Review: Nike Pegasus 38
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.
How My Body Felt During and After Activity
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.
Company Return Policy
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.