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Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 review

7 expert score
0 user's score
As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples. We purchased this pair at Running Warehouse with our own money.
Review written on 19th April by Jeremy Yoder Jeremy Yoder lives in Marietta, PA with his wife and 2 kids. In an earlier life, he used running to stay fit for his soccer career, where he was a co
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Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 Verdict

The Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 will provide balance and moderate stability to keep your legs fresh on those long runs. If you’re just getting into running, they will provide adequate cushioning to help avoid injury, so that you can gradually increase your miles.

The pros

  • Breathable stylish upper
  • Durable rubber and excellent traction
  • Responsive yet supportive midsole
  • Reasonable price for what you get

The cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Not for moderate to fast pace running


Rating breakdown

Comfort
7.0
Build quality
8.0
Upper
8.0
Sole unit
7.0
Landing
6.0
Transition
6.0
Toe-off
7.0
Traction
8.0
Durability
8.0
Value / Price
8.0

Facts / Specs

Brand
Model
Wave Inspire 19
Family
Previous model
Type
Weight
10.7 oz (303 g)
MSRP
$140.00

Heel
mm.
Toe
mm.
Heel drop
12 mm.
Carbon plate
Plate in other materials

Size/Fit

Sizing
True to size
Heel fit
Normal
Midfoot fit
Normal
Toebox fit
Wide

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Responsive/balanced
Amount of cushioning
Highly cushioned
Stability
Very stable
Flexibility
Rigid

Usage

Racing
Speedwork
Daily training  
Long distance racing
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 ?

The Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 is ideal for someone looking for a daily running shoe that can withstand a lot of miles. In addition, the midsole features might attract runners needing extra support for overpronation.

Who should not buy the Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 ?

Runners looking for a light shoe for fast paced runs will want to avoid this shoe. Also, anyone looking for a shoe with minimal drop should look elsewhere.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 Introduction

Picture of Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

As the name states, the Mizuno Wave Inspire is on its 19th edition. Any shoe that has this many iterations is worth considering.

The latest version includes a redesigned supportive plate, called MIZUNO WAVE, running through the midsole. The WAVE plate is much improved from the Wave Inspire 18 and does more to roll your foot forward and transition your next step. This shoe sits firmly in the daily trainer category, as well as being a choice for runners that tend to overpronate.

At a price point of $140, this feels like a shoe that will last for a lot of miles. It is very well built which is why folks should feel good about paying for it.

A comparable shoe to the Wave Inspire 19 is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22. Both are high-stack, stability shoes that are almost identical in weight and price.

The Wave Inspire 19 weighs in at 10.6 oz (size 9) and has a 12mm heel-to-toe drop.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 First Impressions

Picture of Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

When opening the box for the first time, I immediately noticed the bright and bold colors. Holding the shoes in my hand, they felt a bit heavy and stiff, but more on that later. It was impossible to miss the MIZUNO WAVE plate in the center of the midsole.

On my feet, the shoes felt snug, but I was not overly impressed with the comfort. I would not wear these shoes to walk around all day. For me, this was strictly a training shoe.

My first run in the Wave Inspire 19s was 5 miles and a word to describe it was smooth. They were firm, yet supportive and did not feel as heavy as I previously mentioned. It was evident that I was running in a more supportive shoe than my typical go-to neutral shoes.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 Upper

Picture of Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

The Engineered Mesh upper was the biggest surprise to me. It was snug and very breathable which made running in warm weather all the more enjoyable. Built with seamless fabric, I had no concerns about rubbing or blisters. There was also the right amount of stretch in the fabric, so I didn’t feel like my feet were restricted.

Mizuno designed the fit for a slightly wider toe box and a narrower heel. This allows for movement and security in all the right places. Lacing on this shoe is pretty standard, other than the fact that the laces seemed extra long.

The tongue is an interesting feature of the shoe. It’s longer than most and has more padding but none of that seemed to affect the performance or comfort. A feature that I did like about the tongue was that the fabric wrapped around your foot and connected at the insole. This prevented it from sliding down or from side to side. It also added to the overall secure feel.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 Sole Unit

Picture of Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

The Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 uses MIZUNO ENERGY foam in the midsole. Mizuno describes this as “a material that delivers excellent softness and rebound next to being very durable.”

The midsole also includes the MIZUNO WAVE plate which was designed for superior cushioning and stability.

The combination of materials in the midsole resulted in less foot and leg soreness during and after long runs. The design of the WAVE plate helps guide your foot from impact to push off, to avoid overpronation.

Picture of Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

Most of my runs in this shoe were between 5 and 10 miles, which is where this shoe shines. I did however do some faster paced tempo runs and a few 5Ks. This is where things went sideways. With the support and 12mm heel to toe drop, my stride felt forced and any natural gait was lost. There was a lack of freedom and smoothness that I’ve had with neutral running shoes that I did not get from the Wave Inspire 19s.

The sole of the shoe consists of Mizuno’s X10 carbon rubber material which is a staple in many of their shoes. The traction performed as expected on pavement in both wet and dry conditions and held up to a bit of grass, dirt and gravel. In addition to the traction, after 50+ miles there is little to no sign of wear on the rubber.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 Conclusions

Picture of Mizuno Wave Inspire 19

To conclude, if you’re in the market for a daily trainer with stability features, look no further. This shoe will withstand many miles and can be used as a singular training shoe or for recovery runs, depending on your need. Mizuno makes quality footwear and the Wave Inspire 19 is no exception.

How does the Wave Inspire 19 compare?

Brooks Glycerin GTS 20
Mizuno Wave Inspire 19
Asics Gel Kayano 29
Expert score
9
7
9
User score
Best price
Retail price
US$160
US$140
US$159.95
Shoe type
Weight
10.5 oz
10.7 oz
10.5 oz
Heel Drop
10 mm
12 mm
12 mm
Recommended for
Daily training
Daily training
Daily training, long distance racing
Cushioning type
balanced
responsive/balanced
balanced
Cushioning amount
Highly cushioned
Highly cushioned
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
medium
rigid
medium
Stability
very stable
very stable
very stable
Sizing
true to size
true to size
true to size

Why you can trust us

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Mizuno at Running Warehouse  with our own money.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our policy.

Reviewed by Jeremy

This review was written by Jeremy Yoder on 19th April.
Jeremy Yoder lives in Marietta, PA with his wife and 2 kids. In an earlier life, he used running to stay fit for his soccer career, where he was a collegiate All American. Jeremy is an avid hunter and now running keeps him prepared for outdoor advendutres. He and his wife Olivia enjoy competing in trail races in the mountains of Pennsylvania. If he could pick, every run would be on a trail run but when life gets busy, the road will do just fine.

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