In production · road · Recovery / Long run · $175
Mizuno's plush max-cushion cruiser.
Built for recovery, long run, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on road.
The midsole is Enerzy NXT, tuned very soft (5/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. At 44 mm of heel stack this sits in max-cushion territory; legs stay fresher on long efforts, but the platform is tall. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
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.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. The forefoot is stiff, so it rolls rather than bends — a lever, not a slipper. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.39 per mile at $175.
For the foams and plates Mizuno uses across its line, read the Mizuno brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
295 g / 10.4 oz
20 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
44 mm
8 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$175
15 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
5 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Mizuno line it is heavier than the brand's median (266 g / 9.4 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (40 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Saucony Triumph 24
280 g / 9.9 oz · 42 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $170
PWRRUN PB plush max cushion with surprising liveliness.
Asics Gel-Nimbus 28(2026)
283 g / 10.0 oz · 44 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $180
Deep, plush max cushion for slow miles and heavier runners.
On Cloudeclipse 2
290 g / 10.2 oz · 42 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $190
Double-layer CloudTec for On's softest long-run ride.
New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v14(2024)
298 g / 10.5 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $165
Plush, wide-fitting flagship cushion shoe with a smooth rockered heel.