Our verdict

We adore the 39th version of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus because it is a certified workhorse that's perfect for slow, long, and faster efforts. Not only this, but we also find it a great choice for newbies who are aiming to hit their first 5K or marathon. And for long-time runners, we verified that it's a trusty pick if you want a good ol' fashion ride that will keep you stable.

Pros

  • Lighter than the Peg 38
  • More responsive
  • Stable when cornering
  • Snug and comfy fit
  • Doesn't cause lace bites
  • For easy & faster days
  • Grippy on wet concrete and light trails
  • Tank-like build
  • Perfect for beginners

Cons

  • Narrow toe box for wide feet
  • Warm upper
  • Not for recovery days

Audience verdict

88
Great!

Size

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 is slightly small (41 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 291 running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Who should buy the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39

Grab a pair of Nike Pegasus 39 if you're looking for a:

  • reliable all-rounder that's durable and stable
  • Nike Pegasus that brings back the feel of the well-loved Nike Peg 36 and is a lighter version of the Pegasus 38

Nike Pegasus 39 profile

Who should NOT buy it

If you want a highly breathable shoe that's ready to beat the heat and is comfy for recovery efforts, we are certain that the Nike InfinityRn 4 is anything but a disappointment.

And if it's a spacious toe room you're after, we vouch that the Nike Vomero 17 will serve you better. 

Nike Pegasus 39 lab view

Nike Pegasus 39 vs. 38

The Peg 38 and 39 may not be significantly different, but the subtle changes in the newer version are a very welcome touch: 

  • lighter by 0.7 oz (20g)
  • more locked-in fit 
  • better responsiveness owed to the added Zoom Air units in the heel and forefoot
  • stickier grip from the redesigned outsole

Nike Pegasus 39 pieces of a shoe

Uh-oh, it's can't take the heat

The shoe's upper is very well padded and it's comfortable straight out of the box. Measuring the tongue thickness, for example, returned 10 mm which is 4 mm thicker than the average!

Because of this, we haven't had any hot spots or blisters and the shoe also feels very comfortable for all-day, casual wear.

Nike Pegasus 39 tongue thickness

But of course, all this comfort comes with a price. And that's breathability (or the lack thereof). Testing the shoe on a moderately warm summer day (when the sun wasn't even scorching hot yet), our feet wanted the shoe to be off.

As durable as a Pegasus can be

This Nike Pegasus shoe is built like a tank. We foresee that it can withstand hundreds of miles mostly due to its hard-wearing rubber outsole. 

Nike Pegasus 39 durometer outsole

To check the firmness of the rubber, we pressed our durometer against it. The tool showed 85 HC which is firmer than the average 80 HC in our lab.

Heel drop is off

Nike Pegasus 39 forefoot stack height

The brand says 10 mm and we measured 8 mm.

This is based on our calliper measurements of the shoe's stack height in the heel (30.3 mm) and in the forefoot (22.3 mm).

Nike Pegasus 39 heel stack height

Nails it in the fit department

Looks like the Nike Pegasus 39 addresses some of the issues runners had with the 37 and 38. With its revamped upper, the shoe appears to have a slightly roomier toebox and a more secure heel cold (to prevent heel slips).

However, if you're a wide-footed runner, we're sorry to report that this shoe is still not roomy enough for an accommodating fit. Measuring the widest part of the toebox with a calliper, we got 98.0 mm which is exactly the same as the average of road running shoes.

Nike Pegasus 39 forefoot width

Everything you expect from a Pegasus

As befits a Nike Pegasus shoe, the 39 is a fantastic all-rounder! We felt like it was more reactive when picking up the pace than its precursors (37 and 38). 

And for long runs, the shoe turned out to be much squishier and cushier. Our lab measurements confirmed our experience - the durometer showed 15.5 HA which is 55% softer than average!

Nike Pegasus 39 midsole softness

Soft even when it’s cold outside

Running shoes tend to get firmer when it’s cold outside but it's not a big problem for the Pegasus 39.

Pegasus 39 in the freezer

After keeping the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes, it didn't turn into a firm brick! Our durometer showed that the midsole went from 15.5 HA to 23.3 HA and this is still softer than road running shoes on average by 3%.

An anchor to your feet

Not exactly weight-wise, but stability-wise. The Nike Pegasus 39 feels really planted when cornering. This is thanks to the shoe's relatively firm midsole and tacky grip.

Nike Pegasus 39 posing

In the lab, not much goes on to confirm why this shoe feels especially stable. Definitely, there’s a less-than-average amount of cushioning. At the heel, we’ve measured 30.3 mm (the average is 32.7) and at the forefoot, we’ve measured 22.3 (vs 24.1 mm that’s the average). So it’s a slightly lower-to-the-ground shoe. 

Nike Pegasus 39 heel

Take something else for recovery days

The new Zoom Air pod in the forefoot creates a disjointed feel that makes the heel-to-toe transitions suffer. What's worse is that the airbag feels intrusive and the "lumpy" sensation gets in the way when really slowing it down. 

Nike Pegasus 39 road running

The Pegasus 39 goes on a diet

It weighs 8.8 oz or 249g. The average for all shoes that went through our lab is 9.6 oz or 272g.

Nike Pegasus 39 weight

It's not only lighter than its predecessor; it's also lighter than its peers like the Brooks Ghost 14 (280 grammes/9.9 ounces) and the NB 880 v11 (275 grammes/9.7 ounces).

Even though it could feel a bit bottom-heavy because of the copious amount of rubber it has, we still think that the 39 experienced a major weight loss!

Lockdown has never been this good

Especially for a Nike Pegasus. In this iteration, the Nike Flywire makes a triumphant return, providing a snug midfoot lockdown. What's more, it doesn't cut into your feet.

Nike Pegasus 39 laces

Complementing the Flywire is the shoe's tongue that's attached to the inner sleeve. It not only locks the foot in but also prevents the tongue from sliding.

Sticks better than your regular daily trainers

This is especially true on wet concrete, light trails, and grassy terrain. We actually found it to be one of the most aggressive outsoles on a daily running shoe!

Nike Pegasus 39 outsole

Pegasus 39 is very flexible 

In our manual flexibility tests, the Pegasus 39 scored 2/5 both for longitudinal and torsional flexibility. Because 1 refers to the most flexible shoes, this Nike trainer is on the flexible side. For context, the average in our lab is 3.3 and 3.4 respectively.

Nike Pegasus 39 mid run