Adidas Supernova Rise 3 vs Nike Pegasus 42
Two shoes people weigh up against each other constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from the same database that drives the Shoe Finder quiz, with nothing added by hand. The short version: the Nike Pegasus 42 has the higher heel at 10mm against 8mm, the Adidas Supernova Rise 3 is 22g lighter.
Side by side
| Adidas Supernova Rise 3 | Nike Pegasus 42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £129.99 RRP | £129.99 RRP |
| Type | Everyday trainer | Everyday trainer |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Weight | 264g | 286g |
| Heel drop | 8mm | 10mm |
| Heel stack | 35mm | 37mm |
| Widths | Standard and wide | Standard and wide |
| Plate | None | None |
What the differences mean
Weight
The Adidas Supernova Rise 3 is 22g lighter, at 264g against 286g. As a rough guide every 100g costs about one percent in running economy, so 22g is worth a fraction of a percent. You will feel it more than it costs you, and it counts for more on a fast 5k than on a slow long run.
Heel drop
This is the real difference. The Nike Pegasus 42 has a 10mm drop and the Adidas Supernova Rise 3 has 8mm. A higher heel asks less of your achilles and calf and more of your knee, and a lower one does the opposite. If you get regular trouble at one of those, pick accordingly. If you get none, pick whichever is closer to what you already run in, because changing drop suddenly is the most reliable way to give yourself a new problem.
Feel underfoot
The Adidas Supernova Rise 3 is the softer ride. The other sits in the middle. Preference rather than performance.
How long they last
The Nike Pegasus 42 is built to take more mileage. If one pair is doing all your running, that is worth more than it sounds, because cost per mile matters more than the price on the box.
Price
Effectively the same price at full price, so this is not the thing to decide on. Whichever happens to be discounted on the day is the better buy.
Which should you buy?
Neither, until you have tried both on. Fit decides more than any specification on this page, and the two shoes above are close enough that a foot shape will separate them faster than a spreadsheet will.
Adidas Supernova Rise 3
Soft, roomy and easy going. Adidas' straightforward shoe for regular training runs.
Nike Pegasus 42
The safe all rounder. Handles daily runs, treadmill sessions and the odd parkrun without fuss.
Or let the quiz decide
This page compares two shoes. The shoe finder compares all 104 of them against your width, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute.