Nike (Not Hoka) Made the Year’s Most Popular Running Shoe, Data Says

It’s been a year of ups and downs in Beaverton, as Nike appointed a new CEO in October amid slumping sales and a falling stock price. But you probably wouldn’t know it watching the runners outside your window.

According to Strava’s soon-to-be published Year in Sport trend report, the Pegasus, Nike’s longtime workhorse trainer, was the the year’s most popular shoe among more than 135 million athletes on the social fitness app.

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

The shoe claimed the top spot after a runner-up finish in 2023, switching places with the Hoka Clifton. The Asics Gel Nimbus finished in third, kicking the Brooks Ghost off the podium.

Hold your horses

Strava’s report doesn’t specify which Pegasus model its users favored throughout 2024. However, it’s likely that multiple versions of the shoe contributed to the overall rise of its profile.

Nike came into 2024 with the Pegasus 40 before updating the daily trainer in the summer with ReactX foam.

Then, the brand followed with the Pegasus Plus — a slightly super-fied version of the Pegasus for fast workouts — based off the Pegasus Turbo from 2018.

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Runners’ options around the Pegasus will only continue to grow.

Nike has already announced the Air Zoom-laden Pegasus Premium, scheduled for release in 2025, as part of the brand’s master plan to simply its running lineup around three legacy brand names (Pegasus, Vomero and Structure).

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Still in the race

The Pegasus wasn’t the only Nike shoe to conquer 2024. According to the same Strava report, the Nike Vaporfly Next% was the most popular running shoe for 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons, while marathoners opted instead for the Nike Alphafly above all other shoes.

That data certainly tracks with what’s happening at the pro level. The Alphafly 3, for example, propelled Ruth Chepngetich to a new women’s world record at the Chicago Marathon, a year after the late Kelvin Kiptum pulled off the same feat on the men’s side (and in the same exact shoe).

Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Time will tell if these results will have any barring on Nike’s stock price, which is pacing for a 25 percent decline since the start of the year.

But if any brand knows how to win from behind, it’s the one based out of Beaverton. And with fan-favorites like the Pegasus in its arsenal, Nike might just do it, after all.

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