 Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 |
| Full Name: Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 |
| Category: Stability |
| Weight: 11.4 oz. ( gr.) |
| Suggested Price: $100 |
| Recommended For: Mild to moderate overpronators |
Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 General Info:
The Mizuno Wave Inspire returns for it’s seventh year updated for 2011. As Mizuno’s best selling stability shoe, the Wave Inspire 7 has an impressive legacy to live up to. The upper and midsole are completely revised as is the Dynamotion Fit. Mizuno continues to provide male and female specific models using their Gender Engineering design principles.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Sole Unit:
The heart of any Mizuno running shoe is the patented Mizuno Wave. The Mizuno Wave is a plastic device sandwiched into the midsole of the shoe that provides stability and shock dispersion. In the case of the Wave Inspire 7 the wave plate is designed to curb overpronation. Overpronation occurs when a runner’s foot rolls too far to the inside and places excessive force on the inner foot and arch.
The wave plate in the Wave Inspire 7 is carried over from the Wave Inspire 6. The most noticeable change in the sole unit is the new last that Mizuno designed for the Wave Inspire 7. The last is the fundamental shape of the shoe and is a primary factor in how it conforms to the foot. In recent Inspire models, Mizuno opted to use a roomier last which resulted in a looser fit for those accustomed to the earliest versions of the shoe. However, the last in the Wave Inspire 7 has been tightened up to provide the most secure heel and arch feel that the shoe has ever offered.
Mizuno also introduced their new midsole compound, called AP+, that provides better cushioning and resiliency against compression. Mizuno’s VS-1 cushioning foam is still featured in the heel. In the women’s version, Mizuno altered the heel angle to further help control overpronation and improve transition.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Upper:
Two new features are immediately noticeable in the Wave Inspire 7 upper.
First, Mizuno is using a very open and breathable mesh guaranteed to help keep feet cool in nearly all conditions.
Second, the overlays are now concentrated more towards the heel of the shoe, no doubt part of Mizuno’s plan to give this edition the best heel fit possible.
Also present is Mizuno’s updated Dynamotion Fit collar tab that helps the shoe collar maintain contact with the foot at strike-where the upper is under the most stress. Flex eyelets are present and help the shoe to move with the foot as it travels through toe-off. A cushy Ortholite sockliner is still standard equipment as in the Wave Inspire 6.
Wave Inspire 7 Medial
Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Opinion:
I have run in the Wave Inspire 2, 4, 5 and 6. I can say this without any reservation; this shoe has never been better. As a runner with flexible arches I demand a shoe that features solid arch support. As such, I was a fan of Mizuno’s narrower last in the early Inspire because it felt made for my foot. While I really liked subsequent versions of the shoe, I could never use them as my main long distance shoes because of the wider last and lower arch they employed.
Mizuno has a hit on their hands for 2011. There are many fans of the older Mizuno fit who will welcome this new Inspire. Everything is there: great fit, arch support, light weight and superb transition. Mizuno knows that a mistake on the Wave Inspire design would be disastrous and it’s quite obvious that great detail and careful attention to customers needs went into the design of this shoe.
In fact, I took my pair out of the box and took over a minute off of my personal best half-marathon time. If you need a stability shoe, do not miss this one.
Let us know what you think of this shoe in the comments!
Review by Theo Clyatt
Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Price Comparison:
 | Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 Shoes (white/solid Bronze) - Men's Shoes - 7.0 M shoes.com Free shippings, Free returns | $80.96 |
 | Mizuno Men's Wave Inspire 7 Running Shoe endless.com FREE overnight shipping, FREE return shipping (for 365 days). Ships internationally (FREE over 100$) | $89.95 |
 | Mizuno Wave Inspire 7 - Men's - Shoes - White Onlineshoes Free shippings, free exchanges, 365 days returns. | $99.95 |
11.4 oz!! That is HEAVY
Steph,
11.4 oz is for the men’s shoe. 8.9 oz is the women’s shoe.
Just bought these shoes last night (my first pair of running shoes, as I am new to running)… Tried on several different brands – Hated Adidas but LOVED the Mizunos – This surprised the salesman, since apparently they have a very similar fit. Great secure fit through the heel, roomy in the toes, and comfortable over the top of my foot (most “sneaker”-type shoes cause me a lot of top-of-the-foot pain). As soon as I got up for a test-jog around the store, I knew these were the ones! Felt great, and somehoe made me feel light on my feet – These shoes make me want to RUN! Had my inagural short run today – So far, so great! LOVE them!!
I just bought my 5th pair of Mizuno’s yesterday. I really like the arch support with these shoes since I have high arches. I don’t care if these shoes were bright neon pink; I’d buy them anyway for how they feel and how they perform on the street and track. I bought mine at Runners Den in Phx and Paid about $100.00
I highly suggest these shoes!
Just took my first pair of 7s out of the box and ran 2.5 miles in them tonight and then walked around in them. I’m a HUGE fan of the 5s and am finding that the heel cup is much higher all around and is leaving hot spots on both ankle bones. Not good. I’ll give them a little more time, but when I put my old Wave Inspire 5s next to the 7s, the difference is quite noticeable. These shoes may be too high cut for my feet.
I’m a novice/new runner; bought these based on the Inspire history. Walking was uncomfortable at best and I’d hoped the shoe would break-in. Loved the support they provided during my test runs, but the end result was an extremely painful ankle … After just 10 or 12 miles, I’d developed a bone bruise where the ankle meets the shoe because of the high and extremely rigid heel collar. Fortunately I was able to return them … but save yourself the hassle and get something else. Based on comments, I wish I could find some Inspire 6′s in my size. But alas, 14′s are hard to come by, so I will likely try the Adidas Supernova Sequence 3.
Dear S.E. I found a site with Inspire 6′s for sale, and they have limited sizes, but 14 was one of the available sizes. Try this link. I don’t know if the site is a good one, but you can take a look.
http://www.zappos.com/mizuno-wave-inspire-6-white-lime-punch-dress-blue
Hey nice blog bro! These shoes are stiff and ONE BIG SUCKS. Glad you like them, bro! Have a nice day, bro! Bye, bro!
I disagree. I’ve been a loyal wave inspire wearer for quite some time and this model (7) I find to be built very differently. Too stiff, too clunky, heel too high, and not as lightweight feeling as the other models. I’m disappointed.
One question. Why must this shoe have a hoof? It is guaranteed you’ll be picking out rocks if you happen to run over any.
I’ve used the 5 and 6 versions too, and I just bought this one. Running feels good so far, but I think I need to break em in more because the fit isn’t quite as perfect as it was for me for 5/6 and the heel does feel too high.
Have to agree with Sarah – the 7 has resulted in blisters and probably a lost toe nail – Hate them!!! Have a marathon Coming up and have restorted to searching the internet for Inspire 6′s!!! I would not recommend this version!!!
I’m really disappointed, having loved my Inspire 3′s and 5′s I didn’t think twice at parting with £90 for the 7′s a couple of weeks before a half marathon! I’ve only walked around the house in them and can already feel pain in my heal and ankle bone. I’ve measured them and the heal is a good half an inch higher! Just hope the shop have another show that suits me, sorry Mizuno I thought I was a life long fan, alas it seems not:(
I’ve been wearing this for several years…at least six pairs…I believe I have every model since the 3…typically, buy a new shoe and no issues, no blisters…very nice…this shoe has much more arch support…very noticeable right out of the box…I have a low arch….first 8 miler Ok but left my left arch a little sore…next run (12 miler) gave me a blister under right arch back towards the heel…NOT the same shoe…
Hi Mike – thank you for your comment! Do you have a low arch? Let us know how it works out for you and in case you switch to a new model let us know that too!
HI, compared to the inspire 5 and 6 this version runs the same size or different?