Article by Peter Stuart, Ryan Eiler, Michael Ellenberger, Joost De Raeymaeker, Derek Li, and Bryan Lim
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro ($250)
Editor's Note: Our reviewers have half marathon times in the 1:07 to the1:20's range and marathon times from 2:19 to the 2:50's.
Introduction
Peter: In the past few years it seems that every shoe company has introduced a “super shoe”. A plated (carbon or otherwise) shoe often on a high stack of foam. While the prevailing wisdom is that Nike started this trend a few years ago with the Vaporfly Next %, let me propose an alternate version of running shoe history: Mizuno has been putting rigid “wave” plates in their shoes since 1997! That’s right, since 1997! This begs a couple of questions. 1. Why isn’t Mizuno running around saying “plates, we got plates, we invented plates, we’re the plate people!”. 2. Why has it taken them so long to come up with a racing oriented super shoe that has a plate and a big fat stack of fancy new Pebax foams? Well, I don’t know the answer to either of those questions. But I can say that the Wave Rebellion Pro is here–and it’s a banger.
Michael: Like Peter, I’ve long associated Mizuno with, well, plates! I joke that I’m running in ‘plated trainers’ basically every time I’m wearing the newest Wave Rider or Inspire (to the 3 people who understand that “joke,” anyway). Add a wacky upper and a massive hunk of foam, and you’ve got Mizuno’s latest and greatest… let’s test it!
Joost: I’m one of the few people at RoadTrailRun who has almost no experience with Mizuno shoes. Not for any particular reason, apart from them not being available where I live. The only pair I tried and tested was last year’s Wave Rebellion, which I honestly didn’t think much of. I passed them on to an athlete of mine who has been enjoying them thoroughly, though. It just shows how shoe reviews, besides the obvious objective facts, are always a subjective matter. So, on to the Wave Rebellion Pro, a radically different and crazy looking shoe from Mizuno. A different take on the super-shoe from the people who have been doing all sorts of plates for ages. Let’s see what the result is.
Derek: It’s been a long time since there’s been any sort of buzz around Mizuno shoes. That’s not to say that Mizuno has been sleeping on the job. The recently released Wave Neo Wind and Ultra shoes were signs that things were heading up for Mizuno. Then people starting murmuring in hushed tones about the zebra shoes at the recent Amsterdam half marathon. A slew of elites at the front end were seen lashing the tarmac in them. Suddenly, that radical missing heel doesn’t seem like such a bad thing after all. Pictures of the shoes start popping up all over social media. It’s such a radically different design that it makes the Puma Fast-R look tame. This is the shoe I most looked forward to trying because the murmurs were saying… Alphafly killer!
Bryan: I’ve always associated Mizuno with good utility shoes, like it's Wave Rider; solid tech based developments, but nothing cutting edge. My perception did not change much with the release of the concept styled Mizuno Enerzy (the pink bubbly looking shoe from 2021). Then came this urban camo printed shoe that I saw at the Amsterdam Half Marathon, where top elites were fitted out with them. And we saw pictures of the radical Wave Duel Pro that had such an extreme beveled heel that seemed nothing short of ridiculous. When I found out I was receiving a pair of the Rebellion Pros, it didn’t seem so extreme after all - a tried and tested super shoe that would be Mizuno’s first proper shot at rocking the super shoe scene, pun intended!
Pros:
Excellent propulsion and energy return: Peter/ Ryan/Joost/Michael/Derek/Bryan
Great fit and feel: Peter/Joost/Michael/Derek
Way more stable than it looks: Peter/Ryan/Joost/Michael/Bryan
Aesthetics: Michael/Joost/Derek/Bryan
Cons:
Looks might be a little extreme for some Peter
Traction could be slightly better Peter/Derek
Lack of heel might affect some true heel strikers (fine for me) Peter / Ryan/Joost/Michael/Derek/Bryan
Thin tongue could use gusseting. Stays in place due to the loop, but sides easily fold. Peter / Ryan/Joost/Michael
Locus of propulsion located relatively far back Ryan /Joost
Awkward at non-aggressive paces Ryan/Joost/Bryan
Midsole bevel seems to transfer energy upward, rather than entirely forward Ryan / Joost
Fits small: Michael / Ryan /Joost/Derek/Bryan
Price: Ryan
Stats
Estimated Weight: men’s 7.7 oz / 218g US9
Samples: men’s 7.48 oz / 212g US8.5, 7.55oz / 214g US9, 214g / 7.55 oz M9.5, men's 8.4oz / 238.3g (US11)
Stack Height: 42 mm heel (measured) / 38 mm forefoot (measured) by Derek Li
Note: Due to the bevel exact measurement is difficult but the Wave Rebellion is certified World Athletics “legal” for sanctioned competitions.
Drop: 4.5mm
Available February 2023. $250
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Peter: Honest first impression? What the hell is this ridiculous looking black and white high stack monster of a shoe? Oh and it’s Mizuno. Ugh, I haven’t liked a Mizuno in years–this is going to be a disaster.
Well, looks can be deceiving. Impressions out of the box and impressions on first run were WILDLY different for me. More on that later. The upper is made of 90% recycled content–and it doesn’t suck! It feels good, is extremely breathable and holds the foot very well.
It may be a touch narrow in the toebox for some, but it is good for me. A 90% recycled content sockliner is glued into the shoe and seems just fine with the upper more than 90% recycled content, admirable.
The tongue is very thin, but luckily I haven’t had any issues with pressure on top of the foot. The shape of the shoe and the ankle collar padding hold the foot in very well.
Luckily Mizuno has laced the shoe through a couple of very thin loops on the tongue, so it stays in place.
The sides of the tongue are very thin, though, and may require an extra moment or two to make sure that they’re not folded over when putting the shoes on. The fit is true to size, though the toebox is a bit narrow. It’s a race fit, so I wouldn’t size up.
Ryan: When I tested the Puma FAST-R Nitro, it was a shocker to open the box to its totally exposed midfoot plate and flashy aesthetic.
I didn’t think we’d see another shoe as radical as that one for a while, but Mizuno proved me wrong – this thing looks even wilder in hand than it does in photos.
The beveled heel looks absurd… like it might actually be unworkable. But keeping in mind that the Puma’s dramatic first impression resulted in a surprisingly tame and effective ride, I went into this test with the same hope: that this wild child would deliver an innovative ride, and not turn out to be just a desperate attention seeker.
How much of this design is a result of Mizuno trying to play with the stack height regulations, and how much is because they think that this geometry just works? Derek measured 42mm at the heel with obviously less height in the bevel area and further forward obviously more. In an effort to front-run the inevitable cries of foul play – “your stack’s too high!” – they’ve already curated a website with information to show that the shoe has been approved for racing by World Athletics.
The fit is fairly narrow, especially in the toe, but as a result foot containment is race-worthy and lockdown is great. The mesh material used here is on the thin side, but remains strong enough for its intended purpose.
There’s a fairly firm toe bumper which deliberately shapes the toe box, as well as a plasticky overlay on the lateral side to support the mesh. Whereas most marathon-oriented shoes offer a spacious toe box in order to accommodate foot swelling after 3+ hours of running (eg, Adios Pro, Endorphin Pro), this one takes a different approach.
Like Peter, I had a bit of trouble getting the thin tongue situated properly, but other than that the Rebellion Pro laced right up without issue and instantly felt delightfully light on foot. It runs a touch short, so my 9.5 felt more like a 9, especially considering that the shoe demands that you bias your foot’s position forward to make the midsole work properly.
Michael: I had heard rumors of this shoe long before it arrived in Chicago (a super stack, cow-or-maybe-paint-splattered, plated Mizuno? Now that starts people talking!) but I still knew very little about it once I had it in-hand. Of course, the rumors of the aesthetic were true (and honesty, I think it looks terrific), but once I had the shoe to test, I noted some things that didn’t get swept into the Instagram leaks - the tongue is a bit sloppy, and my pair of 8.5s fits much closer to an 8.0.
Crucially, though, I had few issues once they were on my feet and running (besides having to wear no or the absolute thinnest of socks) - the lockdown here is quite good, and the tongue “issue” was a non-factor. Instead, I found the Rebellion Pro comfortable and easy to get on… and really something to behold when walking/running around, as you’ll see below!
Joost: Wild! When I opened the box and saw the pair of Wave Rebellion Pro with their cow-skin black and white and crazy missing heel, that was my first thought. Also, how the hell is my poor grumpy achilles’ tendon going to handle this?
I could hardly wait to try out what looked like a radically different take on the super-shoe, so I weighed them (214g / 7.55 oz for my US M9.5), went outside for my usual quick bench photoshoot and tried them on. First impressions: quite narrow up front, small fitting and the very thin tongue needed some fiddling to keep the sides from fumbling up. Once in place and thanks to the lacing loops, it stayed in place. Laces are just long enough, but if you need to do heel-lock lacing, they might be on the short side.
The upper is padded around the heel with just a little vertical reinforcement along the back. This reinforcement is at the same time a reflective element, something I always appreciate very much in a shoe. The toe bumper is fairly stiff and curls back a little. There are also a couple of internal strips of fabric to help secure the upper to the midsole and around the foot. The whole is very breathable and very secure, a great upper.
Walking around in the Wave Rebellion Pro feels a little awkward with the obvious missing heel. There seems to be a very obvious “tipping point”, somewhere midway under the arch of the foot. If you shift your weight forward, the shoe feels normal, but if you shift it just the slightest back, it suddenly tips back. It’s not very obvious to me why Mizuno decided to get rid of the heel. Is it to save weight? Is it to get runners landing further forward and be more effective (It doesn’t quite work out that way for me, but more on that in the ride section)? Or is it to flout the World Athletics 40mm heel rule? Whatever the reason, the result is a very idiosyncratic race day shoe. Does it work? More on that later.
Derek: This is easily the most radical looking shoe I’ve ever held in my hands. I really love the black and white Jackson Pollock style aesthetics, though Mizuno says it is modeled on some traditional calligraphy, and I am just so pumped that it’s going to stay on as an official colorway and not just some pre-production limited run.
The fit is very marginally on the shorter end of the true-to-size spectrum, but I would not go up in size in this one. I would say overall length, width and volume are just about perfect for a racing shoe. Close comparisons in terms of fit would include New Balance Rebel v2/v3 and ASICS Metaspeed Sky v1; snug but not overly restrictive and definitely give a very racy feel to the shoe. The upper is thin mesh that has really very little structure but hugs the foot ever so well. It really reminds me of the old Nike Zoom Streak LT 2.
A superb simple, no-nonsense upper. And that’s really important in this shoe, because it is easily the least stable super shoe you will ever try if you are not going in a straight line. Step in feel is incredible and with those first few steps, you already know this is one of those special ones. Think back to that first time you walked around in the Vaporfly 4%, the Alphafly 1, or Prime X.
I see that a few of the others had issues with the tongue sitting still on the foot. Strangely I never had any issues with the tongue. It is just a thin single layer of synthetic mesh with two slots for laces, and reminds me a lot of the tongue on the old Hoka Carbon X v1 (incidentally also another shoe that fits very similarly to the Rebellion Pro).
I should point out that because the shoe runs marginally on the shorter side, I only ever tested the shoes with very thin socks, e.g. Steigen, Nike Spark Lightweight, Compressport Pro Race 2.0. There is no reinforced heel counter in this shoe and the heel completely collapses if you step on it, but this is shoe where I have zero heel slippage once I lace it up. Overall, I was very happy with the upper on this shoe, and it’s really nice to see that ASICS are not the only ones who recognize the importance of simplicity when it comes to effective race uppers.
Bryan: I’ve always wanted a pair of black and white urban camo racing shoes, especially after seeing the Craft’s CTM Ultra flood social media back last year. But shoe in hand, the experience is even wilder! Wait till I say more about the ride. Aesthetically, the Rebellion Pro is the coolest shoe I’ve worn. My initial main concern however was the beveled heel. I generally don’t run well in rockered shoes, let alone one with a beveled heel. More on this later, but it worked out just fine in a nutshell.
First impressions fit wise, the shoe appears to run ever so slightly short, but I had no issues with volume. My first run in them was quite a painful experience, as my second toe is slightly longer than my big toe. I had a deja vu moment as it reminded me of the fit in the first version of the Metaspeed Edge and Sky which ran short. I dreaded the second run but the thin single layered synthetic mesh seems to be quite pliable and forgiving as it appears to have moulded slightly to the shape of my feet. Absolutely no issues since.
Utilisation of the lace lock eyelet for a lockdown fit (Bryan).
Unlike the others, I didn’t have any issues with tongue placement and sliding, but felt that I needed to engage the extra heel lock eyelet to ensure a lockdown fit. Overall, after that first run, I have found a liking to the upper. It is light and breathable, and most importantly, it does the job well.
As Derek mentioned, this is one of those shoes that within your first few steps in them, you know it is going to deliver a unique and special ride / experience. It feels like a mixture of the Alphafly and Metaspeed Sky/Edge+, but without a heel. More on this.
Midsole
Peter: The midsole consists of two different “Enerzy Lite” compounds. Both appear to be non-beaded supercritical foams. The layer closest to the foot is “Enerzy Lite +” and is noticeably softer to the touch than the layer of “Enerzy Lite” foam closer to the ground. The softer foam closer to the foot clearly influences the ride and keeps it from being overly foam as does the “hollow, centrally shaped forefoot section of the full length and full width carbon infused nylon plate.
The plate is Pebax based Rilsan material (not carbon here) and, in addition to the aforementioned forefoot cutout, the plate features a honeycomb structure in the midfoot which Mizuno says helps aid propulsion.
Mizuno claims that the SSA (Smooth Speed Assist)--which is what they’re calling the honeycomb structure in the plate combined with the hole under the forefoot helps lessen muscle tendon tension. I think what really sets this midsole apart is the combination of a softer foam closer to the foot coupled with a plate that DOESN’T sit right under the forefoot. The Wave Rebellion Pro has little of the harshness I’ve found with other super-shoes.
Ryan: Peter did a fine job of describing the midsole structure, and I don’t feel the need to push back on any of his opinions. When standing still, it is blatantly obvious that there’s a chunk of the heel missing.
It makes the shoe awkward to walk around in, but it isn’t quite as crazy as I’d imagined.
One big upside surprise was the lateral stability of the shoe, given its insane geometry and massive cutouts underfoot.
Although it always felt tall, it never gave me the sense that the foam was overly mushy or unable to handle pronation on its relatively small footprint. I see this as a compelling demonstration that the position and shape of a plate must work in concert with the foam around it. It isn’t enough to simply sandwich a stiff composite in between energetic foam.
This dual-density midsole pairs well with the stiff nylon plate, and delivers a ton of rebound in a surprisingly controlled manner. Although a dramatic cavity runs through the midsole and exposes the plate, stability is not degraded.
The super deep channel running down the middle of the midsole accentuates the feeling of cushion and rebound. There is a very pronounced trampoline effect from the Enerzy Lite foam, which I’ll cover in the Ride section below.
Michael: Turn this shoe to its medial side, or upside down, and you’ll soon see… uh, some of this shoe is missing?! It’s really something, and when you take your first walking steps in this, you will absolutely notice it.
Functionally, though, Mizuno has blended two different “Enerzy Lite” compounds (non-beaded supercritical foams) here, and I think it strikes the right balance of firmness and comfort. It’s not the harsh, or even overly-firm shoe I would have expected from Mizuno - if anything, this skews more towards Nike’s ZoomX than it does towards, say, Saucony’s first generation PWRRUN PB. But practically, it’s a really nice mix - stable and comfortable, almost certainly owing to that nylon plate and stability elements described above, which results in a distinctly unique and fast-feeling choice.
Joost: Apart from the missing heel, there seems to be quite a lot more foam “missing” in the midsole. There’s a whole “canal” dug out right in the bottom part of the midsole, leaving the Wave plate exposed.
Contrary to many other super-shoes, this plate is right in the middle of two layers of Enerzy PEBA based foam. Most of the other ones have it very close to the foot or very close to the outsole, or close to the foot in the heel and close to the outsole in the forefoot. The Enerzy foam feels a lot more like ZoomX than something like PWRRUN PB, as Michael stated. The geometry is also different, making for a shoe that doesn’t really feel like it’s plated. Although the stiffness is there when you try to bend it, it doesn’t feel like it’s stiff at all when running. The forefoot feels very stable laterally as well.
Derek: This shoe has several different personas depending on how you move in them. First up, you really don’t want to land on the heel because it feels like you just walked off a cliff. If you land square on the midfoot, the shoe actually feels pretty normal. Yes it’s soft-ish but not overly so, and yes the vibration dampening is top-notch. It is how you choose to toe-off that makes the big difference. If you are just jogging and not really loading the forefoot, it will just feel almost like a firmer version of the Nike Zoom Invincible; no radical forefoot rocker or any assistive mechanism. However, once you lean into the shoe, and this is really for those runners who like Alphafly 1, Metaspeed Sky 1, the propulsion is completely different, and you get an immense pop off the toes. In terms of stability, the last is quite narrow and obviously very curved , so to counteract this, Mizuno has opted to raise the sidewalls about 5mm on both the medial and lateral sides of the mid-foot. Overall, I think the stability is acceptable for a marathon racer. It’s never just one component that dictates stability. The lockdown of the upper and the grip of the outsole also play a role, and all the components work together very well here.
Bryan: The technicalities of the midsole have been well described by Peter, so I’ll give a quick one liner that summarizes its construct simply - Dual density PEBA based foams, softer closer to the foot, and separated by a PEBA plate. Everything about the midsole has been well thought out and designed.
I’m skeptical of high stacked shoes like the Alphafly and even the Adios Pro 2/3 which are not known for stability. The Wave Rebellion Pro has proved my skepticism otherwise. Running around 90 degree turns on the suburban footpaths of Melbourne felt like I was running in a shoe with half its stack. I suspect this is due to the firmer foam used in the bottom half of the midsole, and the flexibility offered by the plant-based PEBA plate, lateral stability provided by the cavity cut out on the medial side, and general flexibility offered by the cavity cut out that also runs most of the length of the shoe. There is the needed stiffness that sets plated super shoes apart from general running shoes, but it's definitely on the lower end of the spectrum, and much to my liking.
Outsole
Peter: Let me just say this. The underside of the Wave Rebellion Pro looks completely insane. I mean, like laughably, un-runnably, what the hell are they smoking at Mizuno insane. There is a HUGE cutout from the middle of the foot to the front of the heel. I mean, like 1.5 inches deep in certain areas.
That’s right 1.5 inches of nothing under the middle of the rear of the foot. What the hell? There’s a narrower slot that extends up to the forefoot. This is all on a package that, if you haven’t noticed yet, has almost no heel at all. It is a disorienting shoe to look at. It looks like if you lean backwards you’ll fall. How can a shoe have almost no heel and cut a huge channel of foam out of the middle of the shoe? Well, spoiler alert, it all works magically. The foamy cutout no heel madness is finished off with a nubbed hard rubber outsole that is reminiscent of the continental rubber on the Adidas Adios or the recent Puma Deviate Nitro. It can be a tiny bit slippery on freshly wet asphalt, but is generally pretty grippy. So far so good on durability.
Ryan: If we took the upper off of this shoe and left just the midsole and outer behind, I wonder how many people would be able to tell the front of the shoe from the back – it’s such an iconoclastic and strange design!
As Peter noted, the outsole’s rubber layout here twists and winds around the wild shape of the midsole.
The micro lugs are of a relatively high durometer (fairly hard), so I wouldn’t want to take any turns too hot with such a high stack, but I’ve had only confidence inspiring runs on this outsole so far. The lugs don’t feel quite as grippy as the smoother sheets of blown rubber on competing shoes, but overall this composition works well and hints at solid durability.
Michael: I joked about it above, but yes, the outsole looks sculpted by the Rio Grande. Fortunately, I didn’t have any major complaints here, though my relatively limited outdoor testing (I’ve been on the treadmill a lot, and only got in two outdoor runs in these pre-Indianapolis Monumental Marathon) gave me confidence they’ll work in wet weather. Heck, I would have taken them out on a warm, wet Indy day if not for my NB team contract. I don’t think they’ll hold up to true winter conditions, but few super shoes do.
Joost: There’s fairly hard rubber wherever there’s midsole left to cover, which is about half of the shoe, but it has been good traction-wise. I haven’t used them on a wet surface yet, but don’t foresee any problems there either. I haven’t run enough miles in them so far to be able to say anything about durability.
Derek: There is all manner of sculpting and cut-outs (presumably to shave weight) from the bottom of the shoe. You can actually get a good look at the plastic looking plate from the bottom too. The outsole grips decently well for me on both dry and damp pavement and tarmac, which should cover the majority of the road racing type of conditions people will encounter. The grip actually disappointed me a little, perhaps because I came in with very high expectations of the outsole, just from the visual appearance of it, and from my recent experiences testing the Mizuno Wave Neo Wind, which has the best gripping outsole I have ever tested in a road shoe. Ever. So I was a little disappointed that the outsole doesn’t grip quite as well here, but it’s on par with most of the other super shoes on the market. Durability seems ok; the rubber is soft and will abrade fairly quickly with hard efforts, and I have been very careful with using mine as this shoe is so special I’m planning to save it for my spring A marathon. ‘
Bryan: The others have described the outsole well - it’s radical, and extreme sculpting and cut-outs on a level I’ve not seen on any other shoe I’ve worn before. I’ll skip talking about outsole performance. There’s plenty of outsole coverage, or what’s left of the outsole after all the cut-outs! As in the image above, the media; forefoot side features rhombus shaped micro lugs, which transition into elliptical ones on the lateral side. I’m not sure of the rationale behind this design, but it has worked exceptionally well for me, and especially given the height of the shoe. I’m unsure about durability, but most super shoes aren’t made to last anyways.
Ride
Peter: Well, don’t judge a shoe by its looks. The ride of the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is laugh out loud fun. It’s the most enjoyable race tempo shoe I’ve put on since the New Balance Elite V2. For me, it has a more stable and enjoyable ride than the Vaporfly. Yep, I said it. The ride is smooth and cushioned enough at slow tempos–which a lot of super shoes just don’t do well–and it is a monster at race paces. The Wave Rebellion Pro has enough cushion to soften the landing and then POP off the ground.
Mizuno claims that the SSA (Smooth Speed Assist)--which is what they’re calling the honeycomb structure in the plate combined with the hole under the forefoot helps lessen muscle tendon tension. I don’t know if that’s true, but I do know that I don’t feel at all beat up after tough workouts in the Wave Rebellion Pro. The ride is also much more stable than the stack height and foam cut-outs might lead you to believe. I’ve had no problem cornering in them. I haven’t gone long, long in them, but I sense that I won’t have the same collapse to the inside of my foot that I have on the Vaporfly when I get exhausted and my form goes down the tubes.
Ryan: This is more of a special occasion shoe in my eyes – not a ride meant for everyday running. Given its strong, prescriptive personality, you’d probably only want to use these for medium-long, aggressive days on asphalt.
Over the first few miles, the beveled heel felt very present underfoot. While it was workable, and didn’t seem to alter my mechanics too much, it was clear that it would take some getting used to.
After about 3 miles of hard running, the bevel became much less noticeable as I adapted to the shoe’s smaller footprint and its unique way of returning energy. I was able to hold a threshold pace for a 2 x 4 mile workout without any significant signs of undue calf strain, although this won’t be the shoe of choice for folks who worry about achilles issues. The Mizuno’s monstrous depth of cushion reduces impact fatigue by a significant degree. I do wish that this shoe had a bit more drop, as the heel-less design seems to make the practical drop lower than the listed one.
I strongly agree with Peter’s comment about stability – my eyeballs told me to expect a loose and wild ride, but what I got was confidence inspiring, controlled energy return. This is a commendable job by Mizuno of getting a full-length plate to work in unison with two different midsole foams. They took a huge risk to turn out something special, and I tip my hat to them for trying something from which other companies might learn.
Where I have an issue with this geometry relates to running at anything less than a tempo pace. When you aren’t exerting a solid effort, and you aren’t maintaining a mid/forefoot strike, the shoe becomes much less efficient and even a bit awkward. Where the bevel ends and the midsole flattens out seems to be the central point of energy return (toward the rear of the arch). To me, this type of design wanted to transfer some of my energy upward, rather than entirely forward. The feeling of ‘trampolining’ is dramatic, but is concentrated in the midfoot more than in any other super shoe I’ve tested. There’s absolutely no sympathy for easy running, and heel strikers might be inclined to bust out their colorful language, especially on tired legs.
Michael: Ryan mentioned concerns with the Achilles above, and unfortunately that’s been dampening my training for a couple months now - and while I didn’t find the Rebellion Pro more aggravating than anything else, I did notice that my foot strike had to really conform to make this shoe “work.” It’s probably not as dramatic as you might think - given the absolutely bonkers appearance of these, truly the most unique-looking super shoe we’ve seen - but the Pro is for fast, uptempo running, and they will penalize you if all you want to do is sit back on your heel (you know… because there isn’t one!).
While in “real life” I’d have exchanged for a size 9, the bouncy and engaging ride of the Pro will keep me coming back on workouts, especially shorter, faster work. Even though there’s ample stack here to cover any distance, it’s hard to imagine settling into a progressive long run in these and dealing with the first few miles of (relative) discomfort owing to the geometry. Some may get over it, but I expect the Rebellion Pro will find more of a home in runners willing to warm up in trainers, change into these specifically for the workout, and switch back out for the cooldown. An extra step, sure - but just think how cool you’ll look pulling these out in front of your workout group!
Joost: The first km or two warming up in the Wave Rebellion Pro felt really awkward. It’s not really the absence of the heel per se, but that tipping point I talked about in my first impressions. It takes some getting used to landing right there where the shoe wants you to, and that’s the weird thing for me: I usually land a little further up front, but due to the Wave Rebellion Pro’s geometry, I found myself landing a bit further back, just ahead of that tipping point, to make it work at slower paces.
After that initial warmup, they started to feel a little more natural, and when picking up the speed to around marathon pace (3:30 min/km or 5:37 or so min/mile), they started to shine. I could once again land where I usually do and the shoe gave me a very nice rebound and pop while doing so. Afterwards, I did a very unscientific comparison and found that my heart rate was around 5bpm slower for the same speed. This can be due to a number of different factors, of course, but I actually felt like I had to put in a little less effort when picking up the speed. I’ll race in them soon, so I’m curious if this translates.
My usual size M9.5 felt a little too constricted for a full marathon, but I feel I can take them up to a half marathon easily.
Derek: The ride of this shoe is truly sensational. While it is cushioned and springy at slower paces, it really comes to life at faster paces. I for one did not find the ride unusually awkward at slower 8:00/mile type jogs; just merely less special. It is a race shoe, and once you get up on your toes and settle into a faster pace, the plate and massive forefoot stack really engages and you start to experience an incredible propulsion off the front. For me, this is even more noticeable here than with the likes of the Nike Alphafly 1 (my marathon race shoe of choice for the past year) or the ASICS Metaspeed Sky 1 (my half marathon and 5000m PB race shoe). Once you lock in that front loading running style, the shoe is loads of fun to run in and it makes holding a fast pace feel effortless. The shoe locks down really well and is easily the best fitting of all the super shoes on the market for me, with the ASICS Metaspeed Sky coming in a close second. The main knock on the shoe is the relatively narrow last which makes it less stable than some of the other super shoes on the market. If you are slowing into a corner or running on say cobblestone sections or crossing tramlines at an angle (as can happen in some races in Europe), then you are going to want to be careful in these shoes. I’m fortunate that the shoes fit me ok with thin socks, and i have no reservations using it for the marathon distance. If you have wider feet or want to use thicker socks, you may need to go up a half size.
Bryan: I’ve been waiting to write my part of this section as this is where I can share that my experience of the Wave Rebellion’s ride is oh so good! As mentioned, I was very skeptical at first, but the ride is stable and propulsive. Also as mentioned, the ‘feel’ of the ride feels like a combination of the Alphafly and Metaspeed series, but more flexible and maybe slightly less stable than the latter. Mizuno has done so well to make two foams and a plate work in unison. However, and echoing the others, it takes a bit to get used to. I found myself spending the first 10-20km running in the Wave Rebellion Pros trying to land on the ‘sweet spot’; right before the tipping point of the shoe, or rocker if you were to say if there was no beveled heel. It’s not a shoe to cool down or do easy runs in, at least for me, as I tend to strike further back in my midfoot when doing so. In terms of ride, I think this is a market leader, but is definitely let down by its lack of versatility as there’s probably only one way to run in them which is to lock in a running style that hits that sweet spot.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Peter: I haven’t enjoyed running in a Mizuno shoe in years, and was suspicious of the looks and design of the Wave Rebellion Pro. I humbly admit that I was completely wrong–and that the Wave Rebellion Pro is not only the best shoe Mizuno has made in years, but is one of my favorite racing and tempo shoes of all of the recent excellent super shoes. The Wave Rebellion Pro is a cutting-edge race shoe that feels good at any tempo and is an absolute blast to run in. For me it’s a perfect firmness and energy rebound. I am so surprised at how much I’m enjoying the Wave Rebellion and I look forward to getting a proper race in them soon.
Peter’s Score 9.5.
The tongue is a little thin and could be gusseted, and the traction could be a hair better, but the Wave Rebellion is a strong contender for race shoe of the year.
Smile Score 😊😊😊😊😊 FUN!!!!
Ryan: I certainly didn’t expect Mizuno to drop a shoe on us with such a huge personality. It demands to go fast, refuses to blend in, and highly favors those who run further forward. While it’s tremendous fun to run, I found it to be a shoe with a fairly narrow use case. For faster efforts at distances of 5k to half marathon, its propulsion and cushion are fantastic. However, for anything less effortful, or for marathon distances, I think something with a more traditional heel would be the prudent choice for most folks. It really demands that you maintain a consistent foot strike and keep your weight from shifting rearward. I plan on using this shoe only for hard, moderately long tempo workouts when my cadence will be steady and I can benefit from the shoe’s deeply cushioned midsole. But there’s no denying that it’s a tremendously fun ride with an impressive appetite for speed. The fit is a bit short, and the $250 price point is tough, considering the Pro’s competitors are generally more versatile and just as capable.
Ryan’s Score: 9.0/10
Smile Score 😊😊😊😊😊
Michael: Mizuno has created something unique, cool, and frankly un-Mizuno like in a lot of ways… and it’s exciting! Credit is undoubtedly due for the Rebellion Pro, which should launch Mizuno onto the competitive stage (let’s be honest, you’ll know if people are wearing these at the start line, they’re very hard to miss) and provides a terrific alternative to the “classic” super shoes we’ve been seeing for the last few years.
Are they perfect? Not by any means; I don’t know how shoe sizing gets decided, but it’s wrong here in my eyes (I compared this “8.5” to a couple size 8s I have on-hand, and it’s bang on to a size 8), and the tongue did roll up on me more than once, forcing me to take them off and re-tie (even tougher to do, in the scenario imagined above, where you’ve already warmed up and are sweaty/ready to run).
But - if you can see past those relatively minor quirks, I think the Rebellion Pro should be high on your list for anything in the 5K-half marathon range, especially if you’re a forefoot striker.
Faster runners may give them a go at 26.2 - I’m certainly hoping to test them on some long runs this winter to see - but the geometry may be prohibitive for some. I’d try before you buy, if possible - but don’t overlook them just “because” the brand. These are a blast.
Michael’s Score: 9.5/10
Smile Score 😊😊😊😊😊
Joost: My second pair of Mizuno. Both Wave Rebellions. Very different opinions. The non-pro was a bit of a letdown, but the Pro has been a very pleasant surprise. Obviously, a brand like Mizuno doesn’t just launch a wild looking shoe just because it looks wild, but had a lot of R&D going into it. It would of course be easiest to “copy and paste” and bring out a shoe that’s like most of the other super-shoes out there, but instead, they chose to go their own route and take some risks. The result is a very different shoe, but one that works (at the right paces-don’t use them for your slow jogs) and one I’ll be using in a couple of races in the next couple of months while I prepare for my next marathon.
Joost’s Score: 9.48/10
(Ride 50% 9.8/10, Fit 30% 9.3/10, Value 15% 8.6/10, Style 5% 10/10)
Smiles Score 😊😊😊😊😊
Derek: Ok I don’t give away perfect 10’s ever. I came pretty damn close with the Xtep 160x 3.0 Pro and it is a near perfect shoe, save for the weight being a little on the heavier side. I’ll just cut straight to it and say that if you are a serious runner, and looking for serious performance advantages, you need to try this shoe. There are a lot of pissed off Nike Alphafly 1 fans who hate the Alphafly 2.
For you, the solution has arrived. I think you are going to see a lot of these shoes in major races next year, and that number is only going to grow as the stocks of Alphafly 1’s dwindle. P.S. I squeezed in a 9.8 in there as the outsole seems to be a little less durable than the Nike’s and ASICS’s
Derek’s score: 9.853 / 10
Ride 10/10 (50%) Fit 10/10 (30%) Value 9.8/10 (15%), Style 10/10 (5%)
Smiles Score 😊😊😊😊😊
Bryan: I’ll qualify my rating first that it's not based on what I expected and what I received, but on the fact that it is truly a special shoe in its own right. Every supershoe fan needs to have a try of the Wave Rebellion Pros. As with Derek, I thought the Xtep 160X 3.0 Pro came close to perfection, but I think it is on par and if not a tad better, and in its own way of course. This is a shoe where plenty of R&D has gone into. If I were to fault the shoe, it would be something incidental, and not with the shoe itself. That is, versatility due to the beveled heel. But if Mizuno were to reinstate the ‘heel’, maybe the shoe would feel less balanced and it would need to be redesigned. I could go on!
For racing purposes, this could be as close as it gets to perfection for you fore-foot strikers.
Bryan’s score: 9.5
Ride 10/10 (50%) Fit 9/10 (30%) Value 9/10 (15%), Style 10/10 (5%)
Smiles Score 😊😊😊😊😊
10 Comparisons
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. NB RC Elite V2 (RTR Review)
Peter: These shoes feel very similar to me. They are both fun, fast and give a lot of return from the road. Wouldn’t go wrong with either.
Michael: Similar midsole feel, to be sure (soft, springy). I found the lockdown of the New Balance to be superior, but the Rebellion Pro to be a more engaging and overall more fun option. At the marathon, take NB - anything shorter, I lean Mizuno.
Derek: I am true to size in both shoes. The Rebellion Pro is a little firmer at midfoot than the RCE2, but has similar degree of softness at the toes. The key difference is the geometry, and the lower drop of the Rebellion give you a thick trampoline to load the toes onto and get a much more energetic push off than the RCE2 which relies more on a roll-through type of transition. Overall the Rebellion is a better shoe for me, as I get more assistance and fun out of the shoe.
Joost (M9.5 in both): Fit is very different in both shoes. The NB fits very roomy, while the Rebellion Pro is very tight and might need ½ size up for a full marathon. The Elite V2 is softer while running than the Mizuno. For faster runners, landing more on the mid to forefoot, the Wave Rebellion is the better option. For longer races and slower long runs, the NB is better.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. NB SC Elite V3 (RTR Review)
Michael: Two of the newest entrants to the super shoe stage; I quite enjoyed the firmer, sharper SC Elite v3 over its RC predecessor, but it’s still not as dynamic or springy as the Mizuno. As caveated throughout the review, I’d be cautious to take the Rebellion Pro out for a marathon (at least without testing it on some quality long runs), but for anything under 26.2, I think the Mizuno has a slight edge, setting aside the sizing quirks I noted above.
Ryan: The SC Elite is far more forgiving, and doesn’t necessitate several miles of acclimation. I agree with Michael, that the RC isn’t quite as propulsive as the Mizuno’s crazy midsole. The upper of the Mizuno is fairly standard and relatively snug, whereas the upper on the NB focuses much more on comfort. One of our complaints of the SC Elite was its reliance on the laces for lockdown – even though the upper proved to be very comfortable and marathon-appropriate overall. The SC Elite fits true to size, whereas the Mizuno is about ½ size short.
Joost (M9.5 in both): The SC Elite is less dynamic than the Wave Rebellion Pro, but sometimes, a more “traditional” (We’re now calling plated supershoes traditional, we’ve come very far.) option is easier. I would definitely go SC for a full marathon and Rebellion Pro for anything shorter.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. ASICS Metaspeed Edge + (RTR Review)
Peter: The Metaspeed Edge + is a really fun go-fast shoe but can feel a bit harsh at slower tempos and on longer runs. As a distance racer I prefer the Mizuno. In fact, for even tempo workouts I prefer the Wave Rebellion Pro.
Derek: I am true to size in both shoes. Edge+ transitions via a more roll-through type of style and there is forefoot spring for sure but it is generally a firmer, more stable and less bouncy shoe than the Mizuno. Overall, I prefer the more fun and assistive ride of the Mizuno.
Bryan: On the contrary to Derek’s take, I find the Edge+ offers a more stable ride than the Rebellion Pro but is not as dynamic and exciting. After loving the original Edge, I’ve never successfully transitioned into transitioning well in the Edge+ and funnily found it easier to adapt to the Wave Rebellion’s radical geometry. For non-progressive speed sessions and races generally, I would pick the Mizuno over the Edge+.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. ASICS Metaspeed Sky + (RTR Review)
Michael: These are two of the top options in my mind right now for the half-marathon distance; I think at the marathon, the ASICS is a more clear choice. At 13.1, it’s really a tough call - the more traditional geometry of the ASICS is appealing, and I didn’t find the fit or upper of the Metaspeed worse (and in fact, some may prefer it). But, there’s a distinct pop to the Mizuno that the ASICS may lack, and if you’re truly looking for the X-factor, I do think the Mizuno is worth a look. Ultimately more of a toss-up; I think my preference would be ASICS for anything over 10 miles, and Mizuno for anything under.
Derek: I am true to size in both shoes. Sky+ transitions in a similar way to the Rebellion Pro but it is generally firmer at the forefoot, and the transition from midfoot to forefoot is a little less natural and smooth. Overall, I prefer the softer and assistive ride of the Mizuno.
Joost (M9.5 in both): The Sky+ is a bit like the Alphafly: you need to really work to activate that thick forefoot for it to give you back all that energy. The Rebellion feels awkward at slower paces, but once you start going and land up front, it’s far easier and more dynamic than the Sky+.
Bryan: I’m quite aligned with Michael in this comparison where the Sky+ and Wave Rebellion are my current two favorite plated shoes. If not for my contract with Asics, I would love to take the Wave Rebellion to a race to have a proper crack with it. The Wave Rebellion has a more unique and dynamic ride, and the Sky+ is more familiar in offering a smooth transition, as opposed to a popping sensation by the former. For now, I wouldn’t take the Wave Rebellion quite to the marathon distance just yet as if my form waves and my gait cycle crumbles, I wouldn’t trust the beveled heel to do me any favours.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. Nike Vaporfly (RTR Review)
Peter: These are similar in a lot of ways. I find the Vaporfly really irritates the top of my foot (I have a nasty hammer-toe) and more importantly, I find that when my form starts to fall apart at the end of a marathon, my foot starts to collapse inwards in the vaporfly due to the soft, high stack. I feel like the Rebellion Pro may just be a little more stable. But I’ll let some people currently running in Nike’s let me know how they stack up against the Alpha Fly.
Derek: I wear US9.5 in both Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro and the VF4%/Next%1/Next%2. I don’t find that the Rebellion Pro rides like the Vaporfly range. To me, the VF range is more like ASICS Metaspeed Edge, Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, Adios Pro 2 etc, while the ASICS Metaspeed Sky, Sky+, Xtep 160x 3.0 Pro, and the Nike Alphafly 1 are more similar to the Rebellion Pro. The key is having a low heel-toe drop and loads of forefoot stack. 33mm+ seems to be the sweet spot that allow for forefoot loading and lots of rebound through toe off. The Vaporfly Next% has a measured 37/29 stack, while the VF4% has a 35/25 stack, and the thinner forefoot really makes a difference to the way the foot and shoe interact. Bottom line for me, if you prefer a rolling through, tipping forward type of assistance, then the Rebellion Pro probably won’t wow you so much.
Joost (M9.5 in both): I agree with Derek. The Vaporfly has that falling forward feeling. It also does feel a little like it’s bottoming out sometimes, something you’d be very hard pushed to get with the Rebellion Pro. I’d still choose the Vaporfly for a full marathon, probably more because of familiarity than anything else. Shorter distances are for the Rebellion Pro.
Bryan: The Vaporfly (4% FK and Next% 1) has not worked for me with its general lack of stability, as as Joost has mentioned, has a falling forward and bottoming out feeling. It's a great way to put it actually. Because of this, I would pick the Wave Rebellion Pro over the Vaporfly for any race distance.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. Nike Alphafly 1 and 2
Derek: I wear US9.0 in both AF 1 and AF2, and US9.5 in the Rebellion Pro. The Rebellion rides most like the AF1, with a slightly better outsole grip, but poorer heel stability. The Rebellion’s simple mesh upper works better for me than the Atomknit of the AF, but the difference is small. It is really a coin-toss between the AF1 and the Rebellion Pro for me in terms of best assistive marathon shoe. I am leaning ever so slightly more to the Rebellion as i prefer the overall fit and lockdown of the Rebellion’s upper. AF2 rides completely different for me, and really is more like a higher stack Vaporfly. AF2 is also noticeably less bouncy than AF1 or the Rebellion Pro, and would work best for runners who want a more stable sort of ride. Personally, the Rebellion Pro is very, VERY marginally better thna AF1, and significantly better than AF2.
Joost (M9.5 in AF2 and Wave Rebellion Pro and M10 in AF1): I’ve mentioned it shortly in the comparison with the Sky+: The Alphafly really needs you to put in a lot of energy to properly activate those air pods and get the shoe going. It makes you run a certain way, with a very vertically oriented gait. Contrary to Derek, I prefer the AF2 to the AF1. The first version never really worked well for me, feeling just too unnatural. Curiously, you would think that a wild looking shoe like the Rebellion Pro would force you to alter your gait, but at a certain pace (for me, anything faster than 4 min/km, or around 6:40 min/mile) and being a mid to forefoot striker, I never feel like a huge chunk of heel is missing. They start to feel natural. So Wave Rebellion Pro gets the nod over both AF.
Bryan: What the AF 1 (have not worn the 2) was missing for me was stability. It is otherwise a phenomenal shoe especially at its time of release. As with ZoomX shoes, the runner needs to put in the work and once that is achieved, it can be very smooth sailing, bouncy and propulsive. The Wave Rebellion Pro offers a very different ride, promoting a less vertically oriented gait, which I admit I have. This is why the AF 1 worked quite well for me. Unlike Joost, I found myself at times struggling against the tilt encouraged by the Wave Rebellion Pros, but it’s gotten better over time. Overall, the ride of the Wave Rebellion Pro is just a bit more dynamic, and with superior stability and traction, is the shoe I prefer.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. Brooks Hyperion Elite 3 (RTR Review)
Peter: The Hyperion was nearly un-runnably firm for me. Just a punishing ride. Wave Rebellion Pro no question about it..
Ryan: I agree with Peter that the Brooks was uncomfortably firm. The stability of the Hyperion is impressive thanks to its firmness, but in almost every other category, the Mizuno wins out. Propulsion is noticeably higher in the Mizuno, and I preferred its luggy grip over the Brooks as well. Whereas the Hyperion runs at least ½ size long, the Mizuno runs ½ size short to true size.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. Puma FAST-R Nitro (RTR Review)
Ryan: While both of these are fairly radical designs, the Mizuno is more of a wild child than the relatively well behaved Puma. I prefer the Puma’s very comfortable and secure upper, as well as its pleasant ride and versatile nature.
The FAST-R is more of a ‘traditional’ super shoe that will accommodate a much wider range of runners, and is far less prescriptive than the Mizuno. However, when assessing pure energy return, the Mizuno wins out, even if it takes a couple miles of getting used to and requires a specific type of foot strike. The Puma fits true to size, whereas the Mizuno runs about ½ size short.
Derek: I am true to size in both shoes. The Fast-R has a very low volume forefoot and is fairly narrow as well. I am more inclined to go up a half size in the Fast-R than the Rebellion Pro. For me, Fast-R is very stable but also has a more VF-like transition and ride. It has a firm and stable EVA-based heel, and a PEBA based softer, springier forefoot. The interesting thing for me with Fast-R is that it runs like a traditional 8-10mm drop shoe (although official drop is 6.5mm if i recall correctly), but feels best when run with a midfoot strike, because if you are mainly loading the shoe most at the heel, the shoe is really going to beat you up. Here’s the rub: forefoot loading a higher drop type of shoe is quite tedious unless you are very very efficient and light. I note that many of the Puma sponsored pros still prefer the Deviate Nitro Elite. I find the Rebellion Pro to be a much more forgiving shoe that handles various paces well, and most importantly, it is much more fun to run in!
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. Saucony Endorphin Elite (RTR Review)
Derek: I am true to size in both shoes at US9.5. The Endorphin Elite 3 fits very similarly to the Endorphin Pro 3, so expect a little bit more toebox length and width, which may or may not be preferable for you. That said, I found the radical weird “Huarache”-style upper, with midfoot bands running across the shoe, to be surprisingly effective with excellent heel and midfoot lockdown. Even better than Endorphin Pro 3 for me. I measured the Endorphin Elite stack at 40/34 so it’s a lower drop approach than the Pro 3, and the US9.5 Endorphin Elite came in at 211g (7.5oz) vs the Rebellion Pro at 213g (7.5oz). Endorphin Elite has a wider platform and is a little firmer with durometer coming in closer to Lightstrike Pro than the PWRRUN PB of the Endorphin Pro 3, so overall it’s more stable than the Rebellion Pro, while also being less bouncy and lively. Both shoes give excellent forefoot rebound when loading at race efforts and i think will be a welcome relief to fans of the Nike Alphafly 1. Endorphin Elite has smooth outsole rubber that wears surprisingly well despite looking quite fragile, and in my limited testing so far, is grippier than the Rebellion Pro. Overall, I prefer the softer the bouncier ride of the Rebellion Pro, but if you want something a little more stable, the Endorphin Elite is going to be a very good alternative.
The Wave Rebellion Pro will launch February 2023
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7 comments:
Great review. Am a big fan of the Wave Duel Pro. Have been waiting for info on these. Are they available for pre-order anywhere?
I struggle to understand how a honey-comb structure in the plate at mid-foot could assist with propulsion, from an engineering perspective. Yes, make it more flexible, but aid propulsion? Any thoughts in this regard?
Looks like an awesome shoe, just don't think I'm fast enough to use it effectively :-)
Mizuno has stolen this design which has been patented for many years. Both Mizuno and Puma will be paying compensation to the originator
Great review but I’m kind of surprised you have a comparison with the Brooks Hyperion Elite which no one likes and is basically a new upper on a very old design but not the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, which many reviewers have put as their shoe of the year. What gives?
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs Adidas Prime X Strung?
(50mm) narrow and quite soft landing while the Pro well it requires a forward landing to work at all. Very difficult to jog in the Pro. I personally find the Prime X explosive toe off amazing in its lively rebound with the Mizuno close but more dense. I would take neither on a hilly course or if I expect to fall off a solid uptempo pace but on the flats I find the Prime X is more friendly at moderately slower paces. The Mizuno is pure racer and not for heel strikers or slow paces. Max 10K maybe for me in them. Both are super fun. Sam, Editor
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro vs. Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 ??
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