Do We Still Love the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail in Year Six?

Introduction to the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail

ROBBE: Let’s start with this: The Nike Pegasus Trail may be my favorite line in all of running — road, trail, or otherwise. Going back a half-decade, I’ve run six different versions of the shoe from the Pegasus Trail 3 onward, including every Gore-Tex (GTX) version. Year after year, the designs, colorways, comfort, and versatility make this a shoe that I absolutely adore.

You want to know how much I really love this lie? I think the Pegasus Trail is the best value in all of footwear. I recommend it to everyone I know, especially if you only have the budget for one shoe to rule them all. I’ve recommended the GTX version to dog walkers for rainy days, I’ve recommended the regular version as the perfect travel shoe — great for hiking or walking and a bit of running. It can do roads, trails, pavement, and sidewalks, and it looks great the whole time.

And while the outsole has had its issues in the past, Nike has improved its grip as of late (a trend that continues in this version).

So with Nike going for broke on the trail side with the orange-is-the-new-black ACG revival, I was very much looking forward to this newest model. Now it’s here, and I’ve gotten plenty of all-around wear out of it.

Despite the bombastic splash of ACG, the shoe comes with muted upgrades, which seems to be the trend with Nike Trail — the ACG Ultrafly was underwhelming as well (though the Zegama was much improved). The midsole of the ACG Pegasus Trail remains mostly the same with ReactX foam, though the stack height gets a bump and the drop gets dropped to a more reasonable 8mm. It also retains the ATC outsole compound and gets a slightly more open toe box. Lastly, the price remains the same… kind of. Nike bumped the Peg Trail 5 to $155 since its 2024 release, and this version maintains that price point.

Let’s get into the review.

RENEE: I’m writing this review during finals week. I dedicate the following thoughts to my fellow educators who have spent the last few months reading AI essays and “I didn’t use AI. I wrote this myself” statements. The idea of assigning a letter grade to a shoe is taking on new meaning. If you’re a student reading this review, I dedicate my thoughts to your ability not to use AI to write for you. Please? Just try it.

Assigning the ACG Pegasus Trail a letter grade is actually a relief. For all the crap Nike took for that “Walkers Tolerated” ad in Boston, they listened to runner feedback and made adjustments to improve their trail shoes. It’s as if Nike ACG is the student who reads the teacher’s feedback and makes all the revisions needed for the final draft. And for that, I forgive your mockery of my trail “running” pace. I don’t even power hike, to be honest. It’s literally just walking with running sprinkled in where possible.

I still have all previous versions of the Pegasus Trail except for the OG Pegasus Trail 36. If you need a refresher of the lineage, the Pegasus Trail 2 and 3 were heavier, beefier shoes with a moderate trail/gravel focus. The Pegasus Trail 4 slimmed down and was a better trail shoe than the previous version. Then, the Pegasus Trail 5 had a more gravel/easy trail focus. And here we are at the new ACG Pegasus Trail.

MELISSA: The Nike Pegasus Trail line has quietly become one of the easiest shoes to recommend to just about anyone. This shoe meets every need without trying too hard. The new Nike ACG Pegasus Trail continues that trend, blending road comfort with trail capability in a package that feels versatile and undeniably looks great.

Nike didn’t reinvent the wheel here, and honestly, I’m okay with that. The ReactX midsole still delivers that nice balance of softness and responsiveness that has made past versions so easy to love. The spring colorways are ridiculously good, and the updated look leans into an outdoorsy aesthetic without losing that everyday wearability that makes this line stand out.

What we like about the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail

ROBBE: Since the ACG Pegasus Trail is a road-to-trail running shoe, I took this on a myriad of surfaces ranging from Baltimore city streets to the ultra rocky Pennsylvania portion of the Appalachian Trail (on a rainy day, nonetheless). I wore it while walking the dog and tolerated myself the whole time.

I came away with the same conclusion I’ve held for the past few years: it should be a go-to shoe for anyone. Casual runner, seasoned trail athlete, professional walker, occasional hiker, average human.

The upper isn’t too different from the past version, material-wise. An engineered mesh gives a good balance of security and breathability. The fit seems a bit better in the midfoot, and Nike opened the toe box slightly for better comfort and toe splay. I actually don’t think the toe box is that much different than the past version, which I thought was sufficiently wide (though I have narrow feet, so take that with a grain of salt). Either way, no problems with the upper at all.

The midsole gets more foam throughout, which gives a touch more comfort underfoot. Since the drop is lower, the forefoot actually gets a greater increase in foam than the heel, 3.5mm more. This is a necessary improvement, as the Pegasus Trail 5 seemed to bottom out in the forefoot, and the 10mm drop in that version was just unnecessary. As such, stability remains the same in this version, with the increase in foam offsetting the lower drop.

On the run, the shoe is plenty comfortable and switches easily from road to trail. Is ReactX the most bounciest and lightest foam out there? No, but this is a $155 trail shoe. It’s perfect for what it’s meant to do. I’m okay with it still being here. If you want the fancy stuff, shell out the money for the Ultrafly or Zegama.

The real highlight of the shoe is the ATC outsole. I swear this thing grips as good as anything out there. I took this on rocks and roots on the AT, and it held up incredibly well. Sure, there was a little slippage here and there, but nowhere near the catastrophic greased pig outsoles of 2021-2023 era Nike Trail. Nike’s finally figured out how to do a rubber outsole. And while the lugs are pretty shallow, I think they’re good enough for getting out there on light trails.

At $155, this shoe is still a great value, and I feel like you’ll easily find some colorways at a $100 price point in a few months.

RENEE: The shoe knows its place, and it’s an improvement from the previous version. All of the boxes the shoe is meant to check are checked.

The ReactX midsole feels comforting with a perfect balance of give and firmness, an asset for any dicey and uneven landings. The stack is enough for 20-mile runs. The shoe remains true to its purpose as a daily trainer, useful for whatever pace you run that day — even if it’s a tolerated walking pace. Seriously. The shoe is super comfortable for casual use, and the lugs are minimal enough that they aren’t intrusive on pavement (not that I run much on pavement). I absolutely loved the feel of the Pegasus Trail 5, and nothing has changed in this newest version.

Speaking of lugs, we now have tiny little chevron-shaped lugs under the forefoot, rather than the diamond-shaped lugs of the last version. The grip is better, and the shoe works better on trails and any loose terrain, at least compared to the previous one.

The upper has more structure than the Pegasus Trail 5 and is more secure for trail running, similar to the fourth version. There’s an overlay on the lateral side that the Pegasus Trail 5 didn’t have, and overall, it’s a tighter fit. Tight. Not restricting. The upper has some stretch, and it feels more plush than my beloved Pegasus Trail 4.

The tongue isn’t as long and plush as v5, but that didn’t affect comfort. I find the toebox roomy and the heel hold is great. I have low-volume feet and prefer a narrow heel hold. The toebox isn’t narrow or shallow. Wide-footed runners might need more midfoot width, but that’s pretty normal for Nike.

The weight is somewhere between the Pegasus Trail 4 and 5, which is fine. The biggest improvement for me is the heel collar and counter. The previous one was too tight or too high on my ankles, which affected my movement on the trail. Really, the new version fits and runs more like version four, with a bit more under the forefoot. If I didn’t run in so many shoes, I might not notice, but the lower drop and increased stack height make this version more useful in all ways than the last one.

MELISSA: There’s something about the Pegasus Trail formula that just works for me, and this version keeps the streak alive. The spring colorways deserve their own shoutout because Nike nailed them. ACG is having a moment, and it feels like part performance shoe, part lifestyle sneaker in the best possible way. The upper breathes fairly well overall. Fit-wise, sizing felt true to size. The upper has a comfortable step-in feel and decent lockdown- not exceptional, but solid.

The biggest highlight continues to be the ride. The ReactX cushioning hits that rare middle ground where the shoe feels protective and comfortable at the same time. It has enough bounce to keep things lively on smoother trails and pavement while still feeling stable enough for daily miles, walking, and casual hiking. It’s one of those shoes you throw on without having to think twice about it.

The versatility is still the magic of this shoe. I used it on all kinds of surfaces, and it transitions naturally. That’s where this line has always shone. It’s not trying to be an ultra-technical mountain shoe, but rather something that most people would actually wear all the time.

What we don’t like about the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail

ROBBE: If there’s one thing the ACG Pegasus Trail is lacking, it’s protection underfoot. By that, I mean the foam is pretty soft, so if the trail conditions are rocky or rooty, you’ll feel it. Again, not saying this shoe is meant for that, but just be aware that you’ll feel that in the shoe. Even with the added foam in the forefoot, it still bottoms out a bit, just not as much as in past versions.

Design-wise, I feel like this is the weakest one I’ve ever seen from the Nike Pegasus Trail, including all GTX versions. I have the Light Orewood Brown version, which is kind of nice, but lacks character. By far, the best colorways are the Jade Horizon and Summit White/Safety Orange colorways, but even then, they’re pretty tame by Nike Trail standards.

Heck, even the black colorway of the Pegasus Trail 5 looks better than the entire starting lineup of the ACG Pegasus Trail. It’s extremely disappointing because the only cool part of the design is the large ACG triangle on the heel; otherwise, it just screams big box shoe. For such a large splash of ACG, the Pegasus Trail is a ripple in the design department. Guess they front-loaded the inspo board with all things Zegama, and this was just an afterthought.

Last thing — I really like this shoe and don’t mind that it’s largely the same as the version from two years ago. However, the next version will need to see some innovation. ReactX has run its course. When Adidas is putting Lightstrike Pro into its $160 Evo SL ATR, it’s time to do something different.

RENEE: Unlike the second and third Pegasus Trail, I won’t have enough stack or protection for ultra distances on technical terrain, although I’m sure some runners who need little underfoot can wear these for an ultra. As a mediocre runner, I’d feel fine wearing this for a 50k on moderate terrain, but it wouldn’t be my first choice. I consider this on par with current road-to-trail, hybrid, and gravel shoes. I’m not saying you can’t use it on rocky mountainous terrain, but this isn’t a technical shoe.

The lugs are at most 3.5mm, but they seem much smaller. I think this works great for moderate terrain, but if you need lugs on sloppy, debris-covered, or muddy terrain, a more aggressive shoe will be best.

The shoe is billed as moderately technical. Between the lug shape and the 8mm, easy to moderate sounds right for me. I prefer a lower drop shoe on technical terrain. I’ve run in a few 8mm trail shoes lately that feel less. The ACG Pegasus Trail feels like an 8mm drop shoe, which can be an issue for me on an ungroomed, debris-covered trail. That’s not a con, just my personal preference.

The shoe isn’t exactly lightweight at 8.6 oz in my US W7.5. As a shoe meant for moderate terrain, I’d like to see the weight closer to 8 oz in my size. The shoe doesn’t feel overly heavy, but at this weight, I’d expect wider lugs or a Vibram outsole.

MELISSA: My biggest hesitation with this shoe is stability. The platform runs on the narrower side, and paired with softer cushioning, it can feel a little tippy on technical terrain. I had a couple of moments where I felt my ankle wanting to roll more than I’d like. If you stick mostly to groomed trails, dirt roads, and hybrid road-to-trail, it’s fine. But over time and on technical, the foam and stack can start to feel unstable.

The lockdown is also just okay. It never felt bad, but it also never disappeared in the way a lot of great uppers do. Combined with the narrower platform, I occasionally wished for more stability and security. And while the upper is breathable, it does let in some fine dust and debris. On dry trails, my socks ended up noticeably dirtier than usual.

Final thoughts on the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail

ROBBE: I’ll be the contrarian and say that as someone who has walked parts of Boston and literally every trail race, I can barely tolerate myself, so I appreciate Nike telling me the truth. Despite their cheekiness, the truth is — Nike accepts walkers with open arms, and the ACG Pegasus Trail is a love letter to that. This is quite possibly one of the best walking shoes that money can buy. So if you’re a random person who ended up on a running website looking for a good shoe, then just stop here and go buy the shoe (at the button below, of course). Don’t even think about reading a Hoka or On review. This is the shoe you want, it’s that good.

As for trail runners, if you liked the last version of this shoe, you’ll love this one equally, maybe even more. It’s just a solid all-around shoe, from roads to trails to anything in between. Enjoy it in all its versions.

RENEE: ACG, if you’re reading this, please capitalize on the “Walkers Tolerated” blunder and sell T-shirts with the word “Tolerated” proudly emblazoned across them. Your social media marketing has upped its game, and you have a good opportunity to appeal to the wide base of trail runners who, like me, honestly aren’t great at running, but we do it because it gets us through our workday.

The ACG Pegasus Trail would be a great shoe for runners who run gravel with some moderate or non-mountain trail, especially when the trails are dry and somewhat groomed. Anyone needing a higher drop shoe will enjoy the ride. It’s a good-looking shoe and comfortable for casual use, too. Now that I’ve officially posted final grades, I think I’ll fancy up my regalia and make this my graduation shoe (after I clean the mud off the outsole).

MELISSA: The Nike ACG Pegasus Trail continues to be one of the best “everything” shoes Nike makes. It’s comfortable, versatile, approachable, and stylish. The ReactX cushioning still feels excellent, the spring colors are awesome, and the road-to-trail versatility makes this an easy grab for daily activities.

That said, this is still firmly a hybrid style shoe. If your idea of trail running involves technical terrain, sharp rocks, or big descents, the narrower platform and softer ride may leave you wishing for more stability. But for the everyday run, it absolutely delivers.

This is the kind of shoe that reminds me why the Pegasus Trail has developed such a following. It’s not trying to be the most aggressive trail shoe out there; instead, it just wants to be the shoe you keep reaching for.

You can pick up the Nike ACG Pegasus Trail for $155 from Nike by using the buttons below.