Our verdict

Whether raining or snowing, the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX is a waterproof trail shoe that keeps our daily runs not only dry but also comfortable. On top of this, it's full of pop and support; it doesn't tire our feet out. And if you want a road-to-trail hybrid, we are convinced that the Pegasus Trail 3 GTX can do the job.

Pros

  • Fantastic waterproofing
  • Grips on everything dry and wet
  • Great for road-to-trail transitions
  • Also for hiking
  • Responsive
  • Stable on rocky terrain
  • Supports moderately flat feet
  • Straight-out-the-box comfort
  • Lighter than other GTX shoes
  • Locked-in heel
  • Worth every penny

Cons

  • Lacks durability
  • Not for summer runs

Audience verdict

87
Great!

Size and fit

Size

Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX is slightly small (10 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 90 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Who should buy the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX

Dubbed as the workhorse with wings, this Pegasus for the trails is perfect for runners looking for a: 

  • waterproof shoe that's lively and supportive
  • comfortable yet lively trail shoe for mellow days 
  • versatile road-to-trail shoe that can also handle trail hikes

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-review

Who should NOT buy this trail shoe

If you need a breathable, summer-ready version of the shoe, we recommend seeing the Nike Pegasus Trail 3.

And if durability is your number one priority in a trail running shoe, we think it's smart to consider the following (also waterproof): Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-who-should-buy

Keeps moisture at bay

Through rain, snow, slush, and muddy trails, the Pegasus Trail 3 GTX keeps the runners' feet completely dry. Because of this, many say it's worth every penny despite it being an expensive shoe. 

The shoe on the right is Saucony Triumph 20

Waterproof shoes, in general, run warm. And this is the case with the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX. This is the tradeoff for the impermeability you get. 

Killer traction

On tarmac paths, grass, muddy, slick, and snow-covered terrains, the traction is awesome.

The outsole latches to the ground so well; downhill and uphill climbs have also been a breeze. This is a nice surprise given that the lug depth on the Pegasus Trail 3 GTX is 3.3 mm which is the average for trail running shoes (3.5 mm).

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-grip

Cushy upon step-in

We found that there's no need to break the shoe in! Like the non-GTX version, the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX is comfortable straight out of the box.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-in-shoe-feel

The Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX is one of the softest running shoes on our list to date. With a durometer reading of 11.5 HA, it is a crazy 140% softer than the average!

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-cushioning-softness-durometer

However, when the shoe is exposed to cold temperatures (spending 20 minutes in the freezer in our case), it gets significantly firmer (by 66%). And even with that, this Pegasus Trail shoe remains 31% softer than most running shoe foams at room temperature.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-test-in-cold-temperature

A good amount of cushioning to keep you protected

The Pegasus Trail comes with a pretty generous stack height.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-heel-stack

With 32.5 mm in the heel and 22.7 mm in the forefoot, it has an offset of 9.8 mm. This corresponds to the drop which is officially stated by the brand (10 mm).

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-forefoot-stack

Plenty of flex makes the ride feel natural

The Pegasus Trail 3 GTX also appears to be among the most flexible running shoes (both road and trail shoes). It is 50% more bendy than the average, so your feet are going to move nice and free in this Nike shoe.

At the same time, there is enough torsional rigidity to help you feel stable enough. We gave it 3 out of 5 in our subjective assessment.

Loads of pop from the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX

Thanks to the React foam, this shoe felt rather bouncy and energetic on our test runs.

There's no need to expend so much energy because it was SO easy to get to the next step in this Nike shoe.

Run steady

Going long distances in the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX, we felt very well-supported in this neutral shoe. 

Even more, the balanced cushion and the extended heel maintained our surefooted steps on rocky, uneven terrains.

The shoe manages to provide a sufficient level of stability even without having an extra wide platform. Its forefoot (112.6 mm) and heel (90.7 mm) widths are right at the average across running shoes (111.7 mm and 88.7 mm respectively). 

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-platform-width

Won't let you down (literally) 

On average, Gore-Tex running shoes weigh in at 11.5 oz (326 g) in men's US 9. On the other hand, the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX only weighs in at 10.9 oz (309 g). 

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-lightweight

Heel hold is uh-mazing

There's sufficient padding in the heel that locks the foot in. Even better, it doesn't cause chafing or rubbing at all!

True to size and fits as expected

The Pegasus Trail 3 GTX fits perfectly in our regular running shoe size. For an average-width foot, the toebox is just right as well.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-fit

Based on our caliper measurement, the shoe's toebox is 96.4 mm in the widest part while the average is 98.3 mm. So, if you have wide feet, there are more spacious versions available, like the Altra trail shoes (100+ mm in the toebox).

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-upper-forefoot-width

The well-padded tongue is noticeably thicker than on most running shoes. It is 8.2 mm thick while the average is 6 mm.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-tongue-thickness

The tongue is also gusseted which prevents it from shifting side-to-side and keeps the foot locked in.

Nike-Pegasus-Trail-3-GTX-gusseted-tongue