Mizuno Wave Technology

The Mizuno company has existed for more than 100 years, starting out as a small novelty shop and growing to become one of the leading brands in athletic shoes, clothing, and equipment. Although Mizuno itself carries a long history, men's Mizuno running shoes and women's Mizuno running shoes are relatively young, only having been developed in the latter decades of the century in the 1980s and 1990s.

But when the company introduced its now-famous Mizuno Wave Technology in 1997, Mizuno running shoes quickly climbed to the top, into the elite class of running shoes. The Mizuno Wave Technology was a runaway success and that’s putting it mildly. Following the skyrocketing popularity of the running shoes, Mizuno began incorporating Mizuno Wave Technology into many of its other athletic shoes, from baseball and softball shoes to volleyball shoes and even golf shoes.

But what is Mizuno Wave Technology? How does it work? How can it so drastically improve athletic performance, such that it has gained the trust of serious and professional runners all around the world?

The Mechanics of Mizuno Wave Technology

At its most basic level, Mizuno Wave Technology is simply a way of forming the midsole of the athletic shoes, whether they are men's Mizuno shoes or women's Mizuno shoes. In short, Mizuno Wave Technology is literally the use of wavy midsoles. Traditionally, midsoles use flat materials so that when you walk, you feel the most impact in the parts of your feet that really push up against the floor. For most people, that is the big toes, the balls, and the heels of the feet.

Mizuno Wave midsoles, due to their wavy shape and structure, are able to disperse the force of your shoes’ impact against the ground more evenly. This not only reduces the wear on your shoes but also cushions your feet, decreasing the wear on your feet. This allows you to maintain your energy and stay active for much longer.

Moreover, the unique structure of the Mizuno Wave midsoles provides excellent arch support to prevent over-pronation, a common problem among many runners. This arch support helps to promote superior motion control in your stride.

Different Types of Mizuno Wave Plates

• Parallel Wave – This Mizuno Wave plate disperses shock evenly throughout the midsole of the running shoes for both cushioning and stability.
• Fan Wave – This form of Mizuno Wave Technology features waves of differing heights, also for both enhanced stability and cushioning.
• Double Wave – Employing a “double fan-shaped” WAVE structure, this Mizuno Wave plate focuses on maximizing motion control.
• Composite Wave – This Mizuno Wave type uses a combination of different materials to offer strategic cushioning and stability to specific parts of your feet.
• Skeleton Wave – The Skeleton Mizuno Wave places two wave plates on top of each other with soft cushioning pillars in-between them to offer the best in shock absorption for athletic shoes.
• Zigzag Wave – This Mizuno Wave type delivers multi-directional support and cushioning for sports that require lots of lateral movement.