Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 Review
Inspired Stability That Could Use More "ENERZY"
Likes
- Plush upper with a comfortable step-in feel
- Updated softer heel landings
- Secure lockdown
Dislikes
- Stability system was intrusive compared to other brands
- Could use more protective cushioning in the forefoot
What's New
The Wave Inspire 17 features an array of upgrades from its predecessor, including reconfigured flex grooves on the outsole, a U4ic foam midsole and a Mizuno ENERZY heel wedge. All of these updates promise to deliver an enhanced ride that is soft underfoot, stable and smoothly transitions runners from heel to toe. Aside from those improvements, the 17 is the same great Wave Inspire that runners know and love.
The Bottom Line
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 faces tough competition within the stability daily training category, as balanced designs continue to become less obtrusive. This shoe uses a Double Fan Wave system to supply an abundance of support that will be enjoyed by even severe overpronators, but our testers found the design to be more noticeable underfoot compared to the subtlety of modern technologies from other brands. Otherwise, the Wave Inspire is a suitable trainer for a variety of daily runs and is really enjoyable for slow low-mileage runs. The Air Mesh upper is the main feature of the Wave Inspire 17, providing runners with plush comfort and a secure lockdown. While these trainers will comfortably get you where you need to go, there is definitely room for improvement moving forward for the Wave Inspire series to stay competitive with other stability shoes.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium to low | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to low | |
| Heel Width | Medium | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 11.0 oz (size 9) | Women's: 9.1 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 38 mm (Heel), 26 mm (Forefoot) - includes removeable sock liner | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Moderate Stability | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 has a soft underfoot feel that is squishy in the heel and firmer in the forefoot. These daily trainers make for a capable counterpart to a variety of runs, but our testers voiced that the Wave Inspire was best suited for runs under 10km.
Greg: "The new ENERZY foam is soft, trending very soft in the heel and firmer in the forefoot. This gives the Inspire a smooth but somewhat responsive feel."
Matt: "The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 is a traditional stability shoe with some updated foam in the midsole. While this foam is not too exciting, I think it still offers a soft ride that didn’t beat up my legs during my easy runs."
Kaleb: "The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 feels soft immediately when you step into it. The U4ic and ENERZY dual-midsole is spongy, which is especially true in the heel. Then, as you roll towards the forefoot, the Inspire gets noticeably firmer. I was comfortable running about 6-8 kilometres before my body started to feel the impact of the road. Unfortunately, I needed to end my run shortly thereafter. I think the Wave Inspire is capable of meeting the demands of most daily training runs. That said, I would reserve your long runs for a different shoe."
Ride/Energy Return i
Our testers agreed that the ride of the Wave Inspire 17 felt smooth but not overly responsive. The midsole is plush in the heel before firming up in the forefoot, producing a smooth ride that effortlessly rolls runners through their gait. Given the shoe's lower energy return, the Wave Inspire is best suited for long runs or easy days.
Kaleb: "I felt a fairly neutral energy return from the midsole of the Inspire 17. I think the joy of the ride comes from this shoe's flexibility, rather than from a responsive midsole. The Double Fan Wave stability design offers substantial support, which I found to be more obtrusive compared to other stability shoes that I have recently tested."
Greg: "I did not get the responsiveness I was expecting from the firmer forefoot foam. That said, I do think that the Inspire 17 is more responsive than some of its competitors. The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 remains a responsive everyday trainer, but it leans to the smoother side of the scale rather than the responsive one."
Matt: "The energy return is subpar in the Inspire 17. I expected the updated ENERZY foam to infuse life into the midsole, but unfortunately, it did not. The Wave Plate is outdated, in my opinion, and takes away from any energy return the foam could have from the heel. This shoe lacked the bounce I was hoping for."
Underfoot Protection i
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 is sporting 38mm of U4ic foam in the midsole and a Mizuno ENERZY foam heel wedge that work harmoniously together to provide runners with great protection for daily training runs. Durability and traction are also of no concern thanks to the blown rubber outsole which makes quick work of any hazards you may face on the roads.
Kaleb: "I thought the protection provided by the Inspire 17 was sufficient for runs up to 10 kilometres. After about 6 kilometres, I started feeling pretty beat up from the impact of the road and had to stop shortly thereafter. I tend to run more on my midfoot, yet it would seem that the Inspire is better suited for those who come down closer to the heel."
Greg: "I really enjoyed the full-length blown rubber outsole on the Inspire 17. I thought it was very durable and offered sticky traction that allowed me to run confidently on almost any type of surface."
Matt: "The Wave Inspire is a traditional stability shoe, so the underfoot protection was great. No matter the distance, my body never felt like it was pounding, which enabled me to tackle more and more mileage while wearing the Inspire."
Underfoot Flexibility i
The Wave Inspire 17 falls on the more elastic side due to Flex Controllers on the outsole, which produces a smooth heel-to-toe transition that is ideal for cruising speeds. The soft heel and firmer forefoot further accentuate the Inspire's flexibility and fluid ride.
Kaleb: "The Flex Controllers create solid flexibility that will help roll runners through your gait cycle. It also brought a little more life to the run, which was welcomed, given the relatively unresponsive foam."
Greg: "I feel that the flexibility is what gives this shoe its smooth ride. The Wave Inspire is more of a smooth and comfortable shoe versus a firm and responsive one. I believe the flex grooves, combined with their upgraded soft landings, will make the Wave Inspire 17 very popular within the running community."
Matt: "The Inspire 17 has updated flex grooves in the midfoot allowing this shoe to offer a little flexibility. Though, I thought the rigidness of the Wave Plate in the heel caused the Inspire to have a very inconsistent ride that left me wondering what Mizuno was trying to accomplish regarding the ride."
Upper Feel i
The upper of the Wave Inspire 17 is plush and offers a soft step-in feel right out of the box. The Air Mesh design is secure on foot and adapts to a variety of foot shapes, however breathability could be improved in the future for enhanced airflow in hot conditions.
Kaleb: "The upper is the highlight for me with the Wave Inspire. It created a secure hold that was comfortably snug throughout. It felt like putting on your favourite pair of thick wool socks: soft and cosy. Unfortunately, the upper was not the most breathable and I felt my feet getting pretty warm in hot conditions. Overall, a great upper that, with a couple of tweaks, would be perfect for me."
Greg: "As I mentioned, the step-in feel produces an "ah yes" underfoot feel. The lockdown is secure and I had no issues with hotspots while running. Furthermore, the fit is spacious enough to allow my toes to splay. Finally, I found the mesh to be relatively breathable."
Matt: "The upper seemed pretty structured and I felt like it kept my foot securely locked down. It is very comfortable and will keep your foot from moving all over the place."
Women's Mizuno Wave Inspire Running Shoes
Men's Mizuno Wave Inspire Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
I found the stability design of the Inspire 17 to be more intrusive than the other stability constructions I have tested lately and found it to be a bit distracting out on my runs. The ENERZY foam wedge located in the heel was soft and offered ample protection from the road while I was cruising at slower paces, but when I picked up the pace and began running more on my forefoot, the Inspire was too firm for long-distance mileage. The Flex Controllers on the outsole offered a minor but noticeable flex that rolled me through my heel-to-toe transitions. Finally, the upper was very plush and I did not have any real issues with it, even if it could be more breathable.
Overall, I think runners who struggle with overpronation will really enjoy the Wave Inspire 17. Sadly, it just was not my favourite given my specific needs. Though I will say, given the comfort of the upper, the Inspire has made a great all-day shoe to wear at the office or for walking around town.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
I think the Inspire 17 is one of the more comfortable shoes for all-day wear and will not give you any hot spots while on foot. It has an incredible step-in feel, adding to the overall comfort of the shoe. The ride is softer and smoother than the Inspire 16, coming in more smooth than responsive. Being a neutral runner with a preference for a lower arch, I did find the plate a bit intrusive after about 8 kilometres but I didn’t notice it on shorter runs. Soft landings, small snap at toe-off, and protective cushion make the Inspire 17 a great all-around, do-it-all shoe.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
Overall, I feel like the Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 is an outdated model with an identity crisis. The Wave Plate in the heel is rigid and causes the shoe to have an inconsistent ride when paired with the ENERZY foam midsole. Speaking of ENERZY foam, it is lighter than past models, but ironically, it lacks energy. The peppiness that gets me excited about several other models in the daily training stability category is absent in the Inspire 17. The upper is the highlight of this shoe, it has a seamless finish and does its job well. For me, the Mizuno Inspire 17 lacks the excitement and innovation found in other shoes, and sadly, I found myself reaching for several other shoes before this one.