What replaced the Nike Pegasus 38?
Updated July 1, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Pegasus 39 replaced the Pegasus 38 in May 2022. It cut close to an ounce of weight, added a second Zoom Air unit under the heel, and slimmed the midfoot fit.
At a glance
- The Pegasus 39 is 0.9 oz lighter
- 5 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Pegasus 38 vs 39.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe 39 got almost an ounce lighter without changing what the shoe is. The ride picked up a little heel bounce and nothing else moved. Wide-footed runners are the only group with a real complaint, since the midfoot wrap got snugger.
Stick with the Pegasus 38 if
- You need the roomier midfoot; the 39 wraps snug even in D width
- Old-stock 38s drop under $100 in your size
Move to the Pegasus 39 if
- You want the same shoe, almost an ounce lighter
- You heel strike and will actually feel the new heel Zoom Air unit
Where the Nike Pegasus is now
Four generations separate the Nike Pegasus 38 from the Pegasus 42 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- Weight is unchanged
- 9 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $25
What loyalists said about the update
The 39 landed well. Long-time Pegasus runners called it the best version since the 36, and most criticism aimed at the thinner outsole rubber wearing faster, not at the ride.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Pegasus 38 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Women's stock is gone.
Availability last checked Jul 1, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Pegasus 39, these come closest to what the Pegasus 38 did.
- 9.6 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 33 mm heel
- $130 list
The closest thing to the 38's firm React ride that is still easy to buy. Same 10 mm drop, same foam family, and Amazon still carries a deep size run.
Against your Nike Pegasus 38: 0.6 oz lighter, 5 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $10 more at list.
- 10.2 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 36 mm heel
- $150 list
If you are open to leaving Nike, the Ghost matches the 38's everyday role with a slightly softer landing and a fit that runs true.
Against your Nike Pegasus 38: the same weight, 8 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $30 more at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
Similar balanced firmness at the same list price. You give up the Zoom Air forefoot and 2 mm of drop.
Against your Nike Pegasus 38: 1.3 oz lighter, 10 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $25 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Nike Pegasus 38 still available?
- Partially. Men's sizes still turn up on Amazon, but women's stock is gone. If your size shows up, decide quickly; discontinued stock only shrinks.
- Is the Pegasus 39 a downgrade from the Nike Pegasus 38?
- No. Most runners rate the Pegasus 39 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much lighter is the Pegasus 39?
- 0.9 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 9.3 oz against the Nike Pegasus 38's 10.2 oz.
- Is the Nike Pegasus still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Nike Pegasus 42, released in 2026, 4 versions on from the Nike Pegasus 38.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Nike Pegasus 38?
- The Nike Pegasus 40. The closest thing to the 38's firm React ride that is still easy to buy. Same 10 mm drop, same foam family, and Amazon still carries a deep size run.