The Nike Pegasus Trail 3 is the third model to debut in the Nike Pegasus trail running shoe line. This model is designed with a breathable mesh, Nike React Foam midsole, and full rubber outsole to tackle a variety of trail runs. As I dive deeper into trail running and as a fan of most Nike trainers, I was super excited to test the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 on my local trails.
Across the board, I’ve enjoyed tackling trail runs in the Nike Pegasus Trail 3. This model works best in dry climates on light and some semi-technical trails and it can even work for casual road runs as well. Despite liking the Pegasus Trail 3 as a whole, there are areas where this shoe falls short which I’ll discuss below.
In this Nike Pegasus Trail 3 review, I’m going to cover all of the essential details that you need to know to help you contextualize if this trail running shoe is worth it for your running needs.
Table of Contents+
Who Should Invest In the Nike Pegasus Trail 3?
The Nike Pegasus Trail 3 is a solid trail running shoe for the recreational trail runner that plans to use this model primarily in dry running settings. The lug depth on this model (3.3mm) is best for light and semi-technical trails so if you live in warmer and dryer climates, then I think the Pegasus Trail 3 will be a fantastic model for you.
For context, I live in Denver, Colorado, and this trail running shoe is fantastic for tackling a lot of the dryer and more dirt-focused trails that surround me that range from 2-7 miles. Outside of dry trail running settings, I’ve also used these on trails that have had a very light snow coverage in some parts and they were okay overall which helps add to their versatility.
If you know that you’ll be wearing these primarily for dry trails that are shorter to mid-range in length, then I think you’ll really enjoy the performance that comes with the Nike Pegasus Trail 3.
Nike Pegasus Trail 3
$130
Best For
- Dry Trail Runs
- Light and Semi-Technical Terrain
- Light Road Runs
- Daily Wear Comfort
Falls Short
- For Technical Terrain
- Wet and Icy Trails
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 Pros
Throughout my training and testing, I’ve found multiple aspects to like and enjoy about the Nike Pegasus Trail 3.
- Super Comfortable and Easy to Break-In
- Versatile for Different Settings
- Great for Dry Trails and Hikes
The first aspect to like about the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 is that this model is fairly comfortable right out of the box. Some trail running shoes can take a while to break in, especially if they’re designed to be a bit more heavy-duty in nature and have thicker materials. The Pegasus Trail 3 takes only a few wears to break in and if you have a narrow or neutral foot width, then this time will be even shorter.
The upper construction in this shoe is lightweight and breathes well and the midsole is made with Nike React Foam which provides a nice comfortable and responsive ride. The heel-to-toe drop in this model is 9.5mm and the lug depth sits at 3.3mm which helps add to this model’s overall comfort in different settings.
Another aspect to like about the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 is that they’re pretty versatile. I’ve used this shoe for a variety of trail runs, short road runs, and I find myself rocking them on a daily basis as well. Granted, this shoe isn’t technically designed for these activities it’s nice that you can use them for them without issues and it helps add to the depth of this model’s usage.
Now, it’s worth noting that when trail running shoes are more versatile, then their performance on more technical trails can go down which is the case in this model, too. However, I’ll discuss this more in detail below and where the versatility of this model actually hinders some of the Pegasus Trail 3’s performance.
The last aspect to like about this shoe is its performance on dry trails and hikes. This shoe is best served in these climates and if you live in warmer climates or tackle dirt or gravel trails often, then you’ll enjoy how this performs overall. The outsole patterning and midfoot support in this model help this shoe excel on these trails and they work well for uneven surfaces.
Outside of tackling dry trail runs, I also like rocking this model for casual hikes. If I’m taking the dogs out and tackling mid-range mileage hikes, then I’ll wear these because they’re lightweight, breathe fairly well, and are super comfortable. Plus, if I want to take off with the dogs and do a quick bout of running they’re nice to have for that.
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 Cons
As a whole, I’ve enjoyed my training and running in the Nike Pegasus Trail 3, however, there are a couple of cons to note in this model.
- Not Great for Wet and Technical Terrain
- Toe Box Is a Bit Narrow
The first drawback to the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 is that it does fall short with technical and wet terrain trail runs. This model’s lugs aren’t the thickest or deepest which limits this model’s potential to dig into loose, wet, and slippery surfaces. If you’re tackling runs on steep grades on really loose surfaces, then this would be something to consider with this shoe and its performance.
Additionally, while I like the mesh upper for how well it breathes, it doesn’t do the best when it comes to water resistance. If you’re tackling trails that are super wet or have puddles, then you might find this shoe getting waterlogged fairly easily.
For anyone running in wet environments, I’d suggest looking into the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GORE-TEX model as this will be a better shoe for water resistance and anyone running in damp or snowy climates.
The second potential drawback of the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 is that the toe box does run slightly narrow. If you have a wider foot and like having ample toe box width, then you may run into some sizing issues in this model. The length fits true and the midfoot is fairly neutral in width, but the box is a tad limiting.
Even after a few weeks of breaking them in, I’m not sold that they’ll be a great model for those with wide feet. Plus, with their more narrow construction, you may run into issues with the foot hanging over on the lateral and medial sides of the shoe. If you have a wider foot, then I’d tread lightly here.
Performance
To discuss the Nike Pegasus Trail 3’s performance, I’m going to discuss how this performs in a variety of settings to help you contextualize if this is a good trail running shoe for your needs.
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 for Light Trail Runs and Road Runs
The Nike Pegasus Trail 3 performs best for light trail runs that include dirt, gravel, and dry environments. Even on steeper grades, if you’re tackling these running conditions, then the Pegasus Trail 3 should perform well for you. The Nike React Foam midsole helps provide a comfortable and cushioned ride and on rocky surfaces, this shoe protects the foot very well.
I’ve also worn these shoes for tackling some casual 5k road runs and they’ve performed well. Basically, when traveling I only felt like bringing one pair of shoes for running and used these for some road runs and I was pleasantly pleased with their performance.
As discussed above, this shoe is great for light trail runs and they’ll be best for those working out and running in warmer and dryer climates.
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 for Semi-Technical and Difficult Terrain
When it comes to training on tougher terrains, I do think you’ll run into limitations with the Pegasus Trail 3. Their lug depth is only 3.3mm which prevents them from really digging into loose surfaces especially gravel and dirt trails that are really loose and have thicker elements.
On that note, I’m also not the biggest fan of this model for bombing hills or tackling steep grades — which should go without saying based on this shoe’s overview above. Outside of falling short on technical terrains, this shoe is also not the best for running in wet climates due to the upper holding water.
I brought these out purposefully after heavy rain on a trail run and I accidentally hit a bit of a puddle in my right shoe and it was fairly soaked for more than half of the run. Again, if you’re running in wet climates, save yourself the discomfort and go GORE-TEX.
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 for Walking, Hiking, and Daily Wear
I like the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 for walking, hiking, and daily wear use. This model is a bit more versatile than other trail running shoes and if you’re like me and wear trail runners for hikes and out and about for walking the dogs, running errands, and doing housework, then I think you’ll enjoy this model.
It provides a comfortable ride and the heel-to-toe drop in this model I think feeds well into casual wear and the comfort this shoe provides. Additionally, the lightweight and breathable upper also adds a nice layer of comfort and performance.
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 Sizing
For most runners, you should be safe going true-to-size in the Nike Pegasus Trail 3. This model’s length fits true and the midfoot has a neutral width. I think this model will work best for those with narrow and neutral foot widths.
The one limitation in this shoe is its toe box width, so for my wide-footed friends, you may want to look into other training shoes that have wider toe box constructions.
- Nike Pegasus Trail 3 Sizing Thoughts: For narrow and neutral foot widths, go true to size. If you have wider feet, then you may want to look into other trail running shoes.
If you have additional questions about the Nike Pegasus Trail 3’s sizing and fit, drop a comment below and I’ll help accordingly.
Construction Details
If you’re interested in the Nike Pegasus Trail 3’s construction, I’ve provided some of the biggest callouts for this model regarding their performance below.
Overall, I like the construction in this model and I like that Nike also has the Pegasus Trail 3 GORE-TEX model for different terrains which is parallel to this shoe’s core construction.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 9.5mm
- Weight: 11.33 oz (for my size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: Yes
- Lug Depth: 3.3mm
- Mesh Upper
- Nike React Foam Midsole
- Full Rubber Outsole
- External Heel Loop
- Dynamic Midfoot Band System
- Reinforced Rubber Toe Box
If you have additional questions on the Nike Pegasus Trail 3’s construction, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Are the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 good for wet conditions?
Q:Do the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 fit true to size?
Takeaway Thoughts
Throughout my testing, I’ve enjoyed the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 and its performance. This shoe is best served for tackling light and semi-technical trail runs in dry climates.
While this trail running shoe has its limitations, I think if you go into them understanding where they perform best and relate that to your needs, then you’ll like the Pegasus Trail 3 more for your training.
If you have additional questions on the Nike Pegasus Trail 3, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).
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