by The Mizuno Shoe Guy
The mantra of Mizuno Running is a simple one: Never Settle. And we don’t.
Status quo is never good enough at Mizuno. What might have been good enough last year isn’t an option as our team of footwear designers and developers—both in the United States and Japan—is charged with constantly pushing the envelope. This is a must as the footwear industry is so competitive that styles, models and materials are constantly evolving into lighter, more comfortable running shoes.
In running footwear, either you innovate and improve or you get run over by the other companies that do. Resting on last season’s success—regardless of sales—isn’t something Mizuno ever does. Complacency isn’t part of our vernacular. Let’s face it, we are highly competitive professionals who are absolutely driven to bring you the best, most contemporary running footwear in the industry. We live and breathe this stuff and our designers simply wouldn’t be satisfied with anything than their best. That means we bring out new running shoes approximately every six months. Those new shoes are obviously critical to our continued success as your favorite brand of shoes.
Change is the lifeblood of running footwear, both at the corporate and retail level. Ironically, as runners, we generally don’t like change. We settle on a particular style of shoe which almost feels like it’s part of our foot and when that perfect shoe is replaced by a new and improved model, we feel a sense of loss. That’s completely understandable. A great running shoe which fits and feels perfect can be elusive and whenever it’s replaced, our natural inclination is to feel a sense of betrayal. Mizuno’s passionate customers feels this loss—perhaps–more than other brands because of our unique fit and ride characteristics. That’s a good thing because of the loyalty our customers have for the brand, but it’s not such a good thing when the replacement doesn’t meet the same high standards. Fortunately, this doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen. What may look great in drawings and initial designs, occasionally doesn’t measure up to the performance fit (usually it’s fit) of its predecessor.
More so than any brand, the Mizuno line has great tradition, continuity and consistency from shoe to shoe. The guts of our running line—the Wave Inspire and Wave Rider— are our two most popular shoes and both have been in the Mizuno line for nearly 20 years of unmatched performance. (The Inspire was available under a different name for several years.) But all shoes in the Mizuno line are routinely upgraded (generally every two years). If you have worn and loved a particular shoe, you are generally on safe ground when that shoe is updated and improved. It doesn’t always work out that way for every Mizuno runner, but usually it does.
Nevertheless, every shoe company is faced with the dilemma of standing pat with a popular shoe or moving on to a better product. Whenever a company decides to move on and discontinue a particular favorite, there are howls of protest. Mizuno is certainly not immune to that. In the past two years, we have introduced a new midsole material, more breathable mesh uppers, improved fit and comfort and lighter, more flexible shoes. But as part of that process, lightweight trainer-racers Wave Precision and Wave Elixir, racing shoes Wave Musha and Wave Ronin and and the ultra-supportive Wave Alchemy and Wave Nirvana were discontinued.
All shoes have been replaced by better models, but some confusion still exists among wearers of those shoes which is the best replacement. Hopefully this will clear it up.
– Oldies: Wave Precision and Wave Elixir. These twin lightweight gems were extremely popular due to their light, flexible rides. The Precision was a neutral, lightweight trainer-racer which had been in the Mizuno line for several years and runners flocked back to the store for every update. The Elixir was more supportive than the Precision, but also had the same great lightweight, flexible feel which runners came to love.
Newest: The Wave Sayonara (now Sayonara 2). First introduced in July, 2013 the Sayonara utilizes a lighter, more resilient midsole material (U4ic) and has a slightly lower heel to ramp (10 mm to the Elixir and Precision’s 12 mm). Thus, the Sayonara 2 is also more flexible than either of the earlier models and it’s just as supportive as the Elixir was (more so than the more neutral Precision). The Sayonara 2 also has the same responsive ride as the Elixir and Precision, making it more appropriate for fast-paced training and/or racing.
Advantages: Lighter, faster and more responsive. Better forefoot flexibility. Sayonara 2 is snugger through the midfoot than either the Precision or Elixir were.
– Oldies: Wave Alchemy and Wave Nirvana were very similar, ultra-supportive shoes that were termed “motion control.” That is, both shoes reduced overpronation with a Double Wave Plate. Although both shoes were state-of-the-art when they were introduced (the Alchemy in 2000), by 2014 they were considered heavy, bulky and ultra firm. Our designers knew they could better—and did they ever.
Newest: The Wave Paradox. Introduced in January, the Wave Paradox is just as supportive as the Alchemy and Nirvana were, but it’s significantly lighter and provides a much more cushioned ride, thanks to the new U4ic cushioning material. The Paradox also has a more streamlined, comfortable upper which breathes much better. Nirvana and Alchemy fans who have moved up to the Paradox have found the transition seamless.
Advantages: Lighter isn’t always better, especially for bigger runners who want loads of cushioning and support, but in the case of the Wave Paradox it is. With greatly enhanced cushioning and flexibility and a more responsive ride, the Paradox is unquestionably a better shoe than either the Alchemy or Nirvana.
– Oldies: The Wave Musha and Wave Ronin were exceptional lightweight road-racing flats. The Musha had a broader base of support than the Ronin which was more geared for ultra-efficient racers who demanded an extremely light shoe.
Newest: The Wave Hitogami. Our designers took the best of the Musha and Ronin and merged them into the Wave Hitogami which is also light, responsive and designed for the runner or racer who wants to fly. Once again, the U4ic midsole material provides lightweight cushioning (more than either the Ronin or Musha) and it has the same heel-to-toe ramp as the Musha and Ronin had ( 9 mm). Weighing in at 7.6 ounces for men and 6.3 for women, the Hitogami is slightly heavier than the Ronin was and about the same as the Musha.
Advantages: Cushioning. The Hitogami offers more cushioning, support and durability which absolutely makes it a more applicable shoe for a wider range of recreational racers than either the Musha or Ronin.