Mizuno Wave Inspire 6
	Full Name: Mizuno Wave Inspire 6
	Category: Stability
	Weight: 11.0oz (320 gr.)
	Suggested Price: 100$
	Recommended For: Over Pronators, Runners with low arches or flat feet who still want a cushioned ride

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 General Info:

Latest update of a very successful franchise, the Wave Inspire 6 is a stability shoe that surprises for its light weight and flexibility. Slightly lighter than its predecessor, it is one of the reference shoes in its category.

UPDATE 14 dec 2010:we have reviewed the Mizuno Wave Inspire 7

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 Sole Unit:

If you found yourself comfortable with the Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 then we have good news for you: the sole unit of the Inspire 6 is the same as last year’s.
The key element of this sole unit is the Wave unit, Mizuno’s trademark technology that delivers both cushioning and stability. A traditional running shoe has a midsole which is composed by foam materials; cushioning is obtained by adding a softer material usually below the heel and/or the forefoot (be it Gel bags, Air capsules etc) – stability is obtained by adding an insert of harder foam under the arch of the foot. The Mizuno Wave is an ondulated plate of plastic material that is inserted in the midsole. The plate disperses the forces of the impact throughout the whole lenght of the midsole providing cushioning. The wave form itself acts as a skeleton inside the midsole foam, providing the stability element. On top of that, the use of plastic allows Mizuno to carve out entire areas of the midsole, considerably reducing weight.

This said, the Wave Inspire 6 also incorporates some more traditional cushioning technologies such as the insert of the VS-1 material under the heel and the use of AP midsole (Mizuno’s mix of foam).

Gender engineering is achieved by a different design of the outsole “pods” and flex grooves (the horizontal carves that help flex the forefoot during the toe-off) between the mens and the womens version.

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 Upper:

The upper also contributes to the flexible, lightweight feeling of the Wave Inspire 6. Only a few essential overlays – slightly more than the ones on the Inspire 5, particularly on the medial (internal) side of the heel and the Mizuno logo lock the foot into position. The mesh used for the upper is very open and breathable.
On the inside we can find the Ortholite sockliner, anatomically shaped, treated with anti-microbial materials to prevent bad odours and removable in case you need to fit custom insoles.

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 Opinion:

We praised the qualities of the Wave Inspire last year, and we can only confirm our opinion. This is not a stability shoe for the heavy over-pronator. It is lightweight, deconstructed and flexible. But still it offers a very reasonable support for the mild over-pronator or for the runner who tends to pronate more when the mileage increases. At 100$ it is a dangerous competitor for the Asics GT 2150 and the Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 13.

• Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 Price Comparison:

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