Mizuno Wave Universe 5 - minimalist friendly flats
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
20 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks T6 Racer
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 1/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 5/5
Mizuno Wave Universe 5
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 2.8 oz · 2mm drop · 13/11mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock.
How it ranks
The Mizuno Wave Universe 5 ranks below most daily trainers in our data. Comfort and value are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 3 runner reviews and 1 other rated shoe in the Wave Universe product line. Another 9 reviews would set the confidence on this shoe's own reviews.
Current estimate: 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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
12/100
Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.
What runners say
“These shoes last about 5 weeks or 300 miles.”
“After 500+ miles on my current pair I still use them 3-4 times per week.”
“This shoe is incredibly light weight and very comfortable barefoot.”
“The lack of motion control or cushioning is a positive, not a negative.”
“Only downside is durability.”
“I have worn the grip fairly slick.”
Prefer this shoe over another
40% 2/5
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- At 2.8 oz it is exceptionally light.
- All three reviewers rate comfort 5 out of 5, one calling it very comfortable barefoot.
- Value rates 4.7 out of 5, and one reviewer calls it their top recommendation for a minimalist flat.
Cons
- One reviewer running 55 to 60 miles a week gets about 300 miles, or five weeks, per pair.
- Appearance is its lowest-rated dimension, and one reviewer calls them ugly.
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.
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Mizuno Wave Universe
Each dot is one version of the Wave Universe, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
Wave Universe 5 This shoe
2015 · 3 reviews
70 Decent
12 Confidence
-
2014 · 1 review
69 Below average
3 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 2.8 oz
- Release
- 2015
- MSRP
- $1
- Stack Height
- 13mm heel - 11mm toe
- Drop Height
- 2mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 1, 2015
60 mpw came from the New Balance RC5000v1
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
paulteini · Mar 22, 2015
50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Newton MV3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
More from Mizuno
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Mizuno Wave Universe 5 In Context
More on the Mizuno Wave Universe
- Mizuno Wave Universe 4 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- New Balance RC5000v1 1 runner
- Brooks T6 Racer 1 runner
- Newton MV3 1 runner