The Pegasus, now in its 41st iteration is a well-rounded trainer. It is known for its reliability when it comes to durability and fit. The Pegasus 41 costs $140.
The Endorphin Shift is Saucony's daily trainer which features some of Saucony’s most innovative technologies. The Endorphin Shift 2 costs $140.
Which one of these daily trainers is for you?
The midsole of the Pegasus is made from ReactX foam which is medium soft in density. It is suited more to longer, relaxed runs than shorter tempo ones.
The midsole of the Endorphin Shift is Pwrrun which is a blend of EVA and TPU. Pwrrun is not overly soft or overly firm so the Shift is more of a versatile trainer.
The lighter Pegasus is better suited to longer, relaxed runs compared to the heavier Shift which is better suited to faster runs than the Pegasus.
Inside the midsole of the Pegasus is a large Zoom Air pocket situated in the forefoot and one air pocket situated in the heel. The air pockets make the ride of the Pegasus more responsive by adding a springy sensation upon toe offs.
The Endorphin Shift has no air pocket inside it but it has a high toe spring and a technology called Speedroll which makes transitions easier and faster.
The ride of the Endorphin Shift is smoother than the ride of the Pegasus because of its single density midsole and the absence of an air pocket.
The drop of the Pegasus is 10mm compared to the drop of 4mm of the Endorphin Speed. This means that the Peg is more suited to heel strikers because there is more foam in the rearfoot to soften heel strikes.
When it comes to stability, the Endorphin Shift is more stable because it has side rails which keep the foot centred through transitions.
The full-coverage outsole of the Pegasus uses plenty of thick, durable rubber. The Shift only has rubber on the heel high wear areas and the perimeter of the forefoot with plenty of exposed midsole foam. The Pegasus has the more durable outsole.
The upper of the Pegasus is made of engineered mesh. It fits true to size and is very comfortable. It has a shallow heel counter but doesn’t result in heel slippage. The tongue of the Pegasus is padded and attached to an inner sleeve.
The Shift’s upper is engineered sandwich mesh which is more accommodating than the upper of the Pegasus. It also has a longer, padded tongue which results in a more comfortable fit. Heel hold is excellent due to a hard external TPU counter.
If you’re a runner looking for a lighter daily trainer which handles longer runs better, the Pegasus is your shoe. It has large Zoom Air units for increased responsiveness as well as a durable outsole covered with plenty of rubber.
If you’re a runner looking for a versatile trainer which is better for shorter runs, the Endorphin Shift is your shoe. It has a hard, external heel counter for better heel lockdown and it has Speedroll technology which makes transitions smoother and easier.
