Ultra Worthy? I Ran 631 Miles in These Nike Trail Running Shoes

Looking for Nike trail running shoes for your next race or ultra?
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Over the last few months, I ran 631 miles in two Nike trail running shoes:

• 👟Nike Pegasus Trail 5
• 👟Nike Zegama 2

Why? In a few days, I'll step up to the starting line of the Mountain Lakes 100-Mile Ultra hosted by Go Beyond Racing for the 10th time.
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And I wanted to find out if the updates to these Nike trail running shoes would help me go the distance.
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Here's what I learned...

I'll be honest, I haven't always been a fan of Nike trail running shoes. 

• The Wildhorse gave me blisters (which almost never happens)
• And the Kiger felt like it wasn't enough for gnarly terrain and big miles

👟But after testing out the Pegasus Trail and Zegama a few years ago...

• I wanted to find out if the updates to these Nike trail running shoes would keep my feet happy and carry me to the finish line of another 100-mile ultra. (My current 100-mile record is 10 finishes, 5 DNFs.)
• So I put in 631 miles over the last few months in these two shoes.

📈This included the standard 26.2-mile Saturday Morning Marathons + longer ultras:

• Circumnavigating Mount Hood in Oregon
• An out-and-back ultra to Lost Lake, Ore.
• An out-and back ultra to downtown Portland
• The Timberline Marathon at Timothy Lake
• Saturday Morning Marathons on the Springwater Trail
• Short runs and hikes in Utah and Zion National Park
• Short runs around Sandy, Ore.

I alternated between the two Nike trail running shoes (Nike Zegama 2 and Nike Pegasus Trail 5).
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But as I ticked off more miles, a clear favorite emerged to take on my 10th year at Mountain Lakes 100.

• Price: $150
• Stack Height: 37 mm (heel), 27.5 mm (forefoot), 9.5 mm drop
• Upper Material: Engineered mesh with added support
• Outsole Material: Multi-surface rubber with moderate lugs
• Durability: Solid, but not for the gnarliest trails
• Updates from previous Version: More cushioning, improved upper support

If you're looking for a road-to-trail shoe, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 will deliver.

• I ran a ton of miles in the Pegasus Trail 5 that included single-track trail + paved asphalt along the Springwater Trail from Gresham to Portland, Ore.
• I also ran the Sandy River Trail loop and Tickle Creek Trail near my office, and added miles on local backroads.

✅The Pros
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With its 9.5 mm drop, it feels a bit more cushioned and forgiving—great for when you’re transitioning from smooth terrain to moderate trails.
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And it’s great for packed dirt or light gravel, which is where I logged a lot of miles in this Nike trail running shoe:

• Tickle Creek Trail
• Cazadero Trail
• Sandy River Trail
• Jim Slagle Trail
• Powell Butte Trail

And it held up well in Pacific Northwest weather and terrain with just enough grip for casual trails (that are more often wet and muddy than dry).

Plus, the new React foam and rocker design gives this should a comfortable, cushioned ride with smooth transitions.
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❌The Cons
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I ran last year's Mountain Lakes 100 in the Nike Pegasus 4 and finished the Hagg Lake 50K Mud Run in the same shoe earlier in the year.
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And I was hoping for a little more shoe in the Pegasus 5 update. But that's not quite what I found...

• On slick or technical terrain, you might feel like you’re one bad step away from practicing your slide tackles. 
• Unlike the Zegama’s aggressive Vibram outsole, the multi-surface rubber on the Pegasus Trail 5 just isn't as grippy.

That said, it’s lighter than the Zegama 2, making it perfect for days when you want to keep things fast and light—if that’s even possible after 20 miles.

• Price: $180
• Stack Height: 39 mm (heel), 35 mm (forefoot), 4 mm drop
• Upper Material: Breathable mesh with durable overlays
• Outsole Material: Vibram high-traction rubber with moderate lugs
• Durability: Solid for trails, but won't last with a lot of road running
• Updates from previous version: More durable upper, extra cushioning for those brutal downhills

If you're tackling technical trails, Nike gave the Zegama 2 a fantastic update by partnering with Vibram (something a lot of runners requested) to create a sticky outsole with ZoomX midsole material and solid lugs.

✅The Pros
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The Nike Zegama 2 outsole is no joke. Fun fact: If I walk slowly through the kitchen, this shoe sticks to the mat under the sink. That's what you want crossing slick rocks on the trail, right?
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When I ran the Timberline Trail loop around Mount Hood, the 42-mile run included about 10,000 feet of vert and descent. And these Nike trail running shoes kept me from skidding down the mountain on the steepest and rockiest sections.

The stack height gives you plenty of cushioning, and the 4 mm drop hits that sweet spot between protection and ground feel.
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Whether you’re bombing downhill or navigating gnarly terrain, I felt like the lugs did a good job digging in, without collecting mud, rocks and debris, like other shoes with deeper lugs.
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❌The Cons
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I ran a mix of road and trail miles in this shoe. I think it's an excellent shoe for technical trails. But the outsole won't withstand a lot of road miles. 
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By the time I hit 300 miles in this shoe, lugs on the left heel were smooth. Hopefully this is something Nike will update in future versions.
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It also seemed like the Zegama 2 took longer to dry after a water crossing or running in the rain, probably because of the nice upper material.

Which Nike trail running shoe made the cut for Mountain Lakes 100?

• I'm going with the Nike Zegama 2 to go the distance and handle 11,700 feet of vert.
• This isn't the most aggressive trail shoe out there. 
• But it's perfect for the Mountain Lakes 100 course, which takes place primarily on the Pacific Crest Trail with well-established single-track trail.

If you’re looking for a versatile shoe that can handle both road and trail with ease, the Nike Pegasus Trail 5 works. It’s lighter, more forgiving, and great for those easier trail days or mixed-terrain runs. And I'll still run in this shoe.
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In the end, both shoes have their strengths—it just depends on whether your trail personality is more the smooth-easy-trail type or the run-with-Bigfoot type.

• I got another pair of Nike Zegama 2s about a week ago for Mountain Lakes 100.
• The Pacific Northwest is Bigfoot country. I'll see you out there.

Share yours in the comment or create a WeeView and tell us more about the Zegama, Pegasus Trail or other Nike trail running shoes.