Mizuno Wave Precisions Review

I ran exclusively in Asics Kayanos for years.  Almost a decade.  Last year I branched out and tried Brooks Trance shoes when I got into their wear test program.  I was converted.  I even branched out further and bought two pairs from their Pure Project line.

Thanks to Jen at Runner Maybe I got an invite to the Mezamashii project.  I had a hard time picking out a pair of shoes.  I have only tried one other pair of Mizuno shoes (I bought them last fall on clearance, more branching out)  and was not happy with them.   In fact I just put them on to see if I had changed my mind at all.  I didn't.  I still hate them.  They feel all wrong.

The person I talked to at the Mezamashii project was super awesome and patient about talking about the shoes I wear now, what I like about them and what Mizuno shoes are comparable.  I think I kept the poor guy on the phone about 20 minutes asking him all kinds of questions and discussing pros and cons of different shoes.

I finally settled on the Mizuno Wave Precisions. I went with the 12s because the 13s were very PINK
I am not a pink kind of person.  I can like a little pink, but those shoes were a little much.  The 12s however were all right, in fact I really like them.  Not too much pink and some awesome bright yellow/lime green on them too.

Here they are all clean and pretty right out of the box.

I felt like I couldn't make a judgement on them right away since I have been having some pain in my left foot since the Missoula Marathon on the 8th so I waited a bit to do this post.  I have run about 25 miles in them total.

PROS

• Bright and colorful.  I am tired of shoes that are boring.  I want colorful shoes to run in.
• Very comfortable.  Sometimes when I buy new shoes I feel like it takes awhile to get the lacing right and have to keep loosening and tightening the laces till I get it right.  I didn't have to do it once.  Awesome
• 8 ounces makes them lightweight and great for speedwork.  This was a major reason why I picked them. I can also use them for races, and I think I will this fall if I continue to like them.
• I feel like I am able to midfoot stike in them easily despite the 12mm heel drop.
• They feel quick to me.  I ran a 6:34 mile at the end of an 8 mile run on Wednesday in them.

Not so clean anymore :)

CONS

• Feel a little small to me.  The 8.5s are not bad, but I think I could have sized up and been even happier.   I saw this on Runningwarehouse.com

Sizing: Fits small; purchase 1/2 size larger than standard running shoe size.  (I wish the guy at Mizuno would have told me that. )

• Lots of white on them gets very dirty looking fast.  (My own fault for ordering this color)
• I wish they had less of a heel drop.  They are 12mm, which is pretty standard, but the Pure Flows I run in are 4mm and I really like that about them.

The longest run I have done in them so far is 8 miles and I would do farther.  At least up to a half marathon if not more.

I recieved these shoes free but the opinions are my own. Would a buy another pair.  Yes I think I would.