Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoes

The Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoe is a very versatile, comfortable running shoe with a lot of new features compared to the previous version. While running in it, I was thinking about how hard engineering must have gone into making the Skyrise 5 running shoe to be in the middle of everything. Not slow but not fast, soft but dynamic enough, not wide but not narrow, breathable but not so breathable that you’re cold and cold in it. The Skyrise 5 is the running shoe at the heart of everything. If you’ve had reservations about Mizuno’s everyday running shoes, forget it. For one thing, instead of the high drop you’re used to on Mizuno running shoes, the Skyrise 5 takes the middle ground with an 8mm drop (it feels less). On the other hand, if you felt the Mizuno Wave technology was too intrusive before, good news is that the Wave plate in the Skyrise 5 is not plastic (TPU), but the undulating shape of the meeting of two different densities of foam gives this technology. The upper is not the usual very highly cushioned heavy upper either.

Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 upper

The upper of the Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoe is made from a knitted mesh material with several thicker stiffening lines running through it, and large ventilation holes in the toe box. Breathability is slightly better than average, but can be a bit hot in summer. The tongue is slightly thicker than average, fixed on both sides, and holds the foot well. The heel collar is low, moderately cushioned, slightly stiffer than average, holds the heel securely. The upper is not wide, but not narrow, the toe box is slightly higher than average. Overall, the upper is comfortable but not heavily padded, which has allowed Mizuno engineers to save a significant amount of weight, making it lighter than the previous version.

Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 midsole

Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 Running Shoe Midsole

The Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoe midsole is both soft and dynamic, which is due to the fact that it is made of two different types of foam with different properties. The slightly stiffer Enerzy foam gives the midsole good shock absorption and stability. And the softer, more dynamic Enerzy Core foam on top makes running really enjoyable, because it’s both comfortable and fast. As mentioned in the introduction, the Wave technology is a combination of harder and softer foam that fit together in a wave-like pattern. The two foam midsoles are mobile and provide good shock absorption at the same time. It does its job seamlessly at pace changes, allowing you to run both slow and medium-paced runs. Because the Wave technology in the midsole is not rigid, the midsole is flexible and flexes easily.

Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 Outsole

Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 Running Shoe Outsole

The outsole of the Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoe is well articulated and provides a lot of coverage to the midsole. The rubber compound, called X10, is slightly harder than average, so it has better abrasion resistance. Harder tires tend to have less grip than softer tires, but because the outsole of the Skyrise 5 covers a large area of the midsole, the grip of the shoe is good, along with the wear resistance.

Summary

I was surprised overall by the positive features of the Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoe. It is versatile, mostly suitable for everyday runs. It supports faster and longer runs but also feels comfortable for slower runs. If you don’t want to keep more than one pair of running shoes and are looking for a universal running shoe that is suitable for many types of running, the Mizuno Wave Skyrise 5 running shoes are a very good choice.