Accented colors, and a stylish outlined Nike swoosh complete a package that strikes a balance between runner sleek and everyman inviting. Nike also delivers a tweaked lacing system webbing near the lacing leads to a tight-yet-friendly fit.

The material feels a bit more plush, and ever-so-slightly softer when you put your foot in, and a more generous tongue completes the look. The Peg 38s, however, deliver a more inviting look, looking comfortable as a running shoe, but not out of place as a general workout shoe or a shoe for a leisurely Friday night. Last year’s Pegs looked very distinctly like a running shoe, seemingly drawing heavy inspiration from Nike’s hardcore runners.

Where the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 sneaker takes the biggest step forward is with the overall look. You can feel the ground in these shoes, and you get to feel explosive with each and every stride. The running experience is best described as “fluid.” You get oodles of comfort and solid cushioning from the Peg 38s, without sacrificing responsiveness. The heel also feels a bit tighter, which is a good thing last year’s Pegs didn’t quite lock down the back of my foot in the shoe. The toebox has been opened up slightly last year’s felt ever-so-slightly cramped and pinched down on the outsides of my feet. That means you’re still getting React and Zoom Air in that sole, but Nike makes other tweaks for better comfort above that. The Peg 38s build on last year’s innovation, making tweaks to that same design. But the ride proved steady and responsive. The end result looked more like some of Nike’s specialized running shoes, and, initially, it made me nervous. Then last year, actually, Nike began making drastic changes to the Pegasus, dropping its ultra-springy React foam into the shoe (instead of the older but steady Cushlon) shifting to a forefoot Air unit, and tweaking the outer design.

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