Can I go straight from the Nike Pegasus 38 to the Pegasus 40 and skip the Pegasus 39?

Yes. Going Pegasus 38 to Pegasus 40 skips the Pegasus 39, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: React foam with a forefoot Zoom Air unit to React foam with Zoom Air units under heel and forefoot.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.6 oz off in total, 10.2 oz to 9.6 oz in a men's US 9. The Pegasus 39 took it to 9.3 oz first.

Is the Pegasus 39 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 9.3 oz against 10.2 oz for the Pegasus 38 and 9.6 oz for the Pegasus 40, on a 33 mm heel and a $130 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Pegasus 39 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Pegasus get taller between the Pegasus 38 and the Pegasus 40?

Heel stack went 28 mm to 33 mm, by way of 33 mm on the Pegasus 39. Drop held at 10 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.

Where does the Pegasus 40 sit in the Pegasus lineup now?

Two versions on from the Pegasus 38, and already replaced itself: the Pegasus 41 arrived in 2024. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Pegasus 40 against it before deciding.

Nike Pegasus 38 vs Pegasus 40

Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 2 years separate the Nike Pegasus 38 from the Pegasus 40. Net change: 0.6 oz lighter, 5 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $10 more at list. Neither update in between changed what the Pegasus is, so this is the same shoe refined twice rather than a new one.

Nike Pegasus 38Sizes running outMen's at Amazon
Nike Pegasus 40Men's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Pegasus 38 · 2021

Pegasus 40 · 2023

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Pegasus 38 to Pegasus 392022Refined, same shoe
Pegasus 38 vs 39 What replaced the Nike Pegasus 38?
Step 2Pegasus 39 to Pegasus 402023Faithful successor
Pegasus 39 vs 40 What replaced the Nike Pegasus 39?

Pegasus 38 vs Pegasus 40: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Pegasus 38	Pegasus 40
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	10.2 oz	9.6 oz
Widths	D, 2E, 4E	D, 2E, 4E
Upper	Padded engineered mesh with a wider toebox and a traditional tongue	Softer engineered mesh with a redesigned midfoot band
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	28 mm	33 mm
Forefoot stack	18 mm	23 mm
Drop	10 mm	10 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	React foam with a forefoot Zoom Air unit	React foam with Zoom Air units under heel and forefoot
VALUE
List price at launch	$120	$130

Or buy the Pegasus 39 instead?

The Pegasus 39 is the value play if you find it discounted. It carries most of what the Pegasus 40 added while selling as an older model, and moving one version at a time is the smaller adjustment.

Buy the Pegasus 39

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Nike Pegasus 38 to the Pegasus 40 and skip the Pegasus 39?: Yes. Going Pegasus 38 to Pegasus 40 skips the Pegasus 39, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: React foam with a forefoot Zoom Air unit to React foam with Zoom Air units under heel and forefoot.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.6 oz off in total, 10.2 oz to 9.6 oz in a men's US 9. The Pegasus 39 took it to 9.3 oz first.
Is the Pegasus 39 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 9.3 oz against 10.2 oz for the Pegasus 38 and 9.6 oz for the Pegasus 40, on a 33 mm heel and a $130 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Pegasus 39 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Pegasus get taller between the Pegasus 38 and the Pegasus 40?: Heel stack went 28 mm to 33 mm, by way of 33 mm on the Pegasus 39. Drop held at 10 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
Where does the Pegasus 40 sit in the Pegasus lineup now?: Two versions on from the Pegasus 38, and already replaced itself: the Pegasus 41 arrived in 2024. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Pegasus 40 against it before deciding.