← Back home
Mizuno

Wave Inspire 9

Wave Inspire 9
Daily trainer · Stability · Road
Excellent (92/100)

Shoe details

Weight
10.1 oz
Release
2012
MSRP
$115
Stack Height
29mm heel - 17mm toe
Drop Height
12mm

Ratings & Reviews

Excellent (92/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?

Scores better than 90% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
?

Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Excellent (92/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (92/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 90% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Very good (89/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (89/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 83% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Very good (84/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (84/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 77% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Good (77/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (77/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 58% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Good (75/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (75/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 54% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Below average (57/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (57/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 8% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

54%

7/13

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 90% of 2,617 running shoes.

Excellent

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 89% of 1,872 daily trainers.

89%

Wave Inspire Family

Scores better than 93% of 10 wave inspire family.

93%

Mizuno

Scores better than 92% of 105 Mizuno shoes.

92%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated among the top 25% of shoes overall.
  • Rated above average on cushioning.

Cons

  • Rated below average on comfort.
  • Rated below average on durability.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 9
Mizuno Wave Inspire 20
ASICS SUPERBLAST 2
Wave Inspire 9
Wave Inspire 20
SUPERBLAST 2
Current shoe
Lightest
Newest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Stability
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
10.1 oz M Lightest
10.6 oz M
—
Stack
29/17mm
38/26mm
—
Drop
12mm
12mm
7mm
Release
2012
2024 Q1
2024 Q2 Newest
MSRP
$115 Lower MSRP
—
$200
Best price
—
—
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Very good (90%)
—
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Average (54%)
—
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Very good (83%)
—
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Average (58%)
—
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Bottom tier (8%)
—
Exceptional (98%) Best appearance
Value
Good (77%)
—
Very good (86%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

HOKA Clifton 9

Clifton 9

Daily trainer

$131.97

Top 1%

Ranks higher than this shoe
HOKA Mach 6

Mach 6

Daily trainer

$139.99

Top 1%

Ranks higher than this shoe
ASICS Novablast 5

Novablast 5

Daily trainer

$110.47

Top 2%

Ranks higher than this shoe
Saucony Triumph 22

Triumph 22

Daily trainer

$159.99

Top 2%

Ranks higher than this shoe
Altra Escalante 4

Escalante 4

Daily trainer

$94.88

Top 2%

Ranks higher than this shoe
Brooks Ghost 16

Ghost 16

Daily trainer

$169.99

Top 3%

Ranks higher than this shoe

More from Mizuno

Mizuno Neo Zen

Neo Zen

Daily trainer

$99.88

Top 15%
Mizuno Wave Inspire 22

Wave Inspire 22

$149.95

Bottom 13%
Mizuno Neo Zen 2

Neo Zen 2

Racing

$159.95

Top 30%

Reader Ratings

19 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 19 written reviews

Reader review

D3Grinder · Nov 29, 2015

3/5

Overall

I have been wearing Mizuno Wave Inspires for 3 years until I finally decided to try something new. I always purchased the model that was a year old just to save money. Typically, I would not spend more than 70 dollars on a pair and certainly got my money worth. I would push these shoes to about 500 miles or so before they began to break down and rip (big toe area and pinky toe area). All in all, a great shoe for the price. A bit more lightweight type which is what I look for and a great feeling shoe.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
2/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Apr 14, 2015

5/5

Overall

Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Mar 31, 2015

5/5

Overall

Like many other big companies, Mizuno decided to fix what ain't broke and gave the Inspire 9 a complete make-over with the Inspire 10. They ruined the Inspire. The 10 was stiff, super firm and had a one-piece top overlay that was too tight for most feet. It also had a lower feel to it, turning off most Mizuno fans. In addition, the last was flat and stiff, unlike the somewhat curved and flexible lasts of previous models. Altogether, an American Motors Pacer of a shoe. Mizuno reverted back to some of its earlier features with the Inspire 11, but the cushioning in the bottom is still too firm or hard, especially in the ball of the foot. The Inspire 9 had just the right mix of support, flexibility and cushion. Mizuno has always tended on the narrow side, which I preferred because I have a narrow foot. The Inspire 11 is wider, especially in the toe box, giving a slightly sloppy feel. But as the American population increases in weight, so does the width of their feet. To appeal to the masses, Mizuno probably felt a need to widen the shoe or at least the toe box. I found two pairs of Mizuno Inspire 9's at a clearance center and am running in those. But when those are spent, I'll be forced to run in my New Balance 870s. They're as close to the old Inspire 9 as you can get.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Sep 20, 2014

4/5

Overall

Light weight, light support, good for shorter races.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Trexasaurus · Sep 20, 2014

5/5

Overall

Been wearing MIzuno Inspire since 2005. I have never had issues or anything.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
5/5