As the 19th version of the Wave Inspire, this is a very well-established shoe. Sitting in the support or control category, the new version features an updated Wave for control as well as the brand’s ENERZY foam cushioning.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 – First Impression
Before pulling on the shoe, I was impressed with the new upper of the Mizuno Wave inspire 19.
It immediately seems an improvement on the previous version, although that was ok.
It’s an engineered mesh design that has a very modern feel to it. Printed overlays provide shape and structure, and the heel collar is very plush and welcoming.
The ENERZY foam is softer and much more responsive, something that is often overlooked in support-type shoes.
The re-designed WAVE plate feels less obvious than in previous models but works well sandwiched between the ENERZY and regular foams.
The level of support is similar to the New Balance 860v13, Saucony Guide 16 and Brooks Adrenaline GTS22.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 – The Tech
Despite looking like a pretty ordinary support shoe, there’s plenty of tech packed in here!
The upper uses AIRmesh, a seamless engineered mesh design that allows great breathability and feels soft and plush around the foot.
The padded heel collar wraps over the top of the shoe and moves the seam onto the outside. This ensures no irritation around the heel and ankle.
The midsole uses the brand’s Mizuno ENERZY foam. This is the brand’s latest midsole material and although not as ‘springy’ as say Nike ZoomX foam it has a nice level of energy return without being unstable; perfect for a support-type shoe.
The Mizuno WAVE plate used in the midsole to provide control helps to stabilize the foot and control overpronation. While in this model it appears much smaller than in previous generations, when combined with the modern foams, it’s still as effective.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 – Road Test
Having run in several previous versions of the Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 I was pretty confident about pulling them on and taking them out for my mid-week ten-mile loop.
The ride was predictable and as expected, to be perfectly honest; nothing ground-breaking or unusual. The shoe provides effective support and as a plus point, this update does feel a little more responsive.
As the miles ticked by, I did notice the heel drop a little. At 12 mm, the Inspire 19 is now one of the higher-drop shoes around, with many shoes sitting at around 10 or even 8 mm in drop from heel to toe.
This wasn’t a problem, just noticeable, but then again, I do run in several shoes throughout the week.
The Inspire 19 is a daily trainer, so as such it covered distances ranging from 4 miles to 14 miles for me during my ‘test’ period. The pace was steady on these runs, ranging from around 8-minute miles down to low 6s.
The shoe is pretty happy at any of these speeds and, in fact, feels pretty good when the pace picks up.
I almost felt like the higher drop and the responsive feel from the ENERZY foam were rolling me down the road with a helping hand!
The support provided by the Wave plate works as well as ever in this shoe. Previous versions of the Wave Inspire felt like they were aimed at more moderate to severe over-pronators such was their level of control.
While the shoe is effective at controlling pronation, it may be advanced in the foams used, the shoe’s geometry, and the plate that are now combined to help keep the foot neutral.
Regardless, the new Inspire 19 is effective and feels smooth and unflustered with the wearer hardly noticing how the shoe provides control.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 – Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 remains one of the best all-around daily trainer support shoes on the market.
It’s well priced too, making this part of the market highly competitive and ultimately meaning we runners get great value for money.
As mentioned earlier, the nearest rival shoes are probably the New Balance 860v13, but I’d say the Mizuno is a little bit more responsive.
Another close competitor is the Saucony Guide 16. Both offer similar levels of ride and support, but I’d say again the Mizuno just sneaks it, being a little more durable.
As I said, it’s a competitive section of the market and all of the above are good contenders, it comes down to personal preference in terms of the best fit and feel for you.
