Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 Performance Review

The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 changes things up in several ways from the well-reviewed Nike Pegasus 38. Some of the changes are improvements while others are head-scratching. Whether you’ll like the Pegasus 39 will depend on how big you are and how you run.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39

Release Date: June 2022

Price: $130

Weight: M 9.5oz, W 8.0oz

Drop: 10mm

Sizing: True to size, runs slightly narrow, a wide version is available if needed

• Rundown: The Nike Pegasus 39 is a lightweight, comfortable running shoe with a curious cushion downgrade from the Pegasus 38 that keeps it from achieving a higher rating.

Pros

• Light Build
• Great Comfort & Lockdown
• Durable Outsole

Cons

• Cushion Downgrade
• Price Increase

Pros

Light Build

While any upper is an improvement over the debacle that was the Air Jordan upper, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 takes the upper improvements of the Pegasus 38 to a new level. The Pegasus 38 was comfortable, but the Pegasus 39 is comfortable, super lightweight, and more breathable. Nike took three layers down to two and the difference is very noticeable during hot, humid summer miles. It’s the sort of barely-there but supportive upper that runners crave. Plus, it feels great on foot. More about that in our next item.

Great Comfort & Lockdown

The lighter upper of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 puts less material on top of your foot but keeps the fully gusseted, nicely padded tongue. The Achilles padding increases significantly in a way that feels great and helps keep the heel down inside the shoe and improves overall lockdown. And while I don’t love Flywire strand lacing, it does what it’s supposed to do and keeps the midfoot secure. The upper is probably my favorite part of this shoe.

One note for my wide-footed friends. The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 is still on the narrower side of shoes but is available in a wide version. I’d recommend all wide footers go with the wide version if they’re looking to try the Pegasus 39.

Durable Outsole

The outsole of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 is very similar to the Pegasus 38 with some slight tweaks in the pattern. The result is the same. A consistently grippy thick and durable rubber outsole that will last longer than the shoe’s cushioning.

Cons

Cushion Downgrade

And now we get to the worst part of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39. Last year’s version featured a React foam midsole and a huge, articulated Zoom Air bag in the forefoot. This year’s version loses a bit of the React foam, trades in the large volume Zoom Air bag in the forefoot for a typical oval Zoom bag, and adds a standard rectangular bag at the heel.

On the face of it, the changes don’t seem that extreme, but on foot, it feels much different. The impact protection is significantly lessened whether you land forefoot, midfoot, or heel. Landing on the ground is not near as plush, bouncy, or as smooth as the previous version. This cushioning setup doesn’t compete well with most neutral cushioned trainers from Nike’s competitors. It’s most similar in feel to the Brooks Launch 9, a shoe on the lower end of Brooks’ cushioning spectrum.

The cushioning on the Pegasus 39 is ok if you’re a smaller runner or someone who lands lightly. But the main audience here at WearTesters is larger athletes who’ve transitioned from other sports. Most of our audience tend to prefer plush, bouncy cushioning. Unfortunately, the Pegasus 39 doesn’t deliver it.

Price Increase

It’s tough to blame Nike for the inflationary environment, but the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 jumps $10 despite less investment going into the most expensive part of the shoe, the midsole cushioning setup. I can’t recommend paying a premium when you ultimately get less protection underfoot. Unless you’re a Pegasus superfan and try every model, you’ve got better options at the $130 price point.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 Summary

The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 nails everything except the cushioning and price. If you’re a lighter, smaller runner, you’ll likely have a great experience with the Pegasus 39. If you’re bigger, taller, or a heavy lander, you’ll want to look elsewhere for your daily running shoe.

Pros

• Light Build
• Great Comfort & Lockdown
• Durable Outsole

Cons

• Cushion Downgrade
• Price Increase

Reebok Floatride Energy X Performance Review

The Reebok Floatride Energy X is a speed-focused running shoe with a forefoot carbon plate that increases the pop of the Floatride Energy foam. Reebok running shoes, like the Reebok Floatride Energy 4, have long been high-performing, under the radar, and budget-friendly. Can Air Jordan  upscale its performance for race day or speed work while still maintaining a price point that’s significantly lower than the competition?

Reebok Floatride Energy X

Release Date: April 2022

Price: $170

Weight: 9.1oz

Drop: 6mm (24mm forefoot, 30mm heel)

Sizing: True to Size

• Rundown: Plenty of race day pop for those that don’t want to spend $200+ on super shoes from other brands.

Pros

• Forefoot Pop
• Floatride Midsole
• Stability

Cons

• Lacing
• Upper material

Pros

Forefoot Pop

Floatride Energy foam is typically pretty bouncy but I’ve never tried it when paired with a carbon fiber plate. The results are fantastic. The toe off of the Reebok Floatride Energy X provides that trampoline type feeling. I got a nice soft landing in the heel and midfoot following by a quick pop off the ground. It’s like your toes suddenly grew Schwarzenegger-esque muscles. It’s a really fun feeling especially when running fast.

Floatride Midsole

It’s underappreciated because it comes from Reebok, but Floatride Energy foam is great for running. Reebok’s new ownership should leverage Floatride to really amp up its running shoe business. More runners using Floatride would be a good thing.

The impact protection of the Floatride midsole on the Reebok Floatride Energy X is top notch. When I found out this is the most Floatride Energy foam Reebok’s used on a shoe, I thought it would likely be a nice ride. And it was a nice ride, but by modern running shoe standards, 30mm of foam (in the heel) is still medium cushioning. Those 30mm feel great, protective, and as mentioned above, very bouncy.

Stability

The heel of the Reebok Floatride Energy X’s midsole flares out in all directions as does the entire lateral side of the shoe. The result? A shoe that corners extremely well and, when combined with the upper’s rigid Flexweave, kept me on the footbed even when I caught the corner of a sidewalk or misstepped in some other clumsy way. This is about as stable as a speed-focused or race day shoe can get.

Cons

Lacing

The lacing of the Reebok Floatride Energy X has two issues. One, the lace opening is an odd v-shaped opening which doesn’t allow for much room to modify the forefoot fit and thus makes it difficult to get the perfect fit. With some fiddling I eventually figured out what worked, but it was a process.

The second issue with the lacing is the length of the laces. It’s most likely related to the weird opening shape, but the laces are way too long and will flop around when you’re running. I recommend using the extra lace hole or tucking the lace loops beneath the midfoot laces as a sort of do-it-yourself lace garage.

Upper Material

The Reebok Floatride Energy X uses the same Flexweave woven textile upper as the Jordan 2022. Flexweave makes a lot of sense on a cross training shoe but it’s a little out of place on a running shoe. It’s a little too bulky, heavy, and rigid. It does mold to your foot over time, but on a shoe meant for speed, I’d expect a more willowy, barely there, weight saving upper. This compromise is likely made to keep the price of a very bouncy shoe $30-$50 less than its competitive set.

Reebok Floatride Energy X Summary

The Reebok Floatride Energy X features a great midsole that pops and stability that you don’t usually find on speed and race day oriented shoes. And it’s $170. That’s a good enough price that I can overlook the too rigid upper and weird lacing. Similar shoes are $200+ so you can see why it’s a high value proposition for such a peppy shoe. And while Reebok may not be a name you think of in the speed-focused category of running shoes, their first effort shows they have what it takes to compete.

Total Score: 7.5/10

 

Nike KD 12 Review: The Definitive Performance Breakdown

The KD basketball sneaker line is very strange. Sometimes we get amazing performers from all aspects, sometimes we receive a sub-par attempt to revolutionize tech that’s supposed to blow everything else out of the water. Today, I’m bringing you my KD 12 review – the supposed 2019’s performance sensation.

I was extremely excited to play in these since I heard a ton of good things about them. I’ll be taking a look at the shoe and how it holds up in the performance, comfort, and overall value for the money aspects.

I’ll also try to answer the question of whether you should upgrade if you currently have a previous KD model.

SPEC SHEET

Model: Nike KD 12

Build: Mid Top

Weight: 14.5 oz / 411 g.

Retail Price: $150

Cushion: Full-length Zoom Air, Hex Zoom Air heel unit, Phylon midsole

I. COMFORT & FIT

 

Right away, I do want to mention that pretty much all KD’s shoes fit pretty narrow as they got a slick and narrow construction of the tooling.

So the space where your foot sits is extremely compact. Some people like this, some don’t. I’ve had experience with KD’s shoes, so I happened to know this before I got ’em.

I’m a wide footer, so I went up half a size and they fit me near-perfectly. Regular/narrow footers will want to go true to size.

Expect a pretty snug and condensed fit if you have a regular-sized foot. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but it comes down to personal preference.

Thanks to that type of construction though, the overall fit is very well-contained, secure, and stable.

Foot mobility is out of this world and it seems that Nike really used every single inch to make the shoe as mobile, secure, and precise as possible. Amazing work here.

The KD 12 is also comfortable. Nothing to really boast about as I’ve experienced more comfort in a hoop shoe but definitely nothing to complain about – the package works.

II. TRACTION

 

Funny enough, I’ve just recently tested Air jordan and the KD 12 brings a very similar performance from the traction aspect – the translucent outsole might not promise much but it works really well.

I did not experience any major slipping or gripping issues in these. Wiped the outsole here and there, and I’m good to go.

I’d say these are probably a bit more prone to collecting dust than the Dame 5, especially outdoors. But again, that didn’t affect my game at all, as I didn’t find myself slipping or having bad traction because of it.

I’ve played in these outdoors for quite a bit and can say they’re holding up pretty decently. Realistically though, this is a $150 shoe and it does not look like it has the most durable outsole in the world, so you might want to consider something else as your effective outdoor beater.

Overall though, very solid, no complaints at all.

III. CUSHION

 

Full-length Zoom Air is back and it’s sitting directly under your foot now. On top of that, we got an extra Hex Zoom Air unit in the heel for added impact absorption, and a Phylon midsole for a stable, responsive ride.

The setup works extremely well, and I think it’d work for just about any player/position.

Unless you want an extremely prominent and straight-up bouncy ride. The KD 12 doesn’t do that.

While the setup might not be extremely springy and as much fun to play in as, for example, the KD 9 – this model brings all the critical components that a quality cushioning setup should bring.

I felt explosive, all my jumps, cuts, and landings definitely did not feel like a problem but I was also really quick and did not feel like full-length Zoom slowed me down or sunk me in the midsole for no reason.

The setup works really well and it’s well thought out – every style is accompanied as much as possible.

If you’re looking for an extremely fun and pillowy ride – this isn’t totally it (even though you can still really feel it and it’s awesome).

However, if you’re looking for a very balanced option or you’re not sure what to go with – this one’s the one.

IV. SUPPORT

 

I generally haven’t had any major complaints in the support department on any KD shoe. This one looks to be more of the same.

What ain’t broke – don’t fix it.

We got our traditional implementations – there’s a heel cup for heel containment, the midsole is very nicely contained in a TPU cage for a stable ride and Quad Axial Flywire does a good job locking down the foot, no matter the movement.

I don’t really know how much the fancy named “Quad Axial Flywire” helps with the shoe’s marketing, but I don’t honestly care.

All I know is that these are Flywire cables done right and I really did feel that they’re working while I’m playing.

During more aggressive moves such as quick cuts or when extremely bent-over, while driving to the hoop, there wasn’t a single second where I’d feel I’m not secure.

And that’s more than enough for me.

V. BUILD & MATERIALS

We got a conventional upper here – it’s mainly textile with synthetic mesh, plus Fuse for extra durability and stability.

That’s definitely not a pretty or by no means premium setup for a $150 price tag which felt a bit fishy at first but after playing in them for a while – it’s not too bad.

This is surely not in my top 10 best uppers or anything, but it worked well – support wasn’t compromised and it looks like the shoe will hold up well for a while.

I am not noticing any major tears or chipping, despite playing outdoors a lot (minus the outsole).

So if you can live with the materials not being fancy and don’t mind paying $150 for a basic mesh & Fuse upper – the KD 12 will get the job done for you from performance and comfort aspects.

VI. OVERALL

 

I think this is my second favorite KD shoe ever, right behind the KD 9.

I think the 12th model really thought about all the scenarios players could come across, and it deals with those very well.

I’ve found myself liking the fit after going up half a size, traction is great, full-length Zoom Air is brilliant, while the support and lockdown areas are straight-up savage locking down my foot like that.

Bravo! If you can afford it – the KD 12 is a very nice addition to a balanced basketball performance sneaker rotation.

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 Performance Review

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is the next evolution of adidas’s high-end long-distance racing shoe line. I’ve liked the Adios Pro line since the original but most people jumped on the bandwagon starting with the second iteration. The Adidas yeezy  is so good it currently sits on our list of Best Marathon Running Shoes. Is the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 good enough to get a place on our best list?

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3

Release Date: June 23, 2022

Price: $250

Weight: 7.6oz

Drop: 6.5mm (33mm forefoot, 39.5mm heel)

Sizing: Typical adidas sizing, half size down from your shoe size in other brands.

• Rundown: A smooth-riding, bouncy, and stable long-distance racing shoe that’s one of the best shoes on the market.

Pros

• Stability
• Rocker and Bounce
• Breathability
• Outsole

Cons

• Achilles Stitching
• Upper materials

Pros

Stability

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 widens the base in a significant way from the Adios Pro 2 and its ridiculously high stack brother, the adidas Adizero Prime X. The result? The most stable marathon-focused racing shoe on the market.

The extra stability is incredibly helpful on sharp turns (like the dreaded 180-degree turns that some race courses have), in wet conditions, or when you’re feeling tired and your feet are pronating more than usual. During a track workout, I felt myself increasing speed around the corners because I felt so secure. That’s not the norm with high-stack super shoes. Stability tends to be a negative on almost all of them.

So, if you’re hoping for a more stable race day option, it’s here.

Rocker and Bounce

In addition to getting wider, the midsole of the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 gets a sharper toe angle and updated Energy Rods 2.0 (used instead of a one-piece carbon fiber plate).

The sharper toe angle makes a big difference in the rocker motion, I felt like my feet left the ground a little faster than in the Adios Pro 2. The smoother, quicker rocker made the shoe feel faster and bouncier. Mentally and physically, it was a nice boost.

The updated Lebron 9 play into both the stability and bounce. Previously, the rods were five completely separate, well…rods, floating within the foam. Now, though the rods can still move individually, they’re attached together in several places. This likely helped the fluidity of the rocker and the bounce as the rods worked together more than they did in the Adios Pro and Adios Pro 2.

So basically, I love all the changes to the midsole. The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 feels faster and more supportive without sacrificing anything.

Breathability

While I don’t love the textile mesh used for the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3’s upper, more on that later, it’s a lot more breathable than the recycled polyester upper on the Adios Pro 2. It’s not as see-through, but more air passes through the upper to hit the foot. Running on some particularly hot days leading up to writing this review, I appreciated the extra airflow. And you’ll appreciate it too when you’re grinding through the final miles of your next marathon.

Outsole

The Continental rubber used on the outsole of the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 doesn’t feature any lugs and even has a bunch of cutouts to save weight. But the rubber used is like a race car tire. It just holds the ground extremely well. It combines with a more stable midsole to offer security in any condition. You won’t slip and slide no matter the conditions. That’s invaluable peace of mind when you’re focused on running a difficult race. It’s just one less thing on your mind.

Cons

Achilles Stitching

While it didn’t cause me any hotspots, the design of the Achilles pads and heel cup on the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 isn’t well thought out. I felt it rubbing slightly my first couple of runs but the heel tab of my Bombas Performance Running Socks saved the day.

The heel cup features an extra piece of fabric on the inside that integrates with the Achilles pillows and can flip upwards like an elfish spoiler. Due to both it, and the fuse supporting the heel, there’s hard stitching around the pillows and across the rear of the shoe right just a centimeter or two below the top edge of the heel collar.

Depending on your socks, it could dig in and cause a blister, especially as you break in the shoe. You might get lucky like me and avoid a blister, but there shouldn’t be exposed stitching of that nature around the Achilles on the heel collar. It’s asking for trouble.

Upper Materials

The textile mesh used on the upper of the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is coarse. It’s more durable and breathable than the materials used on previous versions, but it’s not more comfortable. It really hurts step-in comfort as it’s the sort of material that takes a couple of runs to break in fully. I foresee a lot of specialty run store employees having to convince runners it won’t annoy them.

In addition, the synthetic suede tongue just feels cheap. It’s light and was likely done to provide crucial weight savings. It’s not bad, just meh. On the plus side, even though it’s not gusseted, adidas strings the laces through the tongue three times so it won’t slide around.

While the upper materials don’t inhibit performance, I wish they hadn’t taken a step back from previous versions. I mean, they’re ok, but I expected more. Luckily, the midsole changes are so good that I can overlook the upper’s issues.

adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 Summary

The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 is one of the best marathon racing shoes on the market. It sits above the fray with the likes of the Nike Alphafly and a shoe I’m reviewing right now, the Asics Metaspeed Sky+.

The new midsole’s combination of bounciness and stability help it fill an unoccupied niche. And while it did take a small step back in terms of the upper, it’s an incredibly high-performing shoe that sits in the top tier of long-distance running shoes. Those runners needing stability, in addition to speed, should try the Adios Pro 3 as soon as they can.

UA HOVR Machina 3 Performance Review

The UA HOVR Machina 3 is, in many ways, similar to the original UA HOVR Machina. The second iteration didn’t even change enough for us to review it since it was basically the original with minor tweaks that didn’t affect performance. However, the small tweaks and changes on the UA HOVR Machina 3 do affect performance and comfort. Are they improvements?

UA HOVR Machina 3

Release Date: May 2022

Price: $150

Weight: M 10.6oz, W 9.3oz

Drop: 8mm

Sizing: True to Size

• Rundown: The UA HOVR Machina 3 is a comfortable, supportive running shoe meant for athletes that occasionally hit the track or do short 2-4 mile runs.

Pros

• Dual Density HOVR
• Tongue
• Stability

Cons

• Blown Rubber Outsole
• Breathability

Pros

Dual Density HOVR

When the Under Armour press release revealed the UA HOVR Machina 3 was getting dual density HOVR, specifically a firmer responsive forefoot paired with a softer heel, I was intrigued. This is the first shoe I can think of with a bifurcated HOVR setup.

The heel portion of the HOVR is the typical HOVR with the traditional netting around the outside. It feels exactly like you’d expect and similar to previous running shoes with HOVR. The big difference is in the forefoot. The forefoot feels quite a bit firmer and snappier. While this isn’t good for the HOVR Machina 3’s long-distance running prospects, it’s better for track work and shorter, quicker runs.

It appears Under Armour tuned the cushioning of the shoe to target athletes training for basketball, football, baseball, etc. So while the HOVR Machina 3 is a running shoe, it’s not meant for those that view running as their main sport. It’s targeted at athletes using running as cross-training for something else. And if that’s truly the purpose (as I believe it is), Under Armour chose the correct cushioning setup.

Tongue

The entire upper is comfy but the well-integrated foam and mesh tongue is the best part. The perforated foam on the inside is super comfy and relieves lace pressure while the mesh around it allows for airflow. It’s not bulky but it’s just as comfortable as tongues with 5 times the padding (and weight).

Stability

The plastic TPU heel clip that extends around the heel on both sides is a great addition to the UA HOVR Machina 3. It wasn’t present on the first two iterations of the HOVR Machina World Champ line but it really ups the support in an inconspicuous way. It looks like part of the design but does a great job preventing side-to-side movement. It’s perfect for athletes doing cone drills, shuttle runs, and sprints as part of their offseason training regimen.

Cons

Blown Rubber Outsole

The worse part of the original HOVR Machina returns in the UA HOVR Machina 3. The blown rubber is thicker and thus harder to wear through this time, but it still wears quicker than traditional rubber. Blown rubber just isn’t durable enough for a shoe used primarily on roads and concrete. Your best bet is to mix in a fair amount of rubber tracks, field turf, or manicured grass. That will keep the front 3/4 of the outsole from wearing away too quickly. It’ll also keep you from going back to the store for running shoes sooner than you’d like.

Breathability

The breathability of the UA HOVR Machina 3’s tongue is great. The rest of the upper, not so much. The second layer of mesh prevents the large air holes on the first layer from doing much good. This is better for the all-around support/stability of the shoe but not ideal on hot summer days. I wish Under Armour increased the airflow considering this shoe is aimed at conditioning for other sports, something that often happens during hot and humid summers.

UA HOVR Machina 3 Summary

The UA HOVR Machina 3 is designed for athletes using running to get conditioned for other sports. This means it’s sort of miscategorized as a true running shoe and thus drives the middling score below. That said, other than the breathability issues, this shoe is stable enough, cushioned enough, and comfortable enough to be a great training companion, especially when that training involves a lot of running and running-based drills.