Mizuno Wave Horizon 7 review

We've discovered in the lab that the Mizuno Wave Horizon 7 is a great choice for:

• Runners seeking a daily trainer with exceptional stability who don’t mind its hefty weight.
• Severe pronators needing consistent support and a durable, long-lasting outsole.
• Mild pronators preferring a heavy-duty stability shoe over a more streamlined option.

We believe the Mizuno Wave Horizon 7 isn’t the best choice for neutral runners or those seeking only mild stability. Its bulky build and heavy weight come with too many trade-offs. For a lighter and more versatile Mizuno, we recommend the Wave Sky 7 instead.

Similarly, runners who dislike heavy shoes will likely find the Wave Horizon 7 frustrating. In our opinion, better alternatives exist, like the ASICS GT 2000 13 for a more streamlined choice or the Gel Kayano 31 for those who prefer a maximalist design loaded with stability features.

We measured an impressive 39.1 mm stack height in the heel, solidly placing this shoe in the max-stack category while also delivering standout stability features. That's a rare blend we don’t often encounter in the market.

And despite its towering design, we found that its stability-focused components deliver an impressively secure ride even for heavier pronators.

The forefoot is impressively cushioned compared to most shoes on the market, boasting a generous 31.9 mm stack height. In our view, anything exceeding 30 mm in the forefoot earns a spot in the unofficial maximalist club—so the Wave Horizon 7 joins.

Of course, with such towering measurements, ground feel becomes virtually nonexistent.

We found that the 7.2 mm heel-to-toe drop closely aligns with Mizuno’s stated 8 mm—only a minor difference, about the thickness of a credit card. This mid-drop design, in our experience, works well for all footstrikes.

This is Mizuno’s flagship trainer in their stability lineup, so it’s no surprise the midsole is packed with their signature technologies. We sliced the shoe open to reveal three distinct midsole compounds.

The main ingredient is Mizuno Enerzy, a TPE foam which we found to offer a balanced softness, measuring 22.6 HA on our durometer. This is an ideal outcome for a stability shoe since going any softer could compromise support.

While the shoe doesn’t feel overly bouncy at first, the Enerzy foam delivers a surprisingly dynamic ride when running. Combined with the Enerzy Core inserts—which we’ll cover next—it creates a more enjoyable experience than its chunky appearance might suggest.

The secondary foam in the Wave Horizon 7 is U4iC, an EVA-based compound that adds a hint of stability with its firmer, less compliant formulation. Our Shore A durometer measured it at 27.8 HA, which matched our impressions during runs perfectly.

We froze the shoe for 20 minutes and discovered its softness decreased by 31%. While this is a fairly typical result, it’s nothing remarkable and feels noticeable underfoot.

The EVA insole also exceeds the average in terms of cushioning, measuring 5.3 mm. 

The third foam, Enerzy Core, takes centre stage as a super-lightweight, ultra-soft, and impressively bouncy material, strategically tucked inside the midsole as a comfort booster, like ASICS does with PureGEL.

We tested this foam with our durometer and recorded a groundbreaking softness—actually the lowest score we’ve ever measured in the lab at 3.0 HA. From our perspective, incorporating Enerzy Core it's a fantastic idea that improves energy return and plushness without sacrificing stability, thanks to its internal placement.

The Horizon series has always featured a flatter profile, particularly in the heel, while the forefoot continues to rise a bit with each iteration. In our assessment, the 7th edition stays on this path, boasting a moderate forefoot rocker that adds some forward momentum.

However, the heel remains mostly flat, tailored specifically for easy paces. This deliberate design underscores its purpose as a stability-focused, speed-averse daily trainer.

When it comes to fit, we measured a maximum width of 100.1 mm, delivering what we consider an average fit with a subtly roomy feel—something we genuinely appreciated. Even better, Mizuno offers a wide option in select markets, catering to broader-footed runners.

We noticed slightly less vertical volume than we hoped, but in our experience, the engineered mesh’s stretchable nature compensates well.

Next, we tested the big toe area and recorded a width of 80.1 mm. From our perspective, this generous space feels fantastic for long runs or when feet swell—a welcome feature for added comfort on those tougher days.

The Wave Horizon 7 is meticulously designed to support runners with significant pronation issues, and in our experience, it delivers exceptionally well using a mix of smart techniques.

The ultra-wide base provides a naturally stable platform during landings, enhancing overall balance. Additionally, the shoe’s rigid construction works seamlessly with Mizuno’s innovative Rubber Wall—an extension of the blue outsole rubber that grows into the midsole, preventing collapse and effectively centering the stride for enhanced stability.

We immediately noticed the shoe’s rigid build during our testing here in the lab. In our experience, the Wave Horizon 7’s stiffness is evident—earning a solid 4/5.

From the moment we slipped our feet into the Wave Horizon 7, we found the heel counter exceptionally stiff, even borderline harsh, despite Mizuno’s attempt to balance it with generous padding. Unsurprisingly, it earned a 5/5 in our test for its rock-solid structure, which is a common result for stability shoes.

This shoe feels impressively wide overall, though the forefoot at 118.5 mm is less extreme than the heel.

From our angle, stability shoes don’t need overly generous widths up front—just slightly more than neutral trainers—while maintaining a non-tapered, midfoot-wide build is what truly matters.

The heel is undeniably massive at 98.4 mm, giving heel strikers confidence that they’ll never wobble in this shoe. In our experience, it works flawlessly but comes at the cost of being overly clunky—making the WH7 best suited for relaxed, easy paces only.

We also noticed a small hole in the outsole that's meant to showcase the Enerzy Core foam inside. It’s a cool detail, but it also has the potential to catch small rocks, leaving us unsure if it was truly necessary.

We felt fantastic while walking and jogging in this shoe, thanks to its surprising flexibility despite its thick and broad build. In our testing, it only required 27.3N to bend to 90 degrees. This moderate flexibility, paired with its cozy upper, ensures it’s capable of handling everyday activities beyond running with ease.

At 11.6 oz or 329g, the Wave Horizon 7 feels just as hefty as it looks—a trade-off for its massive cushioning and broad, stability-focused dimensions. And while this bulk is expected, we think that Mizuno has the tools to refine it.

In fact, we think that shedding around 10% of its weight is realistic with smart design changes and innovative, feather-light foams like Enerzy NXT, featured in models from this brand like the Neo Vista. 

We expected the upper to deliver good breathability, but after connecting our smoke machine to our custom 3D-printed piece, we discovered otherwise. With a score of 3/5, it’s not terrible, yet we anticipated something better.

Placing the upper over our light source revealed Mizuno’s approach—a super-thick, comfort-focused design combined with a thin, airy mesh in the toebox. While this method adds a bit of ventilation, it simply wasn’t enough to achieve top-tier airflow.

Under the microscope, we got an up-close look at Mizuno's engineered woven mesh of the toebox, and it looks absolutely stunning.

In fact, it’s one of the sleekest materials we’ve seen in a while—even perfect for a smartphone wallpaper!

We believe Mizuno prioritised stability and comfort with this design, only making the upper airy enough to meet basic ventilation needs. And in that regard, they succeeded without compromising support or structure.

However, runners in super-hot climates might find this upper lacking. For those situations, we suggest pairing the shoe with ultra-thin socks or exploring better-ventilated options like the Hurricane 24 from Saucony.

Excluding the small, thinner section designed for ventilation, the rest of the upper looks durable and ready to withstand wear. We tested it with our Dremel and found that the Wave Horizon 7 earned a solid 3/5 score in this tough-as-nails challenge.

The heel padding was a major letdown, earning a shockingly low 1/5 in our durability test. In our experience here in the lab, Mizuno usually delivers better results, but they opted for a new heel lining material here—and it just didn’t hold up.

Shifting our focus to the outsole, Mizuno takes a careful approach with the Wave Horizon 7. They added extra rubber to wear-prone zones, particularly in the medial midfoot, to enhance durability where it’s most needed.

We found the strategic cutouts in the forefoot really clever—they add good flexibility despite the shoe’s thick and robust build. Our analysis also indicates a hardness score of 80.1 HC, sitting squarely in the average range. This design aligns perfectly with a shoe aimed at durability, especially for runners who are notoriously tough on outsoles.

To test the X10 rubber’s durability, we fired up the Dremel at 10K RPM and went all out on the outsole. The result left us impressed—a mere 0.8 mm dent, which is a good outcome.

With a solid 4.5 mm thickness, this outsole promises durability for countless miles. In our view, the rest of the shoe will likely wear out first. And maybe, for future versions, Mizuno could shave off 1 to 1.5 mm to reduce weight, a much-needed improvement on this shoe.

The Mizuno Wave Horizon 7 isn’t cheap, but as a premium stability shoe, that’s no surprise. In our view, it offers good value for its features, even undercutting rivals like the Hoka Gaviota 5.

Yes! Mizuno included reflective elements on the heel, enhancing visibility for drivers and cyclists during our nighttime runs.

We expected a more padded tongue, but Mizuno surprised us with an average 6.1 mm thickness that we really liked.

In our view, the tongue strikes a great balance—comfortable without overdoing it. Besides, adding a super-plush tongue would’ve been excessive for such a heavy shoe.

We found the tongue securely attached to the sides, delivering a snug, confidence-boosting lockdown. This is the kind of detail we expect in a shoe priced above an average daily trainer.

The Wave Horizon 7’s rear lacks a finger-loop heel tab, which could have made slipping into the shoe noticeably easier.

Swapping out the insole can be a smart solution if you need extra space inside the shoe. The stock insole is noticeably thick—creating a snugger fit—so replacing it with a thinner footbed adds more room for your feet.