Customer Reviews

Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Running Shoe,White/Red,8 D

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After running in the Mizuno Wave Universe 3 shoes a few times (2-mile sessions), here's my analysis:
Form:
Because of the white over red mesh, the shoe looks a little "pink". The glittery gold and silver logo on the tongue doesn't help with masculinity either. Anyways, colors aside, this shoe looks and feels great.
Fit:
I have a very low arch and have wide toes. I also like the feel of running barefoot-midfoot landing and toe flex and toe release (Pose/Chi Running style). These requirements eliminate all conventional running shoes. The Wave Universe 3 fits great! It's flat (no arch), level cushioning from forefoot to heel (feet are flat in neutral position with very slight heel lift), and very roomy in the toe box. If you need arch support, just get an insole.
Function:
Feather lightweight (shoes weigh less than the box it comes in), breathable mesh, flexible in forefoot, cushions uniformly from heel to toe (slightly squishy throughout). They're so light and comfortable and breathable, it's easy to forget that I even have these shoes on! As for running barefoot style, these shoes are the best. When running, the cushioning makes me feel like I weigh like a kid half my size. I'm also glad the Universe 3 is a truly neutral shoe that lets your feet move the way they were naturally intended to. I don't get the aches and pains that come from my other shoes (with control/stability/pronation) that "help" me move unnaturally. The almost flat heel also means no ankle instability injuries or heel stomping soreness. My only concern is how long the outsole will last, as the white portion of the outsole is the eva foam itself with no protection. But I'll gladly run these shoes into the ground!

I was very pleased to receive my Mizuno Wave 3 Universe 3 running shoe from Roadrunner Sports within a week after I ordered the shoes from Amazon. It was great service, better than I expected. Better still, the shoes are great. They weigh only 3.8 oz and are highly recommended by Pose Running Dr,. Romanov. It is an ideal shoe for anyone who runs on the forefoot, or mid-foot. It's roomy in the toe box, yet snug at the heel.

This shoe is certainly one of the better ones I've worn lately. Well cushioned and very minimalist, it provides the perfect amount of cushion along the entire length of the shoe, from forefoot to heel, to accommodate any strike pattern (i.e. midfoot, heel, etc.) Also, they prove to be exceptionally light - certainly a benefit when racing longer events such as the 8k XC.

A few things should be pointed out, however. One, though I may run sock-less in all my shoes, the WU3 still seems a bit large, such that my size 11s would probably feel more snug in a 10.5. That said, I do also prefer my shoes to be more of a glove like fit. While on the topic of size, it is probably also important to point out that the shoe, though roomy in the toebox - which is great for that barefoot like feeling - sometimes feels a little to wide, such that my forefoot didn't feel secure and locked down. Again, this may be size related, or a personal preference issue, but in terms of snugness, I like my shoes to basically be form fitting, and this is just a little too spacious for my mid to forefoot striking needs. Nonetheless, the shoe does a great job of holding the heel in place, so there's no worries to be had about the shoe falling off and chafing one's heel.

Colors are not really all that offensive, and the pinkish nature and gold glittery tongue are both hardly noticeable - especially after use in a muddy cross country meet (due to the high amount of asphalt that was also present), the colors become somewhat of a moot point anyway.

In terms of durability, they seem to hold up nicely. The cushioning seems, after 55 miles, nearly as good as when they first arrived at my door. Soles, upper, laces, and interior all seem to hold up to sock-less abuse nicely, too. In short, if there are any durability issues, it's that the exposed foam on the midsole may smooth out rather quickly, but otherwise, the rubber remains firmly attached and whatnot, providing a fair amount of traction.

If it's worth anything, the shoes are certainly worth the price - they are light enough to serve as a great race day shoe, but hold up well enough such that one can do fast speedwork in them - or daily runs, if you find yourself a member of the minimalist ranks. I'm very glad I have them, and look to hold on to them for quite some time - especially after recently coming across a website where a minimalist runner had over 1,000 miles on these, and was still going strong!

I have two pairs of these shoes and have been running in them for over a year. They are the lightest shoes I've ever owed -- just over 3 ounces. And unlike the Vibram Five Fingers, they do offer a little more protection for your feet. I have wide feet and these shoes fit great.

The white over red mesh makes the shoes look pink. As a man who has run all my life -- including plenty of races like the Boston Marathon -- pink isn't exactly my favorite color for a running shoe. But hey -- I'm a tough guy and my ego can handle it -- especially while I'm passing guys years younger than me wearing heavily cushioned shoes. This morning, in fact, I had to throw my pink pair away because I've worn a hole the size of a penny right through the sole. I estimate that I got about 750 miles out of the shoes.

If you've read Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen (Vintage) and are convinced that barefoot running or minimalist shoes are for you, the Mizuno Wave Universe 3 is an excellent shoe. Flat, no arch support, and mild cushioning from heel to toe make this an excellent choice for those with a forefoot strike. But be careful, these are pretty thin soles and you certainly feel it when running over uneven ground or crushed rock. Anything the size of an acorn can really cause pain if you're running fast, so you need to watch where you're stepping.

Another negative I give these shoes is their porous soles. Simply put, they absorb water like a sponge. You step into a puddle, run through wet grass, heck, just jog over damp pavement, and the moisture comes right through the soles. So if you're often running in wet weather, these shoes may not be the best choice for you.

But for the vast majority of people looking for a minimalist running shoe that won't draw stares from people on the street, this shoe is just what you're looking for. I'll be checking out sales and will be buying another pair.

UPDATE: I remembered that I had some Shoe Goo around and so I decided to do a little sole repair. I took out a pair of liners I had from other running shoes, inserted them into my Mizuno's and then applied shoe goo to the hole. After leaving it overnight, I ran with them the next day and they worked fine. I applied another coating (leveled off with a popsicle stick) after the run and now they're good to go. I hope to get another couple of hundred miles out of them.

These shoes are great for 5K-10K racing and speed work. My only problem with these shoes is that they are not comfortable without socks, since a piece of leather in the medial forefoot area really irritates my skin after just a few miles of running in them. I will probably try the Saucony Grid Type A4 when it is time to retire these shoes.

did 2 and half hours cardio in these and felt great afterward. No knee pain. they are amazingly light. like you got to tie them down with string so they dont float away. its like alien technology from the future.
One thing i felt they ran a 1/2 size short. i ordered 11 and returned them for 12s.

I bought these because I needed something more durable than the Nike Mayfly. I am very happy with my purchase. These shoes are light and breathable. They are a bit wide in the toe area but this is not really a problem since feet swell a little when you run. These are the first pair of Mizuno shoes I have ever owned and I really like what they did.

I do not like these as much as the Mayfly but these are by far the closest thing I have found to giving me a positive light feel like the Mayfly. I really like what Mizuno did with these and would recommend them to anyone interested in trying a lighter shoe with less support.

The best feel for barefoot running without going bare because they are so incredibly light and, in contrast to the five fingers, as easy as slippers to put on. They are surprisingly comfortable considering how thin the shoes are because the economical cushioning is very effective. However, I am a transitional runner trying to move more to the forefoot or at least mid foot. The down part of the shoe is its unprotected heel, only hard thin rubber covering a narrow inner portion of the heel, that with only 20 miles is showing significant wear. If you are a transitional runner like me, cherish them with short runs otherwise, they won't last long.

I took a chance ordering the Mizuno Wave Universe 3 without having tried it before. But it seem true to size and fits perfectly. It is extremely light and ideal for pose running.

I am a triathlete and I have not yet raced in these shoes, but I've done some practice transitions in them. They are great along with my Yankz elastic laces. These should make my T2 transitions fast and my run even faster. They are light as a feather...could not believe how light they actually are.