I've tried a variety of minimalist shoes over the last few years including Sketchers GoBionic, Nike Free 3.0 v4s, Altra Samson, New Balance Minimus MR00, and Vibrams. These Mizunos are one of my favorites. There is a slight heel on them (I believe the drop is 4mm) which is similar to what you'd find on the Nike free. The first thing you'll notice when picking these up is just how light they are, they weigh almost nothing. Running in them doesn't offer much cushioning (but that's the point of finding minimalist shoes), but I had no problem maintaining a mid-foot strike using these. I preferred them to most of the shoes above, even though the Mizuno's aren't as hyped as any of those. The Nikes didn't breathe well at all, the Sketchers were nice but felt a little sloppy (hard to describe), the Altras had odd stitching that irritated my feet when running sockless. Vibram Four-fingers are in a different category and I believe you either love them or you don't, I didn't mind them, but I didn't love them.
From all of those shoes, I like the compromise that the Mizuno Wave Universe offers. I rotate them with a few other shoes, but love putting these on. If you want a lightweight shoe, then give these a try, you won't be disappointed.
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I had been running in Vibram Bikilas for a while, but I was finding that my pinky toe was always getting jammed (and going up a size made it too loose on the rest of my toes). Decided to look for a minimalist shoe that wouldn't result in toe pain, and after reading some reviews I went with these Mizuno Wave shoes. I'm not sure if I'll go back to my Vibrams... these are even LIGHTER than my Bikilas, which is awesome, I can still feel ground details under my feet, and no more toe jamming. 1 star docked because the traction isn't very good on these (which was something I did like about the Five Fingers shoes), and also because I had to go up a full size than usual for a good fit.
As for any minimalist shoe though, make sure to ease into running in these if you are used to a regular more bulky shoe, otherwise you'll likely injure yourself or at the very least end up with some pretty annoying cramping in your feet and calves.
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My husband is a triathlete and this is his second pair. He wore the first ones for so many miles that he wore holes through the soles. Super light weight. These are great running shoes! Competitive pricing a plus.
Honest reviews on Mizuno Unisex Wave Universe 4 Running Shoe
The injuries that were bothering me in the past made me think more about the technique and better running form. And to have a better form I needed a proper shoe with minimum support and with a thin heel. The Mizuno Universe 4 is perfect for my running. I use it for daily training and for races. I also use Merell's Trail Glove for trails but not only. The Mizuno is very light but well built. They do help you run faster, because they are very light and comfy. I even got used to the red color.
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This shoe is the best one for running performance i ever used.
Soft, lightweight, beautiful and comfortable.
Intend to buy more pairs.
