{"id":45465,"date":"2024-03-07T02:18:26","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T07:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.runningshoesguru.com\/?post_type=reviews_road&p=45465"},"modified":"2024-03-07T03:26:36","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T08:26:36","slug":"mizuno-wave-inspire-20-review","status":"publish","type":"reviews_road","link":"https:\/\/www.runningshoesguru.com\/reviews\/road\/mizuno-wave-inspire-20-review\/","title":"Mizuno Wave Inspire 20 Review","author":43,"featured_media":45486,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"brands":[96],"shoes_type":[781,521],"shoes_family":[679],"_stcr@_rolfkleinfeld@hotmail.com":null,"review_3_website_name":null,"test_trail":null,"_test_trail":null,"usd":null,"_usd":null,"aud":null,"_aud":null,"cad":null,"_cad":null,"gbp":null,"_gbp":null,"eur":null,"_eur":null,"shoe_brand":null,"_shoe_brand":null,"shoe_name":null,"pros":"4","cons":"3","verdict":"The Mizuno Wave Inspire 20 is a structured trainer that can take a pounding. The build quality is top-notch, and uses impressive materials. However, this shoe is not very inspiring on the foot. ","weight":null,"heel":null,"toe":null,"heeldrop":null,"reccomended_for":null,"rrp":null,"review":null,"keywords":"Mizuno Wave Inspire 20, Mizuno running shoes review, best Mizuno running shoes, Stability running shoes,","description":"The Mizuno Wave Inspire 20 is a structured trainer that can take a pounding. The build quality is top-notch, and uses impressive materials. However, this shoe is not very inspiring on the foot. ","professional_image":"44961","_professional_image":"field_5d9574dae3414","usage":["daily_training"],"_usage":"field_5943593f1d1c2","rsg_subtitle":null,"subtitle":null,"_subtitle":null,"introduction":"[caption id=\"attachment_45487\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1280\"]\"Picture<\/span>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Mizuno Wave Inspire 20 is the latest iteration of a staple in the Mizuno line. 20 years of one shoe name shows that there is a place in the market for this offering. In this case, the company uses their Wave plate to help alignment during your run and an ENERZY Foam midsole to cushion you as you go. \r\n\r\nAt a list price of $140, the Wave Inspire is in heavy competition with some of the most popular stability shoes on the market. \r\n\r\nThis model must compete against such stalwarts as the Saucony Guide 17<\/a>, New Balance 860v13<\/a>, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23<\/a>, Brooks Hyperion GTS<\/a>, HOKA Arahi 7<\/a>, adidas Supernova Solution, ASICS GT2000<\/a>, and Altra Provision 8<\/a>.\r\n\r\nAlthough I have not run in all of those other stability offerings, I am aware of the midsole technologies used by most of them. In this case, Mizuno is well established as a firmer runner, and that has not seemed to change over time. For those runners seeking a firm ride, Mizuno will always hit the mark. ","introduction_text":null,"conclusions":"[caption id=\"attachment_45488\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1280\"]\"Picture<\/span>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThis shoe is a dichotomy to me. On one hand, the upper is one of the best uppers I\u2019ve worn in years<\/strong>. It\u2019s dialed in, supportive, breathable, soft, and well designed in its proportions. However, on the other hand the midsole is truly uninspired<\/strong>. \r\n\r\nAt the end of the day, I place more importance on the sole unit of a shoe than I do on the upper. There are plenty of great options out there with sole units that feel soft, bouncy, and supportive but the uppers are just OK. And you know what? I\u2019d likely rather run in those than a shoe where the upper is dialed in but the cushioning is not. \r\n\r\nThis shoe just didn\u2019t do it for me<\/strong>. The cushioning was entirely too firm for my tastes and the ride felt jolting at times. But I\u2019ve run in some firm shoes that also provided bounce, and this did not. \r\n\r\nI put in over 70 miles of runs in the shoe the cushioning never softened. At first I thought it was a matter of breaking in the shoe, but that just never happened. So it was Mizuno\u2019s intent to have the shoe stay firm. \r\n\r\nIf I tried to up my pace, it almost felt like I had to fight the shoe to get there. Unfortunately, that means that the shoe is relegated to LSD runs. However, if I\u2019m not getting a soft ride on my slow runs, then I\u2019m not going to enjoy it.\r\n\r\nOther runners out there may enjoy the Mizuno Wave Inspire, and I can understand why they might. Those runners just don\u2019t include me. ","model":"Wave Inspire 20","_model":"field_5c1600ad0113f","who_is_it_for":"The Wave Inspire is designed for runners needing a moderate amount of stability help who want to log a lot of miles. It is made for people with a light foot impact, and I\u2019d suggest lighter runners.","pros_0_pro_line":"Very comfortable shoe for all day","_pros_0_pro_line":"field_5c16011c4fed6","pros_1_pro_line":"One of the best uppers I've run in","_pros_1_pro_line":"field_5c16011c4fed6","pros_2_pro_line":"Top-notch build quality.","_pros_2_pro_line":"field_5c16011c4fed6","cons_0_cons_line":"Almost no bounce","_cons_0_cons_line":"field_5c16011c70a57","cons_1_cons_line":"Harsh landing","_cons_1_cons_line":"field_5c16011c70a57","cons_2_cons_line":"70+ miles in, and it feels like when it was new.","_cons_2_cons_line":"field_5c16011c70a57","water_resistance":null,"_water_resistance":null,"pros_3_pro_line":"70+ miles in, and it feels like new. ","_pros_3_pro_line":"field_5c16011c4fed6","pros_4_pro_line":null,"_pros_4_pro_line":null,"cons_3_cons_line":null,"_cons_3_cons_line":null,"cons_4_cons_line":null,"_cons_4_cons_line":null,"in_page_subtitle":null,"_in_page_subtitle":null,"image":null,"_image":null,"cushioning_type":"balanced","_cushioning_type":"field_594357fba24e6","cushioning_amount":"Medium cushioning","_cushioning_amount":"field_5c1a16c4d4c23","sizing":"0","_sizing":"field_59435b58fd832","heel_fit":"tight","_heel_fit":"field_59435bbc45b07","midfoot_fit":"normal","_midfoot_fit":"field_59435d1684838","toebox_fit":"wide","_toebox_fit":"field_59435d1484837","flexibility":"medium","_flexibility":"field_59435d1284836","stability":"some stability","_stability":"field_5944aca41583c","midfoot_fit_copy":null,"_midfoot_fit_copy":null,"best_for":"","pe_timestamp":null,"ds_query":"+mizuno +\"inspire 20\"","_ds_query":"field_5c1600ad01052","release_date":"","_release_date":"field_5c176d6fffe21","weight_oz":"10.6","_weight_oz":"field_5c176d34ffe1f","heel_drop_mm":"12","_heel_drop_mm":"field_5c176d57ffe20","intro_to_the_shoe":null,"_intro_to_the_shoe":null,"main_text":null,"_main_text":null,"protection":null,"_protection":null,"durability":"10","_durability":"field_6272de0b5fdf5","responsiveness_&_speed":null,"_responsiveness_&_speed":null,"comfort_and_fit":null,"_comfort_and_fit":null,"lugs":null,"_lugs":null,"rockplate":null,"_rockplate":null,"good_for_running":null,"_good_for_running":null,"previous_model":"41465","_previous_model":"field_5c1a17279c9f9","usage_these_shoes_for":null,"_usage_these_shoes_for":null,"rrp_us":"139.95","_rrp_us":"field_5c176dba632ff","rrp_au":"","_rrp_au":"field_5c176dd363300","rrp_ca":"","_rrp_ca":"field_5c176df863301","rrp_gb":"","_rrp_gb":"field_5c176dfe63302","rrp_de":"","_rrp_de":"field_5c176e0d63303","purchased_from_name":"Running Warehouse","_purchased_from_name":"field_5c374d8cdb87d","purchased_from_url":"https:\/\/www.runningwarehouse.com\/Mizuno_Wave_Inspire_20\/descpage-M20WIM0.html?from=guru","_purchased_from_url":"field_5c374d9bdb87e","heel_mm":"37.5","_heel_mm":"field_630506e911fdf","toe_mm":"25.5","_toe_mm":"field_630506f011fe0","carbon_plate":"other","_carbon_plate":"field_63065e4848c57","360":"","_360":"field_630662fb826e3","_video":"field_63066304826e4","who_should_buy_it":"The Wave Inspire is designed for runners needing a moderate amount of stability help who want to log a lot of miles. It is made for people with a light foot impact, and I\u2019d suggest lighter runners.","_who_should_buy_it":"field_63132fa733767","who_should_not_buy_it_":"This is not designed for those who want a little more bounce, and a softer ride. If you have a heavy foot impact, I would look elsewhere. ","_who_should_not_buy_it_":"field_63132ff0865f5","build_quality":"10","_build_quality":"field_6272ddc1b33de","comfort":"8","_comfort":"field_6272dd6fa6b88","value_price":"7","_value_price":"field_6272de0a5fdf4","third_shoe":"42876","_third_shoe":"field_630bbf8341294","upper_rate":"10","_upper_rate":"field_6272de2a5fdfb","sole_unit_rate":"5","_sole_unit_rate":"field_6272de295fdfa","landing":"5","_landing":"field_6272de285fdf9","transition":"6","_transition":"field_6272de285fdf8","toe_off":"8","_toe_off":"field_6272de275fdf7","traction":"10","_traction":"field_6272de265fdf6","first_impressions":"[caption id=\"attachment_45477\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1280\"]\"Picture<\/span>[\/caption]\r\nWhen these shoes showed up, I was impressed with their looks. The blue colorway with three different shades of blue, gradient into white and a bright volt green is very visually appealing. The materials of the upper are soft and move well out of the box. The overall look was immediately motivating to put on my feet. \r\n\r\nOn that first run, a 4-mile slow effort, the shoe did an admirable job. It wasn\u2019t particularly exciting, but it was supportive and consistent. I felt it lacked bounce compared to some of the previous shoes I had tested, but hoped that with time the cushioning would break in and become bouncier (like what happened with the Saucony Triumph RFG<\/a>). \r\n\r\nUsing them as an all-day wear shoe for my job (teaching) was great. The firm cushion kept me supported, and relatively fresh all day. I have continued to use them at school.","_first_impressions":"field_6313304ba000e","sole_unit":"[caption id=\"attachment_45473\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1280\"]\"Picture<\/span>[\/caption]\r\n\r\nMizuno uses their ENERZY foam on the top and bottom of the midsole which gives a cushioned ride. Between the two layers of foam, they have inserted an Elastollan N series Wave Plate - a plant-based plastic that offers support and a snappy feel. \r\n\r\nThis plate is inserted under the heel and through the midfoot following the natural anatomical curve of the foot to give more support and balance during your run. However, there was not much bounce to the cushion at any point of any run I did in them. \r\n\r\nBelow the midsole, Mizuno uses an X10 blown rubber outsole to give incredible traction. This outsole outperformed many of the outsoles from other companies which I\u2019ve tried recently. This outsole responded well in dry, wet, and snowy conditions on cement and gravel. \r\n\r\nThis sole unit stacks up at 37.5mm under heel and 25.5mm under the forefoot, with a 12mm offset. The footbed is fairly wide under the toe, and offers a natural feel to your toe-off due to the designed rocker and widening from heel to toe.","_sole_unit":"field_6313305d53bc4","custom_fields":{"model":"Wave Inspire 20","cons":[{"cons_line":"Almost no bounce"},{"cons_line":"Harsh landing"},{"cons_line":"70+ miles in, and it feels like when it was new."}],"pros":[{"pro_line":"Very comfortable shoe for all day"},{"pro_line":"One of the best uppers I've run in"},{"pro_line":"Top-notch build quality."},{"pro_line":"70+ miles in, and it feels like new. "}],"vote":"7","weight_oz":"10.6","heel_drop_mm":"12","heel_mm":"37.5","toe_mm":"25.5","purchased_from_name":"Running Warehouse","purchased_from_url":"https:\/\/www.runningwarehouse.com\/Mizuno_Wave_Inspire_20\/descpage-M20WIM0.html?from=guru","comfort":"8","build_quality":"10","upper_rate":"10","sole_unit_rate":"5","landing":"5","transition":"6","toe_off":"8","traction":"10","durability":"10","value_price":"7","who_is_it_for":"The Wave Inspire is designed for runners needing a moderate amount of stability help who want to log a lot of miles. It is made for people with a light foot impact, and I\u2019d suggest lighter runners.","verdict":"The Mizuno Wave Inspire 20 is a structured trainer that can take a pounding. The build quality is top-notch, and uses impressive materials. However, this shoe is not very inspiring on the foot. ","who_should_buy_it":"

The Wave Inspire is designed for runners needing a moderate amount of stability help who want to log a lot of miles. It is made for people with a light foot impact, and I\u2019d suggest lighter runners.<\/p>\n","who_should_not_buy_it_":"

This is not designed for those who want a little more bounce, and a softer ride. If you have a heavy foot impact, I would look elsewhere. <\/p>\n","introduction":"

\"Picture