Details
Brand
Mizuno
Heel To Toe Drop
0mm
Breathability
8.5/10
Latest Version
Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris 2
Terrain
Road
Type
Minimalist
Key Features
• Dynamotion fit allows the shoe to move along with the foot• Wider toe box allows the toes to splay and push off comfortably• 12mm thick midsole and wider forefoot allow smooth transitions and stable midfoot strikes• Wave technology protects the forefoot during road runs• Built to allow the toes to stabilize the foot: oblique toe shape, midfoot landing area, low toe spring, flat bottomed forefoot• Unstructured heel and flexible forefoot give a glove-like fit and a natural run• 0mm drop for a more natural gait
Upper
The upper is made of air mesh with oversized and regular-sized holes and synthetic textile overlays. The mesh has oversized holes in the forefoot and regular holes in the midfoot and heel that allow air to travel in and out of the shoe. The holes are so big that socks are visible through the shoe. The few overlays provide some support and structure. The heel collar and tongue are padded and the laces secure the fit around the midfoot. Dynamotion fit technology provides a customized fit that allows the shoe to move along with the foot. The toe box is wide, which allows the toes to splay comfortably and push off in order to pick up speed. Wave technology protects the toes from objects on the road. The heel counter is unstructured and the forefoot is flexible, which make the shoe fit like a glove and allow the user to run with a natural form.
Midsole
The midsole is made of a 12mm thick AP+ foam. The foam is lightweight, cushions landings, and springs the foot back into the air. It is wider in the forefoot to allow better takeoffs. The oblique toe shape, low toe spring, flat-bottomed forefoot, and midfoot landing area allow the toes to stabilize the foot, improve transitions, and transition to a midfoot strike. It has a 0mm drop to allow runners to improve their gait and strengthen their muscles and tendons. The arch support has a neutral level, suitable for runners with medium to high arches who don’t normally require additional support.
Outsole
The outsole is made of 12mm-thick rubber. It has deep treads on the forefoot and inside midfoot that give the shoe great traction on roads and hard surfaces. The grooves allow the shoe to bend with the foot and improve transitions so that users can pick up speed. X10 carbon rubber is placed on the inside of the forefoot and the outside of the midfoot for better durability in high-impact areas. The heel has a soft and spongy rubber that gives a bouncy feel.
Breathability
The Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris is a very breathable shoe. The upper has air mesh with oversized holes in the forefoot and regular holes in the midfoot and heel that provide superior breathability. Air can flow in and out of the shoe and around the foot, keeping it dry and cool on hot days. The few overlays around the midfoot, heel, and toe do not take away from the shoe’s breathability even though they’re stitched on. Testers reported getting no blisters or hot spots. Taking away from the breathability is the fact that the holes are so large that one can see one’s socks through them, meaning it allows the sock to absorb water on rainy days.
Comfort
Testers found the Wave Evo Cursoris to fit comfortably and have good cushioning. The shoe’s light weight and flexibility allow the user to move naturally and pick up speed. The midsole has comfortable cushioning that is lightweight, flexible, absorbs shock, and returns energy by lightly bouncing the foot back into the air. The wide toe box allows the toes to splay comfortably. In the upper, the Dynamotion technology along with the unstructured heel and flexible forefoot give the foot a customized, glove-like fit. The overlays provide some comfortable support, the heel collar and tongue are padded, and the laces provide a secure fit around the midfoot. The length is true to size and the width is most comfortable for runners with average-width feet. Runners with narrow feet found the shoe to be around half a size too big with its wide forefoot and toe box. Runners with wide feet found the midfoot to be too tight and had to order a half-size up. The shoe is very comfortable on warm and hot days, but can feel uncomfortable in the cold, wind, and rain. The 0mm drop can be uncomfortable at first for new runners while they’re strengthening their muscles and adjusting to a midfoot strike, but after a while the shoe feels normal.
Style
The Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris’s style was well-liked by many reviewers, with some purchasing multiple pairs in different colors. The Mizuno logo goes across the midfoot on either side of the shoe. The forefoot and sole are one color and the midfoot, laces, and heel are another color. It is currently available in Vibrant Orange /Silver Anthracite for men and Aruba Blue for women. Previously available colors include Black/White and Blue/Green for men and Black/Pink and Black/White for women. This shoe has been discontinued, so most sizes are no longer available.
Durability
This shoe received mixed reviews on durability. The outsole uses denser rubber on high-abrasion areas to help it last longer. The midsole’s foam stays springy and shock-absorbent for many miles without deteriorating. The upper also holds up surprisingly well, considering how much mesh is used. Some testers were able to run 350+ miles without any sign of wearing, while other experienced the sole falling apart after around 150 miles. Even with less-than-ideal durability, the shoe still received high ratings and some people bought multiple pairs because of its light weight and comfortable cushioning.
Protection
The Wave Evo Cursoris offers some protection. The thick outsole and midsole protect against feeling objects on the ground. The AP+ midsole foam cushions landings and provides good shock absorption. In the upper, the Wave technology protects the toe area during road runs. The see-through holes in the forefoot mesh protect very well against the heat, but not against cold, wind, or rain. The shoe offers a minimal level of heel and arch support for neutral runners to protect the ankle from rolling. Some reviewers wanted more protection in the forefoot against objects in the road, since the mesh doesn’t protect at all against debris falling on the foot.
Responsiveness
The Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris has good responsiveness. The light weight and flexibility let the runner move around easily and pick up speed without losing energy. The outsole’s bouncy heel was not liked by some who are used to minimalist shoes but welcomed by others. The midsole cushions landings and adds a light springiness to the step. Its zero drop encourages a midfoot strike, improves transitions, and helps strengthen muscles that will improve speed as they get stronger. The upper uses Dynamotion technology to fit the shoe to the form of the foot for better responsiveness. Testers found that this shoe is good for races and competitions.
Support
The Wave Evo Cursoris offers a light amount of support. The outsole and midsole help support the bottom of the foot and lift it off the ground. The midsole has a neutral level of arch support for runners with medium to high arches who don’t normally need extra arch supports or gel insoles. In the upper, the unstructured heel gives minimal support, while the overlays and laces give some support around the midfoot.
Terrain
The Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris is a road running shoe. It has treads that were designed to go on flat surfaces such as dirt and paved roads, tracks, and paths. Although road running shoes aren’t normally able to go over technical terrain, testers used it on the trail without slipping or sliding and it did not take away from the durability of the shoe. This shoe is not designed to go over snowy, icy, or slippery terrain.
Price
This shoe is at the high end of the average price range for a road running shoe. It has lightweight materials like a minimalist shoe, but the sole unit is thicker than most minimalist shoes, which makes it offer better cushioning, protect against shock to prevent injury, and doesn’t let the user feel objects on the ground. Some reviewers thought that the price was too expensive for what the shoe offered, while others bought multiple pairs because they liked the shoe ‘s look and comfort level. This shoe has been discontinued, so not all sizes are available anymore and some retailers are selling it for up to 33% off.
Drop
The Wave Evo Cursoris has a heel height of 24mm and a forefoot height of 24 mm, giving it a drop of 0mm, although some sites record it as 4mm. A zero drop encourages a midfoot strike, improves running form, and builds muscles and tendons that will eventually improve speed. Some testers had no problems with the drop, while others experienced soreness while they adjusted from a higher drop or to a midfoot strike.
Stability
This shoe is very flexible, but not very stable. The outsole and midsole are thicker than other minimalist shoes, which helps stabilize landings. The midsole was designed to allow the runner’s toes to stabilize the foot, intending to build muscles rather than offer stability with the shoe itself. The midsole has a light amount of arch support to stabilize the foot. The upper offers a minimal level of stability with its overlays, and the heel counter is unstructured so it does not stabilize the heel well. This shoe is suitable for neutral runners, underpronators or light overpronators. Moderate or heavy overpronators will need to choose a different shoe.
Flexibility
The Wave Evo Cusoris is flexible at every level. The outsole has flexible grooves that allow it to bend with the foot and over the terrain. The midsole AP+ foam also bends with the bottom of the foot as it cushions landings and bounces back up during takeoffs. The upper is mostly made of air mesh, which is very flexible, and the thin overlays are also flexible. The heel counter is unstructured, which adds even more flexibility to the rear of the foot. The shoe bends to the shape of the foot, which gives comfort and speed to runners.
Traction
The Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris gets good traction on roads, although some testers used it on trails without any problems. It has treads, which are designed to grip hard surfaces, but they are deep enough to help give traction on hills and light trails. The traction and flexible grooves help with picking up speed as well as improving the runner’s transitions and gait. This shoe does not get good traction on snow, ice, or slippery surfaces.
Bottom Line
The Wave Evo Cursoris is a good shoe for neutral runners who want to transition to a zero drop. It is very light but has a thick sole for a minimalist shoe, making it good for cushioning and shock absorption, and also allows runners to go over somewhat technical terrain without worrying about feeling objects in the road through the shoe. It is responsive, very flexible, and fits the foot “like a glove.” The design was well-liked by many reviewers. Possible areas for improvement include better durability in the outsole, more protection in the forefoot, and offering wider sizes. In short, the Mizuno Wave Evo Cursoris is a good shoe for someone who likes to race or speed train and is looking to try a minimalist shoe and/or wants to transition to a midfoot strike.
