The Nike Pegasus is the shoe people love to hate. The Nike Pegasus 38 is the 38th version. So yes, it is one of the few shoes Nike has kept around this long. In fact, it’s the oldest running shoe in the running shoe world, for real.
Like many people, the Pegasus was my first ever running shoe. Since then, I’ve run sporadically in it but haven’t in the last few years. The Nike Pegasus 38 is known as “the Peg,” the Nike Zoom Air Pegasus, the Zoom, the Zoom air, the grandma, father time…just kidding, no one calls it the last two things except me.
Nike Pegasus 38 Intro:
The updated Nike Pegasus 38 has a more accommodating upper, roomier toe box and resembles more of the Pegasus 36. Yes, many people hated the Peg 37, so Nike has tried to get away from it.
Nike Pegasus 38 Quick Facts:
Weight: 8.2 oz
Drop: 10 mm
Price: $120
Nike Pegasus 38 Fit:
You know I can’t resist an all-white running shoe, and when I saw the Nike Pegasus 38 was offered in all white, I thought it was calling my name.
One thing that grinds my gears about people talking about Nike shoes is when they say: “I can’t wear Nike because it’s too narrow.” Nike isn’t perfect, but it’s not the most narrow brand out there. In fact, the toe box of the Nike Pegasus 38 is one of the roomier brands.
Most nonrunning Nike shoes are narrow, but their running models are much wider than many other brands.
In Peg 38, the toe box was off and more narrow. They have widened it back up in the Nike Pegasus 38, so you should feel the additional room. Nike also has most of its shoes available wide. I can’t emphasize enough the nice round toe box in the Peg 38.
Like most running shoes, the Nike Pegasus 38 uses an engineered mesh upper. This means it’s lightweight and breathable with an airy feel to it. The tongue is extremely padded, and the ankle and heel counter feel plush and secure.
An interesting update in the Nike Pegasus 38 is the new lacing and webbing system. It adds extra eyelets to the shoe and makes for a better fit. It might look goofy, but it works well.
Nike Pegasus 38 Ride:
The Pegasus has been around now for 38 generations, so it must be “good.” One thing I appreciate about Nike is that they keep this shoe fairly similar from year to year. It’s one of the few shoes from Nike that isn’t always on the chopping block.
The Nike Pegasus 38 uses the React midsole foam. The react foam is cushioned and responsive but also extremely soft. It makes the shoe extremely versatile if you want to do an easy run or something faster. I’ve run just about everything from easy runs to longer tempo runs to daily shoes. For me, it works best as a daily run shoe. I prefer something with more cushion in my easy runs and less shoe for workouts and hard efforts.
Traction and Durability: The Nike Pegasus 38 has great traction whether it’s raining or you’re on sandy trails. You don’t need to worry about sliding all over the place. The multi-directional grooves and “waffle pistons” absorb impact and provide grip on slick surfaces. Together with the blown rubber on the outsole, you have a durable shoe that provides plenty of traction. There hasn’t really been a Nike Pegasus model I’ve got less than 400 miles on, and I expect the Nike Pegasus 38 to live a full life.
Nike Pegasus 37 vs. Pegasus 38:
You can see the Nike Pegasus 37 review here. Most of the tech between the two models is the same. The wait and drop are both the same. The update comes from the fit in the upper. The Nike Peg 38 fits much better, and the new lacing system allows you to get a much better and wider range of fits. In all, it’s a good minimal update.
Nike Pegasus 38 Conclusion:
If you want to try a Nike trainer, the Nike P 38 is a good option. It’s a great multipurpose trainer that you can use for almost everything. It might not be the most exciting, marketed, or fast shoe out there, but it is a workhorse for the easy miles between races. The Pegasus has been around for 38 updates for a good reason.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs Nike Pegasus, Brooks Aurora, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, Brooks Ricochet 3, New Balance 1080 v11, Hoka Bondi 7,
Speed Work: Nike Tempo Next%, New Balance Fuelcell TC Shoe Review, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro,
Long Runs: Hoka Clifton Edge, Under Armour Sonic HOVR 3
Trail Running/Hiking: Hoka Torrent 2, Saucony Peregrine 11, North Face Flight VECTIV
Races: Asics Metaspeed Sky, Hoka One One Rocket X, adidas Adizero Pro, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the Nike Pegasus 38?
What was your first running shoe?