Details
Brand
Mizuno
Heel To Toe Drop
12 mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Cushioning
Key Features
• Plush interior• Good cushioning• Breathable mesh upper• Several color options• Lightweight
Upper
The upper on the Mizuno Synchro MD is designed with AIRmesh technology to ensure that you get an adequate fit, a high level of comfort, and breathability that will ensure that your feet stay cool and dry no matter what kind of heat you might be running in. This, when coupled with the midsole’s high degree of comfort and cushioning, means that you’ll barely notice that you’re running on a road. Everything tends to work in tandem with each other in this shoe. The upper does its job of providing comfort, stability, and breathability, the midsole extends that level of comfort, and the outsole completes the job by providing protection from the road.
Midsole
The midsole on the Mizuno Synchro MD utilizes U4ICX technology to give your foot plenty of cushioning during a run. There are some running shoes that have stiff midsoles that need to be broken in before you can get a comfortable run out of them, but that’s not the case with the Mizuno Synchro MD. The midsole has plenty of cushioning and protection to begin with, preventing the effects of the road to have a very big impact on your feet. The Dynamotion Fit system means that this shoe is going to fit you better than just about any other running shoe.
Outsole
The first thing you’ll notice about the Mizuno Synchro MD and its outsole is that it’s been designed with SmoothRide technology to ensure that your ride is smooth and stable no matter what kind of paved surface you end up running on. The outsole is made out of a tough carbon rubber that uses X10 technology to ensure durability. We’ll get into this later, but the weight of the shoe suffers a bit as a result. This outsole allows for a longer length of wear in the high impact areas, and it also has greater traction at the heel strike. You should note that the rest of the traction on the outsole does leave some to be desired.
Breathability
In terms of breathability, the Mizuno Synchro MD passes with flying colors. This is all due to its dynamic upper that features proprietary AIRmesh technology to keep your feet cool and dry. This superior breathability is supported by advanced cushioning that extends well beyond the upper and moves into the midsole of the running shoe. One of the toughest things for a running shoe to do is to provide breathability for tough runs in hot weather while also providing security. The Mizuno Synchro MD does just that.
Comfort
As we’ve touched on earlier in this review, the comfort of the Mizuno Synchro MD is where it really shines. It does this by employing a Dynamotion Fit system to keep your foot well cushioned in the midsole. The upper likewise does a good job of keeping you comfortable, with a tongue and an upper material that are strong while being flexible and well cushioned. One of the most important things about a good road runner is the level of comfort that it provides, and the Mizuno Synchro MD does not disappoint.
Style
One of the areas that some running shoes skimp on is the area of style. Too often, shoe companies will put all of their efforts into delivering plenty of features for a cheap price, and style will come as a sort of an afterthought. With the Mizuno Synchro MD, however, style is just as prominent a concern as all of the rest of the features. You have several color choices to choose from, all of them bombastic and bold in a very unique way. Fans of minimalism beware: this shoe isn’t known for being subtle. Its color choices are loud and proud, and for people who want to really show off their running shoes.
Durability
The durability of the Mizuno Synchro MD is quite good. In fact, in terms of features that leave something to be desired, you really only have to worry about the traction and the weight. Thanks to the outsole’s carbon rubber X10 technology, the last thing you’ll have to worry about is the shoe giving out on you anytime soon. This means that you’ll be getting more for your money and can get plenty of runs in before you have to go out and buy another running shoe. This is just one of the many benefits of this running shoe.
Protection
The protection of the Mizuno Synchro MD is yet another feature of the shoe that excels. The durable rubber outsole of this shoe comes in handy here, absorbing much of the shock without passing that force onto your foot. This means that you can run on the hardest of paved roads without having to worry about that shock moving into your feet or even your knees. If you’ve ever run in a shoe that isn’t meant for running, you’ll know just how much the impact of the road can affect not just your feet or knees, but also even your back. With the Mizuno Synchro MD, that simply isn’t an issue.
Responsiveness
The Mizuno Synchro MD is quite responsive, due in large part to the combined efforts of the midsole and outsole. The outsole’s durable rubber construction ensures that you will have a stable shoe that can still respond to your movements, and this is backed up by the midsole, which is cushioned and flexible to allow your foot to move naturally. Even the upper is in on this, allowing your foot to be cushioned while still remaining responsive to your every movement.
Support
The arch support on the Mizuno Synchro MD is meant for stability, which, as you can imagine, will really come in handy when it comes to road running. This is because you’ll need that stability to keep you upright on these hard surfaces, sticking you to the road so that you don’t lose your footing. When you also consider that the traction on this shoe isn’t quite up to par, the support of the shoe does more than enough to make up for this fact and give you a superior, stable performance.
Terrain
You shouldn’t be expecting to be able to take this running shoe out on technical trails, as the terrain that the Mizuno Synchro MD was built for is specifically road or paved surfaces. As such, you can expect this shoe to be plenty protective and durable in order to stand up to the abuse of the road. Trail-running shoes are more built for flexibility, but they can’t quite stand up to the tough conditions of the road. The Mizuno Synchro MD, on the other hand, can handle just about any paved surface you can throw at it.
Price
In terms of price, the Mizuno Synchro MD is fairly affordable when you consider just how many features this running shoe is packing under the hood. While it does suffer a bit in terms of weight and traction, the Mizuno Synchro MD more than makes up for this with a durable outsole, a cushioning midsole, and an upper that fulfills several duties all at once. You can pick up this shoe for a little more than what you’d spend on your average gym shoe, so you’ll be getting quite a deal for this caliber of running shoe.
Drop
The heel to toe drop for the Mizuno Synchro MD is another area where this running shoe isn’t quite up to par. It features a whopping 12mm heel to toe drop on both the men’s and women’s versions of the shoe. This means that it’s going to take longer for your foot to make contact with the ground from your heel to your toe, which could very well affect your gait cycle. While this isn’t the largest heel to toe drop we’ve seen in a running shoe, it can very well affect your run in a negative way. Keep in mind, of course, there are plenty of other great features in the Mizuno Synchro MD that make it well worth the purpose.
Stability
The arch support on the Mizuno Synchro MD is specifically built for stability, so this shoe is built from the ground up specifically for that purpose. As such, you don’t have to worry much about falling while out on the road, unless you happen to get caught in a storm. Even so, a storm isn’t guaranteed to take you down while you’re running, but the traction is not quite up to par. Stability is quite important for a running shoe, as this is what keeps you from falling or making a misstep.
Flexibility
When it comes to flexibility, the Mizuno Synchro MD utilizes flex grooves on its outsole to deliver much of the flexibility of the shoe. This means that even though the outsole itself is tough, durable, and thick, it still remains quite flexible as well. There’s also quite a deep cut that runs from the heel to the forefoot, which helps out quite a bit in terms of flexibility. The forefoot further helps with flexibility, allowing for plenty of room when it comes to the fit of your feet.
Traction
As we’ve touched on earlier in this review, the Mizuno Synchro MD suffers a bit when it comes to its traction. It’s plenty durable, but the outsole itself isn’t very conducive to good traction. As a result, you might want to think twice before you take this running shoe out in the rain. There’s a decent chance that you could potentially take a fall if you run in poor weather conditions, so this is a serious concern that you should be aware of. With that said, the shoe will still perform fairly well on the road, especially during nice weather.
Bottom Line
The bottom line on the Mizuno Synchro MD is that it’s loaded with plenty of features, including a tough, durable outsole and a midsole that’s very well-cushioned. The upper completes the job by providing a nice fit while ensuring that the shoe is plenty breathable, and the flex grooves on the outsole of the shoe ensure that the shoe remains flexible even while it’s tough and durable. In terms of price, the Mizuno Synchro MD is very affordable, and when you consider just how many features this shoe is packing, you’d almost expect it to cost more. The Mizuno Synchro MD is a great option for road runners.
