The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Road Running Shoe is the 38th model in the legendary Nike Pegasus line. As a fan of the Nike Pegasus shoe line, I’ve used multiple Nike Air Zoom Pegasus road running shoes and am pretty familiar with their construction, performance, and features. Nike points out that the Pegasus 38 is a durable shoe with a responsive and cushioned ride on the road.
This shoe is intended to be used for casual and serious road running and for everyday comfort. This model features Nike React Foam through its midsole and has a Zoom Air Unit for an additional bounce. The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 was a quality road running and training shoe, but as a whole, it lacks unique characteristics to separate itself.
In this Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Road Running Shoe review, I am going to cover all of the essential details that you need to know to contextualize if this road running shoe is the right fit for you.
Contents
Who Should Invest in the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38?
This is an everyday shoe that can be used for road running, gym training, track runs, and casual wear. I have used these shoes and their predecessors, in all of the above-mentioned categories. It is currently my go-to shoe while I work. Being on my feet all day while actively coaching athletes, I need a comfortable shoe that I can move athletically in.
I think roadrunners of all skill levels will enjoy the comfort of the Air Zoom Pegasus 38. Trail running is where I spend most of my time training, but I do mix in road and track runs. The main positive characteristic I noticed with this shoe was just how comfortable the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 is while also maintaining a responsive feel.
Some of the other Nike road running models have fallen short in this category for me. Meaning, they had too much cushion and poor ground-to-foot response. Leaving you as a runner feeling like there just is not a ton of spring in your step. If you like a responsive ride without sacrificing cushion, then the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 will be a good fit for you.
I tested the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 mostly on dry concrete. But a few runs I did find myself running over more wet and slightly snow-covered terrain. This shoe performs its best on the dry road but can handle a little bit of precipitation on the ground.
Anything where the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 will be required to grip loose or moderately wet surfaces. It will fall short and fall a bit outside of its design. If you are mostly clear weather or indoor runner, this will be a great shoe for you.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
$120
Best For
- Longer Road Road Running
- Short and Mid-Range Runs At Fast Paces
- Runs In Dry Climates
- Daily Wear and Light Training
Falls Short
- For Technical Terrain
- For Wet Climates and Pavement
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Pros
Throughout my training and testing, I have found a couple of aspects to like and enjoy about the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38.
- Wide Toe Box Comfort
- Easy to Wear for Different Running Distances
- Cushion and Responsiveness
The first pro to like about the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 is that they come with a regular and extra wide option. If you have worn different Nike shoe models, you know that a wide-toe box is not a common attribute in Nike training shoes. As someone with a slightly wider foot, I found this shoe to be extremely comfortable. This current 38 model is wider than the 36 and 37 models.
Similar to the older models, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 still has a secure fit. A midfoot webbing gives this shoe a snug fit when tightening the laces. The extra toe box room allowed my toes to splay when running and not feel too cramped while the laces tightened the system down.
I also like that the fit of this shoe helps them to perform for a variety of distances. Whether I was wearing these as a daily driver, tackling shorter runs, or longer runs, I enjoy the ride you get the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38. This shoe is a good “all-in-one” style running shoe for the serious runner, true beginners, or casual wearer.
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Lastly, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 has good cushioning without sacrificing responsiveness. Nike uses its React Foam in the midsole of this model along with a Zoom Air unit to put a springy bounce into each step on the road. Both of these design characteristics did a great job of maximizing efficient energy transfer on each step while keeping you as the runner comfortable.
It can be hard to find a shoe that you enjoy for a longer road run that you can also use to run hard track miles in, but the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 fits that bill.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Cons
Despite enjoying the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 as a whole there are two cons to note about this running shoe.
- Fall Short for Wet and Mixed Terrains
- Not Great for Off-Road Running
The first con is this shoe’s performance on wet and mixed terrain. The outsole appears to have a design intended primarily for dry pavement, which makes sense. Light rain will not be a problem but anything further than this, you may find your footing starting to slip. Loose terrain will also give you issues and the outsole’s tread will fall short.
If you stay on the dry pavement, then the outsole will perform at its best. Nike does state that this outsole is durable and I would have to agree with them here when this model is used for its intended purposes. I have not seen any structural flaws on the bottom of my shoe with many months of usage.
The other con of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 is its ability to tackle more technical terrain. I love when a trail running shoe can crossover to road comfortability and vice versa. This particular shoe did not perform well on trails or when hiking.
I used it on a few light trail runs and a couple of lower elevation hikes. You could tell the outsole was out of its comfort zone and traction was a big issue for me. Again, this shoe is listed as a road running shoe and should only be used for casual wear or dry road running. I’d suggest looking into the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 if you want a shoe that can do a bit more road and trail crossover.
Performance
To cover the Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Road Running Shoe’s performance, I am going to discuss how this performs in a variety of settings to help you contextualize if this is the right shoe for you.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 for Sprints and Short Runs
For sprints and short runs, I love the response you get from this shoe and the comfort that comes along with each ground contact. The Zoom Air unit in the forefoot gives a bit of spring while running a hard 5k or those 90% effort shorter intervals.
Now, it would not be my go-to for sprint work, but it is a great option if you want a shoe that can technically do both and perform okay in each setting. This shoe can certainly do both but does not excel in this category. I’d suggest limiting its use for speed work to tempo runs and pick-ups.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 for Mid-Range and Long Runs
For mid-range and long runs, this is where the Air Zoom 38 excels. It has become my recent go-to for easy long runs on the road where I know that I will need cushioning. When my gait changes from a forefoot strike to a midfoot strike and my pace slows, it is nice to have the construction features that come with this model.
I find that you get a really good response and a smooth ride with both a more forefoot and midfoot strike in this shoe. If you are running mid to long runs, you will enjoy the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 and the comfort and responsiveness you get in this model.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 for Casual Wear
The Nike Pegasus Air Zoom 38 is a classic good-looking shoe that is comfortable too. I would not say that it is the most aesthetic shoe in my closet but it does look good. The biggest plus of this shoe for casual wear is its comfort.
I am on my feet for long hours at a time and the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 gives me comfortable support. This shoe is great for casual walks, active working professionals, and for more of a classic athletic aesthetic look.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Sizing
Most runners will need to size at least a half size down. The Air Zoom Pegasus 38 runs a bit large compared to other Nike shoes. Even compared to other previous Air Pegasus models, I found this shoe to run large.
To clarify, this is not because of the large toe box, the length of the entire shoe runs large. As always, if you want a true fit for your foot, head into your local running shop to get properly fitted.
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Thoughts: A runner with a slightly wider foot width will love this shoe. If you have a narrower foot, this may not be the best size for you. To achieve a properly fitting shoe, you may need to size down a half size.
If you have additional questions about the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38’s sizing and fit, drop a comment below and I will help accordingly.
Price Breakdown
For the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus, you can expect to pay $120.00 USD. I think this is fair compared to other Nike road running models and if you want a running shoe that can perform decently well in most road running settings, then this is a good option.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38
$120
Best For
- Longer Road Road Running
- Short and Mid-Range Runs At Fast Paces
- Runs In Dry Climates
- Daily Wear and Light Training
Falls Short
- For Technical Terrain
- For Wet Climates and Pavement
Construction Details
Below are some of the biggest construction callouts to note for the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38. Overall, the construction of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 is fairly straightforward with no frills.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 10mm
- Weight: 10.05 oz
- Removable Insole: yes
- Lug Depth: N/a
- Mesh Upper
- Nike React Foam Midsole
- Rubber Outsole
- Zoom Air unit
- Tongue with Additional Foam
If you have additional questions on the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38’s construction, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:What type of shoe is the Nike Pegasus 38?
Q:Do the Nike Pegasus 38 fit wide?
Q:What type of foam is in the Nike Pegasus 38?
Takeaway Thoughts
Throughout my testing of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38s, I found that I would run in this shoe but likely not spend $120.00 USD for it. A comfortable shoe with great responsiveness that can be used for multiple types of road runs and is great for casual wear.
If you have additional questions on the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38’s, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@will_quillman).
I buy and test the products featured on That Fit Friend using a regimen of training tests that I’ve developed over years of testing training shoes and gear. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site.
