By 
The RW Takeaway: Minor tweaks make the 38th Peg a touch more comfortable than its predecessor for daily miles and long runs.
- Deeper heel cup eliminates heel slippage and wider forefoot allows for better toe splay
- Upper now uses a softer sandwich mesh and thicker looped eyelets that lock in the lacing without hot spots
- React foam midsole with forefoot air unit feels medium soft on touchdown; bouncy and moderately flexible at toe off
Price: $120
Type: Road
Weight: 10.0 oz (M), 8.2 oz (W)
Drop: 10mm
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s More Images
More From Runner's World
Before Phil Knight claimed it for his shoe brand, the name Nike belonged exclusively to the Greek goddess of victory. She accompanied Zeus for luck in battle as he hurled thunderbolts from a blazing chariot pulled by Pegasus. And, like Zeus’s reliable stallion, the 38th Peg upholds its legendary descriptor as a capable “workhorse with wings.” (Side note: Hands down, this trio would make a killer squad rolling out from Mount Olympus for a lunch run.)
Pros
- Cushioning is soft on touchdown; springy on toe-off
- Outsole withstands high mileage with reliable grip for short portions of offroad running
Cons
- Ride feels best after a short break-in period
Gender-Specific Cushioning
Last year, the Pegasus’s midsole switched from older Cushlon foam to more-responsive React, and Nike added two more millimeters of it underfoot. Still not as light and bouncy as ZoomX, React feels medium soft, and moderately flexible. Nike also lowered the pressure in the air unit in the women’s model (15 PSI, compared to 20 PSI for men) to make it a touch softer, doubled the size of the forefoot unit for extra pop on toe off, and scrapped the air unit from the midfoot and heel. The outsole got a facelift, too, with more flex grooves and a rectangular tread pattern that slightly improves grip for short stints offroad.
Essential Off-Year Updates
Those midsole and outsole updates carry over unchanged to the 38, but the upper sees a bunch of problem-solving tweaks. The previously cramped toe box is roomier, and a deeper heel cup helps eliminate the slippage we felt in the 37. Additional tongue padding and a new plush sandwich mesh feel much softer, too, though they trap more heat and sweat.
The Peg Hasn’t Lost Its Giddy-Up
In reality, the Peg has not really gained much weight over past versions since the 35th model. However, it’s starting to feel heavy because of all the light and nimble shoes and carbon-fiber plated racers that have crashed onto the scene. To runners familiar with those new teched-out models, the Peg will still feel plenty responsive underfoot but bulkier by comparison. It now complements daily mileage better as a comfy weekend long-run trainer than as a speed-day secret weapon.
Wear-Tester Feedback from Vernon L.
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Forefoot
Age: 65 | Typical Weekly Mileage: 30
Another Shoe Vernon Likes: Saucony Triumph
“The Pegasus 38 has a solid, fast ride that doesn’t hold you back and can take a pounding, which made it a good choice for my 10-mile hilly long runs. I’d say the shoe feels softer and springier than the equivalent New Balance [Fresh Foam 880], Asics [Gel-Cumulus], or Brooks [Ghost]. The Pegasus actually performed least well right out of the box. Its tall heel felt a little spongy while it was still breaking in and felt a tad wobbly when going fast around a tight turn. But after I put 20 miles on it, the midsole had formed to my foot and felt firmer, more stable, and comfortably cushioned. Overall, this made running in the Pegasus a real pleasure.”
