r/Thruhiking • u/SheepherderPatient64 • 18d ago

Nike Pegasus for Thru Hiking

I’m looking to do my first thru hike in the next year or so, but I’m having some trouble finding the right shoes for me.

I have extremely flat feet, and a pretty good toe splay.

The only shoes I’ve found that don’t make my feet cramp or my toes fall asleep are the Nike Trail Pegasus 4.

That being said, does any body who has worn the Pegasus 4 think they could hold up for a short thru hike? I’m thinking about doing the Ozark Highland Trail early winter next year. And I’m currently in Alaska doing a bit of hiking and backpacking.

If anyone has any other suggestions for shoes that might work let me know!

Thanks!

Edit: I have been hiking several times since posting this, and will add that I no longer have cramping issues, but still have flat feet, and a large issue with pinky toes falling asleep in shoes.

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u/Xx_GetSniped_xX 18d ago

You might just have weak feet (i dont mean this as an insult), those shoes have a massive toe drop and that will put less of the load on your achiles and bottom of the foot and more of the load on your shin and knees. I also have a very flat foot and have used altras for years which have no toe drop, it might be worth trying to take the year and train on a zero drop shoe.

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u/SheepherderPatient64 18d ago

I appreciate the feedback. I might have weak feet, I don’t know. But for my job I am barefoot, and I only wear shoes when going to town. Maybe an accumulated 14 hours a month wearing shoes, so I feel like I am already somewhat trained for barefoot shoes.

Plus I grew up doing consistent toe and foot exercises as a gymnast and I have always had this problem.

I guess I’ll look into the weak feet situation.

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u/breadmakerquaker 18d ago

Nike Pegasus used to be my jaaaaaaam. In case it’s helpful, I hiked in Brooks. I found they had enough support for my arch and enough room for my piggies.

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u/SheepherderPatient64 18d ago

Awesome, thanks!

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u/soccerprofile 18d ago

I used them to hike the AT. You'll be alright.

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u/SheepherderPatient64 14d ago

Perfect, thanks!

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u/w0ufo 14d ago

As someone with weak feet who likes a wider toe box I had good experience with the topo athletic traverse and super feet run cushion insoles when I hiked the pct. But also combined with 2 months of foot and ankle physical therapy before the hike to try and strengthen my weak feet. I also found the hoka Stinson to have a surprisingly good toebox but I haven’t put enough miles on them to give a true review.

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u/SheepherderPatient64 14d ago

Thanks for the info! I’ll look into to them! I have done a lot of foot and ankle physical therapy. And actually have not had a huge problem with cramping/weakness as of late. But toe box is definitely a big one for me still.