5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 19, 2014
66 mpw 17,206 miles in this shoe training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
Mizuno Wave Inspire 9
Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 10.1 oz (men's) · 29/17mm stack · 12mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 replaced it
How it ranks
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 ranks below most daily trainers in our data. Value and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 19 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the Wave Inspire product line.
Decent
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
92 High
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Each pair has well over 500 miles on them and they are still going strong.”
“The Inspire 9 had just the right mix of support, flexibility and cushion.”
“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).”
“The cushioning has not degraded much over the 2 years I have been consistently running in this shoe.”
“Stiff heel collar keeps your foot neutral but doesn't over correct.”
“The small cutout in the lateral part of the heel of this shoe cradles my foot on impact.”
“It works for both neutral runners and over-pronators alike.”
“Shoe broke down a little quicker than others but the comfort was outstanding.”
“Mizuno has always tended on the narrow side, which I preferred because I have a narrow foot.”
“Really bad for running while it rains - it quickly gets squishy, and is slow to dry.”
“It has enough cushion for a lot of miles, but has the responsive feel that I like.”
“Great stability shoe that seems to mitigate problems with my plantar.”
“Fits very snugly, but forms to my foot well.”
“There are not too durable in that I have to rotate them out after 300 miles or so.”
“The forefoot cushioning could be a little more durable.”
“Light weight, light support, good for shorter races.”
“Doesn't have a lot of breathability.”
Prefer this shoe over another
31% 4/13
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers call it comfortable for easy days and long runs.
- Reviewers like the firm, responsive ride with enough cushion for mileage.
- Several reviewers say it keeps their overpronation in check, one on six pairs since 2012.
Cons
- Several runners report the cushioning and upper wearing out around 300 miles.
- Reviewers often describe the fit as narrow and snug.
- Appearance draws the lowest ratings of any dimension, at 3.7 out of 5.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Mizuno Wave Inspire
Each dot is one version of the Wave Inspire, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
Release year unknown · 2 reviews
71 Decent
78 Confidence
-
2025 · 2 reviews
71 Decent
76 Confidence
-
2025 · 1 review
85 Good
71 Confidence
-
2024 · 0 reviews
86 Good
77 Confidence
-
2023 · 8 reviews
77 Decent
85 Confidence
-
2022 · 5 reviews
84 Good
82 Confidence
-
2021 · 1 review
65 Below average
71 Confidence
-
2019 · 1 review
72 Decent
83 Confidence
-
2019 · 7 reviews
83 Good
81 Confidence
-
2018 · 6 reviews
72 Decent
88 Confidence
-
2016 · 7 reviews
62 Below average
85 Confidence
-
2016 · 4 reviews
73 Decent
81 Confidence
-
2014 · 7 reviews
58 Bottom-tier
90 Confidence
-
2013 · 44 reviews
51 Bottom-tier
96 Confidence
-
Wave Inspire 9 This shoe
2012 · 19 reviews
72 Decent
92 Confidence
-
2014 · 5 reviews
67 Below average
80 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 10.1 oz (men's)
- Release
- 2012
- MSRP
- $115
- Stack
- 29/17mm
- Drop
- 12mm
Runner reviews
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 16, 2014
130 mpw training for a marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 9, 2014
75 mpw 1,304 miles in this shoe training for middle distance
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 9, 2014
35 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 1, 2014
55 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 1/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Mizuno
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 In Context
More on the Mizuno Wave Inspire
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 21
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 22
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 20
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 19
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 18
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 17
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 next version
- Mizuno Inspire previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- New Balance 870 v3 1 runner
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 8 1 runner
- Saucony Hurricane 13 1 runner