There comes that moment when you realize that you are, after all, of a certain age, and even though you’ve gone from Dr. Martens to Timberlands (or vice versa) rather nonchalantly, you begin to stop experimenting and find your own identity, which will tend to remain so for many years. That’s kind of how I see the Nike Pagasus Trail 3; a kind of adulthood in which we pull the oars in the boat and take stock.
In 2019
The first release (Nike Pegasus 36 Trail) was very racedy: it was for all intents and purposes a Pegasus 36 with a sole suitable for offroad digressions and a few minor tweaks in the upper structure.
In 2020
The second release (Nike Pegasus Trail 2) becomes a project entirely on its own: while retaining the racer spirit – indeed, enhancing it – it completely detaches itself from its road-going sister, even in name, and becomes only a distant relative. The sole is completely revised in both form and content (the Zoom foam gives way to the new React) and the upper becomes ultra-light and breathable, far too much so, giving up a few points in stability. It is definitely the flagship product of Nike’s trail department, so much so that we see it on the feet of a great many athletes on very different terrains. Dozens of colorations will follow-some more aperitif than trail-honestly one more beautiful than the other.
In 2021
The Nike Pegasus Trail 3 comes out quietly, rightly so in my opinion. No revolution, just experimenting. You take the best of the research and development of past years and try to capitalize on this expertise. The sole and midsole are identical to the previous version: this is a striking aesthetic feature, which is why a superficial glance might confuse the two models. The upper, on the other hand, is completely revised; ditched the wrap-around sock system (mistreated by most, I liked it) and returned to a more classic line, more like the first release and generally closer to the entire Pegasus line. We do, however, find a different lacing system and some details with reinforced stitching that definitely improve fit and stability (here a definite plus point: stability was the sore point of ver.2).
This shoe comes out so quietly-I said-so much so that this season on the feet of sponsored athletes we see almost exclusively the Terra Kiger, the more aggressive and faster trail model.
I have to admit that the launch color left me a little lukewarm, especially knowing how daring Nike is accustomed to be on these occasions. On the other hand, the women’s palette you see on this page is objectively a bomb, and the limited edition (also women’s) as well.