Mizuno Wave Nirvana 4

By Roger Hospedales

Love ‘em, love ‘em, love ‘em. That pretty much sums up what I feel about the updated Mizuno Wave Nirvana 4.

I’ve put a pair of these to the test for 3 months now and finally feel I can provide a meaningful review. I’ll provide my thoughts in bullet form and will list the many technological features of the shoe below that. So here goes:

· I first tried on a pair of Mizuno’s in 2005 and have stuck with them since then (I still have a trusty but heavy Brooks Beast as back-up). I suppose I can sum up the overall feel and philosophy of their shoes by saying that they work to support your feet rather than to restrict its natural movement. They also do a ton of testing to make sure they have a top notch product.

· I was searching for a new high mileage training shoe and figured I’d give these a go since I need a Support/Motion Control shoe. According to Mizuno’s footwear matrix they fall into the category of Support/Moderate Pronation and Maximum/ultimate protection. Their Renegade 3 offers more motion control but I felt that might be too much support for me since my long runs are a bit faster right now.

· If you want to make a comparison to another shoe on the market, the Nirvana 4’s are in the same category as the Asics Kayano.

· At 13 oz, I can also envision using them for my Ironman marathon. I used them at the Around the Bay 30 km and they felt perfectly comfortable. I also used them for the Chilly Half and it did not feel perfect since my turnover was quicker than my longer and slower paced training runs. For racing and faster paced training runs I would suggest using the Mizuno Elixir (my fave racing shoe for the past 3 years now). By the way, the new Elixirs are out and they are lighter and look real sexy, a review to come for that one once I get some racing in them. If you need a comparison, they are like the Asics DS Trainer (my former favourite racing shoe).

· If you have run in previous models of the Nirvana, you will likely enjoy these a bit more because of the addition of the Dynamotion Fit. This new and standout feature creates an improved heel fit and better overall stability, something a low arch, and moderate to over-pronator like myself appreciates. However, you may also find it to be a tad stiffer than the previous Nirvana models because of this. F.Y.I., by next year the Dynamotion technology will be all of their shoes.

· Quite simply, the Nirvana 4’s more than fulfilled my 4 F’s. Fit, feel, function and flair, and has become my new higher mileage training and racing shoe.

· It makes use all of the running shoe technology that Mizuno has at its disposal. This is why it is higher priced than many of the other shoes in its line. I’ve listed them all below for your perusal. I can assure you that all of the technology lives up to the billing to create an outstanding shoe.

Mizuno Shoe technologies featured in the Nirvana 4:

Dynamotion Fit – This new feature creates an area of “give” in the heel collar/cradle that adapts for the “gapping” that occurs in most shoes when the heel hits the ground and deforms the midsole (but the upper around the heel counter doesn’t conform).

Mizuno Wave™ – The Full-length Composite Double Fan Wave provides excellent support/control (especially for the medium-arched flexible foot type) and cushioning.

Sensor Point™ – Suspension system which connects the Wave plate to the ground, thereby enhancing stability and traction. Dual density heel Sensorpoints enhance support properties of the Wave Technology.

Smooth Ride™ – Designed to minimize the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the foot through the phases of the running gait cycle by reducing shock vibration and increasing flexibility. The Flexsole pattern enables the creation of a strategically flexible shoe, allowing the foot to transition properly.

AP Midsole – (Acceleration Polymer Responsive Midsole) Lightweight high rebound midsole material to give greater momentum at take-off.

VS-1 – Shock-absorbing cushioning compound found in the heel and forefoot. It absorbs shock and enhances cushioning properties by resisting compression-set, thus extending the cushioning life of the shoe. VS-1 is lightweight and has a durable memory (returns to original shape after initial impact) ideal for continuous force impact. In house test results have shown a 20% improvement in shock absorption over E.V.A.

Mizuno Intercool – Ensures that the foot stays cooler and less humid during running, thus reducing blistering and increasing comfort. During foot strike, as the midsole is compressed, hot air inside the shoe is transferred through a series of holes and channels within the midsole and is expelled through exhaust ports strategically located on the outsole of the shoe. It has proven to reduce temperature by 6% and humidity by 12%.

AIRMesh – Allows the shoe to maintain a high standard of breathability for the life of the shoe and allows for the foot to stay cool.

X-10™ – The most durable carbon rubber that allows for longer wear in high impact areas and supplements traction at heel strike.