The Pegasus, now in its 41st iteration, is the most popular running shoe in the world and has achieved legendary status. It's affordable, cushioned and capable of many different runs. The Miler, is a new stable neutral shoe in the Nike React family. Which of these shoes is the right choice for you?
The Pegasus has a ReactX midsole while the Miler has a React midsole. The main difference is that the Pegasus has an extra top-loaded Zoom Air unit in its forefoot for added responsiveness and one in its heel for extra cushioning. Like the Infinity Run, the Miler uses a lower density React foam which is softer than the ReactX used in the Pegasus.
The medium-firm ride of the Pegasus makes it more suited to shorter, tempo runs than the Miler. The thick Zoom Air bag provides a springy toe-off needed when going fast. The soft ride of the Miler is best suited to long, slow runs. The Miler’s max-cushioned midsole offers plenty of protection without getting mushy.
You can expect to get very high mileage out of both shoes as they both have React midsoles which don’t lose much cushioning over the life of the shoe. You might notice the Zoom Air bag in the Pegasus more over time when the foam eventually flattens.
The Miler’s midsole flares out at the bottom which creates a large, stable base. The Pegasus has a firm midsole with no lean bias which also makes it very stable but less stable than the Miler because in the Miler your foot sinks down and is cupped by the midsole.
When loading the forefoot of the Pegasus, the 10mm thick Zoom Air Bag can be felt underfoot so it prevents ride transitions from being smooth. In the Miler, there is no Zoom Bag, so the single density midsole results in smooth ride transitions.
The outsole of the Miler has 5 separate areas covered by soft, blown rubber and a large section under the heel and midfoot with exposed midsole foam. The Pegasus uses harder, carbon rubber on its lateral rails and blown rubber on the main section. There is only a small section under the centre of the heel not covered by rubber. The extra rubber on the Pegasus outsole makes it more durable than the outsole of the Miler.
The upper of the Pegasus is made from an engineered sandwich mesh. It has a long, padded tongue. The heel counter of the Pegasus flares away from the Achilles to not irritate and foot lockdown is good. The forefoot of the Pegasus is accommodating but the shoe is available in additional narrow, regular, wide and extra wide versions if you need them.
The Miler has a thick, double-layer jacquard mesh which is durable but not as breathable as the Pegasus’s upper. It has synthetic overlays over the tongue for reinforcement and extra durability. The Miler also has a thin, flat tongue similar to the Pegasus but has a traditional padded heel counter which provides a secure lockdown. The Miler is only available at present in one width.
If you’re looking for a do-it-all shoe, get the Pegasus. The Pegasus has a full ReactX, medium-firm midsole which can handle long runs with ease. It also has a Zoom Air bag in the forefoot for responsive toe-offs and another one in the heel for added cushioning. The upper of the Pegasus has an accommodating forefoot and it’s available in optional widths.
If you’re looking for a max-cushioned, long distance or recovery shoe, pick the Miler. The Miler offers high levels of cushioning and high levels of stability. It has an upper which locks down the foot well with no heel slippage but it runs warmer than the upper of the Pegasus. It has a more durable upper but a less durable outsole than the Pegasus.
