In this product guide:
- 1. Waterproof daily trainer: Nike InfinityRN 4 Gore-Tex
- 2. Waterproof road-trail hybrid: Nike Pegasus Trail 5 Gore-Tex
- 3. Waterproof daily trainer for winter: Nike Pegasus 41 Gore-Tex
- 4. Waterproof daily trainer for winter: Nike Winflo 11 Gore-Tex
- 5. Waterproof Gorp-core/Utility sneaker: Nike ACG Mountain Fly 2 GTX
- 6. Waterproof retro sneaker: Nike Air Max 90 Gore-Tex
- 7. Waterproof retro hiker: Nike ACG Torre Mid Waterproof
Nike ‘Shield’, if you recall, was a collection of water-resistant (not waterproof) running shoes with a specialized outsole meant for damp weather.
The Shield models have now been replaced with Gore-Tex versions that retain the cold-weather features from before. That also means that GTX Nike running shoes offer more winter-specific benefits than say, a Brooks Ghost 16 GTX or Hoka Clifton 9 GTX.
Taking a closer look at the InfinityRN4 GTX makes those benefits clear.
The InfinityRN 4 GTX uses a different upper and outsole than the regular model. The latter has a knit mesh upper over a standard rubber outsole.
Also, the GTX model has a Storm-Tread outsole rubber with excellent grip on wet roads. The upper is also optimized for cold weather; the fused overlays on the smooth mesh repel water. The padded tongue and heel use a softer mesh for an insulating effect.
Fit-wise, the upper is true to size.
Both versions of the InfinityRN 4 share the ReactX midsole, so the ride quality is identical. The versatile cushioning works for everyday runs across various speeds and distances.
Nike charges $20 extra for the Gore-Tex upper, but this shoe is often on sale.
The Pegasus Trail 5 is marketed as a trail shoe, but it’s a road-trail crossover that performs equally well in urban environments.
The absence of gaiter attachment points, rock shield, and low midsole stability limits its use to gentle slopes and flat trails.
Barring a few changes, it’s very similar to last year’s Pegasus Trail 4. Included in the changes are a rubber toe-bumper and better reinforcement on the upper midfoot.
The soft ReactX midsole makes everyday road and park runs comfortable. The outsole geometry isn’t aggressive, so technical terrain is off-limits. Also, the soft outsole offers no protection against pointy rocks and roots.
On the bright side, the shallow lugs are good for road runs and unpaved surfaces like gravel or chip trails.
Despite the Gore-Tex membrane, the upper is surprisingly supple – therefore making it a comfortable shoe for most use cases. The heel has a soft gaiter extension to prevent the debris from getting inside.
The said gaiter has an unintended effect – it makes the GTX upper fit shorter than the non-GTX model. For example, a US 10 in the GTX model fits the same as US 9.5 in the regular model.
The waterproofing is effective till the gusset attachment point, so this shoe keeps the feet dry on rainy days. Also, the React foam is sensitive to temperature changes and will stiffen during freezing winters.
This time, we don’t get the Shield version of the Pegasus, but a Gore-Tex model. That’s a good call by Nike; the market for waterproof running shoes is getting increasingly crowded, so mere water resistance (which the Shield had) no longer cuts it.
Nike also did the right thing by carrying over nearly all of the winter-specific features from the Shield models. For example, the Nike Pegasus 41 GTX has a special wet-weather outsole called Storm-Tread. It was previously used on the Pegasus Shield with proven performance on wet roads.
With the Gore-Tex membrane, the upper is waterproof to a certain extent. The upper has other weatherproofing elements like the ripstop mesh, insulated tongue, and sealed seam tapes. Low-light visibility is provided by the reflective trims on the upper.
There’s no sleeve like the regular Pegasus, so the GTX upper has a roomier fit. Yes, you read that correctly.
This model shares the ReactX midsole with the standard Pegasus 41, so the on-road performance is almost identical. Most of the cushioning is loaded under the heel, so this shoe works better for rearfoot strikers.
The stiff Zoom Air bags add stability in the front and rear. They work well together with the React foam to produce a versatile ride for everything from everyday miles (including tempo runs) to a half-marathon.
The Winflo 11 doesn’t have a React midsole as the Pegasus or InfinityRN do, but it is the softest it’s ever been.
The extra softness comes from the full-length Air bag and the thicker EVA foam midsole. There’s a foam insole under the foot as well. Together, these cushioning layers deliver a comfortable ride experience.
There are no stiff Zoom Air bags inside the Winflo, so its midsole is easier to compress than the Pegasus. We view the Winflo as the less expensive version of the InfinityRN 4. There’s plenty of cushioning for everyday miles, making this shoe a good value proposition.
The Gore-Tex version of the Winflo features a weatherized upper. The feature set includes a waterproof GTX membrane, quilted forefoot and tongue, and a wet-ready outsole that Nike calls Storm-Tread.
It’s good to see the Nike ACG line make a comeback. Short for ‘All Conditions Gear’, ACG was the default category for Nike’s outdoor footwear.
Today, the ACG assortment has a mix of retro-hiking and modern ‘Gorpcore’ silhouettes. The Mountain Fly is the latter; it uses outdoor elements, but is repurposed for urban use.
Many of those rugged features come in handy. The aggressive outsole design provides traction and protection, whereas the foam midsole provides all-day comfort. The upper is reinforced with a durable rubber bumper, TPU overlays, and long-lasting mesh. A toggle lacing and inner gusset keep the feet locked in.
Finally, a word on the upper fit and sizing. Because of the aggressive rubber bumper, there isn’t much space for the toes to move around.
This peculiar design makes the Mountain Fly feel like a shoe with short sizing, so this takes some time getting used to. The heel collar height also feels slightly lower than the norm.
Who would have thought? The Air Max 90 is now available in a waterproof Gore-Tex avatar. Over the years, we’ve seen many variants of the AM90, but never a waterproof one.
So here it is – the AM 90 Gore-Tex. Except for the prominent ‘Gore-Tex’ callout on the tongue and midfoot, the rest of the shoe is the Air Max 90 we’ve come to know. The midsole has the recognizable ‘Max Air’ window and the familiar cushioning softness that comes with it.
On top, the comfortable upper combines soft mesh with leather panels and molded detail for a secure fit. The thick waffle rubber outsole provides dependable grip and durability.
The Torre Mid is from Nike’s 90s archives. There’s not much to this retro hiker – a waterproof suede upper and Nylon panels come together to create a comfortable waterproof fit. The metallic lacing rings, invisible eyelets, and nappy suede panels bring the whole vintage look together.
The upper also gets an embroidered Swoosh and ‘acg’ logo – short for All Conditions Gear.
The ride comfort is delivered by the foam insole and low-profile EVA midsole. The grippy outsole uses V-shaped lugs made of recycled rubber that Nike calls regrind.