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Mizuno Wave Inspire 22

In production · road · Daily / Long run · $150

Wave Plate stability that guides without feeling corrective.

Built for daily, long run, at a target pace of 8:30–11:30 /mi on road.

The spec sheet

Weight
294 g / 10.4 oz
Heel stack
38 mm
Drop
10 mm
Midsole foam
Enerzy NXT
Plate
—
Cushioning
4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Rocker
2 / 5
Flexibility
3 / 5
Stability
4 / 5 (5 = most guidance)
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Durability
~500 mi
Price
$150

How it rides

The foam

The midsole is Enerzy NXT, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 38 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.

The plate

There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.

The geometry

A tall 10 mm drop tips weight forward off the heel, which usually suits heel strikers and calves that dislike low-drop shoes. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It offers real guidance through the gait cycle — useful for runners whose form collapses when tired.

Fit, sizing & life

The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 500 miles from the outsole, about $0.30 per mile at $150.

For the foams and plates Mizuno uses across its line, read the Mizuno brand guide.

How it compares

Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.

Weight

294 g / 10.4 oz

19 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g

Heel stack

38 mm

2 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm

Drop

10 mm

4 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm

Price

$150

10 cheaper than the catalog median of 160

Responsiveness

2 / 5

Catalog median 3 / 5

Cushioning

4 / 5

Catalog median 4 / 5

Energy return

3 / 5

Catalog median 3 / 5

Durability

~500 mi

Catalog median ~400 mi

Within the Mizuno line it is heavier than the brand's median (266 g / 9.4 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (40 mm).

Closest alternatives

Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.

Nike Structure 27(2025)

295 g / 10.4 oz · 38 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $145

Supportive daily trainer with a broad base and mild guidance.

Nike Structure 26(2024)

298 g / 10.5 oz · 38 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $140

Wide base and firmer sidewalls — Nike's mainstream support trainer.

Brooks Glycerin StealthFit 21

283 g / 10.0 oz · 38 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $180

Brooks Glycerin StealthFit 21: 38 mm heel stack, 10 mm drop, 257 g — specs from independent lab testing.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25(2025)

300 g / 10.6 oz · 37 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $145

GuideRails support in a softer, smoother 25th edition.

Brooks Glycerin GTS 22

303 g / 10.7 oz · 39 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $180

Brooks Glycerin GTS 22: 39 mm heel stack, 10 mm drop, 305 g — specs from independent lab testing.

Lineage & siblings