Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 Review
Inspired Stability That Could Use More "ENERZY"
Likes
- Plush upper
- Comfortable step-in feel
- Updated heel
- Secure lockdown
Dislikes
- Intrusive stability system
- Minimal cushioning in forefoot
What's New
The Wave Inspire 17 offers a host of upgrades, 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 improved ride that is soft underfoot, stable, and smoother than ever. Other than those improvements, the 17 is the same great Wave Inspire that runners know and love.
The Bottom Line
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 has tough competition in the stability daily training category, as balanced designs continue to become less and less intrusive. The Wave Inspire 17 uses a Double Fan Wave system to supply an abundance of support for even the worst overpronators, but our testers found the design to be quite noticeable underfoot compared to the subtle modern technologies from other brands. Otherwise, the Wave Inspire is a suitable trainer for a variety of daily running and is especially enjoyable for slow, low-mileage runs. The Air Mesh upper is the defining feature of the Wave Inspire 17, supplying runners with plush comfort and a secure lockdown. There is room for improvement for the Wave Inspire series to keep pace with other stability shoes, but ultimately, these trainers will get you where you need to go, and comfortably at that.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & 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 removable sock liner |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Moderate Stability |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
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 companion on a variety of runs, but our testers found the Wave Inspire best suited to runs under 10K distances.
Kaleb: "The Wave Inspire 17 feels soft immediately when I step into it. The U4ic and ENERZY dual-midsole is spongy, especially in the heel. Then, as I roll toward the forefoot, the Inspire gets noticeably firmer. I was comfortable running about 4 to 5 miles 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 look to a different shoe for your long runs."
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."
Ride/Energy Returni
Our testers agreed that the Wave Inspire 17's ride felt smooth but not overly responsive. The midsole is plush in the heel before firming up in the forefoot, which effortlessly rolls runners through their gait. Given the shoe's lower energy return, the Wave Inspire makes for an adequate long run or easy day companion.
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 put some 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 add to the heel. This shoe lacked the bounce I was hoping for."
Underfoot Protectioni
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 sports 38 mm of U4ic foam in the midsole and a Mizuno ENERZY foam heel wedge that works harmoniously to supply runners with quality protection for daily training runs. Durability and traction are covered, as this shoe's blown rubber outsole will make quick work of any hazards that the roads may throw your way.
Kaleb: "I thought the protection provided by the Inspire 17 was sufficient for runs up to 6 miles. After about 4 miles, 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."
Flexibilityi
The Wave Inspire 17 is more elastic than rigid thanks to Flex Controllers on the outsoles, which produce a smooth heel-to-toe transition 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 their gait cycle. It also brought a little more life to the run, which was welcome 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 than 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. That being said, 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 Supporti
The Wave Inspire 17's upper is plush and offers a soft step-in feel right out of the box. The Air Mesh design is secure on foot and can adapt to a variety of foot shapes, but breathability could be improved in the future for better 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 favorite pair of thick wool socks: soft and cozy. Unfortunately, the upper was not the most breathable, and I felt my feet getting pretty warm in hot conditions. Overall, it's a great upper that would be perfect for me with a couple of tweaks."
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."
Mizuno Women's Wave Inspire
Mizuno Men's Wave Inspire
Individual Thoughts
I found the stability features of the Inspire 17 to be more intrusive than the other stability constructions I have tested lately, and I found it to be a bit distracting out on my runs. The ENERZY foam wedge 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 have been more breathable.
Overall, I think runners who struggle with overpronation will really enjoy the Wave Inspire 17. Sadly, it just was not my favorite, given my specific needs. Though I will say, thanks to the comfort of the upper, the Inspire makes a great all-day shoe to wear at the office or for walking around town.
Shoe 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 shoe's overall comfort. 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 5 miles, but I didn't notice it on shorter runs. Soft landings, a small snap at toe-off, and protective cushioning make the Inspire 17 a great do-it-all shoe.
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.
