Nearly all working shoe manufacturers supply their iteration of a plated coach–and Mizuno’s Wave Rebel Flash 3 provides one other strong contender alongside their Neo Vista 2 (with the Flash 3 being the lighter/quicker exercise shoe).
Generally you simply know if a shoe goes to be good from the step-in: and the Flash 3 did that for me. The rocker geometry is sort of pronounced and the Mizuno Enerzy XP and NXT foams make the journey bouncy and enjoyable. It’s very simple to need to roll ahead with some pop from step one.
With the quantity of agency supertainers in the marketplace proper now, we’re beginning to see increasingly more plated sneakers with a variety of plushness–and these most definitely match that invoice!
Who’s the Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3 a very good match for? Let’s break it down with some frequent classes:
- Broad Toes: The engineered mesh higher of this shoe is superb, and would accommodate a medium to barely wider foot.
- Heavier Runners: This isn’t probably the most supportive shoe, so it isn’t a shoe for runners whose stride is a bit much less economical.
- Lengthy Runs: The cushion felt supportive and excellent for exercises between 60-90 minutes – however I’d not transcend this threshold and never for simple runs.
- Entrance of the Pack: Clean transitions and a few vitality return from the plate will assist quicker runners flip over shortly, and the froth is bouncy at quicker speeds.
This shoe is nice for exercises and mid-long runs, particularly for somebody who desires to have a bit of further pop within the step. The journey is bouncy and never extremely steady–so this is able to not be the shoe for these preferring a agency journey.
It’s vital to say that this isn’t the shoe for heel strikers, and even a real forefoot striker may really feel a bit of awkward getting used to the place the plate is positioned on this shoe.
Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3 Overview
Mizuno is launching quick sneakers left and proper. Whereas that’s been a complete of enjoyable for testing this 12 months, we surprise if they should decelerate and actually dial in 1 shoe.
I let loose a bit of, “ooh!” once I first pulled it out of its field. It appears and feels modern and quick.
The Wave Rebel 3 has a small nylon fiber plate embedded between two layers of Mizuno Power XP and NXT foam…nevertheless it took some getting used to because it’s not a full-length plate and the position felt considerably unnatural for me as a real forefoot striker.
To be fully sincere, I virtually rotated after half a mile to vary into a unique shoe BUT I’m so glad I caught it out.
At slower paces, the delicate foam simply felt actually unstable, and the shoe didn’t transition nicely. However I rolled from my warmup proper right into a 30-minute tempo, and that’s the place this shoe began to shine.
So when you’re a 5 hour marathon runner, this shoe isn’t going to be a winner. It’s in all probability finest round that 7min tempo for 5k to 10k racing.
As a result of the plate is straight beneath the arch and doesn’t prolong into the metatarsals/toe-off, it depends on a firmly planted downstep and full pronation to reap probably the most advantage of the pop-up (and the plate shouldn’t be very aggressive to start with).
Marathon and half-marathon paces felt actually good and easy within the shoe…however as I approached sub-10k velocity on the finish of the tempo, it was tough to get on my toes with out some further effort. I’ve since worn the shoe for 400m repeats at sub-6:00 tempo, and I had an identical wrestle getting up on my toes as I used to be fatiguing within the exercise.
The Wave Rebel 3 is a enjoyable shoe! I’ll add this to my rotation, because it’s good to have *some* plate help (and I like the rocker form) however not a full-length plate.
Lastly, as somebody with a historical past of Achilles pointsI used to be involved in regards to the 3mm drop (and literal lack of heel foam/cushioning), however had no downside throughout/after the run with this shoe, doubtless due to the aggressive rocker.
Mizuno additionally provides their “Clean Pace Help” midsole geometry to “help the calves,” and encourage a extra environment friendly stride…so maybe I felt this positively serving to as nicely.
Coach Cortney Berling: Whereas I appreciated the energetic journey and rocker geometry of the Flash 3, I discovered the forefoot to really feel actually agency—a lot in order that I really needed to cease mid-workout and take the shoe off to regulate.
From what I’ve learn, different reviewers have seen the identical factor: the shoe feels finest at sure paces and actually requires a midfoot strike to unlock its smoothness. As a real forefoot striker, the firmness up entrance made it tough for me to get comfy. I additionally struggled with my toes feeling numb mid-workout, which can simply be an indication the shoe wanted to be damaged in additional. Which may go away after I log extra miles in it.
Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3 Specs
- Weight: 8.5 oz Males’s 9, 7.2 oz Girls’s 8
- Stack Peak: 39mm
- Very licorice: 3 mm
- Out there in vast (D width for girls, 2E for males)
- At present obtainable in 1 colorway
- Out there on mizunousa.com for $180
Purchase Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3
Fast Take
- Nice for midfoot strikers
- Good wanting shoe
- Bouncy and delicate
- Not a steady shoe
- Plate placement takes getting used to
- Agency forefoot
Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3 Match
They match true to dimension, however may really feel a bit comfortable in case your foot is on the broader aspect, because the toe field tapers shortly, as most Mizuno sneakers do.
I recognize laces that maintain a agency tie, and I didn’t expertise tongue slippage; although that’s usually an issue with thinner tongues like this one and Mizuno’s try to pin it in place in 3 spots labored for me.
The shortage of a heel counter offers the shoe some flexibility, although I did get a small blister on my achilles midway by a 9-mile run. I attempted adjusting the lacing, nevertheless it was already on the level of no return. The identical slippage/rubbing occurred once I wore the shoe on the monitor for 400s–so simply be warned that this shoe may want some finagling with lockdown.
I’m not overly delicate to shoe weight, however these didn’t really feel clunky or too burdensome on my toes. That mentioned, I personally wouldn’t race in these given the choice of different true racers (with extra pop/a firmer plate) in the marketplace.
The higher felt breathable, and it’s a lovely shoe!
Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3 Really feel
I loved the texture of this shoe from step-in, however wanted to get used to the shoe forcing me right into a strong midfoot (and never forefoot) plant. It was actually apparent when you landed “accurately” within the shoe–touchdown too far up on the toes made it really feel tremendous unstable…however hitting the bottom within the Goldilocks midfoot place offers a noticeable propulsion.
The shoe is bouncy and delicate–so it’s a shoe for the one who loves the pillowy feeling underfoot. With a low drop, it won’t be the perfect shoe for these scuffling with acute achilles or calf points, however might probably be a bridge shoe for these constructing again power due to simply how accentuated the rocker is.
I’d personally not put on this as a every day coach (a bit of too delicate for me), and given its instability, would solely suggest it to an athlete searching for a enjoyable and bouncy exercise shoe.
Comparable Footwear to the Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3
We’ve examined a couple of that really feel related as tremendous trainers, however totally different based mostly on the model match:
- Brooks Hyperion Max 3 – Comparable rocker geometry and cushioning, extra steady, however doesn’t decide up the tempo as nicely.
- Hoka Rocket X3 – Extra steady, light-weight, good for extra paces and foot strikes
- Saucony Endorphin Coach – Bouncy, plated, much less points with lockdown and higher stability.
- On Cloudboom Max – A supertrainer for the mid-pack that we’re impressed with stability, although definitely not as quick as this shoe.
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Total, the Mizuno Wave Rebel Flash 3 is an good plated companion shoe to be worn alongside a every day coach, or for these seeking to work right into a less-aggressive plated shoe. However it’s actually solely going to work finest for midfoot strikers throughout velocity classes, it’s not a straightforward run shoe.
Who Tried It?
Mary Johnson has been working marathons since 2010 and began teaching in 2015, bringing a wealth of expertise and data to her opinions. She’s the proprietor and founding father of Elevate.Run.Carry out and mother of two kiddos. She’s additionally a lover of power coaching and loves to assist others notice simply how impactful lifting is. After main hip surgical procedure in 2022, she’s been working again into wholesome working and is lastly reaching her stride 3 years post-op. Observe Mary at www.instagram.com/itsamarython
