Written by

Brandon Law

Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
The Nike Pegasus is a mid-tier, neutral daily trainer with a durable build; the 880 is New Balance's neutral mid-tier daily trainer with a balanced ride character. Here we will be comparing these two shoes.
Foo Bar

The Pegasus is a crowd-pleaser which has received a full top-to-bottom update. It has a new upper, midsole and outsole. It costs $140.

The New Balance 880 is a widely popular, versatile trainer which has received major upgrades. It has a Fresh Foam X midsole, a knitted upper and a new outsole configuration. It costs $140.

Which of these two every day workhorses is the one for you?

Similarity and differences: Pegasus 41 vs Fresh Foam X 880 v14

Expert score
Expert score
7/10
Expert score
7/10
Weight
10 oz
9.2 oz
Heel Drop
10 mm
8 mm
Verdict
The Nike Pegasus 41 is a comfortable fitting, bland daily trainer best suited to relaxed runs which are short or middle-distance. It has a firmer ride than most daily trainers due to its airbag setup and while it has a new ReactX midsole, it doesn’t feel significantly different to prior versions. It also doesn’t feel more energetic than its predecessors. Version 41 has an increase in stack height which makes it one of the heaviest versions in recent years.
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v14 is a neutral daily trainer that has many professional runners using it as their favorite shoe. It’s versatile enough to work as an easy day shoe up to a tempo-like pace. I was a little disappointed by the shoe as it doesn’t have much cushion, doesn’t give much energy return, and is priced a bit high for what you get. I can see how it can work for many different types of runners as a daily trainer but it falls short at its price ($140 USD) in terms of value for the money.
Recommended for
Daily training
Daily training
Cushioning type
Balanced
Responsive
Cushioning amount
Medium cushioning
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
flexible
rigid
Stability
some stability
very stable
Sizing
true to size
true to size
Retail price
US$139.95
US$139.95

Sole unit: Pegasus 41 vs Fresh Foam X 880 v14

The midsole of the Pegasus is made of ReactX foam compared to the 880’s midsole of Fresh Foam X. The Pegasus has Zoom Air units in its forefoot and heel which the 880 does not have.

The ride of the Pegasus is firmer than the ride of the 880 and is more suited to shorter, tempo runs. The 880 is better suited to longer runs at relaxed paces because of its more cushioned ride and its heavier weight.

Responsiveness is better in the Pegasus thanks to the Zoom Air unit in the forefoot which adds a nice “pop” on toe off. This extra bit of responsiveness comes in handy on tempo runs when you need a snappy toe off.

Stability is better in the 880 than in the Pegasus. The 880 has a midsole which flares out and has a wide, stable base so foot strikes feel more planted.

The outsole of the Pegasus is made of hard carbon rubber on the lateral crash pad and blown rubber on the medial side and forefoot. The 880 also has hard carbon rubber on its rearfoot and toe areas with softer, blown rubber on its midfoot and forefoot. Overall, the Pegasus’s outsole is much more durable than the 880 as its outsole rubber is firmer and harder-wearing.

The ReactX midsole of the Pegasus is a durable material which doesn’t lose much cushioning over the life of the shoe. The Zoom Air unit will also not lose any cushioning as the air is encapsulated. The Fresh Foam X midsole of the 880 is an EVA blend which will eventually lose cushioning over time.

Upper unit: Pegasus 41 vs Fresh Foam X 880 v14

The upper of the Pegasus is made from an engineered sandwich mesh. It has a padded tongue which is sleeved so no tongue slide occurs. The heel counter of the Pegasus flares away from the Achilles to not irritate and foot lockdown is good- there is no heel slippage. The forefoot of the Pegasus is accommodating and the shoe is available in additional narrow, regular, wide and extra wide versions if you need them.

The upper of the 880 is a mesh material which is soft and comfortable but it runs warmer than the Pegasus. The 880 runs true to size and comes in regular, wide and extra wide versions.

Which one to buy: Pegasus 41 vs Fresh Foam X 880 v14

If you’re a runner who wants a durable, responsive trainer for mainly shorter, tempo distances, get the Pegasus. The Pegasus has a breathable upper, Zoom Air units for extra “pop” on toe off and one of the most durable outsoles on the market. It has an accommodating fit and is available in wider sizes.

If you want a shoe for longer distances, get the 880. The 880’s outsole is not as durable as the Pegasus but it has better ground feel and contributes to a softer ride.

This expert review is written by

Brandon Law

Marathon Runner and Shoe Expert
Brandon is a South African who lives and trains in Malaysia. He is a marathon runner who eats, sleeps and dreams running shoes. While most people wear shoes to run, he runs to wear shoes.