The Mizuno Wave Sky 9 is packed with some big updates this season, making it a true competitor in the max cushioned daily trainer category.
Podiatrists Travis and Chloe-May have both been testing this shoe over the past month, thanks to Mizuno Australia.
The Updates
Mizuno have made some really positive changes with the updates on the Mizuno Wave Sky 9. The most notable change is that they have increased the amount of midsole material under the forefoot – the shoe is now sitting on a 48mm rearfoot and 38mm forefoot.
This change in stack height means that the shoe now sits on a 6mm drop, compared to the 8mm drop in the previous iteration.
What does this mean? A more plush feeling under the ball of the foot, which makes this shoe feel very protective.
The midsole uses a 2 layer combination of nitrogen infused foam in the upper layer, with a firmer layer underfoot to offer some stability. The two foams create a nice combination of feeling cushioned underfoot, yet supportive.
The Wave Sky 9 is a neutral running shoe, but with the flared sole and wider midfoot region, this shoe feels very stable underfoot, especially given the large amount of material within the midsole.
Features of the Mizuno Wave Sky 9
Upper
The woven upper is not overly stretchy, which means you get a good lockdown on the shoe, but means that it also does not have much give in the forefoot
Toe Box
This shoe does taper in at the toe box, a bit more aggressively than we would like to see. This resulted in having to slightly loosen the laces at the forefoot
Midsole
The midsole is an amazing balance of being cushioned but supportive with its two-layer midsole. There is a lot of material underfoot, but the structure of this shoe makes it feel stable.
Heel to toe drop
The 6mm heel to toe drop is a welcome change, to keep the pressure a little more even across the foot compared to previous models, but may be something to keep in mind if you have been used to wearing 10mm drop shoes for quite a while.
Rocker
The shoe has a subtle rocker through the foot which is a welcome feature given the amount of material underfoot. The toe rocker in the shoe helps shift you to the ball of the foot, for smooth easy transition into propulsion
Orthotic friendly
This shoe is deep enough to accommodate a heel lift or an orthotic, based on our testing. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you have a wide forefoot, adding an orthotic may reduce the toe box space a bit further.
Footwear as a treatment tool
The Mizuno Wave Sky 9 is the perfect example of how footwear can be used as one aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan. Due to this shoe having increased material under the forefoot, and a forefoot rocker, the Mizuno Wave Sky 9 could be used to assist following lower limb conditions:
-Plantar heel pain
-Pain in the ball of the foot
-Arthritis of the big toe
-Inflammatory arthritis
What is this shoe used for?
This shoe works well as a max cushioned daily trainer. It can comfortably be used on both long runs and recovery runs. This shoe maintains the same feeling underfoot throughout the run, and offers a great combination of cushion and support when you are completing those longer kms. We have really enjoyed running in a daily trainer that has a bit of bounce in the midsole, and are keen to hear how other runners find this shoe.
A big thanks to Mizuno Australia for giving us the opportunity to test this shoe and see the updated changes first hand.
