What’s New: We take a closer look at the Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature + Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

As we draw closer to the end of the year (and inching closer to some sense of normalcy), we wanted to introduce a new feature on the site called Next Movement. While we do feature all sorts of footwear on the site, Next Movement goes in-depth on sneaker innovation and performance, giving everyone a good glimpse of what’s next. Not only will we discuss tech behind the shoe, we also tap our friends and fans to wear test the footwear featured. Aside from the written word, we will be tracking our wear testers’ experience during a set period to get a better feel for the shoe’s performance over time.

So for our first edition, we dropped by Nike and sat down with Soy Soriano, Nike PH’s EKIN (that’s Product Specialist), to give us a rundown of the latest running footwear in Nike’s stable. While we could’ve gone down the traditional route of basketball or football, Running footwear cuts across a much larger demographic, at the same time, the most practical means of fitness (all you need is a pair of runners and the road). For our session, we broke down two of Nike’s latest runners – the Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature and the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2.

Nike changed their format from foot types to the catering to the actual runner – whether you are a potential runner(beginner), everyday runner (those who run for fitness) or dedicated runners (those who train for marathons). While most of us have a good sense of how to run, it made sense to focus on the Peg Turbo Next Nature. To address the needs of the dedicated runner, the shoe focused on performance and sustainability.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature

Over the last few years, we’ve seen the brand take strides in moving towards zero carbon and zero waste (MOVE TO ZERO) and the Peg Turbo Next Nature is a good example of that. The shoe’s upper is made of almost 80% recycled yarn, using even a process called solution dye that uses 97% less water vs previous models. The yarn they use is what they take back yarn – 70% of it is made up of recycled Flyknit, while the 30% is a mix of plastic bottle chips eventually made into yarn. The shoe also sits on a dual-density midsole, using an SR02 foam (firmer foam, made for durability) and ZoomX. For those who haven’t tried ZoomX before, the foam is quite springy, utlra responsive, giving runners an extra push with every stride. Even the ZoomX foam is made from 50% recycled ZoomX foam. For the shoe’s waffle-inspired outsole, the rubber is made from 8% recycled material. So from that standpoint alone, you’ll notice that the shoe hits both marks on the head.

If you’re a dedicated runner (or an everyday runner), the Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature can work as your training shoe and raceday shoe all in one. But for those training and looking to run a race/marathon anytime soon, that’s where the AlphaFly Next% 2 comes in.

Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2

For all intents and purposes, the Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 is a race day shoe. Taking in customer feedback, the Next% 2 builds on the first shoe’s success. One considerablechange made to the shoe was the heel; runners found it hard to get in, and adding pull tabs on the collar makes it much easier to wear. But let’s dig even deeper.

Aside from the collar fix, the upper is now made with an updated AtomKnit, the lightest and most breathable upper to date. For running looking to do away with unnecessary weight, this definitely helps. With the changes on the upper, the shoe also gets an updated cushioning system. The shoe uses a much wider base, making it a more stable shoe overall and easier to maneuver sharp turns. While we’ve seen the Zoom unit on the first shoe, Nike updated its positioning and added some extra foam where its needed the most to aid in a more seamless transition.

Why do all these high performance runners (and not just Nike, mind you), shifting towards much thicker cushioning systems. What Nike shared here was that it truly was there for injury protection/prevention. Just imagine what your feet, knees, joints go through that prolonged period. The thicker cushioning system definitely helps in this, plus keeps the runner “fresher” over a longer distance. Nike did a running camp (approx 200 runner) to test this and for those who wore thicker cushioning systems, they reported less injuries. What this format breaks is that thicker doesn’t always mean heavier. Picking the Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 up, you’ll notice how much lighter they compare to more traditional running shoes we’ve tried before. So with the full-length ZoomX foam in play, coupled with the Zoom Air unit at the forefoot, you’re in for a treat with this performance beast. What a lot of people don’t know, the inspiration to use the Zoom Air unit with ZoomX was from the LeBrons. The shoe turned out to be much more responsive than any other shoe they’ve made to date.

Both the Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature and the Air Zoom Alphafly Next% 2 are now available across Nike doors (check them out at Nike Fort BGC!), Nike.com/ph and partner retailers. The Peg Turbo Next Nature retails for Php 8,395 while the Alphafly Next% 2 retails for Php 14,495.

Now that concludes the first part of Next Movement. We’ve tapped our friend Ryan* to try the Alphafly Next% 2 and put the shoe to the test. Ryan is an everyday runner, always seeking to improve his time and is slated to join his first ever half-marathon in the coming months. Keep it locked here and on our social platforms for the performance review.

*Ryan is not his real name