No contest, SL2 all day imo. Better premium racing midsole sandwiched in, outsole and way cheaper can get it here for £81 now. If Nike didn't have the AF and VF they will be irrelevant in the running world cause their daily training shoes are below average to say the least.
@@SagasuRunning Nike is only relevant because of their marketing much like brooks. when you compare their shoes to Adidas, Asics, Saucony etc pound for pound they have 10x better line up of shoes. Nike and Brooks make their money because of their name not their quality.
for me its down to aesthetics, i love the look of the sL2 as i sometimes wear for errands. hence an sl2 will compliment my supernova rise adidas. been runing nike 8 years straight, enjoying adidas!
Interesting. I think the Peg41 is a much better looking shoe and a MUCH better shoe for casual wear. The SL2 is amazing to run in but awkward to walk in (similar to a Takumi Sen or Adios pro). Aesthetics are so subjective though.
Refreshing to see an objective comparison of these two. I have both and like both but, as you said, they are somewhat different shoes. I really more view the SL2 as either a "tempo" shoe or a lightweight daily trainer and a very neutral one at that with minimal support especially under the arch and the Pegs a much more traditional daily trainer with a lot more support and relative plushness. Indeed at the moment with some foot and arch issues the Pegs have been my goto as much more "supportive" and I can even experiment with swopping out insole for one with more arch support. Hopefully when I sorted that I can put the SL2 back into some use. Also I think it is good that the Pegasus is still a Pegasus as I am a runner that does not always want to run in soft high stack shoes.
We definitely agree on these two shoes… very very much. It’s good you have the Peg to troubleshoot the niggle. That is something you can’t do in the SL2.
I'm also light runner at 136 lbs, is SL2 better choice vs Peg 41 or Peg 41 Turbo? I do like Boston 12, but these days running in my 5 toe skeltoe barefoot shoes more, bc it's so light at like 4 oz- 5 oz, yes lighter than Vaporfly. Lol. But keep in mind, barefoot running, need to do it gradually and I don't do more than 10 miles run at the moment
You may love the Pegasus Plus then. I’ll have my initial impressions review up on Wednesday. The Pegasus Plus has more performance in it…. But the SL2 is a more cushioned option that will have better durability…. Stay tuned. Alot of content coming up discussing this all.
It's a use case scenario for ME. If I was going out just to run I'd pick the SL2. No doubt it si the better shoe for running. But if I am doing running drills, plyometrics and agility drills I'm going with the Pegasus. This is how many high-school and college players use the Pegasus. From track athletes to soccer and football players it is a very solid training shoe. Reviewers seems to forget that aspect of the Pegasus and just focus on the running performance of the shoe. The Pegasus is the trainer for all sports.
Yes…. This is the way. I don’t come from that background but well aware. Japanese pros and elites also do the same thing. This is on reason I trained in Pegs for so many years. The Peg41 is killer for hill reps!
@@SagasuRunning People hating on the Pegasus just don't see that whole other demographic of athletes that use the shoe. They keep wanting to change the Peg. I say try doing plyometrics and agility drills on a Novablast 4 vs Pegasus maybe people would understand why the Pegasus is the way it is.
SL2 midsole may be wider but because the upper is tapering both upwards and towards the tip of the shoe, it was alot less space than expected. Technically, don't get SL2s if you have wide feet. Don't get SL2s if you are heavy (like 90+ kg). Also, you may get some rubbing at the achilles tendon, caused by the back tip of the shoe, between then two pads. It may help to get a bigger size. Note: I have ~40km on mine and they are getting worse. Pegs 41 will arrive next week and while I intended them for gym training like box jumping & stuff, I will give them a try at running outside.
This is why I was stressing the SL2 is a stripped down performance trainer, built like a race shoe. It's definitely not intended fo the gym and general wear. Also agree, heavier runners should avoid. I'll have a video coming out this weekend getting into this more.
@xanderCB Why would heavier runner want to avoid the SL2? Adidas shoes are known for their firmness, the SL, Boston 12, AP3, they are all firm shoes. Lightstrike Pro, LS1/LS2 aren't really soft foam compounds.
That Adidas firmness is no longer the case. The entire Adizero range is softening. The SL2 is considerably more flexible and cushioned than the SL was. A heavier runner (90kg+) will absolutely crush the shoe quickly.
@@smagic614 , exactly what Sagasu said. I would also add that Lightstrike Pro stripe is pretty thin and doesn't compensate for the squishiness of the SL2s.Also, I'm fully aware of the SL2' nature as a stripped down performance trainer and I only used them for easy running, no gym stuff or faster runs.
Not happening. Those two shoes have nothing to do with one another. Totally different classes of shoes. However I will be covering the SB2 and doing a few comparisons that are relevant to the SB2.
This is the first peg I am very seriously considering. While the SL2 wide, when it releases, will be super tempting, a wider peg has been wish list for a long time, just to have a really basic shoe. The most basic shoe I have is the Supernova Rise. There are so many really good soft and lightweight trainers out there. Very few classics that have some width to them.
In 2024 the Peg41 may be one of the few really traditional basic shoes left. I’d add the Brooks Ghoat 16 in there (though that 12mm drop, ugh). The ASICS Huper Speed is another, though that is more race flat than trainer.
@@SagasuRunning Indeed. I suppose my Adios 8, which just crossed 100mi yesterday, is relatively basic, though perhaps a stretch. I pretty much use it exclusively on the track, though. Do you know, by chance, if wide shoes from Nike are actually on a different last? For example, my understanding of Puma and Hoka is that it’s just more volume, which is not my issue. My foot volume is somewhere around average, but actual bottom of foot is wide. Certain D shoes, like the Superblast, fit exceptionally well.
TBH although the outsole of the Peg 41 is a bit wider than previous versions I have found the lockdown pretty much the same and it is does not feel wide to run in (like say a Rebel v4) and I have a very narrow foot so if it had been now "too wide" I would be "complaining"!. Don't forget however that there is a wide version of the Peg 41. Not sure how widely available it is but I see you can get it if go for the Nike by You customised version.
@elliotendures the A8 isn’t that basic…. That torsion shank adds a lot to the shoe. Seems like the A9 should be more basic I’m not sure about Nike and their lasts for wide shoes but I can’t see why they don’t. I once (mistakenly) bought a pair of wide Peg38s and the fit was flipper-like on my foot.
I love the outsole grip, and utilitarian design of Pegasus, I eventually love react foam. But I just despise zoom air pockets, hurt my feet and calves, just doesn’t make sense to me how running on a pressurized airbag sounds stable or comfortable
It’s so quintessential Nike now that it’s never going away in this shoe. I don’t love them but generally they aren’t in your face either, for me at least. The Pegasus Plus will not have them… but also it’s not react/x….
Not at all. It’s got much less cushion and is a totally different class of shoe. That being said. As I’ve said many times the SL2 is a great transition shoe from max cushion into lower cushion shoes if that is what you are looking to do…
Indeed you are looking at it from a different perspective, like from a design point of view and where it fits into the line up. But what about how the amount of cushioning compares and the construction by both using carrier foams + super foams?
I mean that is what I do here. However, they are till not related. Using a carrier foam is not unique. Also the midsole constructions and how the dual foams are implemented are very different. Against the Supernova Rise is the analog to the Vomero.
the peg 40 had the layer of card board or something like that over the air zoom pod in the heel which the 41 doesn't so you feel more of the pod and more energy is actually absorbed by the pod rather than the board and so more can be released.
@@SagasuRunningthis is actually not true. If you look at the tear down by runrepeat, you’ll see that the peg 39 & 40 have a cellulose board over the heel unit whereas the 41 does not. I highly doubt the strobel in the 41 makes up for the stiffness lost in the board. Edit: this is actually better demonstrated when you look at the tear down by Foot Doctor Zach esp when he does the bounce test with the metal ball.
@@drwilycoyote3804 I looked it up on RunRepeat and you are right. I didn't notice that. I asked a friend, who would know about it, and was told this was done to soften the heel in the 41 and make the Air Zoom unit more present for heel strikers... soften up the shoe overall. Now that I know this, when i wear Peg41s casual I do notice the softer heel. While running, as a forefoot striker, I don't notice it at all. Good catch. Thank you for the followup here too! 👍🏻
@@SagasuRunning Totally valid that it's not something one would notice as a forefoot (or even midfoot?) striker. I believe Foot Doctor Zach hypothesized that the presence of the board created a psuedo- shank-effect. From other things I've read (including the inclusion of it in previous Pegs & Vomeros), it seemed that it was mainly done to distribute the pressure across the entirety of the zoom unit...
@@drwilycoyote3804 I've heard FD Zach talk about that (big fan BTW) but don't agree. I think the desire to distribute the load across the entire air unit was the reason. Remember, the Peg 37/38 only had a (large) forefoot air unit and I remember many feeling the heel was too firm. So I assume they tried to find a balance of firmness and cushion in the 39/40. My guess would be given how dense and firm React foam was, the Air Zoom unit in the large chunk of the heel could feel like a cavity under the heel, which wouldn't feel great. It wasn't and issue on the forefoot because there was much less foam around the Air Zoom unit. ReactX is now flexible and soft enough that it can move with the Air Zoom unit better...causing less of an issue. Something like that.
Is the fit of the SL2 as snug and secure around your foot as the fit in the upper of the Velocity Nitro 3 ? I got the Velocity Nitro 3 and I love the snug fit, I feel safe and will not happen any heel slips !
Thank you for another informative video. Love your thoroughness and knowledge about shoes. I am looking to buy a new versatile, neutral daily trainer and wanted to ask: if you could buy the SL 2 or the velocity nitro 3 at the same price, which one would you choose? I have a pair of velocity 2 but only do easy runs and strides in, don't find it great for reps or intervals.
The 9mm drop on the SL2 was a concern because I am a mid-to-forefoot striker as well. Thanks for mentioning that it feels more like a 6mm drop. Another comprehensive shoe(t) out, btw. Cheers, Chris.
I ordered both SL and SL2 in UK size 12. SL2’s toe box is so narrow it was unusable for me. First run in the SL today and it definitely feels lighter than my Novablast 3 but feels a bit stiffer. Maybe I just need to break it in a bit more.
Why do you think 99% of you tube shoe reviewers hate the Pegasus line? I have never owned one... Just an observation. I have the SL2 and it is great for anything up to 16km for me!
99% of RU-vid shoe reviewers rarely run in them other than once a year to make a review to dunk on them for internet points. A few of us actually run in them and spend quite a bit of time in them yearly. That being said the SL2 is very good… but so is the Peg41.
I think I am also in the 1% that does "quite like" the Pegs - especially the last 3 and indeed one I had from 2001 ! I think a lot of it is they want the Peg not to be a Peg so it is not, for instance, a high stack soft trainer they often seem to crave now.
Mostly because they use supertrainers for dailys rather than traditional dailys. The peg line is staying true to itself and should never change. The ride 17, the kinvara, the velocity ntiro, NB propel etc, sold their souls to cater for the demand for softer, higher stack, more stability, plates. The new gen gone soft
Love my SL2…but the Peg 41 looks beautiful, especially compared to the last few Pegs. I hated the look of all those ‘half-hidden’ swooshes. Might get the Peg 41 just to walk around in, love that Volt colorway.
There is something to be said about the Peg's lower-to-the-ground feel, that feedback in shorter stuff can be pretty great. I think I'd like at least one pair of shoes to have that feel, but I may be biased since I started running on a Peg (well, technically, LunarGlide 6 was first). I wonder what the Peg 41 would feel like if it weighed the same as the SL2.🤔 On a different note, do you keep some sort of running diary, especially for making these comparison videos? Must be difficult keeping track of all the differences otherwise.
I had the LunarGkide 6…. Was enjoyable to run in. I keep a notes file ongoing for most shoes or videos… refer back to them when outlining the videos… but I also think about this stuff ALOT… so it’s always running through my mind.
@@fredriksvard2603 No Adios 8 in my country. Then again, that was also the case with the Takumi Sen and the Puma Velocity Nitro and they both arrived recently!😆
I'm flat footed and used to run exclusively in Kayanos. I changed my strike from heel to forefoot and switched to altra's neutral line up and never went back to any stability shoes. I currently run in novablast 3 and the Boston 12 without any issues. I'm considering the SL2, but your comment about the pronation issue could be a problem. Do you think someone that naturally overpronates will be comfortable in the SL2? Thanks for the comparison
Since you are a forefoot striker you may be ok. Especially if you have the ability to stay on top of it. The forefoot is anchored enough that you have a solid platform to work from. Plus the biomechanics of a forefoot strike will help absorb some of it. The SL2 is far more stopped down than a NB3 or B12. Have you ever run in a Vaporfly or Takumi Sen?
@@SagasuRunning I have not run in either but would like to someday. I'm currently training for my first marathon and found your Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 review very insightful. Based on that review and a few other shoetubers, I'm strongly considering that for my first carbon investment.
if you naturally over pronate the sl2 will give you issues. I mostly heel strike, I'm about 50 miles in sl2. at this point I'm limiting to faster uptempo runs or not doing consecutive days on the shoe because it's so unstable at slower pace. thankfully, I have some low stack more stable shoes to balance out. too bad, it's a really fun shoe.
That then sounds like a good choice. I might pass on the SL2 then. Stick with the extra support of the Sauconys. The Endorphin Speed 4 does a lot of similar things to the SL2 but may work for you better, at least less worry.
For me, the Pegasus is the real all-rounder because it caters to all kinds of runners especially beginners. Whether you are a forefoot, midfoot or heel striker, or whatever runner you are, the Pegasus can accomodate you. The SL2 for me is for more experienced runners who already know what they like in a shoe. I'm just disappointed with the SL2 because it doesn't fit well with my foot but I know it's a great shoe.
Thank you for so many videos of these shoes and the comparisons. I am salivating at the descriptions of the ride of sl2 that I just want to get it. My only problem with Adidas shoes is that idk why, I get a pinching in my left toe ball under the foot which comes in between the insole and the sidewalls of Adidas shoes, anything above a 5k and I get blisters, never had this problem in peg 39s. Does the sl2 has sidewalls that pinch in that area?
My feet are very sensitive to sidewalls on midsoles, especially in the forefoot. I’ve never once felt them in an Adidas shoe though. Since the SL2 doesn’t have a removable midsole the construction is quite a bit different than a normal trainer. There aren’t really sidewalls on the SL2 midsole….
@@SagasuRunning that's a relief and i am very sensitive to sidewalls too, and thank you for your prompt response. It is not available in India yet, but in the sept Oct sale season, Adidas almost drops all shoes to below 50% and at that price, i don't think I will miss the SL2 sale.
Adidas now having more edge bcz they divided their daily trainer into two direction performance “SL2” and comfort “SNR”. Since Peg is basically keeping concept product without drastic change, when compared to adidas 2 daily trainers there are clear strength and weaknesses. And the key points are preference of runners for daily trainers will make peg 42 change a lots or not(btw nike stock is declining, and may affect next peg design ). I personally enjoying peg 40(for easy run, but not for temp pace), and will buy SL2 and SNR.(not yet try 41)
The Peg 42 will be nearly identical to the 41, just a new upper. That how it has been for a long time, even numbered Pegs are minor updates. The Peg41 is the star this year...the Peg Premium will be their star next year. Nike has basically already announced their 2024/25 roadmap. We will see it start rolling out in Sept'ish.
Thanks for this. Nicely put together and very clear. I tested the Adizero SL2 last night and wasn't sure. Have been running on Nike Pegasus for the past years. Guess with my flat feet, the better model for me would still be the Pegasus. Do you have a video on the equivalent of Hokka? And, since you are in Taiwan, may I ask, have you tried the mainland brand Erke by any chance? One of their models has a Carbon plate. Despite the carbon plate, it seems like an 'entry/mid-level' trainer instead of a high-performance racer. If you have any experience with this shoe, believe it's called the 'Erke Qi', I would be happy to learn what you think. Maybe it's an option for me too. Otherwise, I may stick to the Pegasus.
With flat feet, I would recommend sticking to the Pegasus. The 41 has decent arch support and will help support and structure your foot. Not sure what you mean by the equivalent of Hoka. The only Hoka I’ve covered is the Mach 6, which was problematic for me (as are almost all Hokas). Mainland Chinese running brands are very rare here’s I’ve never even heard of that brand, like at all. The 4 major Dhiense brands are around but again very rare here. Mainland Chinese products are not always well loved here.
@@SagasuRunningYour recommendation is so helpful. I’m debating between these two and couldn’t makeup my mind. I have flat feet, so I’m going to get the peg 41. I have always been running in my old pegs, but they’re worn out. I wished I had seen your reviews earlier on Hoka’s. I got the Hoka Mach 5 and absolutely hate it due being too big on my feet.
@simplymiya3820 I’m glad it was helpful. As for Hokas, if you have narrow feet you may enjoy the Mach 6. It’s a much more narrow fit. You really can’t go wrong with a Peg though.
Closer to the ground, great proprioceptive feedback and a stable platform to allow good feedback to the rest of the body....sounds like a great running shoe!
First time to comment. Nice insights as always. Just bought the SL2 but haven't run in it yet. I love the Pegs have the 38 to 40 (1 pair each). Impressed with their durability and reliability (something Nike isn't known for some of their shoes). But (this is the big one), I always buy the Pegs only if on significant discount (at least 30pct off). The ride/limited range and a bit dated tech don't merit the full price imho (of course you're paying for the swoosh badge and design aesthetics Nike is known for but still too much tbh).
Always a good deal to be had on a Peg is you look hard enough. Part of their utility. Thank you for the first comment. Hope to see you commenting more in the future. 🤙🏻
@@SagasuRunning wasn't that the number 1 takeaway from your vid - these are not actually in the same "class" of shoe and having both could be advantageous.
i got the SL2, grip is INSANE and runwise totally fine, amazing foam, BUT the Heel is so sharp, got bruises on my archilles tendon, and on the knuckle, running knot made it worse. PLUS you said it the upper mesh is not really strechy soo my left toes good bruises as well cause they are a little higher then regular. so first run was a really bloody one. is the Pegasus kinda more soft in the heel/back Area? consider to buy the pegs, got the invincible 3 aswell, heel area is kinda hard too but not as hard as the SL2. like the shoe, so nike is a good to go for onther try on daily trainers.
You should never run in Adizero shoes as the SL2 is very soft compared to the others…. FYI. The Peg41 is much more soft in the heel and achilles flare. I’d not recommend the Invincible 3 as the heel has been known to cause issues for some.
@@SagasuRunning yeah i knew about the heel slip issue on the invincible 3s, but the runners knot fixed all of it. so on discount ill try the pegs aswell. TY but what do you mean i should not run in the SL2?
I didn’t say not run in the SL2…. It’s more the rest of the Adizero lineup has uppers and heel even more harsh. The SL2 is the softest and most forgiving in the range. So if they give you these problems the other Adidas Adizero shoes will be far worst.
@@SagasuRunning ahhh sorry now i got it yeah, was my first Adidas running shoe, cause of the good reviews. and they are damn good shoes, i like em much. but i guess if the other ones are way worse than the SL2.. its not a lineup for me :) ty again for your reply :)
For me Sl 2 is the best buck shoe on the market, 41 is just another Pegasus, even worse for me than 40. Idk, felt so boring and firm on foot, but i just tried them. 40 feels more comfortable. Walkers impressions:) PS. Foam on peg trail 4 GTX, same on paper as the one on 41, fells so different and more pleasant. I expected the same, 41 feels nothing like that.
Every year I hear how much better the Peg Trail foam is...every year I try it i find it to be not good. I haven't bought the Peg Trail 5 yet, likely won't, but even if the foam is "nicer"...running in a Peg Trail on the road is definitely not.
The React foam and the outsole were tuned softer for winter conditions. It's well known React hardens in the cold. The non-GTX versions are not as nice. ReactX is softer, but feels more squishy less direct.
