The short version: ASICS launches a new shoe line, the Gel-Slowcush, on October 1, 2026 at $200. ASICS built it for easy and recovery runs. The same day, Nike adds colorways to the Pegasus Plus 2 ($170), a lighter, bouncier Pegasus that launched in late August for tempo runs and faster daily miles.
October is when Texas training picks up again: the heat breaks and fall race season starts. These two shoes are for the everyday miles that fill a training week, not for race day. For marathon racing shoes, see our Alphafly 4 vs. Adios Pro 5 comparison.
ASICS Gel-Slowcush: a shoe for slow days
ASICS describes it as a shoe that is not about speed. Paul Lang, a senior manager of global product for ASICS running footwear, says the team “started with a simple question: how can we make easy runs feel even more enjoyable?” The answer is two cushioning systems: a new FF Luxe Plus foam and an updated PureGEL Plus insert. On top is an engineered mesh upper with a padded knit tongue.
- Price: $200
- Available: globally from October 1, 2026
- Built for: easy runs, recovery miles and lower-intensity sessions
- Weight, stack and drop: not in the ASICS announcement. We will add them once ASICS publishes a spec sheet.
The idea fits a trend we cover in our guide to zone 2 and slow running in Texas heat: more runners are doing most of their miles at a truly easy effort, and shoe brands are now making shoes for exactly that.
Nike Pegasus Plus 2: new colors, same shoe
The Pegasus Plus 2 first came out in late August, and October 1 brings more colors. Nike calls it a shoe for “tempo runs, intervals and fast daily miles.” It has a full-length ZoomX midsole and an exposed, curved Air Zoom unit in the forefoot. Nike says it returns 18% more energy than the original Pegasus Plus (9.1 joules, up from 7.0) and weighs 10% less than the Pegasus 42.
- Price: $170 (nike.com, men’s)
- Weight: about 265 g / 9.3 oz in men’s US 10
- Drop: 10 mm
- Sizes: men’s 6–13 and women’s 5–12. Nike says there is no wide width.
Which one fits your week?
They are built for opposite ends of the week. The Gel-Slowcush is for the long, slow and recovery days. The Pegasus Plus 2 is for workouts and faster daily runs. If you are training for a Texas half marathon this winter, many runners rotate one shoe of each type. If you are working toward a 5K or a Thanksgiving 10K, one versatile daily trainer is plenty.
Fit matters more than the spec sheet. Try both on at a specialty shop near you; the Texas running store directory lists stores in every region.
