Review: Nike Pegasus 38

This Nike Pegasus 38 review is part of our 2021 SELF Certified Sneaker Awards, where the shoe won Best Marathon Training Sneaker. You can see the rest of our award winners here. 

I’ve considered myself a runner for well over a decade now, but that doesn’t mean that every run is a fun-filled jaunt around my neighborhood. In fact, some runs feel downright hard. Blame it on dehydration, lack of sleep, muscle soreness from another workout, or just having a bad day—sometimes running still feels really challenging.

It’s on those tough days that I’m especially thankful for shoes like the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38. The workhorse trainer—which was first introduced in 1983—continues to be a shoe that any runner, at any level, can use and love. This shoe ticks a lot of boxes and feels like the perfect middle ground between a cushioned training shoe and a speedy racing shoe. Read on to see exactly what I mean.

How I Tested

To test this shoe for the 2021 SELF Certified Sneaker Awards, I followed the criteria set by our experts, and then ran in these shoes for three to five miles a few times per week, for about a month.

Though these sneakers are not specifically intended for cross-training, I also wore them for a few bodyweight workouts just to see how they’d hold up in a gym setting.

I always find that Nike runs a bit narrow and a bit small. Having worn Nike several times previously, I got these shoes in a women’s size 7.5 (I typically wear a 7), and they fit just fine. Per our experts’ recommendation, I had about a half-inch of room in the toe box.

I took these shoes in a regular width, but if you need it, they’re also offered in wide. I personally think these shoes run a bit narrow, so if you’re on the fence, I’d opt for the wide fit. These shoes have a classic tongue and lace-up style (with a convenient pull tab on the tongue), so I was able to adjust the tightness of the shoe to my preferred feel.

These shoes have a sleek, low profile that makes them look modern and cool. Despite the fact that the heel isn’t stacked super high like other shoes, there’s plenty of cushion hidden in there (more on that below). Most of all, I really appreciate that these shoes have a much more streamlined look to them than a lot of the chunkier shoes that I usually run in.

The Pegasus 38 curl up just a bit at the heel and the toe, and squeeze in at the midfoot, giving them a near hourglass silhouette.

When I slipped these on, I was pleasantly surprised to feel just how cushioned they were. Since they have such a low profile, I was skeptical there’d be enough padding in there to keep my old-lady knees happy throughout the run. However, once I started moving, I quickly realized these strike a good balance between responsive and cushioned.

There’s a nice bounciness to the midfoot and a breezy, energetic feel each time you push off your step. It’s a feeling that encouraged me to run faster (and maybe a little too hot out of the gate during each testing run). There’s a smooth, breathable mesh upper that also provided a cooling sensation as I ran—meaning these will be great for logging summer miles.

The collar of this sneaker (the part that hugs your Achilles heel) is nicely cushioned, so I didn’t have to worry about any blisters or chafing. On the website Nike notes that these have a wider toe box than previous models, but if that’s true, I didn’t notice it. As I mentioned earlier, I still think these shoes are relatively narrow and squeeze in, hugging my feet like fitted socks. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but if you know you have wider feet, consider the wide option and sizing up. One other catch: They’re actually not as lightweight as you might expect. Weighing in at 8.9 ounces, these shoes are a bit heavier, and after four miles or so, I was feeling that added weight.

Overall, my body felt good during and after my runs. I noticed I had to work a bit more toward the end to keep that springiness in my step—but I’ll admit that I’m usually tired at the end of my runs, so I’m not sure I can entirely blame that on these shoes.

My knees, hips, and feet were supported and cushioned, and they still felt great once the run was finished. I experienced no blisters or chafing, and despite the narrow look of the toe box, my toes felt just fine at the end of the run.

Nike has a pretty great 60-day extended return policy. Buy your shoes, then take them for a run—or 10!—and if you’re not satisfied, send them back. After those 60 days, you can still return your shoes as long as they’re unwashed and unworn.

The Bottom Line

In many ways the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 sneakers really are the Goldilocks of running shoes: Just the right amount of cushion and responsiveness, plus a low-profile silhouette and several stylish color options that make these an easy choice to wear while running errands or with any athleisure look.

Though they’re a bit heavier than one might expect, I didn’t really notice this until I was on slightly longer runs. Perhaps best of all, they provided an adequate amount of support so that my knees and hips felt good from start to finish.