Our verdict
Pros
- Unique geometry
- Exceptionally lightweight
- Responsive midsole
- Versatile for both tempo pace and long runs
- Superior heel lock
- Remarkable stability
- Spacious toebox
Cons
- Potentially overpriced at $180
- Lacks outsole durability
- Thin oversized tongue
Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
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++ Add a shoe
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| Audience score |
87
Great!
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93
Superb!
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89
Great!
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90
Superb!
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| Price |
£180
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£130
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£220
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£150
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| Pace |
Tempo
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Daily runningTempo
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Daily runningTempo
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Daily runningTempo
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| Arch support |
Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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| Weight labWeight brand | 8.7 mizuno sport Odzież treningowa9.1 oz / 259g | 7.9 oz / 223g7.9 oz / 224g | 9.1 oz / 258g9 oz / 255g | 8.6 oz / 245g9.2 oz / 260g | |
| Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Drop labDrop brand | 7.7 mm8.0 mm | 8.0 mm6.5 mm | 6.7 mm6.0 mm | 7.9 mm8.0 mm | |
| Strike pattern |
Mid/forefoot
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HeelMid/forefoot
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Mid/forefoot
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Mid/forefoot
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| Size |
Slightly large
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True to size
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True to size
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True to size
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| Midsole softness |
Balanced
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Balanced
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Soft
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Balanced
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| zapatillas de running mizuno sport hombre tope amortiguación maratón talla 41 azules |
Normal
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Small
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Small
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Small
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| Toebox durability |
Decent
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Bad
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Decent
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Decent
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| Heel padding durability |
Decent
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Good
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Bad
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Decent
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| Outsole durability |
Bad
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Good
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Good
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Good
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| Breathability |
Moderate
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Breathable
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Moderate
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Moderate
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| Width / fit |
Medium
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Medium
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Medium
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Medium
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| Toebox width |
Medium
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Medium
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Medium
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Medium
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| Stiffness |
Stiff
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Flexible
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Moderate
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Moderate
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| Torsional rigidity |
Stiff
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Stiff
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Stiff
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Stiff
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| Heel counter stiffness |
Stiff
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Moderate
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Moderate
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Flexible
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| Rocker | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Heel labHeel brand | 36.4 mm36.0 mm | 36.1 mm38.5 mm | 39.7 mm37.0 mm | 36.1 mm31.0 mm | |
| Forefoot labForefoot brand | 28.7 mm28.0 mm | 28.1 mm32.0 mm | 33.0 mm31.0 mm | 28.2 mm23.0 mm | |
| Widths available |
Normal
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NormalWide
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Normal
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Normal
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| Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Season |
All seasons
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SummerAll seasons
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All seasons
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All seasons
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| Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ranking |
#163 Top 45%
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#3 Top 1%
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#97 Top 27%
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#64 Top 18%
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| Popularity |
#270 Bottom 26%
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#23 Top 7%
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#172 Top 47%
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#227 Bottom 38%
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Who should buy
While this is an interesting shoe, it may not suit everyone. We recommend it for:
- Runners looking for a versatile shoe capable of handling both easy and tempo training sessions, even on the track.
- Those seeking a running shoe that offers ample cushioning for extended runs, all packaged in a lightweight design.
- mizuno sport aficionados who wish to broaden their rotation with a shoe that can do it all in the roads and dirt paths.

Who should NOT buy
If you're a runner who tends to wear out the outsoles on most running shoes quickly, we advise steering clear of this Mizuno. You might want to consider a comparable running shoe with a more robust outsole, such as the tenis mizuno sport wave prophecy x feminino branco.
This shoe may also be a poor fit for runners with narrow feet since it runs wide. If you're looking for narrower shoes that can also serve as reliable tempo training partners for long runs, consider options like the zapatillas de running mizuno sport tope amortiguación constitución fuerte ritmo bajo grises or the mizuno sport Breathe Thermo £30.

Cushioning
Heel stack
Boasting 36.4 mm of foam in the heel, this lightweight running shoe is capable of any long run even for heel strikers. The superior cushioning that we felt underfoot was truly impressive, and the lab-based measurement provided just the validation we needed.

| Wave Rebellion | 36.4 mm |
| Average | 34.8 mm |
Forefoot stack
We found a substantial 28.7 mm of foam in the forefoot area during our measurements.

This is indeed enough to endure any workout, and it's plenty to satisfy the needs of forefoot strikers.

| Wave Rebellion | 28.7 mm |
| Average | 26.2 mm |
Drop
Kudos to mizuno sport on this one! Lately we're seeing some pretty wild differences between a brand's stated drop and our meticulous measurements.
This time we clocked a 7.7 mm with the calliper when mizuno sport claimed 8 mm. Now, that's some cool Japanese precision!

| Wave Rebellion | 7.7 mm |
| Average | 8.7 mm |
Midsole softness
Living up to its reputation, mizuno sport delivers another moderately firm midsole with this shoe.
Registering at 24.3 HA, the Enerzy Lite foam offers a springy ride. However, don't expect an ultra-soft feel under your foot. It provides more of a classic running experience.

| Wave Rebellion | 24.3 HA |
| Average | 20.4 HA |
Size and fit
Size
zapatillas de running mizuno sport maratón fits slightly large (20 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
mizuno sport has a clear affinity for crafting shoes suitable for wide feet, and this model proves it once again.

With a roomy measurement of 101.7 mm, the upper comfortably accommodates nearly all foot types, eliminating any need for a wider size. However, if you have narrow feet, you might want to consider another shoe like the Șosete Înalte Unisex mizuno sport Thermal Performance A2GX6500Z96 Negru.

This test follows an older methodology, which is why you don't see recently tested shoes in the chart. Results from different methodologies can not be compared.
| Wave Rebellion | 101.7 mm |
| Average | 98.5 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
The shoe's roominess isn't limited to its widest part—it extends to the toe area as well. Our precise measurements clock the toe region at a generous 79 mm.

This test follows an older methodology, which is why you don't see recently tested shoes in the chart. Results from different methodologies can not be compared.
| Wave Rebellion | 79.0 mm |
| Average | 78.4 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
Some runners assume that shoes with a plate will always be super stiff, but that's just not true. Shoes with Pebax or fibreglass plates, like the Wave Rebellion, stay pretty flexible, unlike those with carbon-fibre plates.
To prove it, we only had to apply 26.1N of force to bend it 90 degrees. That's less than most running shoes ask of us!
This test follows an older methodology, which is why you don't see recently tested shoes in the chart. Results from different methodologies can not be compared.
| Wave Rebellion | 26.1N |
| Average | 28.1N |
zapatillas de running mizuno sport hombre ultra trail talla 38.5 moradas (%)
In cold temperatures, the shoe does get a tad stiffer—we needed to apply 32.3N of force to bend it 90 degrees.
But here's the thing. Most of the shoe's stiffness stems from the fibreglass plate, which isn't affected by cold. So, the actual difference ends up being minor.
In reality, it's just a 23.7% increase. A truly outstanding performance!
| Wave Rebellion | 24% |
| Average | 33% |
Weight
Tipping the scales at a featherlight 8.7 oz (247g), we certainly classify this as a delightfully light shoe.

Of course, the ingenious cutout in the heel we've previously mentioned deserves abundant credit for this weight reduction.
| Wave Rebellion | 8.7 oz (247g) |
| Average | 9.3 oz (264g) |
Breathability
In the past decade, breathable shoes were hard to find, but that's not the case anymore. That's why we felt a tad let down when, after our smoke-pumping test in the lab, the Wave Rebellion only scored a 3/5. This result seems low for a shoe that costs £180.
But we do have some good news. We discovered breathable sections on the medial side of the shoe when we put it under the light. This feature isn't always present in all shoes, and we truly value it. It's beneficial for runners who tend to get blisters on their arches.
Nevertheless, nothing helps understand this shoe's subpar Exceed better than a microscope. The Wave Rebellion is constructed from a thin but dense engineered mesh, and it doesn't feature any ventilation holes.

mizuno sport believed a thin mesh would suffice, but it's clear that isn't the case.

| Wave Rebellion | 3 |
| Average | 3.7 |
Stability
Lateral stability test
The Wave Rebellion proves itself as a trustworthy option for anyone seeking a fast-yet-stable and lightweight running shoe.
Torsional rigidity
Mizuno's first step to achieve stability is to integrate a fibreglass plate into the midsole. This feature is actually why we awarded it a solid 4/5 on our torsional rigidity test.
| Wave Rebellion | 4 |
| Average | 3.5 |
Heel counter stiffness
Simultaneously, mizuno sport opts for a stiff heel counter, ensuring stability for heel strikers and preventing heel slippage.
This might come at the expense of comfort, and we found it worthy of a strong 4/5 rating.
| Wave Rebellion | 4 |
| Average | 2.9 |
Midsole width - forefoot
The third element that enhances stability is the shape of the shoe.
With a forefoot width of 115.1 mm, this mizuno sport model is undeniably wider than the average running shoe, outpacing most of its speed-training rivals.

| Wave Rebellion | 115.1 mm |
| Average | 114.3 mm |
zapatillas de running mizuno sport tope amortiguación minimalistas 10k talla 45
However, the heel is slightly narrower (87 mm) compared to most other shoes on the market. But the difference is small, so we don't see it posing a problem for any runner.

| Wave Rebellion | 87.0 mm |
| Average | 90.7 mm |
Durability
mizuno sport Wave Hurricane 3 | Toebox durability
Though we weren't blown away by the Exceed, this is just the beginning, and there's room for improvement. We moved on to our durability test for the upper. Here, we use the Dremel in the same way on every shoe, allowing us to compare the damage accurately.
With the Wave Rebellion, the outcome wasn't as impressive as with the mizuno sport Cena od 300 do 399 Turkusowe. However, it was sufficient to get a score of 2/5, which isn't a bad result by any means in this test.

| Wave Rebellion | 2 |
| Average | 2.6 |
Heel padding durability
We conducted the same Dremel-based test on the heel.
This mizuno sport running shoe mirrored its earlier performance in the toebox, earning a score of 2/5.

| Wave Rebellion | 2 |
| Average | 3.4 |
Outsole hardness
This outsole is one of the most fascinating we've encountered recently. mizuno sport has deviated from the conventional outsole pattern, opting for a multi-lug arrangement that includes a large cutout in the heel's centre—where the fibreglass Wave Plate is visible.

This particular design choice explains why mizuno sport went with a 84.0 HC rubber, which is harder than average. They're attempting to counterbalance the lessened ground contact area due to the reduced rubber.

| Wave Rebellion | 84.0 HC |
| Average | 79.2 HC |
Outsole durability
Yet, we encountered an issue. As we zapatillas again the Dremel to gauge the outsole's durability, we were taken aback by the extent of the damage.
The lug was simply ruined. Regrettably, we have to report that Mizuno's strategy to enhance durability didn't worked at all. And you want a £180 shoe to last as much as possible.

| Wave Rebellion | 3.9 mm |
| Average | 1.1 mm |
mizuno sport Wave Hurricane 3 | Outsole thickness
It's important to remember that this isn't your average running shoe outsole—it's a multi-lug configuration that performs exceptionally well on both roads and dirt paths, and it's really nice for taking sharp turns.
We recorded the outsole thickness as 3.7 mm, which is probably too low given the poor durability shown before.

| Wave Rebellion | 3.7 mm |
| Average | 3.2 mm |
Misc
Insole thickness
At 4.1 mm, the insole checks out just as we anticipated—it won't cause any trouble and it's comfortable enough for long runs.

| Wave Rebellion | 4.1 mm |
| Average | 4.5 mm |
Removable insole
Removing the insole isn't a problem at all in this mizuno sport tempo training shoe.

| Wave Rebellion | Yes |
Midsole softness in cold

Midsole softness in cold (%)
Sadly, the shoe becomes noticeably firmer in colder temperatures. After leaving it in our freezer for 20 minutes, we took another measurement and saw a jump to 33.5 HA on the durometer reading.
This is a significant increase of 38.1%, which lags behind the performance of an average shoe.
We do wish mizuno sport had chosen to use Enerzy Lite+ (PEBA) for this one, which would be appropiate given its MSRP.
| Wave Rebellion | 38% |
| Average | 25% |
Reflective elements
Sadly, we noticed that mizuno sport has opted not to include any reflective elements on this shoe, which is quite disappointing.
Could this decision be again in pursuit of weight savings? It's likely!

| Wave Rebellion | No |
Tongue padding
mizuno sport has certainly prioritised weight savings when it comes to the tongue of the shoe. We found ourselves wishing for a bit more padding, though.
The Wave Rebellion comes with a mere 0.9 mm of padding in the tongue, which gives it a feel more akin to a racing shoe!

| Wave Rebellion | 0.9 mm |
| Average | 5.8 mm |
mizuno sport Wave Revolt 2 Running Shoes
For a speed-foczapatillas trainer like this, a gusseted tongue is essential. mizuno sport meets our expectations by incorporating a semi-gusseted one. It effectively keeps the tongue in place during our runs, offering a comfortable fit without any hint of constriction.

| Wave Rebellion | Both sides (semi) |

































