Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 Review
Published: February 17, 2025
A Blazing-Fast, Ultra-Cushioned Racer Built For Speed
Likes
- Aggressive geometry and high stack for a fast, propulsive ride
- Ultra-cushioned for a protective yet responsive feel
- Lightweight with a grippy outsole for effortless speed
Dislikes
- Unstable on tight turns
- Aggressive design may feel uncomfortable for some runners
- Toebox can be narrow for some
What's New
As one of the highest-stack super shoes on the market, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is known for its crazy midsole shape and version 3 continues to push further for even more bounce and speed on race day.
When the original Rebellion Pro launched in 2023, it immediately received polarizing feedback due to its wild midsole shape that was unlike anything else on the market. While the shoe wasn’t for everyone, it proved Mizuno was back in the “performance run space” delivering innovative products that could compete with other top marathon super shoes. The shoe featured part ENERZY LITE foam and part ENERZY LITE PLUS super foam which, paired with the crazy heel bevel, delivered an aggressive and bouncy experience that seemed to propel you through your stride.
The Rebellion Pro version 2 didn’t make revolutionary changes, but it continued to push forward with even more aggressive geometries and added more super foam underfoot to further increase performance.
The Rebellion Pro 3 debuts the brand’s latest super foam, MIZUNO ENERZY XP, which is a PEBA-based foam that comprises 100% of the midsole. This new compound offers Mizuno’s highest energy return yet. Even with the additional stack height underfoot, the shoe’s aggressive heel bevel technically keeps the shoe “World Athletics” legal for pros to use in competition.
Along with a fully revamped midsole, the shoe receives a modified outsole layout with more G3 rubber coverage in the forefoot as well as altered foam cutouts. Finished off with a refined, ultra-light upper, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 offers substantial updates that are built to deliver on race day.
The Bottom Line
The Mizuno team built the Rebellion Pro 3 with the goal of delivering their most innovative race product that could offer mechanical advantages over the Marathon distance, and the latest updates really take the shoe to a whole new level. The Rebellion Pro 3 offers a propulsive ride through aggressive geometries and a bouncy super foam that makes you feel as if the shoe is doing the work to propel you through your stride.
The soft yet explosive foam is fun at a variety of paces but really comes to life at true race-pace efforts. While the stack height is one of the highest we’ve ever recorded, the shoe surprisingly wasn’t nearly as unstable as we expected, although taking tight turns in the shoe can prove to be a little tough. Overall, the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 is a fun super shoe that sets itself apart from the competition through its crazy design. While not a shoe for everyone, this ultra-aggressive, elite marathon shoe will surely assist you in setting a PR on race day.
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 7.7 oz (size 9) |
| Stack Height | 61 mm (Heel), 57 mm (Forefoot) | 4 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | Runs Small |
| NOTE: In order to maintain consistency, Running Warehouse hand measures all shoes for accurate stack heights. While we measure this shoe at 61mm under the heel, the aggressive heel bevel clears it for competition use by keeping it within the World Athletics requirement of 40mm or less in the heel, based on their measurement standards. |
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Connor: "The upper of the Rebellion Pro 3 is exactly what you’d expect from an elite-level racing shoe. It's thin, breathable, and built to keep weight as light as possible. The fit is snugly secure and keeps my foot locked in place. I had no issues with hot spots, but it is worth noting the forefoot is fairly snug and shallow. I had no issues personally but there are some slightly roomier super shoe forefoot designs out there."
Jonathan: "As excepted, the upper is thin and minimal. It was easy to get a secure fit and feel connected to the shoe. I had no points of irritation or discomfort. It fit my slightly narrow foot well, but is unlikely to be a good fit for wide feet."
Midsole
Connor: "The midsole design is what makes this shoe one of the most innovative and unique super shoes on the market. The foam compound has a crazy soft sink-in at initial impact with bouncy rebound at toe off. The foam is a soft PEBA-based material that composes 100% of the shoe (both layers are full length). This foam upgrade provides even more stack than before and even more stack than nearly any other World Athletics legal shoe. The Rebellion Pro 3 can skirt around these rules due to its extremely beveled heel which allows for additional foam in the midfoot and forefoot.
While I thought this could be uncomfortable or deliver an awkward ride, I actually found the shoes quite comfortable after I got in a rhythm. The geometries paired with the stiff carbon-nylon plate really provides a smooth landing that delivers a mechanical propulsion that is different than other super shoes in the market. I felt a similar sensation in past versions, but the new foam compound really takes the bounce to another level."
Jonathan: "Being a super shoe, my expectation was top level speed and cushioning. The Rebellion Pro 3 delivered on both counts. It has a very springy nature. It compresses easily under load and snaps back quickly. The shape of the shoe married well with my rear-midfoot strike. I was knocking out sub-marathon pace miles with relative ease."
Outsole
Connor: "The outsole of this shoe is a really nice highlight, especially when compared to some of its competition. The G3 design uses geometric designs to offer a really sticky grip while also offering cutouts to keep weight down. This style of outsole is not used often as it’s an expensive process, but Mizuno did not cut any corners on this shoe. As with most shoes in this category, it’s not going to be known for durability but in my test miles so far, I have seen no major signs of breakdown different than its competitors."
Jonathan: "I have seen any signs of wear after 25 miles and had no issues with grip. Note, all my runs were done in dry conditions."
Comparable Shoes
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 vs. Nike Alphafly Next% 3
Connor: "While the Alphafly is not nearly as crazy or radical of a feel underfoot, I feel people who like the ride of the Alphafly may also enjoy the Rebellion Pro 3. If you want to go the “safer” or slightly more traditional super shoe route, I’d recommend the Alphafly over the Rebellion Pro."
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 vs. Nike Vaporfly Next% 3
Jonathan: "Here’s the thing with super shoes: the performance benefit is very individualistic. I measure performance by comparing heart rate to pace over multiple runs. I have experienced great results in the Nike Vaporfly. The Rebellion Pro 3 can now be added to the list of great shoes for me. I don’t have a controlled enough experience to rank the shoes by performance benefit, but they both seem to clearly work for me. I love the exaggerated stack of the Rebellion Pro 3 that cheats the rules of World Athletics. As such, the shoe does feel like the more cushioned choice between the two. I would choose the Rebellion Pro for a half marathon and the Vaporfly for 5K/10K."
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 vs. HOKA Cielo X1
Connor: "The HOKA Cielo X1 is another super shoe that strategically uses heel bevels and geometries to stuff over 40mm of foam in certain parts of the shoes. You get a high level of protection underfoot, and while the Rebellion Pro 3 is lighter and faster feeling, both offer a true over stacked feeling that is technically World Athletics legal."
Individual Thoughts
ConnorOverall Score: 9/10
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion pro is an elite level super shoe that high level runners will find as a great option for a wide variety of racing. Highly efficient elite runners will use this shoe for the marathon distance while others may find it more suited towards distances of half marathon and under. I would even consider using it for tempo runs or faster training sessions on the roads that didn’t have tight turns. The ride of the shoe is so fun and now with the midsole upgrade, I feel its right in line with top shoes in the category.
I really like how the geometries of this shoe seem to push you forward and while it’s definitely not a shoe for everyone, runners that can control the shoe will really be able to get a lot of performance benefits out of it. While I’m still on the edge whether I’d take the shoe the full marathon distance, I have found it to be one of the most fun and unique feeling super shoes of 2025 and will definitely continue to use it for a variety of races and speed workouts.
JonathanOverall Score: 10/10
If you are light, fast, and efficient, the Mzuno Rebellion Pro 3 meets its design intent – elite level marathon performance. I am not fast anymore but am relatively light and efficient. For me, the shoe worked well with how I run. It was easier for me to hold faster paces compared to training shoes. I was surprised at how easy it was to run at slower paces as well. You can get away with some normal-paced runs. However, it’s not something I would do often. The aggressive set up limits regular use. Reserve this shoe for threshold workouts and race day.
This not a shoe for heel strikers or people with wide feet. However, it delivers a supportive fit for medium to narrow feet and has top level performance for midfoot strikers. It’s not a shoe for everybody. If it works for you, like it did for me, the massive amount of high energy return foam is sure to deliver superb runs.
Mizuno Men's Wave Rebellion Pro
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is a uniquely designed road running shoe built to elevate performance in any race distance.
Mizuno Women's Wave Rebellion Pro
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro is a uniquely designed road running shoe built to elevate performance in any race distance.
