Best Mizuno Running Shoes 2023

Mizuno was founded on the belief that a passion for sports, no matter the level, encourages everyone to push their limits and be a better version of themselves. Mizuno designs shoes to help make that happen.

Known for a smooth ride, high-quality support and a commitment to using recycled and sustainable materials, Mizuno’s continuous development of the best running shoe technology lights the road ahead. With some of the most popular running shoes on the market every year, Mizuno is a great brand for beginners and experts alike.

From shoes that can soak up most of your training miles to race-day models that you bust out to set a new PR, the best Mizuno running shoes will help you reach your goals.

[This article is part of the Fleet Feet Buyer's Guide for The Best Running Shoes 2022. Find all the best running shoes from the top brands for all situations.]

The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 is as consistent and comfortable as they come, which is exactly what you need from an everyday running shoe.

The Wave Rider 26 features Mizuno Enerzy foam for a cushioned, bouncy ride and smooth transitions. Designers paired the Enerzy foam with a bio-based wave plate embedded in the midsole that helps to support your foot and propel you forward.

The new jacquard mesh upper is light, breathable and hugs your foot in all the right places as you tick off the miles. Both the upper and outsole are durable enough to last through daily miles and light enough to wear on race day.

Read more in our Mizuno Wave Rider 26 review.

Float away on the Mizuno Wave Horizon 6.

The Horizon 6 features a Foam Wave that both gives the shoe a floating feeling and provides stability. To do that, Mizuno changed the shape of the waves on each side of the shoe. The rectangular waves on the medial side (instep) compress less than the rounded waves on the lateral side (outside), creating the stability overpronators need.

Mizuno also made the base of the Horizon 6 wider than other models and wrapped the outsole up on that medial side. The upper has a tighter knit weave in strategic places that you need support, all to make the shoe more stable.

The floating feeling comes from a strip of Enerzy Core foam set into the shoe. The foam is softer and bouncier than the surrounding material, which gives it the easy riding sensation.

Read more in our Mizuno Wave Horizon 6 review.

If you want a soft, smooth ride, the Mizuno Wave Sky 6 is the perfect shoe for you.

Mizuno designed the Wave Sky 6 with two of its top foam compositions: Mizuno Enerzy and Mizuno Enerzy Core. Mizuno Enerzy is the slightly firmer of the two foams for a more versatile ride, while Enerzy Core is the softest and springiest composition in Mizuno’s lineup. Combined, the two foams deliver a supremely soft and bouncy ride with transitions that feel as smooth as silk.

With a smooth, stretch woven upper, this shoe has an adaptive and secure fit. The Mizuno Wave Sky 6 is one of the best Mizuno running shoes for runners craving a cushioned ride.

Read more in our Mizuno Wave Sky 6 review.

The Mizuno Wave Inspire is a tried and true stability shoe that runners of all levels love. The Wave Inspire 19 features more cushion and improved support to give you a better ride.

Mizuno uses its Wave Plate technology to dial-up certain attributes. In the Wave Inspire, the Wave Plate creates added stability by dispersing weight evenly across the shoe without feeling overly rigid. This is ideal for people who have flexible arches or overpronation.

Mizuno incorporated even more Mizuno Energy foam into the midsole to provide responsive cushioning that lasts through daily training and wear. The shock absorption that the Mizuno Energy foam provides adds to the smooth and stable feel of the shoe and makes it a favorite.

The Wave Inspire 19 is available in two different uppers, a traditional mesh upper and a more streamlined, smooth stretch-woven upper, so you can pick the look, fit and feel that works best for you.

Read more in our Mizuno Wave Inspire 19 review.

The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro was designed to be light, fast and efficient to help you reach top speeds on race day. Everything about this shoe is streamlined to help you get to the finish line faster—the upper is lightweight, and it uses Mizuno’s ENERZY LITE midsole material that is responsive and ultra light.

The geometry of the shoe is designed to propel you forward with the rocker-like SmoothSpeed Assist design and reinforced carbon plate. The Wave Rebellion Pro also has an outsole that provides grip in wet conditions or while turning corners and is made with recycled materials.

Get ready for extra fast training in the lightweight Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash. This shoe has a glass fiber reinforced plate that gives you extra spring in your step and leads to faster transitions.

The shoe combines Mizuno’s ENERZY LITE and ENERZY foam to provide a bouncy, cushioned ride that doesn’t weigh you down, while the G3 PU outsole material gives you excellent traction for the roads. This snappy fast shoe will have you cruising through your speedwork on your way to race day.

The Mizuno Wave Mujin 9 will have you ready to tackle the trails. It uses Mizuno’s lightweight ENERZY foam that can be found in its road line-up to bring that same softness and spring off-road.

The outsole provides amazing traction and support with the Michelin rubber and TPU panel on the side, so you can tackle uneven, muddy and wet surfaces with confidence. The mesh upper keeps your feet cool and comfortable while giving you the protection you need from roots and rocks.

Mizuno Wave Technology

Mizuno’s Wave technology takes many forms across its range of running shoes.

The Wave’s first job is to promote flexibility. The orientation of the waves creates natural flexibility that works with your foot as it rolls through its transition, but at the same time it resists bending laterally, or from side to side, to improve stability.

After flexibility, the Wave also has to absorb and disperse the impact forces of running and then return some of that energy to create responsiveness. Mizuno says the Wave is able to direct impact forces away from your body but also keep those forces centered in the shoe so you get a more stable feeling.

The new generation of Wave Technology, though, is Mizuno’s Foam Wave. The Foam Wave ditches the traditional plastic insert in favor of foam. Like the Wave Plate, designers influence a shoe’s ride by tweaking the shapes of the wave—flat and rectangular for stability, tall and rounded for cushion.

How We Picked the Best Mizuno Running Shoes

We used data from our fit id® outfitting process, interviews with designers and real-life wear testing to determine the best Mizuno running shoes for most runs and the most runners.

You can shop with confidence at Fleet Feet: We offer free shipping on all orders over $99, and you have 60 days to return any gear if you don’t like the way it looks, fits or feels. Plus, with our price-match guarantee, you can make sure you never pay too much for a new pair of running shoes.

Best Running Shoe Brands

Mizuno makes some of the best running shoes in the business, but there are plenty of excellent shoes from other brands. See the best running shoe brands 2023 for more great shoes.

• Best Brooks running shoes
• Best HOKA running shoes
• Best On running shoes
• Best Saucony running shoes
• Best Nike running shoes
• Best New Balance running shoes
• Best Altra running shoes
• Best Mizuno running shoes
• Best Karhu running shoes
• Best Topo Athletics running shoes
• Best Diadora running shoes
• Best adidas running shoes