REASONS TO BUY
Good sensitivity
Plush tongue
Everyday functional traction
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Low traction in sloppy conditions
Lacks protective features
Nike Pegasus Trail 5 - Women's Review
If a daily trainer that crosses over into light trail territory is what you're after, this is a shoe worth considering
If your running routine blends roads and mellow trails, this shoe is a solid crossover choice. It's built for daily comfort with just enough grit for off-road detours.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
By Ally Arcuri ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 26, 2025
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
Nike has reworked the Pegasus Trail, slowly inching their way towards releasing a highly functional trail running shoe. This version of the Pegasus offers more underfoot plushness, an element that adds a bit of weight, and a new rocker design that adds a dynamic pep to mountain footfalls. The Pegasus Trail 5 is a suitable running shoe, designed for gravel paths and moderate fire roads, but it still lacks the overall strength of many top trail running contenders. Its underfoot comfort detracts from its overall trail prowess, but provides a comfortable crash pad for rearfoot strikers who want to hit the trails. While not an outright hit, new and moderate trail runners will find ease and comfort in the updated Pegasus.
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 This Product
Nike Pegasus Trail 5 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall |  Best Low-Drop Shoe | Best for Rugged Terrain |  Best on a Budget | |
| Price | $155 List Check Price at REI | $165 List Check Price at REI | $145 List Check REI (on sale!) | $160 List Check Price at REI | $130 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | If a daily trainer that crosses over into light trail territory is what you're after, this is a shoe worth considering | With updated foam and a redesigned tongue, this winning trail shoe delivers a more controlled, comfortable ride, making it a reliable all-around option for a wide range of trail runners | Known for its roomy fit and minimal drop, this trail runner still delivers solid protection and grip, but now feels bulkier underfoot than previous versions | This shoe is built for serious terrain, muddy weather, ultra distances, and everything in between | This shoe stands as a reliable trail option, featuring updates like a redesigned lug pattern and firmer midsole that left testers impressed, especially after considering its lower-than-average price |
| Rating Categories | Nike Pegasus 5 | Hoka Speedgoat 7 | Altra Lone Peak 9 | La Sportiva Bushido III | Hoka Torrent 4 |
| Comfort and Fit (40%) | |||||
| Stability (25%) | |||||
| Traction (15%) | |||||
| Foot Protection (15%) | |||||
| Weight (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Nike Pegasus 5 | Hoka Speedgoat 7 | Altra Lone Peak 9 | La Sportiva Bushido III | Hoka Torrent 4 |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US regular | 5 - 12 US regular, wide | 5.5 - 12, US regular, wide | 7 - 15.5 US regular | 5 - 11 US regular |
| Measured Weight | 7.70 oz | 7.64 oz | 8.60 oz | 9.11 oz | 7.36 oz |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 31 mm | 32 mm | 24 mm | 28 mm | 29 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 3 mm | 1 mm | 7 mm | 4 mm |
| Rock Plate | No | No | StoneGuard plate | 1.5 mm dual-density compressed EVA rock-guard in forefoot | No |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm | 3.7 mm | 3.8 mm | 5.0 mm |
| Upper | Mesh | RPET woven textile | RPET ripstop mesh | Air mesh / thermal adhesive microfiber / high frequency welded ripstop overlays | Mesh |
| Midsole | ReactX foam | SCF EVA | Altra EGO | 4 mm LaSpEVA / Compression Molded MEMlex | Unspecified compound |
| Outsole | All Terrain Compound (ATC) | Vibram® Megagrip | MaxTrac | Bi-Compound FriXion XT 2.0 V-Groove3 | High-abrasion rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop | Finger loop |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9.5 mm | 5 mm | 0 mm | 6 mm | 5 mm |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 weighs in at 7.70 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, and offers a comfortable 31 mm stack in the heel. Comfortable throughout, this shoe is a bit soft for tackling technical terrain, though it is far superior to previous iterations.
Mild coastal bluffs and the Nike Pegasus Trail are an ideal match. Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort and Fit
The updated Pegasus Trail is comfier than versions past, offering notable plushness through the heel and around the heel collar. The forefoot is rather low volume, which won't be everyone's cup of tea. The upper textile is forgiving and lacks structure, but is almost too soft for some runners. Our early and short testing runs felt great, but once testing run distances stretched the five-mile mark, we could feel hotspots forming on the outer edges of our feet. While this may not be an issue for all runners' specific foot shapes, it definitely pulls the Pegasus Trail out of contention as a top-performer for the masses.
As mentioned, the rear of the Pegasus Trail 5 is plush and comfortable. The plushness detracts from the shoe's trail prowess, ultimately making it a better choice for mild to moderate trails. Runners seeking a shoe fit for mild trail running will find success in the updated Pegasus.
Pegasus Trail 5 Pegasus Trail 4
You can see how different the interior shape is between the current version and the last. Nike updated the comfort and rocker, making a shoe that is more functional overall.
Stability
The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 isn't an unstable shoe. It doesn't offer as much stability as runners taking on varied terrain might appreciate, though. The softness through the midsole can feel a bit unstable, especially for runners who tend to roll inward. The last version of the Pegasus has a firmer platform that felt a bit more stalwart during movement; it seems as though the comfort upgrades came at the cost of ground-hugging stability. That said, there isn't anything inherently wrong with the stability of this shoe. In fact, the ground feel through the forefoot helps provide a level of control that helps keep joints moving in sync.
While not a stability shoe, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 has enough heft on it to feel somewhat stable. Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
While not outfitted with a robust traction pattern, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 offers moderate 3.5 mm deep lugs. The diamond-shaped lugs are equally spaced across the shoe's All Terrain Compound outsole. This design is ideal for runners who envision themselves enjoying meandering neighborhood trails, paths, and gravel walkways. While the stack and ride of the shoe is best-suited for heel strikers, the sensitivity of the forefoot offers loads of trail information, helping runners steer as they stride. If you plan to run mild trails and want a shoe that feels comfortable on paved surfaces as well, the new version of the Pegasus is worth taking for a spin.
The placement and design of the lugs help provide grip on more predictable trails. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Foot Protection
Though this version of the Pegasus Trail is mildly more protective than its predecessor, it still falls short in this metric. Understandably so, as Nike states that this shoe is built for mild trails, not necessarily rocky, granite outcroppings. The 31 mm total heel stack balances well with its soft midfoot for protection, but the forefoot, which rides at 22 mm, feels incredibly close to the ground. The low-to-the-ground nature of this build, combined with the underfoot softness and lack of a rock plate, inhibits most of the would-be underfoot protection. The Pegasus doesn't have a toe cap, and its upper weave is more porous than most. If you plan to run on mild trails and gravel paths, the protection offered here is adequate.
The upper of this shoe lacks a toe cap and feels somewhat soft, making it less protective. Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
Each women's size 6.5 Pegasus Trail weighs 7.70 ounces. This is fairly lightweight in the world of trail shoes, and it feels light during runs. Nike was able to keep this shoe light by omitting protective and traction-focused features, resulting in a nimble-feeling, mild trail-tackling shoe.
Nike bypassed some heavy features in order to keep this shoe on the lighter end of the spectrum. Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Nike Pegasus Trail 5?
Even though the Pegasus Trail 5 doesn't stand out among other trail running shoes, it offers strong value. Its price rests towards the lower end of the bunch, which can often be a make-or-break factor when making a purchase. This shoe is ideal for runners who want an everyday shoe that is trustworthy enough for light trails. Runners who want to up their trail running game will find that the Pegasus doesn't quite have enough power behind it.
If mild to moderate terrain and a crossover shoe to go between pavement and mild trails is your jam, the Pegasus Trail is a great option. Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If the Pegasus Trail as a crossover pavement-to-trail shoe is what appeals to you, the Hoka Challenger 8 would be another shoe to look into. With slightly more rugged capability, the Challenger offers solid underfoot cushion, making it appropriate for paved surfaces. If you know you'll be tackling tougher trails, or hope to in the future, The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4 is a versatile trail running shoe that we can't stop raving about.
—Ally Arcuri
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