Mizuno Men's Wave Inspire 18 Running Shoe

Product Information

The Expert: I became a runner in middle school and have covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist for InsideHook, Men’s Journal, and other outlets. I’ve written more about running shoes than any other kind of gear, and I have firsthand experience running in models from a range of brands. I first wrote this guide in 2018, and I have updated it regularly as Mizuno releases new shoes and running shoe tech. What to Consider When Shopping For Mizuno Running Shoes Mauris non tempor quam, et lacinia sapien. Mauris accumsan eros eget libero posuere vulputate. Etiam elit elit, elementum sed varius at, adipiscing vitae est. Sed nec felis pellentesque, lacinia dui sed, ultricies sapien. The Wave Sky is Mizuno’s super-plush shoe. While previous versions achieved a soft ride using a long list of foams, the Wave Sky 6 streamlines the cushion to save weight and showcase the brand’s latest midsole design, which sandwiches its Enerzy and Enerzy Core foams around a wave plate. All three components complement each other: The firm Enerzy foam provides support. The plush, but resilient Enerzy Core compresses to provide that plush feel. The wave plate, as always, stabilizes your foot and dissipates impact forces. Together, the foams and plate promote smooth transitions and create a notably soft, somewhat responsive ride.

Up top, a stretchy woven upper gives the Wave Sky 6 an accommodating fit, and generous placements of carbon rubber on the outsole ensure you’ll have plenty of grip and high-mileage durability. It gives runners a plusher on-foot experience while still providing the stable platform the brand’s shoes are known for. The Wave Sky 6 is a great choice for longer runs or recovery days when your feet could use a little extra love.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 18 First Impressions

The Inspire 19 does run a high 12mm drop which is noticeable. It helps greatly that the shoe transitions well, but this is clearly a higher drop shoe and best suited for those who prefer that. Though I typically enjoy something closer to 8-10mm, as I put more miles in the Inspire I didn't find it to be as much of an issue as I thought it might be. The Neo Wind is designed for speed training. In our testing, we found it feels best when pushed to tempo pace. The midsole features Enerzy Lite foam and a wave plate, both of which are made from castor beans. The result? The midsole serves up a firm sensation that’s ideal for speed, though it might feel too unforgiving for slower runs.

Mizuno didn’t make too many changes to the latest version of the Wave Inspire, which means if you enjoyed the previous version you’ll likely enjoy this one, too.Stability: A- ( The wave plate and heel counter do a great job providing guidance through the midfoot and heel.) This is Mizuno’s 18th variation of their classic stability training shoe. It makes its debut with some updates but stays true to its original design. The outsole is tough and grippy. I do a lot of hill running and have enjoyed having the combination of a aggressive outsole with wide forefoot to climb and descend hills. I didn't test it on ice, but it had no issues through wet weather.

One of the few Mizuno shoes without a wave plate, the Horizon 6 offers more softness than other shoes on the lineup, while still providing lots of support from the shoe’s shape. Unlike support shoes with a medial post, the wave-shape design doesn’t require a layer of firm, inflexible foam on the medial side of the midsole to support the foot. This allows the shoe to bend with the motion of your feet, creating a more natural running feel. The Horizon is also extremely durable, thanks to a carbon rubber outsole that will last run after run. From time to time carriers may deliver earlier or later, or on non working days however this is cannot be guaranteed nor should it be expected. To help guide a pronating foot, Asics scallops the Lite’s lateral (outer) edge while bolstering the foam’s medial side. The design helps the sole compress on landing, and then provides extra resistance as you roll to midstance. Wear-testers say the Lite 2 felt “light as feather” while still providing support and cushioning on their runs. One hangup was that the wider platform resulted in a looser fit around the midfoot, causing some testers to slide or scrunch their feet for a stabler hold on the footbed midrun.The Wave Inspire 18’s midsole also features a bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compound in the midsole. Traditional TPU foams are made with petroleum or natural gas, while Mizuno’s bio-based plastic is made from renewable materials. You can enjoy a smooth, cushioned ride while feeling good about your impact on the environment.

Posting: Typically on the medial side of the shoe, it is usually a denser piece of midsole that stiffens up an area to help prevent the foot collapsing. Posting can be done in a variety of ways.

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Like previous versions, the foams are cut into an asymmetrical wave shape, which causes the midsole to resist bending laterally. When you land, that stiffness helps counter overpronation in your stride. At the same time, the wave shape allows the shoe to flex from heel to toe, so it moves with your foot and promotes smooth transitions from landing to toe-off. ALDREN: While the Mizuno Wave Inspire 18 may never be the focal point in any running store’s shoe wall, I think it’ll stay an underrated shoe. If you’re looking for a stability model or a solid intro to running shoe, I recommend looking at this model. The midsole features a suite of Mizuno’s latest tech to help you power through your tempo runs and workouts. For cushioning, it features a combo of Enerzy and highly responsive Enerzy Lite foams for good energy return, with a specialized glass fiber wave plate that helps disperse impact forces and stiffens the shoe for increased stability and snap at toe-off. It has a 12mm drop for both men and women. This is a little on the higher side but I enjoyed wearing these on runs the day after I did a speed workout or when my calves just felt sore.