Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 review

Our Verdict

The Nike Pegasus 38 is a brilliant running shoe for experienced and beginner runners alike. It's a fantastic all-rounder and is more comfortable underfoot than the Pegasus 37.

For

A great all-rounder
Well-built and durable
Available in a number of different colorways

Confronting

Not the almost responsive shoe

Tom'south Guide Verdict

The Nike Pegasus 38 is a vivid running shoe for experienced and beginner runners alike. It'due south a fantastic all-rounder and is more comfy underfoot than the Pegasus 37.

Pros

+
A great all-rounder
+
Well-built and durable
+
Available in a number of dissimilar colorways

Cons

-
Non the most responsive shoe
-

Nike Pegasus 38: Specs

Weight: 275 chiliad (M), 235 one thousand (Due west)
Driblet: 10mm
Blazon: Route
Neutral/stability: Neutral
Widths: Women's - regular, men's - regular, extra-wide

To sum up the Nike Pegasus 38 in i word would be to say 'reliable.' This is a workhorse of a running shoe that is perfect for beginners only also would suit whatever level of runner. In all, a bright all-rounder.

When the Nike Pegasus 37 hit the market last year, I fabricated a very bold merits, proverb it was my favorite Pegasus all the same. Compared to previous versions, I thought the 37 had more 'pop,' all the same similar many other runners, I struggled a little with the fit of the shoe. Then came the Pegasus 38, which fixes those fit issues, while still keeping the same bounce underfoot. I've run upwards of l miles in this shoe; for this Nike Pegasus 38 review, I'll take a expect at the upper, the midsole, the outsole and the fit and advent of the shoe, equally well every bit how information technology felt out on the road.

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Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 review: Price and availability

The Nike Pegasus 38 was released in Apr 2021, and costs $120. The Pegasus 38 is available in a number of different colorways, with Nike oftentimes releasing special-edition versions of the shoe. Whether you're after an all-blackness shoe for your next race or fancy the limited edition A.I.R. Kelly Anna London design, Nike has something for everyone. In the men's version, the shoe is bachelor from a U.S. size 6 to a U.S. size fifteen; for women, the Pegasus 38 starts at a U.S. size v and goes upwards to a U.S. 12.

The Pegasus 37 was released around the same fourth dimension the year earlier. Based on this, we can predict that the Nike Pegasus 39 volition drop in leap next year.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 review: Design and fit

Like the Pegasus 37, the Pegasus 38 contains Nike'south responsive React foam, which is lightweight and offers a good corporeality of underfoot cushioning.

In fact, the just existent differences between the Pegasus 37 and the Pegasus 38 can be found in the fit and the upper — the toe box is wider, the laces do upwards slightly differently and there's cushioning beneath the tongue for a comfier fit. They've also fixed the shallow heel loving cup of the Pegasus 37, which many runners establish caused blisters on the run.

The Pegasus 38 fits true to size (although, equally with all running shoes, it's worth sizing upwards compared to your daily trainer). Right out of the box, it'due south a comfy shoe and should fit about runners well (unless you lot accept an especially loftier instep or wide foot).

The shoe looks great on and off the run, making information technology a popular pick for runners who want a shoe they can wear in the gym or on hikes at the weekend (although this might shorten the life of the running shoe).

The Pegasus 38 features Nike's Flyease entry organization. The laceless pattern allows all athletes to slip the shoe on and off with ane hand using the zip, and and so tighten the webbing across the foot for the perfect fit.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 black and white colorway — (Prototype credit: Nike)

Upper

The Pegasus 38 has a breathable mesh upper, that is like to the Brooks upper on the Glycerin 19 in terms of thickness and plushness. This plushness has also spread to the natural language of the shoe — Nike has replaced the racing-mode natural language of the Pegasus 36 with a thicker, padded design to protect the foot from pressure and hot spots.

The Pegasus 38 too has a new lacing arrangement; the soft, midfoot webbing system is designed to spread any force per unit area across a wider surface area of the foot.

side profile of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 white model

(Image credit: Nike)

Midsole

The Pegasus 38 has the aforementioned full-length React foam midsole and Zoom Air unit every bit the Pegasus 37. It's got noticeably more than cushioning than previous versions of the Pegasus, but unlike say, the Infinity Run Flyknit 2 or the Nike Invincible Run, the React foam still has a firmness, so don't expect the Pegasus 38 to feel too bouncy or springy underfoot.

Outsole

The Nike Pegasus line is well-known for its hard-wearing outsole. This is a running shoe that'due south designed to keep going for miles, without needing to exist replaced.

The outsole itself is like to that of the Pegasus 37. It'due south definitely a road shoe, with an outsole that is grippy enough to wear on pavements and grass simply it wouldn't exist a dandy choice for trickier terrains or especially glace surfaces.

a side view of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 — (Image credit: Nike)

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 review: Performance

Out of the box, the Pegasus 38 was extremely comfortable; I plant I was able to run in it direct away, with no force per unit area or blisters.

The Pegasus 38 was absolutely brilliant during my warm-up and for easy miles, but dissimilar other versions of the Pegasus, it didn't have the same energy return during faster sessions. This doesn't mean it can't selection up the pace when yous demand it to; it just means old-school Pegasus fans might pine for the firmer snap of the Pegasus 36 on faster days.

When testing the Pegasus 38, I clocked up of 50-miles in the shoe and spotted no signs of wear or tear to the outsole.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38: Verdict

For a shoe to exist in its 38th iteration, it must be doing something right. With the Nike Pegasus 38, Nike has built on the updates made to the Pegasus 37. This is a wonderfully reliable shoe — you can vesture it for your first 5K, or your fifth marathon, and pretty much everything in between. It's besides well-built and durable, so for $120 you can wait to become hundreds of miles out of this shoe.

This is a fantastic shoe for beginners who want to experience comfortable, stable, and supported as they move. We gave this shoe our best overall running shoe in our roundup of the best Nike running shoes due to its versatility and durability, but if you're not willing to spend upwards of $100 on a pair of running shoes, now might be a good time to pick upward a pair of the Nike Pegasus 37's, which are last season's stock, and so will be discounted.

Alternatively, the Hoka One One Rincon 3 is also a brilliant all-rounder and was the nigh affordable shoe in our roundup of best running shoes for 2021. But if you pick up the Pegasus 38, you won't be disappointed.

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Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks afterward everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An gorging runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the by 4 years, so knows what to expect for when finding a skilful running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets large enough for your smartphone. When she's not pounding the pavements, y'all'll discover Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy.