Nuestra conclusión

Con 21 ediciones a sus espaldas, las Mizuno Wave Inspire se han ganado un buen puesto como unas zapatillas de entrenamiento diario con sujeción y diseñadas pensando en tener una buena relación calidad-precio con las que salir a correr día sí y día también. En nuestras pruebas, descubrimos que su placa, su suela exterior resistente y su drop alto ofrecen un control y una durabilidad excelentes para los talonadores. Sin embargo, no son la mejor opción para los corredores de metatarsos o para los que están buscando un modelo ligero.

Pros

  • Ideales para los talonadores
  • Estables pero también flexibles
  • Ahora tienen la espuma Enerzy NXT
  • Suela duradera
  • Buen ajuste con una lengüeta reforzada
  • Plataforma ancha para aterrizajes seguros
  • Geniales para el uso diario
  • Buen precio
  • Pesan menos que la versión 20

Contras

  • Pero se siguen sintiendo un poco pesadas...
  • Drop muy alto que no es para todo el mundo
  • Flujo de aire insuficiente para cuando hace calor

Veredicto de los usuarios

N/A
Aún no hay reviews suficientes

Who should buy

We enjoyed testing the Wave Inspire 21 and recommend it for:

  • Runners who liked the previous version—it keeps the same ride with a better midsole.
  • Heel strikers needing stability without a stiff, clunky feel and who value full outsole coverage.
  • Those wanting more support than average daily trainers without going for overbuilt shoes.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21

Who should NOT buy

We think the Wave Inspire 21 isn’t the best option for runners with a midfoot or forefoot strike. Its sky-high 12.7 mm drop favors heavy heel landings and works against a forward-leaning stride. Based on our findings, we believe models like the Saucony Guide 17 or Altra Paradigm 7 are far better suited for those with a different footstrike pattern.

Weight is another drawback we noted in the lab. For a smoother, faster and less bulky ride, we recommend exploring the Brooks Hyperion GTS 2 or the Hoka Rincon 4.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 parts

Amortiguación

Altura de la suela en la zona del talón

With a 38.0 mm heel stack, the Wave Inspire 21 continues to grow closer to the 40-mm threshold—offering generous joint protection for heel strikers, who remain the primary focus of this stability-oriented shoe.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Heel stack
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 38.0 mm
Media 34.3 mm
En comparación con 422 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
22.5 mm
Altura de la suela en la zona del talón
46.3 mm

Altura de la suela en el antepié

The forefoot measures 25.1 mm, identical to what we found in the Wave Inspire 20 here in the lab. It offers enough foam to handle most runs and falls right in line with what we expect from a road daily trainer.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Forefoot stack
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 25.1 mm
Media 25.7 mm
En comparación con 422 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
13.7 mm
Altura de la suela en el antepié
37.1 mm

Drop

The Wave Inspire 21 sticks to the formula of its predecessor with a massive 12.9 mm drop. In our view, it's a shoe clearly designed for heel strikers or those who benefit from this kind of high-offset, less-natural geometry.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Drop
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 12.9 mm
Media 8.6 mm
En comparación con 422 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Suavidad de la mediasuela

Now to the midsole. The Wave Inspire 21 comes with a dual-foam setup combining Enerzy and Enerzy NXT.

Enerzy is Mizuno’s older, durability-focused foam that feels a bit flat underfoot, while Enerzy NXT is a fresh-and-snappy upgrade that we’ve already tested (and loved) in models like the Neo Vista. We measured the Enerzy layer at a firm 26.6 HA, which fits the shoe’s goal of providing a steady-and-controlled ride rather than cloud-soft landings.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Midsole softness
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 26.6 HA
Media 20.8 HA
Utilizamos la media de cuatro pruebas. La foto muestra una de esas pruebas.
En comparación con 348 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
5.9 HA
Suavidad de la mediasuela (de blanda a firme)
35.0 HA

Suavidad de la espuma secundaria

The secondary foam is the one that hits the ground first and is a variation of Enerzy NXT that's also adjusted to boost stability and limit side-to-side movement. We measured it at 19.3 HA, which adds a touch of plushness, though the ride still feels on the firmer end.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Secondary foam softness
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 19.3 HA
Media 23.7 HA
Utilizamos la media de cuatro pruebas. La foto muestra una de esas pruebas.
En comparación con 71 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
3.0 HA
Suavidad de la espuma secundaria (de blanda a firme)
40.0 HA

Rigidez de la mediasuela en frío (%)

We put the Wave Inspire 21 next to our mochi ice creams for 20 minutes and found that it got 19% firmer. Not a bad outcome!

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Midsole softness in cold (%) freezer
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 19%
Media 25%
En comparación con 347 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1%
Rigidez de la mediasuela en frío
63%

Grosor de la plantilla

We found that Mizuno added a 5.4 mm EVA-based plush insole to boost the cushioning in the Wave Inspire 21.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Insole thickness
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 5.4 mm
Media 4.4 mm
En comparación con 418 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1.5 mm
Grosor de la plantilla
7.3 mm

Rocker

We discovered that the Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 stays true to its heritage by skipping an aggressive heel bevel or forefoot rocker, something we truly value in a market crowded with rockered running shoes.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 side

Both curvatures are modest and non-intrusive, letting the high-drop geometry do the forward-driving work for heel strikers.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Rocker

Placa

Nuevo

The Wave Inspire 21 sticks to its signature setup with a partial plate tucked in the heel to control landings in that zone. It's one more reason why we're certain this shoe is made for rearfoot strikers.

We will also use this photo to show the deep lateral decoupling groove in the heel, which allows the rearfoot to compress independently and improves torsional flexibility too. Paired with the Wave Plate, it balances impact control with a stable, well-cushioned ride.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Plate

Tallaje y ajuste

Talla

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Anchura / Ajuste

We crafted a gel mold of the shoe to discover how it fits, and we discovered that the interior of the Wave Inspire 21 offers solid space for those with broader feet, especially during longer runs.

In our first measurement, we registered 98.4 mm of width, which clearly beats the average and makes this shoe a wide-foot-friendly option with a generous midfoot platform.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Width / Fit
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 98.4 mm
Media 95.3 mm
En comparación con 177 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
88.5 mm
Anchura / Ajuste
102.4 mm

Anchura de la parte delantera

We performed a second measurement in the big toe area, and this time it came up as an average 73.5 mm. That’s not hyper-generous like the Topo Atmos, but still a comfort-ready fit for most runners.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Toebox width
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 73.5 mm
Media 73.5 mm
En comparación con 177 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
66.7 mm
Anchura de la parte delantera
83.3 mm

Altura de la parte delantera

We finished the trifecta of measurements regarding fit with the toebox height.

There’s plenty of upward space with a vertical clearance of 30.9 mm, a design ideal for runners who hate pressure, especially around the big toenail.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Toebox height
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 30.9 mm
Media 27.3 mm
En comparación con 176 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
22.4 mm
Altura de la parte delantera
34.1 mm

Tracción / Agarre

Traction test

Nuevo

Whether the roads are dry or wet from yesterday's rain, you can rely on the Wave Inspire 21 for great grip on both.

To mimic running on wet road, we applied a force of 500N to the shoe's forefoot (because that's where the push-off happens) at a 7-degree angle. Brushing the shoe's outsole against a slab of wet concrete, we recorded a solid friction score of 0.50. This is a solid result for a road running shoe.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 0.50
Media 0.46
En comparación con 216 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
0.11
Tracción en el antepié
0.83

Diseño de la suela exterior

Nuevo

The X10 outsole features full-length rubber coverage in a segmented layout. The forefoot and rearfoot include diagonal lugs separated by thin flex grooves. A deep central channel runs from heel to midfoot, aiding compression and movement plus exposing the blue Wave Plate.

For those seeking durability, this is a great option, as most brands are reducing outsole coverage. However, it will likely take a toll on weight.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Outsole design

Estabilidad

Prueba de estabilidad lateral

During our test runs, we discovered that the WI21 delivered is stable as a table—especially for heel-first landings. Rather than relying on old-school stability elements like firmer inserts, Mizuno used its signature Wave Plate, which adds structure without making the shoe overly stiff.

Rigidez torsional

Indeed, we twisted the Wave Inspire 21 and measured a 3/5 torsional rigidity—more in line with neutral daily trainers than stability models. Mizuno achieved this by using a heel-only plate, keeping the rest of the shoe pleasantly flexible.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 3
Media 3.4
En comparación con 401 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1
Rigidez torsional
5

Rigidez del contrafuerte del talón

The heel counter leans closer to classic stability designs with a firm 4/5 rating. It’s not uncomfortable thanks to the generous padding, but runners who prefer highly-flexible heel counters might find it a bit too rigid.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 4
Media 2.9
En comparación con 385 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1
Rigidez del contrafuerte del talón
5

Anchura de la mediasuela - antepié

One simple way to enhance stability is by widening the midsole, giving the foot a more grounded feel on each landing. That’s exactly what Mizuno did with the Wave Inspire 21, reaching a broad 118.1 mm in the forefoot.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Midsole width - forefoot
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 118.1 mm
Media 114.2 mm
En comparación con 423 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
102.2 mm
Anchura de la mediasuela - antepié
126.9 mm

Anchura de la mediasuela - talón

The same design logic applies to the heel, which measures a generous 94.0 mm—clearly wider than average. This was key, as we believe that 9 out of 10 runners using this shoe will be landing on their heels.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Midsole width - heel
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 94.0 mm
Media 90.6 mm
En comparación con 423 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
70.8 mm
Anchura de la mediasuela - talón
106.6 mm

Flexibilidad / Rigidez

Nuevo

Any shoe aiming for all-day versatility needs a bit of flex—otherwise, it won’t feel right for hitting that 10K steps goal around town. Luckily, thanks to its short-length Wave Plate, the Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 delivers with a 14.5N result in our bend test.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Flexibility / Stiffness
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 14.5N
Media 14.9N
En comparación con 224 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
4.0N
Flexibilidad <> Rigidez
28.5N

Peso

One thing that really stands out while running in the Wave Inspire 21 is that it doesn’t feel lightweight at all—mainly because of its full-length rubber coverage. Still, its 10.1 oz (286g) isn’t bad at all, showing a 5% improvement over its predecessor and closing the gap to the average.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Weight
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 10.1 oz (286g)
Media 9.3 oz (265g)
En comparación con 423 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
5.6 oz (159g)
Peso
12.6 oz (357g)

Transpirabilidad

Instead of using a classic engineered mesh, Mizuno went with a jacquard mesh that doesn’t feature any large ventilation holes. That immediately raised questions for us about how breathable this shoe would be.

To get a clear answer, we used our smoke machine and, unfortunately, the result was slightly below expectations. It scored a 3/5, which isn’t a major issue for most runners, but we were hoping for stronger airflow.

We then placed the upper over a bright light and quickly noticed that there wasn’t much space for air to escape. Because of this, we believe it might get a bit warm on heat-wave summer days.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 microscope

The upper feels solid and the material is comfortable against the foot, yet the micro-openings we spotted under our microscope appear too small to truly help with ventilation.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 mesh

We also checked the padding. There’s a satisfying amount in both the tongue and heel, giving the shoe a soft-cushioned feel.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 3
Media 3.8
En comparación con 352 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1
Transpirabilidad
5

Durabilidad

Durabilidad de la parte delantera

The absence of large ventilation holes turned out to be an advantage in our Dremel-based durability test, as we gave the Wave Inspire 21 a 3/5. It’s not an award-winning result, but still solid for everyday miles.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 3
Media 2.6
En comparación con 286 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1
Durabilidad de la parte delantera
5

Durabilidad del acolchado del talón

The same story unfolded with the heel padding durability—this Mizuno outperformed the average and earned a solid 4/5. Once again, there’s no reason to be concerned about early signs of wear.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 4
Media 3.3
En comparación con 281 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1
Durabilidad del acolchado del talón
5

Durabilidad de la suela

We were also pleased with the outcome when we tested the outsole using the Dremel: only 0.9 mm of damage. Staying below 1.0 mm usually means there's enough durability, especially for a shoe with generous coverage.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 0.9 mm
Media 1.0 mm
En comparación con 264 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
0.0 mm
Desgaste de la suela
2.0 mm

Grosor de la suela

To be absolutely sure the Wave Inspire 21 holds up over time, Mizuno added 4.5 mm of rubber beneath the foam. For us, that feels a bit much—this shoe already leans heavy, and something closer to 3 or 3.5 mm would've struck a more reasonable balance.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Outsole thickness
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 4.5 mm
Media 3.3 mm
En comparación con 419 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
1.0 mm
Grosor de la suela
6.1 mm

Varios

Precio

The market is red-hot right now, and any overpriced daily trainer usually struggles to sell. That’s why we found that the Wave Inspire 21 held its ground without a price bump, maintaining a value-focused position.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 $140
En comparación con 423 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
€50
Precio
€300

Elementos reflectantes

We found a few small reflective elements on the upper, but we believe Mizuno could step it up with a more hi-vis design.

Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21

Acolchado de la lengüeta

The lacing system on the Wave Inspire 21 reflects a no-nonsense approach with simple punched eyelets and flat shoelaces deliver a secure fit without gimmicks.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 shoelace

The tongue keeps the same structure from the previous version with 6.9 mm of padding, and we understand why. We tested it and found that it offers a confident lockdown without resorting to a super-thick, overcushioned slab that might feel plush at first but often overwhelms later.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Tongue padding
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 6.9 mm
Media 5.9 mm
En comparación con 420 zapatillas de running para asfalto
Número de zapatillas
0.4 mm
Acolchado de la lengüeta
14.2 mm

Lengüeta: tipo de refuerzo

The tongue is partially fixed to the sides—just enough to enhance the lockdown with a more secure, movement-free feel.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Tongue: gusset type
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 Ambos lados (semi)

Tirador del talón

The heel tab uses a tall, pull-friendly collar—similar to what we’ve seen in some Hoka models—which can be easily grabbed to help slide your foot in with less effort.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Heel tab
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21 Talón extendido

Plantilla extraíble

The stock insole removes effortlessly, making it easy to replace with your favorite insert. There’s enough space in the upper to accommodate most alternatives without causing any tightness.

Mizuno Wave Inspire 21 Removable insole
Resultados de las pruebas
Wave Inspire 21