Mizuno Wave Sky 9 Review | Max Cushion That Actually Feels Alive

Our review of the max cushioned Mizuno Wave Sky 9, a great update from previous versions.

Upon first glance at the Mizuno Wave Sky 9, you can’t help but notice all of the cushion! It is very clearly a max cushioned shoe. This was my first time running in a max cushioned trainer and it took a moment to adjust, but within a few minutes of running I decided I was a fan.

These shoes were clearly built to make long runs ridiculously comfortable.

And that, indeed, is exactly the point of the Mizuno Wave Sky series. The Wave Sky series is known for making you feel like you’re floating through your runs, and the Sky 9 is no exception.

While Sky 9 shed the Sky 8’s visible undulating midsole, the running-on-clouds effect was not lost, and long runs in these shoes were a truly enjoyable experience.

Mizuno Wave Sky 9 Overview

This shoe is a max cushioned shoe, and you can tell the second you put it on.

I haven’t worn a pair of Mizunos in a long time, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed wearing these. Yes, the extra cushion did require a moment to adjust, but within the first mile I was used to it, and by mile five, I really appreciated the extra comfort.

It’s reminiscent of a memory-foam-like experience for your feet, but somehow it doesn’t feel too heavy. I actually felt surprisingly light and springy during tempo pick ups in these!

The extra pep in your step is thanks to the Wave Sky ‘s nitrogen infused EVA, Mizuno Enerzy NXT. And while the big stack height was intimidating at first, I felt really stable in these. The cushion’s bounce seemed to give my foot an extra lift with each step, keeping my ankles feeling secure and supported.

I was also worried that the extra cushion would limit my ability to enjoy the connection with the ground, but instead I found the bouncy cushion amplified the feeling for me. I sort of felt like a bouncy superhero with boosted speed!

Maybe some of this was due to the very subtle rocker. This is becoming more common in these big cushioned shoes and really does help with rolling forward instead of sinking in to the shoe.

My biggest complaint about the Wave Sky 9 is the poor ventilation.

The shoes are made with a stretchable, woven material that surely lends to how stable the run felt, but perhaps isn’t the best for breathability. My feet overheated during midday runs or on the treadmill, where the air quickly turns warm and stuffy, despite wearing sweat-wicking socks.

I know the jury is out on whether it’s “bad” to regularly train in max cushioned shoes, so I’m not sure if I’d recommend these as a daily trainer, but I really enjoyed running long distances and doing tempo runs in them, especially early mornings before it was too hot.

That’s right, all that cushion still left me able to pick up the pace which was a very nice surprise.

Because I’m training for a half, my long runs tap out around 10 miles right now, but I believe marathon distance training runs would feel pretty luxurious in these springy, max-cushioned shoes! And sore legs would absolutely appreciate the extra cushion for recovery run days. However, because of the ventilation issue, I wouldn’t recommend them for race day or a speed workout.

The Wave Sky 9 is a chunkier shoe that gives this 5’2” runner a little extra much needed height! While I prefer shoes with more fun, loud color palettes, I appreciate the little flash in the band above the midsole for a fun pop of color.

The shoe doesn’t stand out in a good or bad way to me. It just sort of looks like a chunkier running shoe!

Mizuno Wave Sky 9 Fit & Feel

We talked a lot about cushion; now let’s chat about the shoes’ fit!

As a runner with a wider foot and high arch, I usually look for a shoe that hugs my arch a bit more.

When I simply stood still in the shoes, I couldn’t tell whether my arch would be supported. But while running, the cushion’s softness melded into my arch to support it. I actually loved the soft, springy arch support provided by the max cushion to my usual shoes, the Saucony Kinvara 15.

For the most part, I felt the standard woman’s 9.5 sizing was very accommodating of my wide foot. However, the toe box was a bit snug, which left me wondering if the wide sizing might feel more comfortable.

The heel collar was padded and hit comfortably, not causing any rubbing or irritation. The shoe’s tongue was padded to keep my foot snug and comfortable.

With such a towering stack height, I was surprised by how stable I felt while running. Even with the stack height, I could feel my foot settling into the soft, springy cushioning that seemed to rebound my every step.

The Wave Sky 9 is secured with stretchable, woven material which worked really well to keep my feet secure. However, I believe that the same woven material did lend to my foot feeling a bit overheated, especially when running on the treadmill in the summer heat.

Overall, the Wave Sky 9 is very comfortable and I found that the soft, supportive cushion made up for any of its flaws. I will definitely be keeping this shoe in my rotation!

Who Tried it?

Hi! I’m Serena, a registered dietitian specializing in women’s health & running nutrition… and I love to run! I alternate between training for the half marathons and marathon distance, although my true love is the half marathon. Despite my addiction to long distances, my weekly mileage is usually around 30 miles per week, so I still have plenty of time to strength train. If you’re interested in learning more about my training or working together, feel free to message me on Instagram @RunnerGirlDietitian, where I’m often sharing random tidbits on my Stories!

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