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Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 review

8 expert score
8.3 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 07th October by Paul Soriano Paul Soriano is an avid runner who enjoys racing and meeting fellow runners.
12 other reviews

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Verdict

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is a "super" trainer that has the feel of a race day shoe along with the durability that will last. If you are looking for a valuable shoe that can take on any task, this can be a quality option.

The pros

  • Price for a "super" trainer
  • Durability on the outsole
  • The unique geometry of the midsole
  • Dual Layer midsole of Mizuno Enerzy Lite+ and Enerzy

The cons

  • Heel striking can be an issue.
  • Upper on the toe box can cause some irritation.
  • Stability of the midsole

Rating breakdown

Comfort
7.0
Build quality
8.0
Upper
6.0
Sole unit
9.0
Landing
8.0
Transition
8.0
Toe-off
8.0
Traction
9.0
Durability
10
Value / Price
9.0

Facts / Specs

Brand
Model
Wave Rebellion Flash 2
Weight
8.6 oz (244 g)
MSRP
$170.00

Heel
47 mm.
Toe
46.5 mm.
Heel drop
0.5 mm.
Carbon plate
Plate in other materials

Size/Fit

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

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Balanced/plush
Amount of cushioning
Highly cushioned
Stability
Not particularly stable
Flexibility
Rigid

Usage

Racing  
Speedwork  
Daily training
Long distance racing  
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 ?

If you are looking for an all-around shoe that you can train in and race in this is the ideal shoe. And at only $170 USD, you won’t be breaking the bank compared to other super trainers or race day shoes such as the Adidas Prime X Strung or the Nike Alphafly.

Who should not buy the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 ?

If you run with your heel this is probably not the shoe for you. The geometry of the heel being cut off will be a hard adjustment for those heel strikers.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Introduction

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is a “super” training shoe that has been redesigned from the previous model with the inspiration of the Wave Rebellion Pro 1.

The Wave Flash 2 can be utilized as both your workout shoe and possibly your race day shoe. At only $170 USD, this shoe can be a valuable option if you don’t want to break the bank with the Wave Rebellion Pro lineup or any other race day shoe.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 First Impressions

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2

My first impressions as I opened the box were that there was A LOT of midsole going on. The geometry of the midsole was something unique. As I tried them on, I definitely felt the shoe wanting you to use your midfoot right away.

If you try to lean back with your heel it will feel like you’re falling off a cliff or something because of the cutout of the back of the midsole.

My first run I did a 17 miler at a steady pace (6:40 per mile/4:09 per km) and I noticed halfway through my run feeling some irritation on the top of my right lateral toes.

When it comes to my first impressions of the ride of the midsole itself, I tried running on both my midfoot and forefoot to see if there was a difference of feel between the two.

And sure enough, both strides had a very different sensation underfoot.

Overall, I was looking forward towards putting more miles in the shoe and testing the shoe out in various ways.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Upper

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2

The upper of the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 uses an engineered mesh and is very light and breathable. The upper is also translucent as it gives you a nice race day feel to it.

There are some designs on the outer layer that do provide some sort of structure for the upper. The shoe fits true to size as I had no major issues with it feeling too snug or loose.

However, with that being said, my first run in the shoe the toe box area on my right lateral toes seemed to be feeling some irritation with the inner layer mesh material rubbing into them.

Since then, I’ve had to tape up my toes to prevent any hot spots or blisters from happening.

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2

The shoe lacing system and the shoelaces itself are pretty standard with no issues. Mizuno did not get too high tech with that part of the upper.

The tongue is not gusseted and is very thin with little to no padding. I was afraid that it might move or fold in but so far it hasn’t.

The heel counter itself uses a hard cover inside the outer material that makes it not pliable. It is very structured and does provide enough padding for your heel to feel locked and comfortable.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Sole Unit

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 uses a dual layer midsole that actually balances well together. The top layer uses what they call ENERZY LITE+, a PEBA base material that is really soft and forgiving underfoot.

The bottom layer of the midsole uses their ENERZY compound, which is not as forgiving, and more firm compared to the ENERZY LITE+. And finally, sandwiched in between the midsoles is a fiber glass wave plate that is designed in a way to make the ride snappier as you transition into your strides.

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2

The outsole uses G3 Rubber that covers almost the entirety of the outsole with the exception of the canyon that is at the center of it. The canyon on the outsole is due to shedding weight and exposes the fiber glass wave plate.

Just watch out catching a “hitchhiker”, as I had a rock stuck in the canyon of the outsole during my runs. After running 71 total miles on the shoe (as of right now), I see no wear on the rubber and see the durability of the shoe as one of its strong points.

The grip of the outsole is really good as I was able to race a full marathon in the rain with no issues with them. Besides testing the shoes out in the rain, I have also tested the shoes out on the track, dirt, grass, concrete, and cement and seems to do well on all the terrains.

Overall, the ride of the shoe has a nice plush feeling as you land. I found that if you land on you midfoot you get a sense of bounciness and responsiveness. And if you land on your forefoot the “Smooth Speed Assist” rocker in the front area of the shoe gives you an aggressive rollover on your toe off.

The midsole not as bouncy compared to the Nike Zoom X nor as too plushy as the New Balance FuelCell, but the sensation is somewhere in between.

Since the heel is cut off and if you are heel striker, this shoe will be problematic for you. The entire sole unit wants you to either land on your midfoot or your forefoot.

As far as it goes with the stability of the shoe, that can be a concern since the stack height is pretty tall (34mm forefoot/35mm heel). The midfoot and heel section is pretty narrow so take precaution when you are taking sharp turns.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Conclusions

Picture of Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2


In conclusion, I have to say that the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is a reliable “super” trainer that can pretty much do it all; your long runs, intervals, tempos/threshold, and on race day.

Although I didn’t really mention anything about the weight, it is on the heavier side at 243 grams with a US men’s size 9.

I honestly couldn’t tell the difference when it came to weight and wasn’t really a concern for me. The more I ran in them, the more convinced I was that this shoe was a great alternative if you are looking for a shoe that you can race in without breaking the bank.

The midsole uses high quality materials, and the outsole rubber will give this shoe some serious durability.

If I had the chance to purchase this shoe again, would I? And the answer is yes!

I know the geometry of the midsole is very unique and something to get used to, but once you do it is a fun ride.

How does the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 compare?

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2
Expert score
7
8
8
User score
Retail price
US$250
US$169.95
US$179.95
Weight
7.6 oz
8.6 oz
9.7 oz
Heel Drop
2 mm
0.5 mm
6 mm
Recommended for
Racing, speedwork
Racing, speedwork, long distance racing
Speedwork, daily training
Cushioning type
balanced
balanced/plush
balanced/plush
Cushioning amount
Highly cushioned
Highly cushioned
Highly cushioned
Flexibility
rigid
rigid
medium
Stability
not particularly stable
not particularly 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.
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$138

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 price comparison

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Reviewed by Paul

This review was written by Paul Soriano on 07th October.
Paul Soriano is an avid runner who enjoys racing and meeting fellow runners. Paul started running back in late 2017 as just a hobby that can keep him active and healthy. As he kept running his race times improved. A few years later he would debut in his first marathon and Boston qualify. Paul loves running shoes and is obsessed with finding the best shoes out in the market. He’s tried out a variety of brands from Nike to domestic brands such as Xtep.

User feedback (3)

  • avatar-comment-1041010
    Craig
    3 days ago
    8 score

    Excellent at moderate paces for me, when landing midfoot and letting the geometry and foams do some of the work.

    You’ll need strong ankles tho as it will put some work into your lower legs

  • avatar-comment-1037918
    MTS
    4 months ago
    10 score

    Just trying to offset the unuseful rating of 1 that references a typo in the article rather than the shoe itself.

  • avatar-comment-1035948
    Karl
    7 months ago
    7 score

    Great underfoot feel and propulsion but heel rubs like no shoe I’ve ever had. It’s like they made it from sandpaper!

Lowest price:
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