Details
Brand
Mizuno
Heel To Toe Drop
11 mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Wave Ascend 8
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• X10 Carbon Rubber in the heel and forefoot provides durability and responsiveness• SmoothRide gives a “rocking chair movement” with its network of grooves that provide smooth heel-to-toe transitions• Mizuno’s Wet Traction system uses trail-specific, bi-directional lugs to grip hills or wet terrain• Copolymer AP+ midsole cradles feet with responsive cushioning• Breathable AIR Mesh upper keeps feet cool and dry• Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system uses innovative technologies to create a snug, secure, seamless fit that moves naturally with the user’s feet
Upper
The upper is made of synthetic overlays and AIR mesh. Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system creates a snug, secure, and seamless fit that is durable, flexible and responsive, moving naturally with the runner’s foot. The breathable AIR mesh keeps the foot cool, dry, and fresh. The laces provide a snug fit and the tongue and collar are padded. The inside is lined with a soft fabric for additional comfort. The upper also helps stabilize the foot against rolling for over-pronators and secures the heel in place to keep the foot from sliding. The shoe fits true to size, with plenty of room in the toe box.
Midsole
The midsole is made from Copolymer AP+ and molded foam. The Copolymer AP+ adds a responsive and shock absorbent layer of cushioning that has a springy feel. The molded foam insole on top cushions landings. Together, the midsole layers cradle the foot, adding stability for mild to moderate over-pronators and some arch support for runners with low arches.
Outsole
The outsole is made of durable rubber. The X10 Carbon Rubber in the heel and forefoot increases durability in those areas and helps make the shoe more responsive. The SmoothRide technology uses a network of grooves that provide the wearer with smooth heel-to-toe transitions. Mizuno’s Wet Traction System uses bi-directional lugs that grip trails, hills, roads, mud or snow, and can even get a small amount of traction on ice. The outsole is flexible enough to allow the foot to move during runs, but also provides some support and stability to the bottom of the foot.
Breathability
The Wave Ascend 7 is a breathable shoe. The AIR mesh with its big holes allows the foot to breathe, and the synthetic overlays add structure but do not take away from the overall breathability. The shoe can easily be used in hot or wet conditions without any problems. Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system is seamless, which reduces the risk of blisters or hot spots, especially during longer walks or runs.
Comfort
The Mizuno Wave Ascend 7 has high-level cushioning as well as a great fit, performance, and feel. The outsole is responsive, allowing runners to transition quickly and easily. The midsole has Copolymer AP+ that absorbs shock, adds spring, cushions landings and cradles the foot. The molded foam insole cushions landings. The breathable mesh keeps the foot cool and dry. Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system uses gives a snug, secure, seamless fit that moves naturally with the runner’s feet. The shoe fits true to size, with plenty of room in the toe box. The tongue and collar are padded, and the laces give a snug fit.;The light weight makes the shoe easy to run in or go long distances without losing energy. While the majority of testers loved the level comfort offered by this shoe, runners with joint pain or plantar fasciitis, who normally require an extremely high level of cushioning, reported soreness in their feet after several miles. Runners who require extra cushioning may need to add an insole or choose a different shoe.
Style
When it was initially released, the Wave Ascend 7 came in two choices for men: Surf the Web/Ember/Lichen and Orange /Classic Green/Dark Shadow, and two for women: Fluorite/Spicy Red/Lichen and Anthracite/Zinnia/Aruba Blue. Although the shoe is no longer available due to being a discontinued older shoe, except maybe a single size or color in a few retailers, reviewers loved the bright and colorful and styles available. Runners who prefer more neutral or less vibrant colors would not like the Wave Ascend 7’s style options.
Durability
The Wave Ascend 7 offers durability at every level. The outsole is made of durable rubber, with the X10 Carbon Rubber in the heel and forefoot to add additional durability in high-impact areas. Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system adds durable structure to the shoe. The mesh also lasts a long time without tearing. Although some reviewers experienced deterioration in the outsole early on, especially with heavier runners, many were able to go for 300 to 400 miles before the shoe started wearing down.
Protection
This shoe offers some protection. The outsole is thick enough to protect the foot from feeling the unevenness of the ground, which is extra important going over technical terrain, and is also especially durable in the forefoot and the heel to protect against accidental kicking or wearing out when going over rough surfaces. The midsole contains cushioning and foam to soften landings and absorb shock in order to protect joints. The upper protects against the cold, wind or wet weather, and Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system holds the foot in place and locks in the heel to protect against sliding and rolling while going over hills, rocks, or objects.
Responsiveness
The Wave Ascend 7 has a good ground feel and bounces energy back to the runner. The outsole uses SmoothRide, which provides great heel-to-toe transitions. The midsole uses the responsive AP+ cushioning that gives runners a springy step. The Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system creates a secure fit that moves naturally with the user’s feet. The light weight also adds to the responsiveness of the shoe because it allows runners to maintain their energy without feeling weighed down by a heavy shoe. The 11mm drop gives extra cushioning in the heel, which promotes forward momentum, especially for heel strikers. Some retailers categorize the Wave Ascend 7 under motion control, meaning the shoe has great stability and performance.
Support
The Mizuno Wave Ascend 7 supports the foot from every level. The outsole gives a solid foundation to support the foot from below. The Copolymer AP+ midsole cushioning cradles the foot and gives a good amount of arch support for runners with low arches, although runners with higher arches may need to use an additional insole. Mizuno’s Dynamotion Fit upper system, the padding in the tongue and collar, and the snug fit of the laces provide surrounding support to keep the foot from sliding or rolling, making the shoe a good choice for either neutral runners or mild to moderate over-pronators.
Terrain
The Wave Ascend 7 is a trail running shoe and can be used on either trails or roads. In the outsole, Mizuno’s Wet Traction system uses trail-specific, bi-directional lugs to grip hills or wet terrain. This means that users can go on light trails, heavy trails, sidewalks, dirt roads and paths, rough surfaces, mud, or snow. Users can also go on ice, but the shoe does not have spikes, so it can get a bit slippery when trying to pick up speed.
Price
The Mizuno Wave Ascend 7 is a mid-range priced shoe. It has the necessary stability, traction, and responsiveness for a trail running shoe, but is cheaper than some super-highly cushioned shoes. The shoe is no longer available in most retailers because it as well as the Wave Ascend 8 have been discontinued. Potential buyers who cannot find this shoe in their size should consider purchasing the Wave Kazan or Wave Kazan 2, which is Mizuno’s most comparable shoe to the Wave Ascend series and has the added benefit of being lighter than the Wave Ascend shoes.
Drop
The Wave Ascend 7 has an 11mm drop, which is in the same range as the standard 12mm drop. This drop level is intended to promote forward momentum, cushion the heel, and take the strain off the Achilles tendon. The extra cushioning in the heel especially benefits heel strikers, gives a medium amount of cushioning for midfoot strikers, and the least amount of cushioning in the forefoot, which can cause soreness in forefoot strikers who require a lot of cushioning.
Stability
Most reviewers loved the level of stability given by the Mizuno Wave Ascend 7. The rubber outsole stabilizes the foot from below in order to keep the foot from rolling when going over rocks, sticks, or objects on trails. In the midsole, the Copolymer AP+ cushioning and foam insole cradle the foot to help keep it in place. The arch support listed as “stability,” which is good for mild to moderate over-pronators or runners who need arch support, but the support is low so runners with medium or high arches may need additional arch support. The Dynamotion Fit upper system secures the foot to keep it from slipping or rolling. While the heel was locked in for everyone, some reviewers reported a lack of stability in the midfoot and/or forefoot, especially after wearing the shoe for many miles.
Flexibility
The Wave Ascend 7 offers at least some flexibility at every level in order to allow the shoe to move naturally with the foot but without compromising the stability that allows users to go on trails. In the outsole, SmoothRide features a network of grooves to provide smooth transitions. In the midsole, the AP+ cushioning and molded foam insole both bend with and fit to the form of the foot, giving springy takeoffs and smooth landings. In the upper, the AIR mesh is naturally flexible and the Dynamotion Fit system creates a snug and secure fit that also moves naturally with the runner’s foot.
Traction
This shoe has bi-directional lugs specifically designed to give excellent traction on trails. Reviewers have reported using the shoe on trails, roads, paths, wet pavement, snow, or even slippery surfaces like mud with great traction. Testers experienced some slippage on ice, but the shoe does not have spikes, so that is to be expected. The traction allows runners to use the shoe in a variety of environments without having to worry about purchasing a separate shoe for each type of surface.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Mizuno Wave Ascend 7 is a great trail running shoe. It is light enough to move quickly in, breathable, comfortable, has a well-liked style, is durable enough to go a few hundred miles without wearing down, protects the joints when landing, and gives great performance and balance. It provides some arch support and enough stability to be used by mild to moderate over-pronators. It can be used on trails, hills, roads, and wet or slippery surfaces without any problems. Potential areas for improvement include support for higher arches, improved cushioning for runners with joint pain or plantar fasciitis, greater stability in the forefoot and midfoot, and offering wide or narrow shoe sizes. In short, the Wave Ascend 7 is a great shoe choice for trail runners looking to go long distances on a variety of terrain types.
