Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 Shield review

Who should buy the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 Shield

The shield version of the Pegasus 39 would be a perfect match for you if:

• You’re in the market for a neutral running shoe for slippery terrain.
• You’re looking for a shoe that you can rely on in terms of grip and traction.
• You need shoes with the same performance as the Pegasus 39 but can also keep your feet dry.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the Shields. With breathability as the main concern, the regular version of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 could help get you through the warmer days. Also, if you want a quieter ride and still have the same weather-resistant features, the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Shield could be your best bet.

Weather-resistant upper

Runners who took the Shield version of the Pegasus 39 out for a run said that this version kept them “nice and dry” when running in colder weather. Despite not being Gore-Tex, the upper does its job, shielding against the elements. As one critic mentioned, “you can step on creeks and go across muddy terrain no problem.” 

The Pegasus 39 Shield also has a gusseted tongue which not only makes it better at keeping the cold and water out but also helps for better lockdown as stated by an expert. 

Pegasus 39 Shield is literally popping

Many users did not appreciate that the shield material came off as a “little bit too stiff.” Apart from this, there was a noticeable popping sound: 

• “They make so much noise when bending the foot.”
• “This iteration is noisy and I don’t think it will go away with time.”
• “Upper is a much thinner plastic which seems to make it quite noisy when it flexes.”

Pegasus 39 is super grippy

The rugged outsole of the Pegasus 39 Shield is “incredible for winter conditions” as mentioned by a critic. It was also mentioned that the storm-tread outsole is “pretty good” for wet pavement giving you the confidence for casual walks in the wetter seasons. For a trail junkie who brought this shoe out to the wild, they said that “the storm traction is super grippy for trail terrain."

Poor breathability

As a critic commended the improvement of the shoe’s protection from the elements, the poor ventilation of the Pegasus 39 Shield definitely gives a “warmer feeling” inside the shoe. A runner was even disappointed because when they compared this with the shield version of the 38s, they noticed that their feet were “quite sweaty after a couple of hours.”

Pegasus 39 Shield offers a boring ride?

Similar to the non-Shield version, an expert mentioned that these are really good all around utility shoes. Maintaining its identity as a dependable neutral running shoe, a user with low arches mentioned “these sneakers are the only ones I can run with.”

However, an expert said that the React foam used for the midsole is “so boring and dull.” It was also mentioned that “the two Zoom Air pods do not fix the ride.” The same expert went on to say that “it really is a boring shoe to run in.” This was argued by another expert who said that "the ride was similar to the non-shield version of the shoes." Given that the midsole is unchanged, this workhorse maintains its responsiveness and stability for fast-paced workouts. 

Upper is a bit stiff

The Pegasus 39 Shield’s fit has been said to be true to size by most experts. However, upon comparing this to the regular road version, a critic said that “the uppers are just too firm around the toes.”