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Our verdict
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 22% in Nike running shoes
- Top 20% in waterproof running shoes
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audience score | 87 Great! | 82 Good! | 76 Bad! | 86 Good! | |
| Price | $160 | $170 | $130 | $160 | |
| Trail terrain | LightModerate | Moderate | Light | LightModerate | |
| Arch-support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
| Weight lab Weight brand | 11 oz / 311g 10.9 oz / 309g | 11.3 oz / 319g 11.5 oz / 326g | 10.3 oz / 293g 11.4 oz / 323g | 9.6 oz / 271g 9.6 oz / 272g | |
| Drop lab Drop brand | 9.8 mm 10.0 mm | 7.0 mm 4.0 mm | 10.2 mm 9.5 mm | 12.8 mm 10.0 mm | |
| Strike pattern | HeelMid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | Heel | Heel | |
| Midsole softness | - | Soft | Firm | Soft | |
| Difference in midsole softness in cold | - | Big | Small | Small | |
| Toebox durability | ✗ | ||||
| Heel padding durability | - | Good | Good | Good | |
| Outsole durability | - | Decent | Good | Good | |
| Breathability | Warm | Moderate | Warm | Warm | |
| Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
| Toebox width at the big toe | - | Medium | Wide | Wide | |
| Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Small | Small | Normal | |
| Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
| Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | |
| Lug depth | 3.3 mm | 3.5 mm | 2.7 mm | 3.5 mm | |
| Heel stack lab Heel stack brand | 32.5 mm 36.0 mm | 34.6 mm ‐ | 34.5 mm 35.0 mm | 37.7 mm 37.0 mm | |
| Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 22.7 mm 26.0 mm | 27.6 mm ‐ | 24.3 mm 26.0 mm | 24.9 mm 27.0 mm | |
| Widths available | NarrowNormal | Normal | Normal | Normal | |
| Heavy | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
| Season | Winter | Winter | Winter | Winter | |
| Removable-insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Orthotic-friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | |
| Ranking | #228 Top 49% | #218 Bottom 20% | #265 Bottom 3% | #147 Bottom 46% | |
| Popularity | #260 Bottom 44% | #93 Top 34% | #197 Bottom 28% | #157 Bottom 42% |
Size
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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 calliper 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.
