Mizuno Wave Inspire 5
	Full Name: Mizuno Wave Inspire 5
	Category: Stability
	Weight: 11.3oz (320 gr.)
	Suggested Price: 100$
	Recommended For: Over Pronators, Runners with low arches or flat feet

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 General Info:

After conquering the feet and the hearts of many runners with the previous four installations, Mizuno updates the Wave Inspire 5 without changing its DNA and – most important – without disappointing its loyal runners.

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 Sole Unit:

Atypically for a stability shoe, the first thing you notice when you look at the Wave Inspire 5 midsole is the absence of a medial post, the usually gray injection of a harder foam compound underneath the medial (internal) side of the arch.
Mizuno placed instead their trademark Wave system: an undulated plate in a plastic material (constructed with a plant oil, which is more environmental-friendly) that starts underneath the heel and runs across the whole width of the midsole right under the midfoot where it ends in a shank.
This system provides both cushioning and stability. The wave form absorbs the shock and progressively distributes it across the midsole; at the same time the wave returns a spring back that helps the heel-to-toe transition. As opposed to using shock absorbing materials such as air or gel, which are instable, the use of a plastic plate provides the shoe with exceptional stability.
Mizuno uses their VS-1 foam compound, which has added anti-compression proprieties and an adjustable hardness – harder in the heel and softer in the toe area, providing a flexible sole that doesn’t deform quickly.
Last word on the sole construction is the gender-specific engineering, in elements like the heel shape and the toe flex grooves.

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 Upper:

The upper of the Wave Inspire 5 has a supportive pattern of overlays especially in the heel and medial side and a very open mesh, especially in the toe box.
The fit is snug in the heel and roomy in the forefoot, it accommodates orthotics well.

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 Opinion:

We are great fans of this shoe. Everything about it is just right: immediately after putting it on you can feel its lightness and breathability. The Wave system successfully replaces the foam achieving a dramatic weight cut and adding underfoot breathability – which you don’t find often in stability or motion control shoes.
The ride is flexible and at the same time well supported – so supported that we definitely recommend it to runners with low arches or flat feet.
Last, at 100$, the Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 is great value for money.

UPDATE 2010: Read our Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 Review

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 Price Comparison:

Let us know what you think of this shoe in the comments!