Details
Brand
Mizuno
Heel To Toe Drop
8 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Trail
Type
Lightweight
Key Features
• Lugs for extra traction• Synthetic upper design with mesh components and water resistance• X10 carbon rubber outsole• Wave plate for shock protection• U4IC midsole material
Upper
The upper of the Wave Hayate is composed of a synthetic mesh-like substance. This material is fairly breathable thanks to its air vents. It also is designed to be very flexible, which is an added bonus, though it might not be as flexible as more true mesh designs. The upper also has some wax near the bottom that helps add a bit of water resistance and durability as well. Finally, in terms of comfort and security, the upper of the Wave Hayate is pretty good. It is fairly snug, and also slips on very easily according to many user reports. The upper as a whole is pretty solid.
Midsole
The midsole of the Mizuno Wave Hayate is made of Mizuno’s special U4IC foam. This foam is a special foam was designed by Mizuno in 2013, and is an upgrade from their previous AP+ material. It is an upgrade because it is significantly lighter, and also is much more responsive, returning energy at a good rate. The midsole of the Hayate also has Mizuno’s special wave technology. This is a thin foam that helps redistribute impacts and shocks in a wave-like manner, which makes for a much smoother and more comfortable ride overall. These are the two main components of the midsole, and they do a good job of providing cushioning and returning energy. The midsole is a pretty strong aspect of the shoe as a result.
Outsole
The Mizuno Wave Hayate features an outsole composed of X-10 rubber. This rubber is a special blend of carbon rubber that is designed to withstand impacts very well and also help provide grip. The outsole also has lugs, called X-Lugs, which help provide additional traction on different terrains, and when climbing or descending hills. Overall, the outsole is a very solid piece of the Wave Hayate. It offers good traction and durability through its carbon rubber materials and its lugs.
Breathability
Breathability refers to the way air flows in and out of shoes. This is very heavily dependent on the upper and greatly influences the sweat and odor within a shoe. The upper of the Wave Hayate is pretty good, as it is designed in a mesh style. Though not true mesh, the upper still has vents that allow air to circulate in and out of the shoe. True mesh is a bit more breathable, and it is a bit disappointing that the Wave Hayate does not offer it, but overall the breathability is not bad.
Comfort
The Wave Hayate is luckily a pretty comfortable shoe overall, thanks mainly to its upper and midsole. The upper is a fairly comfortable piece thanks to its synthetic, mesh styled design. This design holds down the foot fairly well, and is also flexible. This gives a snug but non-restrictive fit, which feels very comfortable while running. The ventilation throughout the upper is another factor that adds to the comfort, as good air flow is a big part of comfort. The midsole contributes through its U4IC foam and its Wave plate. The U4IC foam makes the shoe more comfortable by providing cushioning from shocks, and by being lightweight and springy. This makes each stride more comfortable and feel more natural. The Wave plate helps redistribute shocks, which only adds to the overall protection and cushioning of the midsole. The Wave Hayate is a fairly comfortable shoe overall.
Style
Mizuno tends to style their shoes in a very similar way to the stylings of brands like Asics and Brooks. Mizuno tends to offer a wide range of bright color combinations, along with some darker and more discreet ones as well. The Wave Hayate is no exception to this and can be found in many different colors. The shoe itself has a very clean and sharp design, however, looking almost like a racing shoe. There also is a special edition featuring Chinese characters set over a black, blue, and red color scheme. This edition looks very unique and stylish, and might be an appealing choice for some. Overall, the Wave Hayate is a well-styled shoe.
Durability
Durability is yet another key factor that should be considered when purchasing shoes. The Wave Hayate’s main sources of durability are its upper, midsole, and outsole. The upper adds durability with its solid construction and the additional waxlike seal. These together make the upper fairly resilient, and in turn contribute to the overall durability of the shoe. The midsole contributes through its U4IC foam, which is a material that does a good job of retaining its shape, even when withstanding repeated impacts. This gives the midsole a fairly long lifespan. Finally, the outsole contributes with its X-10 carbon rubber, which is very resistant to abrasions and hard impacts. These three features all add to the durability of the Wave Hayate and combine to make a pretty durable shoe overall.
Protection
When it comes to protection, the Wave Hayate does a pretty good job. This is mostly due to its midsole and upper. The midsole provides protection once again through the U4IC midsole and the Mizuno wave plate technology. The U4IC midsole protects the foot from harsh impacts with its foam cushioning, which absorbs shocks that can occur from stepping hard on the ground. The wave plate technology compounds on this by redistributing shocks to the shoe in a wave-like manner, essentially lessening impacts greatly. The upper contributes with its security and its waxlike seals. These two features together make the foot very secure from above, and also help keep debris and water out of the shoe. Overall, the Wave Hayate is a pretty well-protected shoe.
Responsiveness
The midsole of the Wave Hayate uses the previously mentioned U4IC material. This material is pretty springy and does a decent job of returning energy, if not an exceptional job. Many current shoes offer a bit more in the way of technology and materials to maximize responsiveness, so the Hayate is a bit lacking in comparison, at least in this department. Overall, though, when considering how long ago it was released, the Wave Hayate is decently responsive, and its lightweight nature is an added bonus to this.
Support
The Mizuno Wave Hayate is a pretty supportive shoe. The main factors that make it supportive are its upper and its midsole. The upper does a lot to support the foot from above with its synthetic design. The upper does a pretty good job of snugly holding down the foot, which helps to add a great deal of support from above. This also makes the stride more stable overall. The midsole adds support once again with its U4IC material and its Wave plate. Both of these add support through their cushioning, and their ability to absorb and redistribute impacts and shocks on the foot. The upper and the midsole are the main components of the Hayate that add support to the shoe, and they do a pretty good job at that.
Terrain
The Wave Hayate is mainly designed to be used on trails, and as such will do very well on trail terrains. That said, the Hayate is fairly lightweight, and can probably fare decently well on city terrains like road and concrete too. The best performance will definitely be on trails, however. They also are capable of being used in rain, so long as caution is taken, as the Hayate resists water a bit, but is not waterproof
Price
The Hayate can be found for a pretty good price because it has been out for so long. Initially the price was fairly average, but currently it can be found for fairly cheap, though it might be more difficult to find certain sizes. For the feature offered, the current price for the Wave Hayate is a pretty good bargain.
Drop
The drop, or heel measurement, on the Wave Hayate is 9mm. This amount of drop is pretty average for a lightweight shoe. Overall, the drop of the Hayate is not really a positive or negative feature of the shoe, and is pretty expected for a shoe of this type and weight.
Stability
The main aspects of the Wave Hayate that make the shoe stable are the upper and the midsole. The upper does a pretty good job stabilizing from above. It does this with its synthetic construction, which holds the foot down quite securely. The midsole contributes with its cushioning and with its wave plate. These two factors minimize the effects of impacts on the foot, which overall leads to a more secure and stable stride.
Flexibility
Flexibility is a feature that helps prevent common sprains and also allows for a more natural stride. The upper usually plays the biggest role in flexibility, as it is what holds the foot down. The upper of the Wave Hayate does a pretty good job thanks to its mesh-like design, but apart from this, the shoe does not do too much else to help establish flexibility. That said, the flexibility is still solid, just not amazing by any stretch.
Traction
Traction measures how well a shoe can grip onto different surfaces. This is especially important for trail running, as different surfaces present different challenges to grip. The outsole is the main component of the Hayate that influences its traction, and it does a very good job. The X-10 material in tandem with the lugs does a great job of providing grip on all sorts of surfaces, whether going uphill or downhill. Traction should not be an issue for the Wave Hayate, except in the most extreme of cases like in icy conditions.
Bottom Line
Overall, despite being a somewhat older shoe, the Mizuno Wave Hayate still has a lot to offer. The midsole and outsole, in particular, are well equipped to deal with the issues of trail running, and make the shoe pretty solid overall. For those seeking a lightweight trail shoe that can be found at a fairly low price, the Wave Hayate is not a bad choice.
