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Our verdict
- Top pick in best Nike trail running shoes (2023)
- Top pick in best snow running shoes (2023)
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
- Top 26% in Nike running shoes
- Top 24% in waterproof running shoes
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audience score | 87 Great! | 76 Bad! | 72 Bad! | 73 Bad! | |
| Price | $160 | $130 | $170 | $170 | |
| Trail terrain | LightModerate | Light | Light | Moderate | |
| Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
| Weight lab Weight brand | 11 oz / 311g 10.9 oz / 309g | 10.3 oz / 293g 11.4 oz / 323g | 9.9 oz / 281g 10.6 oz / 300g | 10.2 oz / 289g 10.4 oz / 295g | |
| Drop lab Drop brand | 9.8 mm 10.0 mm | 10.2 mm 9.0 mm | 8.3 mm 9.5 mm | 5.0 mm 5.0 mm | |
| Strike pattern | HeelMid/forefoot | Heel | HeelMid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | |
| Size | True to size | True to size | Slightly small | Half size small | |
| Midsole softness | - | Firm | Soft | Balanced | |
| Difference in midsole softness in cold | - | Small | Normal | Small | |
| Toebox durability | - | Very good | Decent | Very good | |
| Heel padding durability | - | Good | Bad | Good | |
| Outsole durability | - | Good | Good | Good | |
| Breathability | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | |
| Width / fit | Narrow | Wide | Medium | Medium | |
| Toebox width | - | Wide | Wide | Narrow | |
| Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | |
| Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Small | Normal | Small | |
| Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
| Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | |
| Lug depth | 3.3 mm | 2.7 mm | 3.6 mm | 3.9 mm | |
| Heel stack lab Heel stack brand | 32.5 mm 36.0 mm | 34.5 mm 35.0 mm | 32.1 mm 37.0 mm | 32.9 mm 37.0 mm | |
| Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 22.7 mm 26.0 mm | 24.3 mm 26.0 mm | 23.8 mm 27.5 mm | 27.9 mm 32.0 mm | |
| Widths available | NarrowNormal | Normal | NarrowNormal | NormalWide | |
| For heavy runners | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Season | Winter | Winter | Winter | Winter | |
| Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | |
| Ranking | #301 Bottom 45% | #303 Bottom 5% | #318 Bottom 1% | #316 Bottom 1% | |
| Popularity | #304 Bottom 44% | #282 Bottom 12% | #185 Bottom 42% | #160 Top 50% |
Size and fit
Size
Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX is true to size (13 votes).
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
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.
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).
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.
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!
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.
A good amount of cushioning to keep you protected
The Pegasus Trail comes with a pretty generous stack height.
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).
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).
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).
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.
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).
The well-padded tongue is noticeably thicker than on most running shoes. It is 8.2 mm thick while the average is 6 mm.
The tongue is also gusseted which prevents it from shifting side-to-side and keeps the foot locked in.
