The latest update of the Wave Sayonara was released July 1. I couldn’t wait to get my pair and see what all the pre release fuss was about! The timing was perfect as my Sayonara 2’s were at my limit for switching shoes. I am pretty anal about replacing my shoes within 4-5 months of wear. I’m writing this review based on a runners perspective vs the technical side, as for most of us this is what is key when choosing our shoes….how the shoe feels on a run and of course how it looks! I think a lot of people occasionally or frequently choose their shoes based on colour, (C’mon we are all guilty of it …..) so whether a shoe has X material on the upper or midsole becomes less of a deciding factor for the masses. This being said, the material of the shoe and its construction are what makes the shoe great! If you are interested in the details of this, the information is on the Mizuno website under each shoe’s description so feel free to check into what this is all about. www.mizunocda.com/running
Upon first glance of the shoe, I noticed that the upper is primarily all mesh. Great news for added breathability and flexibility. I’m someone who has very wide and unstable feet so for me I felt this was a great addition. The laces are also wider, which helps to keep them tied up. Occasionally, like Houdini my laces would untie even when double knotted on my 2’s. This didn’t happen often and when it did I took it as a good opportunity to take a break:). Sort of like catching a welcomed red light! On the Wave Sayonara 3’s I feel like my unplanned breaks are a thing of the past.
The sole of the Sayonara 3 is thinner and slightly lower profile than the 2, however it did not affect the cushioning performance of the shoe. In fact, it feels more cushioned in the forefoot than the 2. Again my cranky feet like this! My orthotics fit nicely into the shoe which they do in any model I have run in to date.
Ok so the colours…….yeah they’re great. There is pink/black, and a purple/teal combos for women and for men it comes in red/black, electric blue/yellow/black or black/neon yellow. Either way Mizuno always hits the mark with great looking shoes. But it’s not about the colour right?
Now to review the ride as that’s really what runners want in a great shoe. As I stated above the first thing I noticed was the increase in forefoot cushioning. I’m a mid foot to forefoot runner so this was a welcome addition. I like to feel the ground in my shoes instead of feeling like I’m running on a pillow. The Sayonara 3 still gave me the ground feel and responsiveness I am accustomed to but it also had just an extra hint of protection for the ball of my foot. It’s a shoe that I do my comfortable paced and longer runs in and could also be used as a tempo shoe for someone who runs in a slightly more stable variation for their runs. I choose to wear the Wave Hitogami for my speed work and races. However, if I was racing a marathon or half marathon I would choose the Sayonara. It has enough protection for longer distances if you are a neutral runner or a fairly neutral runner who wears orthotics. I also noticed it has retained that lightweight peppy feeling on toe off that I like about the previous versions.
All in all the Wave Sayonara 3 is a fabulous shoe! If you’ve worn previous versions or were a big fan of the now replaced Wave Precision you won’t be disappointed. Alternatively, if you are currently wearing a more stable model and want to try something a bit lighter that still retains some ground protection give the new Sayonara 3 a try! Mizuno has hit it out of the park with this one! Watch the video shot in Toronto about the Sayonara 3 here: https://youtu.be/H46x41tKwJs
Elise Yanover
Elise is a long time competitive amateur triathlete and Physiotherapist with 20+ years experience treating runners and athletes of all kinds. She also has an online coaching business for runners and triathletes looking to reach that next distance goal or PB. She is very passionate about biomechanics in running and does gait analysis and shoe recommendations as part of her practice. Elise also has a self admitted running shoe and apparel fetish. She is mom to an active 10 year old girl and is married to a man who also runs and races. Follow me on twitter (@eliseyanover) or email me (elise.yanover@gmail.com) if you have any questions!
