Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Review – The Best Winter Trail Shoes?

-

Nike Trail has officially released the Pegasus 36 Trail GTX waterproof trail running shoes. If you’ve already read my review of the Pegasus 36 Trail (non-waterproof version) then you’ll know that I gave it an Editor’s Choice award and also an overall award for ranking as the best performing trail running shoes currently on the market.

UPDATED PEGASUS: Nike Pegasus Trail 4 Review

With that said you’re probably wondering how the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail Gore-Tex (GTX/Waterproof version) performs while running during winter conditions, I know I was! Keep reading this review to find out how these two running shoes compare, how well the GTX performs while trail running, and also how it stacks up against other waterproof trail running shoes.

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review perspective view

What’s the difference between the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX and the Pegasus 36 Trail?

You may think that the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX is just a waterproof version of the Pegasus 36 Trail, and to some extent it is, but there’s actually a whole lot more to them than just the additional water protection, which you will learn more about later in this review. The key differences between the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX and the Pegasus 36 Trail are as follows:

  • The GTX version has a fully waterproof membrane upper which is impermeable to water (you’ll see just how good it is later in this review).
  • The GTX version is not as breathable due to it’s waterproof upper but they will keep your feet dry and warm during your cold/wet weather winter runs.
  • The GTX is 1oz. lighter.
  • The GTX doesn’t have Nike’s Flywire cable lacing system.
  • The GTX version is more reflective which adds additional safety while running at night.
  • The GTX is not quite as flexible due to the waterproof upper and lacing system.
  • They both have the same great all-terrain and hybrid running feel overall.

A quick thank you to Nike for sending over a pair of Pegasus 36 Trail Gore-Tex for me to trail-test and write this in-depth review about.

RELATED READING (links open in new tabs):


Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Fit & Design

The Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX fits true to size, relative to other popular running brands, so no need to size up or down. Feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom of this review with the brand you normally run in and I’ll let you know how they fit relative to them just in case. Or just say hello!! 🙂

Comfort while running in the Pegasus 36 Trail GTX is nearly as dreamy as its non-waterproof counterpart. It’s obviously better suited to running in the winter though due to the Gore-Tex upper that keeps your feet warm and dry, so it certainly wins in that arena. There are a couple of areas where it falls short when compared to the summer running shoe alternative though. The two design aspects that adversely affect the comfort of the Pegasus 36 Trail GTX are:

  1. The lacing system is different. The GTX version does not use the same Flywire Cable lacing system that I loved so much on the non-GTX shoes. The Flywire Cable system adds an extra layer of flex and stretch to the upper which is something this shoe would certainly benefit from. That being said, they’re by no means uncomfortable, in fact, they are very comfortable, just not as cozy as the Pegasus 36 Trail.
  2. The waterproof Gore-Tex upper is stiffer than the standard Peg 36 Trail. This means there’s less flex going on as you run. This is common in any waterproof version of a running shoe because the materials used have to be able to stop water entering, which these do exceptionally well (see image below).
There's no denying these shoes are 100% waterproof.
There’s no denying these shoes are 100% waterproof.

If you have been running in Nike Pegasus road shoes before then you will already be familiar with how well-cushioned these shoes feel, this also makes them perfect for door-to-trail use as they are very much hybrid running shoes. They are also neutral running shoes which means you won’t get any added arch support inside the shoe, which for me is a very good thing!

Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Upper Construction

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 8

The mesh upper is very durable and 100% waterproof but not particularly breathable, this will keep your feet dry and warm though, which is perfect for cold weather winter runs. The Pegasus 36 Trail GTX upper wraps comfortably and securely around your feet as you tackle technical trail sections.

There’s also an inner sock that attaches the padded tongue to the forefoot area adding to that slipper-like fit. This design keeps the tongue in place, stops chafe and prevents debris from coming between your foot and the shoe walls.

Like the Pegasus Trail 36, the GTX has no finger loop on the rear of these shoes but you can easily grab onto the curved heel-support to slip them on.

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 13

The interesting curved achilles heel support, similar to that of the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 an the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail, works very well for me as it allows for a little bit of over-striding when running fast downhill, without agitating my achilles.

Interestingly, the heel walls, in general, feel lower than many other trail shoes, allowing your feet to maneuver and adapt to the trail beneath it. At first, I thought this design may not provide a secure fit for my feet, but after I threaded the laces up to the top holes (as seen in pictures), I ended up with a very secure fit.

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail Gore-Tex toe box and toe cap

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 3

The toe box is medium/wide width and feels nice and airy with room for your toes to spread naturally, exactly the same as the Peg 36 Trail actually! The toe cap is not hugely reinforced and exists more to protect the durability of the shoes, rather than your toes, so take care not to kick a rock by accident, it happens! A more minimal toe cap design like this reduces overall weight in a shoe, which is obviously a good thing for many!

Reflective detailing Galore!

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX reflective detailing in the upper.
Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX reflective detailing in the upper.

There are tons of reflective hits on these shoes (see image above from Nike.com). This should be enough to keep you safe at night where you may find yourself on-road sections of your trail run. The Pegasus 36 Trail (non-waterproof) lacks a little in reflective detailing but I suppose the GTX is meant to be worn in the winter where daylight is much more limited, so this makes sense. Nike needed to distinguish these two shoes from one another somehow, and this is one clever way of doing that.

Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Tongue & Laces

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX tongue and laces
Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX tongue and laces

Briefly mentioned earlier, the tongue is well padded yet lightweight and slim but the lacing system is definitely not as good as Nike’s Flywire cables system seen in the standard Pegasus 36 Trail. Having an extra layer of ‘stretch’ (like in the flywire system) means that your feet can stay comfortable when they expand or contract due to body/environmental temperature fluctuations, unfortunately, the GTX uses a more rigid system, and I don’t know why Nike decided to go with this setup instead. Maybe it was to keep the cost and weight down, if anyone at Nike has a definitve answer for me please drop it in the comments below.

Pegasus 36 GTX Trail Midsole

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 11

Two Zoom Air units (in the heel and forefoot) and midsole cushioning in the Pegasus 36 Trail GTX offer responsive comfort that’s unique to the Nike brand. It’s so nice to feel this on the trails (not just the roads). The midsole is also very flexible toward the forefoot, which is essential for a trail shoe that needs to conform to the ground beneath it. A shoe that can flex also means your feet can use their joints and muscles in a more natural manner with minimal strain. The Zoom Air midsole cushioning, and lightweight construction makes this shoe a great choice for winter ultrarunning too.

Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Outsole

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 6

The outsole is identical to the standard version of this shoe and stretches wide in the forefoot giving you more surface area to spread your weight across. This makes running further or faster, feel more comfortable and effortless.

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 15

The outsole also features a flex groove down the center that gives a smooth and stable ride, while letting your feet roll and flex on uneven surfaces, which is what our feet were designed to do. I found the grip to be very good on buffed, rocky and dirt trails.

Drop & Weight

Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX review trail running trail and kale wm 4

The drop from heel to toe is 10mm. A lower drop could potentially give this shoe an even better feel for the trails when the terrain gets extra technical. I have historically been a bit of a low-drop fanboy if that’s a thing haha, but since the Pegasus 36 Trail I am enjoying running with its 10mm drop which coincidentally feels like less than 10mm, others in the community have observed the same.

Weighing in at 9oz. (255g) for a size US (M) 9 the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX is a very lightweight trail shoe, especially considering all the cushioning in the midsole. Somehow it’s lighter than my size 9 Pegasus 36 Trail (non-waterproof). To me, this is unheard of in a waterproof version of a shoe. Maybe with the lack of a Flywire Cable lacing system Nike has managed to reduce the weight by an ounce. Whatever the reason, I’m very impressed.


In Summary

zoom pegasus 36 trail gore tex waterproof trail running shoes
Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX
Comfort
9
Design & Function
9.5
Durability
9
Flexibility
8.5
Performance
9.5
Value For Money
10
PROS
100% Waterproof!
Very comfortable, feels and runs like a road shoe on hard surfaces
Lightweight (lighter than the non-waterproof version!)
nice wide toebox
Really like the curve achilles support toward the rear
Lots of reflective detailing for night running
Great cushioning in the midsole (Air Zoom)
CONS
No Flywire Cable system for increased flex and stretch in the upper
toe cap not solid reinforced
9.3
Overall Score

Well, Nike has done it again, and I can confidently say that the Pegasus 36 Trail GTX is now my current favorite waterproof trail shoe for winter running. It’s a high-performance trail running shoe that feels just as comfortable on the road as it does on the trails. The Pegasus 36 Trail GTX should actually be labeled as a waterproof road/trail hybrid, or a door-to-trail running shoe because it performs equally well on both surfaces. Contributing to the comfort is the Nike Air Zoom midsole that provides plenty of protection from sharp rocks. It’s also super lightweight, has lots of reflective hits for the safety-conscious, responsive, and very grippy.

I love the curved achilles heel support. It works very well for me as it allows for a little bit of over-striding when running fast downhills, without agitating my achilles. At $160 I feel that the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX is reasonably priced too, especially considering the protection it provides and how durable it is.

I have awarded the Nike Pegasus 36 Trail GTX an Editor’s Choice Award, and they currently sit at the top of my list of the ‘5 Best Waterproof Trail Running Shoes for Fall/Winter‘ gear guide.

I really hope you enjoyed this review, if you did, please leave a comment below to let us know you made it all the way to the end. Happy trails! 🙂

Alastair
Alastairhttps://www.trailandkale.com
As the founder of Trail & Kale, and seasoned marathoner & ultrarunner, Alastair loves bringing our readers independent running shoe reviews and gear insights to help you run your best. Learn more about Trail & Kale here.

57 COMMENTS

  1. Pegasus trail 36 is absolutely useless on ice/snow du to the “plastic sole”. You better buy shoes with rubber soles and good grip.

  2. Hello Borkur, that’s interesting, is that issue you’re finding with the GTX version covered in this review, or the standard trail version? Have you used them in the ice/snow?

  3. Thanks for the review! I am interested in buying these. However, it would be interesting to know how these work on snowy roads and trails?

  4. Thanks for the review! I was wondering if you find they get dirty easily (esp. when running on muddy surfaces) and how you can clean them without affecting the goretex much? Thanks!

  5. Hi! Thanks for the review. If you check google reviews a lot of people saying the toe box is narrow and to size up? I have some Peg36 Turbo 2s and love the wide toe box so am a bit confused ?‍♂️

    • Hey Mark,

      The toe box is definitely medium(not narrow) and I would not suggest sizing up as the shoe fits well with your normal size. It does for me anyway.

      Best,
      Alastair

  6. I normally run a New Balance 13 or a Nike 12, any reason you’d think I’d need to change somewhere?
    Also I live in Oregon so I’m mostly interested in these for wet terrain performance. Nice review.

  7. Hi – very sad to hear that Nike didn’t use the Flywire Cable system for these shoes. Please Nike make a version with this system. For people with narrow feet it really makes this Nike a stand out shoe – I love these shoes and have the road running version, summer trail runners and was really hoping to get a winter running version with the Flywire Cable system. Please Nike make this shoe with the Flywire Cable.

    • My guess is they didn’t use the flywire cable system as they wanted the shoe to be completely waterproof when it is submerged.

  8. Thanks for the review! About the size of shoes: sneakers with Gore-tex membrane are 0.5 sizes smaller. That is, if you wear a Pegasus 36 for highway 40.5 EU size, then Nike Pegasus 36 Gore-tex = 41 EU. I hope my review will help!

    • You could… but your feet will get hot in them during summer runs. I’d definitely recommend the non GTX for spring/summer. There’s a review of it on here too.

      Alastair

  9. I normally wear 7.5US, but with these, squeeze the top-middle of my foot. Even though remove in-sole and lace off and my toe still has front space. I’m cry that I bought online without try.

  10. On Nike’s website the some are saying they fit half a size small and some are saying they fit half a size large! I wear a size UK 10 (EU 45) in ASICS Gel Kayano 25 (that’s the 25 not the 26 which IMO fits half a size small) – what size should I take in the Pegasus 36 Trail?

    • Hey Jules,

      The Pegasus 36 Trail GTX feels like it comes up half a size small due to its more solid construction and materials. So maybe consider getting half a size bigger than you usually would. The standard Pegasus 36 trail fits consistently to other Nike’s though…

      • Hi Alastair,

        I can confirm that they fit True to Size. I did order a 10 and 10.5 in the GTX just to be safe but the size 10 fits perfect. Great shoes BTW, they do everything I was looking for, very happy with them. I did order a pair of Wildhorse 5 earlier in the year and found they fitted small in a 10 so I returned them – probably needed to go up half size in the Wildhorse. Are you going to review the newly released Wildhrose 6? It’s had quite a radical makeover.

        • Hey Jules, Thanks for the follow-up! Yes, I’m hoping to get hold of the new Nike Trail range soon so keep an eye out for those reviews 🙂

          -Alastair

  11. Hi Alastair, thanks for the review. Your comment on a reinforced toe box is quite relevant but not in terms of impact. Following a single 10 km run my big toes had worn a 1cm diameter hole in the inside layer of the Gore Tex on each shoe. I am not sure if I broke the middle waterproofing layer but assume I did as the middle layer is not abrasion resistant. I had to put duct tape inside the toe box to protect the hole. I was wondering if anybody else had this problem. I would assume it is common as unprotected Gore Tex which the shoe seems to be generally, is not meant for the sort of abrasion it will get in a runner. Do you know what type of Gore Tex the shoe is made of and if it received any extra protection given it’s location in a shoe. Thanks

    • Hmm, that’s odd! Are they definitely sized correctly for you? Sounds like they may be too small or they are a defective pair if you wore through the end in a 10km run. I have been wearing mine a lot of the winter months and not had this problem occur.

      -Alastair

  12. I have these shoes and absolutely love them. I’ve been trying to find an all black pair in men’s US10.5 for my partner and seems they’ve sold out everywhere!

  13. Great review – thank you! I have been pondering on getting trail shoes and came across these which seem to tick comfort, grip and waterproof boxes i am looking for. In terms of sizing I am standard shoe size 7 and wear Brooks road running shoes size 8 currently. I can see you are saying true to size but as a new runner am keen to take advice! Can you advise if best to go up half/full size or stick with true shoe size.

    • Hey Kate!

      Yes I’d advise going with your usual shoe size for these, they may seem a little more snug as there’s generally a bit less in gore-tex/waterproof versions of trail shoes, because of the extra durability in the upper. 🙂

  14. I’m really confused – I bought these shoes specifically for the waterproof feature but was disappointed to discover that they are not waterproof at all. My feet get soaked through in a matter of minutes if the grass is wet from rain or just morning dew, let alone when it rains.

    Have you tried them in wet grass? Am I doing something wrong? I’ve looked back at the listing on Nike’s website and there’s no mention of having to treat them before you use them, I’d be interested to hear if you’ve treated them to make them waterproof?

    They’re so comfortable, and the perfect fit – it’s just really disappointing that they’re not waterproof. They take a couple of days to dry which isn’t useful for how often I need to use them.

    • That’s very weird! Maybe a silly question but you definitely have the GTX version and not the standard ones right? Mine are definitely waterproof, I tested them in deep puddles as you can see in one of my review photos. How much have you worn them – could it be the waterproof has worn off somehow?

  15. I’m looking for goretex trainers with a narrow heel and standard to wide toe box. They’re not for running, but problems with my feet mean that running shoes often suit me for everyday wear. I need standard arch support or a removable foot bed. Do you think these might suit me?

  16. Thanks for this helpful review!! I’m just starting to run and am on roads mostly. Would you still recommend this shoe even if I’m not trail running? I’m looking for a shoe for running fully in the rain/on rainy roads.

    Also, the only other Nikes I own are really old Free Runs and I’m a 6.5 in those – any idea if I should stick with a 6.5 for these as well?

    Really appreciate your help!!

  17. Thanks for this helpful review! I’m just starting to run and am on roads mostly. Would you still recommend this shoe even if I’m not trail running? I’m looking for a shoe for running fully in the rain/on rainy roads.

    Also, the only other Nikes I own are really old Free Runs and I’m a 6.5 in those – any idea if I should stick with a 6.5 for these as well?

    Really appreciate your help!

  18. Hi ,I’ve just orderd the Nike Gtx pagaseus 36 in 7.5 I do have the nike trail 3 gtx in 7.5 also will the sizes be the same ?thanks in advance

  19. Hi Alastair

    Great review!

    I’ve finally worn out my Pegasus 36 GTX purchased in 2020, and have recently ordered a new pair (very hard to source now and at outrageous prices).

    Btw completely agree with your review.

    Is there any newer shoes you would recommend that would be of similar structure? I’m finding it very hard to find the right shoe, most have too much cushioning which for me make for an unstable run.

    Thanks in advance!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

The Latest

The Best Running Watches For Those...

Discover the best running watches for marathon training, trail running & ultras, including top GPS watches from Garmin, Suunto, Apple, Polar, Coros, and more.

How To Start Running In 2024...

How to start running from scratch! All you need to know, including tips to get started, and how to run 5k non-stop with our beginner's training plan.

New Shoe Reviews
Fresh drops from our reviewers

Hylo Athletics IMPACT Review: The World Needs...

Sharing my take on the Hylo Athletics IMPACT running shoes; from a sustainably driven brand encouraging us to "run like the world depends on it".

Altra Timp 5 Review: These Take My...

Helen explains why the Altra Timp 5, with its excellent grip, cushioning and fit, is right up there as one of the best trail running shoes this season.

HOKA Mach 6 Review: Still The Greatest...

Alastair shares his take on the 'still' greatest of all time tempo running shoes for $140; they're responsive, featherlight, affordable!

Don't Drop Behind
Subscribe to stay up to date!

'Best Of' Guides
Top performing gear

The Best Running Shoes [2024]

The best running shoes rated and shortlisted, and advice to ensure you buy the most comfortable, high-performing shoes that work for YOU.

The Best Trail Running Shoes [2024]

The best trail running shoes this year ranked & reviewed + top advice so you buy the most comfortable, high-performing shoes for you

Best On Running Shoes of 2024...

Welcome to the ULTIMATE On Running shoes buyer's guide, complete with reviews + rankings of the best On running shoes available | YES, I've reviewed them all!

Best HOKA Running Shoes of 2024...

ULTIMATE HOKA Running shoes buyer's guide, complete with reviews + rankings of the best HOKA running shoes. YES, I've reviewed them all!

Best Brooks Running Shoes of 2024...

Welcome to the ULTIMATE Brooks Running shoes buyer's guide, complete with reviews + rankings of the best Brooks shoes | YES, I've reviewed them all!

Training Plans
5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultramarathons