Primarily based on critiques of the earlier mannequin, it appears to be like like Mizuno listened to runner suggestions and made a number of the updates many people had been hoping for. However do these modifications enhance the Mizuno Wave Encourage 22? 
After I met with the Mizuno crew at TRE on the finish of final 12 months, I used to be actually excited to listen to concerning the lineup of footwear coming in 2026, and the Wave Encourage 22 instantly caught my consideration.
The up to date design is unquestionably flashy and provides this stability coach a glance that makes you need to lace it up for loads of miles.
The updates themselves had been pretty minor, principally targeted on the higher mesh, midsole, and general match.
I hate to spoil issues this early within the overview, however my pleasure light a bit as soon as I noticed the modifications to the match might have been the largest miss for me.
That mentioned, as we at all times point out in our critiques, each shoe will really feel completely different for every runner. Whether or not we’re raving a few mannequin or it finally ends up dwelling behind the closet, the one actual method to know is to attempt it on for your self.
What I can say is that relating to cushioning and stability, the Wave Encourage 22 nonetheless delivers.
Who’s the Mizuno Wave Encourage 22 a great match for? Let’s break it down by some widespread classes:
- Vast Ft: The common runs a bit slim, however the excellent news is that there’s a large possibility out there!
- Heavier runners: I query the froth’s sturdiness for a way lengthy it should present help. It was already displaying indicators of damage and tear after simply 1-2 take a look at runs.
- Lengthy Runs: Good for the candy spot of half-marathon distance coaching as a result of I’m nervous the froth might lose a few of its bounce and power return.
- Entrance of the pack: This isn’t going to be your race-day shoe; seize it for simple and restoration days.
Mizuno Wave Encourage 22 Overview
This stability shoe from Mizuno does issues a bit in another way than many others on the market.
As an alternative of utilizing a conventional medial put up, such as you’ll see in footwear such because the New Stability 860the Wave Encourage 22 makes use of Mizuno’s WAVE plate.
The plate helps unfold the affect throughout a bigger space of the shoe as a substitute of simply the within edge. That design helps information your stride and preserve your foot from rolling in an excessive amount of, whereas nonetheless feeling pure as you run.
As somebody who tends to pronate, I actually favored how the Encourage 22 labored with my stride.
The up to date midsole makes use of nitrogen-infused Mizuno Power NXT, which supplies the shoe a great stability of cushioning with a bit power return.
It by no means felt overly delicate, however there was nonetheless sufficient pop after I threw in a couple of strides throughout the center of the top of a run.
I even observed how the mixture of the froth and wave plate helped help my foot after I was simply standing or strolling round. My plantar fascia undoubtedly appreciated that additional stability.
That mentioned, though I can rave about how properly it really works as a stability shoe, I’m nonetheless a bit on the fence about it, and that principally comes right down to the match, which I’ll discuss extra beneath.
If the 12mm heel drop in earlier fashions felt a bit too excessive for you, this replace to 10mm could also be a welcome change.
The Mizuno Wave Encourage 22 now has a ten mm heel drop. It won’t sound like an enormous change, however even a few millimeters could make a distinction in how a shoe feels on the run.
A decrease heel drop can assist cut back knee ache or IT Band points that usually pop up in newer runners.
Mizuno Wave Encourage 22 Specs
Professionals
- MIZUNO WAVE plate helps to forestall pronation
- Eco-friendly supplies
- Improved enjoyable colorways + design
Cons
- Concern with the match and fixed heel slipping
- Narrower match
- Undecided concerning the foam’s sturdiness
The outsole makes use of Mizuno’s X10 carbon rubber, positioned in high-wear areas to enhance sturdiness. That half doesn’t fear me in any respect; it feels constructed to deal with loads of miles.
What did catch my consideration, although, had been the uncovered sections of froth. Even after simply strolling round in them and heading out for a primary run, I began noticing some put on displaying up alongside these white foam areas.
Often, this type of “styrofoam-like” midsole takes a very long time for these wrinkles to look.
It makes me surprise the way it will maintain up over time, particularly for heavier runners or those that are inclined to heel strike. Solely extra miles will actually inform, come again in a couple of months for our 200 mile replace.
Mizuno Wave Encourage 22 Match
General, after I first slipped on the Mizuno Wave Encourage 22they felt snug underfoot. However the place the place this shoe falls brief for me is the general match, particularly across the heel.
It doesn’t matter what I attempted, even switching up the lacing, the again of my foot stored feeling prefer it was slipping out of the shoe. It jogged my memory of sporting leggings that you just consistently have to drag up whereas operating. One thing simply didn’t really feel safe.
In comparison with the earlier mannequin, the Encourage 22 has a extra flared heel collar. Whereas I do respect that it presents rubbing across the heel, it felt a bit too unfastened for my liking.
I additionally observed that no matter which socks I wore, they stored sliding down throughout my runs. That’s undoubtedly not excellent and will simply result in blisters over time. 
Mizuno footwear are inclined to run a bit slim, although they normally provide a pleasant quantity of area within the toe field, and that holds true right here as properly.
When you do want a bit additional room, the excellent news is the Wave Encourage 22 is accessible in a large possibility for each males’s and ladies’s sizes.
The higher for the 22’s was up to date with a extra breathable, versatile mesh that feels lighter and helps preserve your toes snug over longer durations of damage.
For me, the match points across the heel aren’t an entire dealbreaker, however they do change how I’d use the shoe.
The Wave Encourage 22 will seemingly keep in my rotation for shorter runs beneath about 5-6 miles.
Related Footwear to the Mizuno Wave Encourage 22
We’ve examined a couple of stability trainers that really feel related however differ in model match.
- Hoka Arahi – decrease heel drop (8mm), makes use of an H-frame for stability
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS – most related for weight and heel drop, however a extra snug/safe match
- Saucony Information – decrease heel drop (6mm), extra cushioning really feel underfoot and chunkier design
85%
It was a tricky name with the Wave Encourage 22 due to the match and query with sturdiness. However when you want a bit additional help to forestall your foot from pronating, the combo of the wave plate and up to date midsole hits the spot.
