ShoeGeometry

Altra Experience Flow 3 vs Nike Pegasus 42

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneAltra Experience Flow 3: heel 32 mm, forefoot 28 mm (drop 4 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 42 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 21 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Altra Experience Flow 3: toe rocker 33 % of lengthNike Pegasus 42: heel 37 mm, forefoot 27 mm (drop 10 mm); toe rocker 34 % of length, radius 47 % of length; heel bevel 10 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Nike Pegasus 42: toe rocker 34 % of length
  • Altra Experience Flow 332/28 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 11 %
  • Nike Pegasus 4237/27 mm · toe rocker 34 % · heel bevel 10 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offAbout the same33 vs 33.9 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelNike Pegasus 4232 vs 37 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same28 vs 27 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAltra Experience Flow 34 vs 10 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootNike Pegasus 423 vs 35 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelNike Pegasus 4239 vs 66 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAltra Experience Flow 3118.1 vs 112.3 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricAltra Experience Flow 3
Daily trainer · Road
Nike Pegasus 42
Daily trainer · Road
Heel-to-toe drop4 mmStated10 mmStated
Heel stack32 mmStated37 mmStated
Forefoot stack28 mmStated27 mmStated
Weight255 gStated300 gStated
Toe rocker33 %est.34 %est.
Rocker radius42 %est.47 %est.
Rocker rise angle27 degest.24 degest.
Rocker angle at toe54 degest.53 degest.
Toe tip over ground38 mmest.33 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset77.7 %est.79 %est.
Toe spring (relative)16.7 %est.15.3 %est.
Heel bevel length11.1 %est.10 %*est.
Heel bevel height21 mmest.20 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)118.1 mmMeasured112.3 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)94.1 mmMeasured88.1 mmMeasured
Toe box shape81 %est.73 %*est.
Interior forefoot width99.3 mmMeasured96.5 mmMeasured
Toebox width79.3 mmMeasured72.3 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness3Derived35Derived
Midsole firmness39Derived66Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamAltra EGO P35 (compression-moulded OBC blend)ReactX + ZoomX, full-length Air Zoom unit
List price$145$145

Key differences

  • Altra Experience Flow 3's heel-to-toe drop is 4 mm, 6 mm lower than Nike Pegasus 42's 10 mm.
  • Altra Experience Flow 3's heel stack is 32 mm, 5 mm thinner than Nike Pegasus 42's 37 mm.
  • Altra Experience Flow 3's forefoot stack is 28 mm, 1 mm thicker than Nike Pegasus 42's 27 mm.
  • Altra Experience Flow 3's weight is 255 g, 45 g lighter than Nike Pegasus 42's 300 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 33 % of length for Altra Experience Flow 3, 34 % of length for Nike Pegasus 42.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Altra Experience Flow 3

Nike Pegasus 42

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Altra Experience Flow 3 details · Nike Pegasus 42 details · Add more shoes