Women’s Nike Pegasus Trail 5 Review

Bottom Line

The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 is the ideal shoe for trail runners who mix road, hardpack trail, and singletrack into their training routine. This do-it-all shoe is well cushioned to make harder surfaces comfortable, while its lugged sole easily grips more rugged trails. 

We tested this shoe on dirt roads, flat and fast bike trails, Michigan’s winding singletrack, and the muddy trails of the Pacific Northwest. While the Pegasus Trail 5 performed well in all situations, it definitely shines on less technical terrain. The lugs aren’t as grippy in deep mud, and the highly breathable upper—while reinforced well—may not hold up to prolonged abrasion. Our testers noticed that although the toe box is less tapered than other models, there isn’t as much room for toe splay as they would like. 

Despite these quibbles, the Pegasus 5 is a great value if you’re looking for one shoe to do it all. See more in our guide to the best trail running shoes for women.

Traction

The Pegasus 5 is a versatile shoe designed to transition seamlessly from road to trail and back again. Its all-terrain compound securely grips a wide range of surfaces, although its performance wavers a bit in wet conditions. Moderate lugs grip most soil types but don’t have the aggressiveness we’d like in mud. 

Throughout testing, we took them on dry singletrack, dirt roads, rail-to-trail gravel bike paths, and muddy trails. We found them to perform the best in dry conditions, gripping loose dirt and harder surfaces the best. They also performed admirably on wet surfaces but did have issues with slippage on muddy grades. 

These shoes stand out as an ultimate crossover road-to-trail all-rounder. Unlike other trail running shoes, they utilize tread patterns and rubber reduction to ensure that they grip roads as well as trails.

comfort

With ample cushion underfoot and a lightweight mesh upper, the Pegasus Trail 5s make for an incredibly comfortable rid, right out of the box. Although they are only available in the standard width, the slightly less tapered footbox has a more natural fit. The breathable mesh accommodates wider feet comfortably with some stretch. There is slightly less room for toe splay than our testers wanted. 

Nike’s excellent ReactX midsole foam is engineered to balance cushioned comfort on harder surfaces and responsive ground feel when negotiating more technical terrain. We found there was just the right amount of support in the arches to promote forward momentum and leave us feeling supported.

Our testers found these to be one of the most comfortable shoes they tested for runs of varying lengths and would make great racers as well.

Weight

While the weight of the Pegasus Trail 5 is fairly average among the shoes we tested, they feel much lighter on the feet than others. This is a key factor on longer runs where lifting each shoe over and over compounds fatigue, making them an excellent choice for all day efforts, including racing.

While lighter shoes are available, none transition between road and trail quite as well as these. In addition to everyday training, these shoes would also be great race shoes, especially if the course is on a mixture of trail and road.

Durability

Nike has improved the durability of the Pegasus Trail 5 with several adjustments, including reinforcing the front of the shoe with a robust rubber rand. Additionally, they have integrated segments of a more tightly woven fabric into the single layer mesh upper at key high-wear points. This underscores their commitment to making a more durable trail runner that will perform for miles. 

Throughout the course of testing, we did not notice any obvious signs of wear and tear. However, we have some reservations about whether the Pegasus Trail 5 will hold up to prolonged exposure on high abrasion terrain or punctures from sticks. However, with care, they seem to be made to withstand many miles of light to moderate trail use.

Breathability

The single layer mesh upper has additional perforations placed strategically for increased breathability. This ensures superior airflow to keep feet cool and dry no matter the conditions. 

These shoes dry quickly when wet, which was a boon during back-to-back days of training in the rainy conditions of Washington state. Our testers noted that the Pegasus Trail 5 also dispersed heat and moisture on warm days as well, ensuring that our feet never felt swampy. 

Overall, we found the Pegasus Trail 5 more breathable and faster drying than most of the shoes we tested, making it an ideal choice for hot and/or humid running conditions.

Responsiveness

The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 strikes just the right balance between thick cushioning and performance. Despite the fairly maximal cushion, they do not feel clunky. We were impressed with their overall agility and maneuverability especially on winding terrain.
Thanks to the ReactX foam, we experienced great bounce and roll through with every stride without compromising ground feel. This kept us connected to the trail and fully engaged with our environment. 

Our testers found that these shoes encouraged faster turnover with less fatigue than many other high cushion options. While the extra foam provided cushioning that made them comfortable on rocks, roots, and pavement, our testers were still comfortably aware of the ground. Nike has certainly hit the mark with an ideal balance between cushion, responsiveness, and surface connection with these shoes.

Should You Buy the Nike Women’s Pegasus Trail 5?

If you’re a runner who likes to mix it up in training: trail, road, bike paths, dirt tracks, etc. the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 might be the perfect trail shoe for you! These shoes provide maximum versatility, whether doing a speedy tempo on flat paths or a more casual paced run on hilly terrain. If you’re searching for that one trail running shoe that can handle whatever you throw at it, the Pegasus Trail 5 will offer exceptional value. 

Those who race or train in hot or humid conditions will also find these to be an appealing option due to their breathability and fast drying mesh. They are also an ideal racing shoe for a varied terrain trail race. However, if your go-to runs are frequently covered in sloppy mud or entail high abrasion, these may not be the best choice. They are also not suitable for those who prefer a zero or low drop shoe given their relatively steep 9.5 mm drop. Overall, these are a great value for runners who train on a wide range of surfaces.

What Other Women’s Hiking Shoes Should You Consider?

If the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 isn’t for you, check out similar trail runners that transition easily from road to trail.

Saucony Peregrine 14 Review: Check out this Editor’s Pick if you’re looking for a highly breathable trail shoe that can handle minimal hardpack but excels on more technical terrain.

Brooks Catamount 4 Review: If you’re looking for an even faster, lighter shoe, slip into a pair of these. Equally at home on trail and hardpack, these trail runners are designed to go fast.

New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro x 8 Review: Looking for a sticky Vibram grip? These shoes will take you from dry trails to wet pavement with ease.