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NIke Pegasus Plus vs. Salomon DRX Defy Comparison Review: Identical Stats, Different Rides & Fits
Oct 9, 2024
In the video, Sam compares the Nike Pegasus Plus ($180) to the Salomon DRX Defy ($140). 00:00 Almost identical weights, stack heights, and platform widths, very different 06:10 Fits, 07:58 Rides and.. pricing. Which to choose?
Samples were provided at no charge for testing purposes with no additional compensation. The opinions herein are entirely the author's
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Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Today we're going to have some fun and compare the Nike Pegasus Plus to the Solomon DRX Defi
0:05
They're very, very similar in lots of respects, including weight, stack height, and platform width
0:11
Yet they have very different personalities on the run. The Nike is $180, available now, and the Solomon is 140, a big price difference, and also available now
0:24
Hello, everybody, Sam from Road Trail Run. We're in beautiful, warm Park City, but there's a lot of smoke in the air from fires nearby
0:34
So today we're going to compare the Solomon DRX Defi to the Nike Pegasus Plus
0:40
What's interesting about these shoes is they share almost exactly the same stack height and the same platform width and the same weights
0:53
yet they're very different in ride and fit. Both of them, I would say, are in the category of what's now lower-stack shoes
1:03
The Pegasus Plus has a 35-millimeter heel, 25-millimeter four-foot, so a 10-millimeter drop
1:12
Whereas our Solomon has a 34-millimeter heel, 26-millimeter four-foot, a bit more there
1:21
so an 8 millimeter drop. So they're very close. Their platform widths, I said, are identical at an 85 millimeter heel, 65 millimeter four foot
1:37
110 millimeter up front. So they're very, very similar. However, let's start with their foams
1:45
And I'm going to take them out on the run. Actually, the run sequences are in New Hampshire on the coast here
1:50
We're at about 2,000 meters up in the mountains, but I didn't quite finish in New Hampshire
1:56
So in terms of their foams, what we have here is Nike's Zoom X, and there's a couple
2:04
millimeters more than what we had in the Pegasus Turbo. So it's a bit higher stack than before
2:12
This Zoom X is not the same as what they put in their racing shoes
2:17
It's a bit denser. think a bit heavier. But it is a super critical foam and it's 100% Zoom X here. So whereas in our Solomon
2:30
we have their energy foam, which we see in their, in a lot of their trail shoes, most of their
2:36
shoes have energy foam or energy foam plus they have now in some of their super road shoes
2:43
And it is somewhat softer in feel than what we have in the Pegasus Turbo
2:50
In terms of the uppers, and I'll get into details on that, we clearly have a broader, more relaxed fit in the Solomon
3:02
Even though the construction is sort of similar, we have sort of a panel through here on both of them that supports the mesh feels quite similar
3:16
the solomons may be a touch softer. The Nike as you can see here has that stripe down the middle the webbing strap which when I first tried them on and I also have a review of the Pegasus Plus and we soon have one written for the DRX Defi
3:40
This strap was kind of pushes down a bit, but as you can see, they've stretched out nicely
3:47
The main difference in fit for me is you can see the width
3:54
of the entry of the Solomon versus the Nike, not nearly the heel hold
4:00
even though it has a pretty substantial heel counter, not quite as stiff, if you will
4:06
the Nike has a better rear hold. You can even see that I had to do a lace lock on the Solomon
4:13
So the Solomon's going to definitely favor a broader, higher volume fit over the Nike
4:19
And you can see that right here, definitely. So if you have a higher volume, wider foot, and you want a light unplated shoe
4:29
that has plenty of cushioning, I would move over to the Solomon
4:34
although it won't quite handle the faster paces of the Nike, which is really a performance trainer
4:41
I've had a lot of great runs in the Nike. The Solomon's a bit more relaxed
4:46
Looking underfoot, you can see the two outsoles. The Nike definitely has more gregers
4:54
grip, I found that. They're decent even on light trails, whereas the Solomon has a quite
5:01
conventional road outsold. It's a little less sloppy on the road than the Pegasus Plus at slower
5:12
paces. So what I've done is I'm taking them out, but there's another thing we really got to
5:19
look at here. You have identical stats, weight, stack height, platform width
5:24
yet the Nike is $180, whereas our Solomon is 140. So the Solomon, if you want kind of a more relaxed, softer ride at those kind of stack heights
5:39
is for sure a better value. If you want kind of a high performance daily trainer, up-tempo shoe, then you'll look over at the Nike
5:49
But I think the Nike could be priced a bit lower. So I took them out on the road in New Hampshire, and I'm going to give you my thoughts from the run
5:58
But these are two great options, very, very similar in statistics, but quite different than right
6:05
and I'm going to get into that right away. Okay, let's talk a little bit about the comparative fit of our Nike and our Solomon
6:15
Clearly, clearly, the Solomon has a relaxed, broader fit. fit, whereas our Nike is more performance-oriented and especially has a pointier toebox
6:30
Both of them are true to size for me. They've run a bunch of the Nike
6:35
No issues, but if you have a broader, higher volume foot, the Solomon is going to be
6:43
a better choice. There is a little catch here, though. I had to use a lace lock in the Solomon
6:51
the platform at the sock line or at the bottom of the heel counter is quite broad but I okay but it a more relaxed fit I wish it was a bit snugger Our Nike has a real solid performance hold
7:07
The Solomon heel hold is more comfortable, but it is a bit loose
7:11
whereas the Nike's is all dialed in. So if you're looking for a fit for a broader, higher volume foot
7:19
I would suggest the Solomon, understanding. that it's not going to be quite as performance-oriented as our Nike
7:29
Lace-up, the Nike, I think, wins there, too. Remember, it's $40 more than the Solomon
7:35
Same stack height, and I'm going to give you some impressions from the run about the ride, very close
7:41
But the lace-up's really good. No real problems with the Solomon, except I had to do the lace lock
7:49
just a bit more comfortable, more easy-going and mellow, fit than the Nike
7:57
Why are you going to say I'm nuts to compare these two
8:01
But, as I said before, they have identical stack height to a millimeter
8:07
identical weight, identical platform width. So they're very, very similar by stats, but also in purpose
8:17
as both are unplated light, 8.4 ounces or so. up-tempo to daily trainers
8:27
So how do they differ? In terms of ride, first, running both, but side-by-side
8:36
Well, our Nike is quicker reacting. The Zoom X here isn't the same
8:43
What's in their racing shoes, it's firmer, quicker reacting. Whereas our Solomon, softer and bouncy
8:53
particularly noticing the forefoot of the Solomon is more, seems more cushioned, even though
9:00
Sakai is the same. So it really depends on what you're looking for in this kind of shoe
9:10
And as I said, in the fit, there's no question that Solomon has a roomier toebox
9:18
and not quite as secure midfoot to rear of the shoe. So we'll favor higher volume feet, wider feet, a bit better than the Nike, which is definitely performance oriented and has that point here, lower towbox
9:43
Beautiful. We need to see these changing colors as well here in New Hampshire
9:49
Coming into the harbor, boats are coming out of the water. Now, a bit more about the ride here
9:57
It's going about 10.30 pace, slow. Nike is sloppier and more awkward than our Solomon at slow paces
10:10
Solomon smoother. However, at faster paces, I found, than Nike is more reactive, quicker feeling
10:20
Although the Solomon still has that really pleasant bounce It not overly soft but this is definitely on the soft side Both have a wide platform lowest stack so they stable in a sense
10:39
I'm going to show you a few more of the boats. Quiet at the harbor
10:44
So let's talk about the two different foams. I mentioned it earlier. The Solomon has a EVA-A-OLOllifine copolymer block blend, whereas the Nike has
11:00
SUMEX, which is a Piba foam, but it's not the same Piba that I can tell as in, say, a vaporfly
11:11
and alpha fly, it's denser, actually denser feeling than The Solomon foam. Solomon foam we find in many of their shoes, trail shoes, road shoes
11:26
always about the same firmness density. Nike foam, a bit firmer, a bit stiffer
11:36
more suited to faster paces, bouncy, fun kind of foam over in the Solomon
11:46
training if the opera works for you. So coming to the breakwater here, the end of the harbor, one of my favorite runs
11:57
Turn around. I should see it in storms. It's amazing. And let's talk about best uses here or how they compare
12:08
I would say the Solomon is going to be a better choice if your runs lean to
12:16
towards the shorter end and slower and you have a wider foot
12:24
Certainly can pick up the pace. It's much more pleasant at easy paces
12:28
I'd say much more, but quite a bit more pleasant than the Nike rolls a bit easier, less slappy
12:39
Of course, as we said before, it's sort of weaknesses. is if you have a low-volume foot
12:46
the upper hold really doesn't compare that well to the Nike. It's fine, but as you pick up the pace
12:55
the Nike's upper, if it fits you, becomes an advantage. It's not crazy, low-volume or narrow
13:04
It's just a bit pointy up front. So the Nike is lean faster pace is more kind of tempo shoe without
13:13
of plate than the Solomon, which I think leans more daily training side, although both are
13:23
super light. Both have the same stack height, pretty much, both have the same platform width
13:32
So they're very close, but they just have different personalities. Easygoing for the Solomon in a fast shoe, broader fit, more dialysis. More
13:43
dialed in more sort of tempo training, although I certainly have done just regular daily training a lot of it
13:51
So that's my summary. Thank you very much for watching. Have a great run