New Balance, Brooks, Asics, Saucony: should be very concerned with Nike's latest move

I wear mostly Adidas by the way so not a Nike fan, but just love running shoes in general.

byebye brooks wrote:

As most of you know, Nike's been making serious stride to be the best in running. Obviously, they're the biggest, but they haven't been doing so hot selling their running shoes to "serious" runners/hobbyjoggers where Brooks, New Balance, Asics, and Saucony all sell more to them than Nike.

Nike's been stepping up its game with the new Elites, Streak, and the Vaporfly that'll be released soon.

However, I think the nail in the coffin is their new Pegasus 34. Pegasus for awhile has been a very attractive shoes worn as street wear. But 34 has really changed to be more running first, then casual wear second. This may hurt Nike's overall sales as Pegasus is sold more to casual wearers than for running, but Nike is going all out to be number 1 brand for serious and hobbyjoggers.

Huh? Pegs have never been a streetwear shoe. In fact, they've long been the only Nike shoe that serious runners consider.

In any event, I wouldn't expect Nike to make many inroads with regular runners, at least in the short term. It doesn't really matter if they make a few good shoes this year. It takes a long time to change brand perceptions, and most runners don't perceive Nikes to be serious running shoes. Nike also doesn't have much shelf space at specialty running stores, and that's a big part of brand perception.

Nike does just fine selling running shoes to non-runners who shop at Dick's. People who run regularly, even the hobby-jogging masses, are still a niche market.

Yes, I'm sure the other manufacturers are shaking in their boots at the 34th iteration of the Pegasus. It will undoubtedly be revolutionary, as anything associated with Herschel Walker ought to be.

The 34th iteration of a shoe with a 10mm heel to toe drop is the nail in the coffin.

You guys will see!

byebye brooks wrote:

"However, I think the nail in the coffin is their new Pegasus 34. Pegasus for awhile has been a very attractive shoes worn as street wear. But 34 has really changed to be more running first, then casual wear second."

This is 100 percent false. Pegasus has always - first and foremost - been a running shoe, and about running.

It's probably nike best selling running shoe, and it is on its 34th release. There has never been a time, where nike linked the pegasus with fashion or urban lifestyle.

Nike comes from track and field. That is the foundation of nike, and it will always be the foundation of Nike. Rosches, air max, and their basketball shoes are what they push towards urban lifestyle, as well as their classic styles.

When Nike makes a running shoe they make it for purely running...period.

Scorpion_runner wrote:

byebye brooks wrote:

"However, I think the nail in the coffin is their new Pegasus 34. Pegasus for awhile has been a very attractive shoes worn as street wear. But 34 has really changed to be more running first, then casual wear second."

This is 100 percent false. Pegasus has always - first and foremost - been a running shoe, and about running.

It's probably nike best selling running shoe, and it is on its 34th release. There has never been a time, where nike linked the pegasus with fashion or urban lifestyle.

Nike comes from track and field. That is the foundation of nike, and it will always be the foundation of Nike. Rosches, air max, and their basketball shoes are what they push towards urban lifestyle, as well as their classic styles.

When Nike makes a running shoe they make it for purely running...period.

Nope.

Haha the only people I know Pegs for non-running purposes are....other runners. Mostly worn by runners and occasionally gym rats. Still easily Nike's best running shoe though.

I have a pair of pegs that I wear casually...... Because I put enough miles to retire them

Probably the worst informed OP I've ever read on LetsRun.

"Nike making serious stride" to be best in running? WhereTF have you been? This is Nike's MO for the past decade.

HGL wrote:

Probably the worst informed OP I've ever read on LetsRun.

"Nike making serious stride" to be best in running? WhereTF have you been? This is Nike's MO for the past decade.

This is incorrect. How is Nike behind brooks, Saucony, and asics to runners who take it serious enough to race? Nike started as a running company but have definitely fallen to other "running" specialty brands in which they are winning back big.

Pegs are popular for casual wearers. This is definitely true, but with the 34, it is tdefinitely running shoes first, casual distant second. If you think Nikes MO has been running for the last decade, you sir is the MORON.

Scorpion_runner wrote:

byebye brooks wrote:

"However, I think the nail in the coffin is their new Pegasus 34. Pegasus for awhile has been a very attractive shoes worn as street wear. But 34 has really changed to be more running first, then casual wear second."

This is 100 percent false. Pegasus has always - first and foremost - been a running shoe, and about running.

It's probably nike best selling running shoe, and it is on its 34th release. There has never been a time, where nike linked the pegasus with fashion or urban lifestyle.

Nike comes from track and field. That is the foundation of nike, and it will always be the foundation of Nike. Rosches, air max, and their basketball shoes are what they push towards urban lifestyle, as well as their classic styles.

When Nike makes a running shoe they make it for purely running...period.

Definitely false. Nike has been making running shoes which appeals to casual wearers. Majority of running shoes sales are for casual wearers.

Also, you guys are missing out on current street wear is that running shoes are becoming very popular. Ummm have you heard of Ultra Boost by Adidas? It's running shoes popular as street wear. Same as flyknit racers. I actually know abou kicks

To those saying that the Pegasus isn't a streetwear shoe, you are wrong. While it may not be designed as a streetwear shoe, it is incredibly popular as an all around athletic shoe and a regular everyday wear shoe. When I was in high school I would see everyone - from kids on the track team, to football players, to band kids wearing the Nike pegasus.

I agree that Nike's focus has always been on the Pegasus being a running shoe and that it is the one Nike shoe that most serious runners will consider, but I am confident that a majority of the Pegasus sales come from non-running athletes and casual wearers.

I do agree with the OP's claim that Nike is making strides to compete with the other brands for dominance in the serious running niche. Nike's road flats and track spikes are superior to any other, except for some competition from Adidas in the road flat category. Nike's upgrades to the Zoom Elite and Vomero have given them a wider range for everyday trainers - if you look back a few years these shoes were all virtually the same thing.

Others are more like hobby jogging shoes. Pegasus has been a staple of runners for decades. Again fake news.

The Peg 34 is designed for the hip hop crowd . I have never seen a white guy wear them, unless they are old. Like 40 + years .

Thank you! There's at least someone whose not living in their parent's basement Or only having running friends.

Looks like the OP was wrong... another shoe to be worn with jeans and not for running...

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/Nike_Zoom_Pegasus_34_Mens_Shoes_Black_White_Grey/descpage-NP34M7.html

HGL wrote:

Looks like the OP was wrong... another shoe to be worn with jeans and not for running...

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/Nike_Zoom_Pegasus_34_Mens_Shoes_Black_White_Grey/descpage-NP34M7.html

I'm confused. You're saying running shoes are Nikes MO and now you're saying their running shoes are for casual wear? When's the last time you've been out of the basement?

Last Nikes I wore were the Air Skylon in 1992. I switched to Adidas (I think it was the Response at the time) and have never looked back. I like the firmness of the Adidas. I've never owned a pair of Adidas that I didn't like. I've always felt Nike shoes are a bit overpriced and just too soft feeling in the forefoot. I even wear adidas as my street/jeans shoes. I've probably owned 10 different pairs of Sambas over the years.