — |
On the day I checked, the 41 left on the official Japan site was one women's colorway. The gap from the 42 is JPY 3,601 (17,600 − 13,999). Since the foam and drop are the same, the 41 is the cheaper choice for people for whom the current toe room is enough.
But the 41 only loses colors and sizes. The men's 41 did not show up in the official Japan search. You would be looking through shop stock.
If you choose the 42, decide width first. Regular and wide are the same price, so the only thing to agonize over is width.
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 Japan
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Nike Pegasus 41 (previous generation)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 12,999 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 56,200 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 Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
How does the Pegasus 42 differ from the 41?
The forefoot changed; the foam and drop are the same. By Nike's numbers, energy return is 15% higher and the cushion under the toes is 3mm thicker. Weight is 8g lighter in women's 25cm, and the list price is JPY 1,100 higher.
Does the Pegasus 42 fit the same as the 41?
The length labels are the same, but the forefoot is wider than the 41. The last was changed to the MR-10 2.0, giving room in the toe and forefoot.
Men's run 24–30cm in 0.5cm steps, wide 24–31cm (no 30.5cm), women's 22–27.5cm. The official size chart says to measure your foot and, if you fall between two sizes, take the larger.
What is the difference between the Pegasus 42 wide and regular?
Wide is built about 6.35mm larger around the toe area (per the official size chart). The extra wide above it is described as about 1.7cm larger, but on the day I checked, only up to wide showed up in the 42 search. Wide comes in 2 colors in men's.
Can the Pegasus 42 be used for racing?
Its use is daily road running. The weight gap from Nike's race shoes is calculated in the article on choosing among 10 Nike running shoes, converting 110g at 28cm into steps. For this year's Nike new releases together, see the Nike 2026 new shoes article (6 shoes).
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- Nike announcement (Feb 24, 2026; Pegasus 42. Released Apr 9)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (men's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (women's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 (men's, wide)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 42 GORE-TEX (men's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus 41 (women's, discount shown)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus Plus 2 (men's)
- Nike Japan official: Pegasus Premium (men's)
- Nike Japan official: men's shoe size chart (width explanation)
