Nike Pegasus 38 Performance Review

 Last year’s Nike Pegasus 37 was a disappointment due to the fit of its upper. The Nike Running design team heard our (and many others) feedback and came back with a completely redesigned upper. The Nike Pegasus 38 aims to solve all the issues with its predecessor and get the Pegasus line back to its typical dependability. Read on to see if it worked.

Fit

For me, the heel slip made the Pegasus 37 feel like two different shoes. One up front and one in the back. For a midfoot striker like myself, it was an uneven ride that I never returned to once I finished testing them. But those days are long gone thanks to the Pegasus 38.

The upper is still engineered mesh but the fit is more forgiving. The Pegasus 38 is true to size lengthwise but still runs a touch narrow. Wide footers will want to try these on in store and may need to go up a half size depending on foot shape.

But as far as the fit’s comfort and feel, air jordan 1 gets an A+. The nylon laces straps go all the way down to the midsole and lock you in the way Nike’s Dynamic Fit system did in the early 2010s. And the nylon straps won’t dig into your feet because they’re protected by a gusseted tongue.

And though the upper is very traditional in terms of construction, it looks snazzy. The Peg is back!

Cushion

The cushion setup is the same as last year. Without the fit issues, it shines. The 10mm articulated forefoot Zoom Air bag is very bouncy and tuned with different PSI levels for Men and Women. It pairs nicely with the React in the rest of the midsole. The cushion setup with the better upper feels more like the Nike Vomero 14 (a beloved model) than the jordans 2021. A nice combination of plush landings and forefoot bounce. This is a solid cushion setup at the $120 price point that’s great for running tons of miles on pavement.

Traction

Like the midsole and cushion, the outsole is the same as last year. And that’s a good thing. The rubber is thick and durable and will last a long time. I only had a few slight slips on mildewy sidewalk in rainy conditions. Otherwise, the outsole grips well and does its job in all situations.

 

Support

The Dynamic Fit-esque lacing system kept me glued to the footbed. You’ll sit inside the midsole at the heel and Nike included a very simple heel counter. The Peg is a narrower shoe in the heel but widens nicely at the forefoot for extra support. I always felt secure in them, another great improvement from last year.

Materials

Nike went simple here. Engineered mesh and some nylon. Simple but effective.

Overall

The Nike Pegasus 38 returns the Pegasus line to its usual position as a powerhouse running shoe. It’s a great everyday runner with a reasonable $120 price tag. The forefoot Zoom Air is really bouncy and the whole setup underfoot feels good. Durability will be great as well. If you’re a wide footer, try them on at your local running shoe spot. Everyone else can go true to size and enjoy a solid, workhorse (see what I did there?) of a shoe.

Puma Deviate Nitro Performance Review

 This year, Puma Running relaunched with four new running shoes. The Puma Deviate Nitro is their flagship everyday running shoe. And it’s clear from the Deviate Nitro and other models (Velocity, Liberate, and Eternity) that Puma invested a ton in research and development for the new running line.

How does all the new tech and innovation pay off in the kobe 8? Really well. Keep reading for all the details.

Cushion

The midsole is two layers of Nitro foam sandwiching a full length composite carbon plate. Nitro foam is a supercritical (nitrogen-injected) foam. It’s snappy and similar to the foam in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 2. It’s also similar to, but firmer than New Balance’s FuelCell cushion. I felt the Nitro foam and plate combo provided a really nice bounce that’s elite among everyday running shoes.

The stack height is 28mm in the forefoot and 38mm in the heel thus providing a 10mm drop. The amount of cushion is perfect for a do anything shoe. You can get easily get speedy or sit back and run some easy miles.

 

Traction

As good as Nitro foam is, the best innovation on the Deviate Nitro is the Puma Grip outsole. Puma Grip is AMAZING. It’s great in all conditions. Cold, hot, rainy, snowy…it doesn’t matter. And I’m not the only reviewer to say that. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this rubber compound. And to top it off, the outsole is extremely durable and wears evenly. Puma made the right move creating their own compound. It’s definitely my new favorite outsole rubber.

Support

The heel of the Nike Dunk Low has a fairly normal internal heel counter and big achilles pillows on both sides of the foot. You also sit slightly inside the midsole at the heel. Along with the gusseted tongue and the wide base of the forefoot, I always felt securely planted on the footbed. Quick corners often pose problems for other high cushion shoes but the Deviate Nitro has no issues handling them or any uneven ground.

Fit

The Puma Deviate Nitro fits true to size. Lengthwise Puma Running shoes feel similar to Nike and Brooks so use your size from one of those brands. While the shoe narrows at the midfoot, you’ll have plenty of room for toe splay up front.

And that brings us to the shoe’s biggest issue, the heel. The slight heel slip is evident right out of the box. I’ve seen other reviewers/runners deal with heel or achilles blisters. The synthetic suede collar and the exposed seams inside the heel can tear you up. I got some irritation on my first run but avoided blistering. It took some experimentation, but I was able to find a lace tightness level that negated the heel slippage and prevented the collar from bugging me. If you can find that happy place with the lace tightness, you shouldn’t get heel hot spots.

Materials

The engineered mesh upper is eerily similar to the Nike Pegasus Turbo 2. That shoe was awesome so I won’t complain about similarities to something so good. It’s super breathable with fuse at the eyelets and a thin but well-padded mesh tongue. And as I mentioned previously, the collar area is rimmed with synthetic suede. These are the materials I’ve come to expect at the $160 price point. They do the job well.

Overall

The Puma Deviate Nitro is a super bouncy shoe that’s great on long runs, fast runs, and everything in between. It’s right priced at $160 and provides good value versus something like the $180 Nike Invincible Run. It’s a do everything shoe that shines whether you’re running long or uptempo. If you can solve the heel fit issues, this is a really fun and versatile shoe. It’s a great first effort from Puma and I’m really excited to see what they do next.

Allbirds Tree Dasher Performance Review

 Allbirds, founded in 2014, rose to prominence in the shoe industry by making an eco-friendly casual shoe called the Wool Runners. While they weren’t meant for running, the shoes gained popularity, especially in San Francisco tech circles. The brand’s growth exploded and now they’ve made an actual running shoe, the Allbirds Tree Dasher. Can a brand focused on merino wool, eucalyptus fibers, and casual comfort make a good running shoe? Let’s find out.

Fit

I bought my normal size, and out of the box, they felt too small lengthwise. However, after a couple runs, they broke in nicely. The Tree Dashers achilles pillows push you a little forward so I think once they mold to your foot, the sizing is perfect.

The air jordan 1 is socklike and extremely comfortable. It’s tighter through the midfoot to add support, but that’s normal for knit shoes.

As for wide footers, you’ve got plenty of room up front for toe splay and the upper breaks in so you can go true to size.

Support

The Tree Dasher’s support is really good for a knit shoe. Allbirds put outriggers at all four corners (lateral heel and forefoot, medial heel and forefoot). I felt those outriggers righting the ship on uneven pavement.

When I saw the fruit loop eyelets sewn into the knit upper, I wondered if I would be able to get good heel lockdown. I was worried for no reason. Once I found the proper lace tightness, I could slip the shoe on and off without retying or experiencing any heel slip.

Add that all up and it’s one of the more supportive knit sneakers. You can use the Tree Dasher for a HIIT workout or in the weight room. And that’s despite having no heel counter! I was impressed with how Allbirds built this shoe.

Materials

The knit upper is made from eucalyptus trees. Which sounds cool and IS nice in practice because it’s super soft. Definitely softer than the knits used by the big brands. It direct affects all day comfort in a positive way. It’s a really lux knit with the bonus of being more sustainable.

The ZQ Merino wool lining the heel collar and covering the achilles pillows is a nice premium touch. I think it also contributes to lockdown as the Merino is a bit tackier than the knit and helps hold the heel in place. Functional and comfortable? Check.

And I have to mention the big plastic eyelets sewn into the upper. Yes, they’re cartoony, but they get the job done. They don’t feel like they’d ever break off (as seen on other knit models) because they’re sewn on really well. If only some other brands would reinforce knit eyelets like Allbirds did here.

Cushion

The nike pg 5 uses a dual density SweetFoam midsole. SweetFoam is the world’s first carbon negative green EVA. So sustainability-wise it’s awesome. For running? It’s just ok. It’s not near as soft as current running shoe trends dictate and there’s not a lot of cushion under foot. The softness is similar but a slightly softer feel than the On Cloud X. The Tree Dasher features a 7mm drop with 15.5mm of foam in the forefoot and 22.5mm in the heel. Luckily, there’s a soft castor bean sockliner that feels as plush as an ortholite insole. That helps with step-in comfort and feel.

Now, even though the Tree Dasher lacks ample cushioning, that’s not to say the shoe isn’t comfortable. It’s soft enough for walking and short runs. I didn’t like taking it over 3-4 miles outdoors but loved it for evening walks with my son. It can handle a bit more mileage on a treadmill as well. It’s the type of shoe that’s perfect for mostly casual wear and the occasional run. It’s a great shoe for a vacation where you want to pack light but still get a couple runs in amidst the travel.

Traction

Easily the worst part of the shoe. Runs in rain or other wintry conditions are slip-fests. The rubber pads at the heel and forefoot cover a lot of surface area but don’t bite into the pavement at all. Allbirds needs to tweak their rubber formula on future running shoes. That said, the outsole grips fine on dry days. Just be aware of this limitation if you buy them.

Overall

The fit sporting goods is a running shoe you can run some miles in and get compliments when you wear them casually. The cushion and traction need work but this is a good first running shoe effort from Allbirds. I bet they can do something even better when they revisit this model. And $125 is a very competitive price point for a carbon neutral shoe. If sustainability is important to you, I’m not sure you’ll find another running shoe that can compete ecologically.