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The RW Takeaway: A bouncy ride, reliable grip, and partially waterproof upper make this shoe a fun, down-for-whatever companion from wet roads to moderately technical trails.
Preceded by: Nike Pegasus 39, Nike Pegasus Trail 3
Key Tech: TPE-based React foam midsole, GoreTex upper, mitten rubber outsole with 4mm lugs
Nike Pegasus Trail 4 GTX
Pros
- Bouncy ride with good energy return
- Excellent road and trail versatility
- Improved outsole traction
Cons
- Ankle collar can feel a bit loose
- No rock plate
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.8 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 9.5 mm (M), 8.5 mm (W) |
| Type | Road and Trail |
The latest Pegasus Trail 4 is a bit of a misnomer. The shoe is a true road-trail hybrid, and the React foam underfoot actually feels even better on the pavement. And, though the “GTX” distinction suggests ankle-high waterproofness, the material only reaches to the top of the laces.
The gaiter collar is instead a stretchy fabric, preferable for shielding against small debris and light drizzle. Not suited for deeper creek diving, this construction does breathe easier. After splashing through shallow riverbeds and rain-filled potholes, no testers reported the soggy wet squish they’d sometimes feel after sealing their feet inside GoreTex.
Interestingly, many runners will grab the GTX version for reasons other than waterproofness. The shoe’s outsole uses a different rubber than the non-GTX version. Nike finally made the switch to a stickier rubber.
“The shoe performed wonderfully on all surfaces, especially the road,” said one tester, who put more than 120 miles on the shoe, equally split between road and trail surfaces. “The softer rubber did wear down a little faster than other trail shoes I tested from grinding out asphalt runs on a regular basis.”
Compared to the Wildhorse 8 and Terra Kiger 9—two other Nike trail models from our most recent round of testing that also use TPE-based React foam—the Pegasus is the clear winner for door-to-trail runs. Responsive and smooth, the cushioning reminded us of the Pegasus 39 road model. One tester’s only request was for more of it on longer runs. Regardless, she placed the Peg Trail among her all-time favorite hybrid shoes from her testing career spanning 11 years and more than 10 shoe brands.
More Tester Feedback
Jason P. | Tester since 2018
Arch Height: Medium | Pronation: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“This has been one of the most fun shoes I’ve ever worn because it pairs well with my distracted running style. I’ll be running down a groomed rail trail and ‘Ooo, look at that nice bit of singletrack—I wonder where that goes!’ These shoes give me the confidence and freedom to splash through puddles, hit the MTB trails unknown to most hikers, and log miles on gravel and mud. (I ate it once rounding a 180-degree turn on loose mud shortly after it had rained. Hard to blame the shoe for that, though—it’s just physics.) Otherwise, the aggressive tread design kept me surefooted on it all. I have a nice variety of terrain within a mile or so of the front door of my office, and these shoes have been awesome for impromptu afternoon escapes.
“The back of the shoe doesn’t have much structural support. I found the whole collar area just feels a bit loose. I like some flexibility, but this ankle collar has a bit too much for me. Because the midsole foam is softer and bouncier than the average trail shoe, I had to be careful on longer runs with lots of sharp rocks and roots. You feel a lot more of them poking your feet if your route isn’t conducive to the foam. That said, for multi-surface ‘exploring’ runs, I loved this foam’s level of firmness.”
