Facts

  • Discontinued
    Update: Mizuno Wave Sayonara 4
  • Terrain

    Road

    Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.

    Trail

    Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.

    Good to know

    As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.

  • Arch support

    Neutral / cushion / high arch

    Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.

    Stability / overpronation / normal arch

    Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.

    Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet

    Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.

    Good to know

    - Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
    - More about arch support in this video.
    - Find your arch type by following steps from this video.

  • Use

    Daily running

    Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.

    Competition

    Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.

    Good to know

    If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.

  • Price
    €140
  • Weight
    Men: 238g
    Women: 198g
  • Heel to toe drop
    Men: 10mm
    Women: 10mm

    The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.

    There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.

  • Width
    Men: Normal
    Women: Normal
  • Release date
    Unknown
Show more facts

Rankings

A top rated Road running shoe
Better rated than the previous version Mizuno Wave Sayonara 3

Expert Reviews

Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.

Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.

86 / 100 based on 9 expert reviews

  • 95 / 100 | Believe in the Run | | Level 5 expert

    This shoe remains one of my favorites from Mizuno and a top pick all around.

  • 94 / 100 | Running Competitor | | Level 5 expert

    This shoe is all about running fast with the confidence of quality cushioning and protection under your feet.

  • 86 / 100 | Believe in the Run | | Level 5 expert

    Although many people will find the updates to this shoe are minimal, I think they’re significant.

  • 85 / 100 | Runner's World | Level 5 expert

    An agile ride for tempo runs or race morning.

  • 84 / 100 | Solereview | Level 5 expert

    Sometimes, a quick track session will fully coax out a shoe’s character, and within a very short span of time. Especially when the shoe in question is designed for fast paced running – like the Mizuno Wave Sayonara 2, which straddles middle ground between a full blown distance racing flat and neutral trainer.

  • 83 / 100 | Runner's World | | Level 5 expert

    The small, flexible wave plate is inadequate, however, for those who feel the need for much motion control.

Become an expert

  • The updates in the 2nd instalment of the Sayonara are limited in the upper section. Mizuno uses a softer and more relaxed mesh to accommodate runners who love to do long-distance running. It also results in better toe box volume. Mid-run swelling during marathons should be easily accommodated in this version.
  • This time around, Mizuno uses mainly PU overlays. The ultra light overlays provide a more forgiving fit that just serves the right support.
  • The insole is topped with a very soft fabric for a luxurious feel and compensate for the firmer cushioning. Mizuno removes the stitched overlays in the heel and replaced it with a patch that is covered with reflective material.

The modifications in the upper result to a slight difference in upper fit relative to the original Sayonara. In the Sayonara 2, the fit is more forgiving without giving away midfoot hold. The heel and midfoot have solid, but comfortable snugness with a roomy forefoot. Most runners with average to slightly wider feet can really maximize the fit of this shoe. Shoe sizing runs is standard in this shoe.


The outsole is the classic horseshoe shaped heel that is covered with very durable X10 rubber, which is also present in the Sayonara 4. Further towards the midfoot is a softer blown rubber for traction. The most prominent part of the outsole is a system of race-specific lugs that delivers excellent grip, particularly during tempo runs.


The midsole is a combination of Mizuno’s patented Wave Plate and their own U4iC midsole. In the Sayonara series, the Wave Plate is placed between the compression-molded U4iC. This creates that firm ride and consistent cushioning. A smooth transition is another result of this set up.


A soft and one-piece mesh covers almost the entire shoe. It is very breathable and plush. Mizuno used PU overlays that are found almost all over the shoe, except in the heel. Because these are very light, the number of overlays still result to a tad more relaxed upper with still plenty of midfoot lock down. The firmness of the ride is a bit counterbalanced by the very plush removable insole and strobe last.

Comparison