Revision as of 10:21, 30 June 2015

The Mizuno Ekiden is a relatively light weight, firm, minimalist running shoe. The lack of cushioning means the Ekiden is a little slower than you might expect, and it doesn't offer much in the way of comfort. (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Mizuno Wave Ekiden top	Mizuno Wave Ekiden bottom
Mizuno Wave Ekiden inside	Mizuno Wave Ekiden outside

1 Cushioning, Running Economy, & Performance

There is scientific evidence that a little cushioning can improve Running Economy, which means it takes less effort to run at the same pace. This shoe does not offer enough cushioning to provide that increase in, so you'll probably be slower than you would be in a slightly more cushioned shoe.

2 Characteristics

• Why you'd buy it. You're after a light weight, minimalist shoe, combined with a firm sole and a high level of grip on asphalt.
• Cushioning. The Ekiden doesn't offer sufficient cushioning to get the benefits of increased Running Economy, so it's not going to be as fast as you might expect. The Ekiden does not seem to have a wave plate in the heel of the shoe, just foam cut into a wavy shape. There is a hard plastic wave plate under the midfoot, but this does not appear to be functional, as it only extends about quarter inch/5mm forward and backward, which is not enough to provide any meaningful cushioning.
• Drop. The Ekiden midsole is 13mm/18mm for a 5mm drop, which is a little more than I'd like, especially as this drop is not reduced when the shoe is worn. Compared with other minimalist shoes, the drop seems rather large, and is at the upper end of what I'd consider acceptable.
• Structure. The midsole consists of two different densities of EVA foam, but this makes little difference to how the shoe feels. There is a slight rise on the inside (medial) edge of the heel, but it's quite minor.
• Flexibility. The Ekiden is nicely flexible, as you'd expect for a shoe this thin.
• Outsole. Most of the outsole is covered in small, hard, plastic nubs that provide excellent traction on asphalt (but not on trails or dirt). The harder material covers most of the contact patch, preventing the midsole from abrading away. The cut out in the heel can trap stones, but I didn't find this was as much of an issue as some other shoes.
• Shape. The Ekiden is the classic shape that does not match the human foot, and narrows excessively in the toe box, so the toe box needs cutting open. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.)
• Upper. The upper is unexpectedly thick and robust for a light weight shoe. Sadly, there are also far more seems than you'd expect to find in a modern running shoe. There's also no padding except a tiny bit around the ankle opening which I found rather uncomfortable. This is one of the few shoes that annoys my Achilles, so avoid the Ekiden if you have issues in this area.
• Tongue. The tongue is very thin and unpadded, and I found it was awkward to keep it in place when putting the shoe on.
• Lacing. The flat laces work well and remained tied.
• Heel counter. The heel counter is a little stiffer than I'd like, and along with the styling it makes me think of a much older shoe.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Mizuno Wave Ekiden at Zappos Buy Mizuno Wave Ekiden at Road Runner Sports Buy Mizuno Wave Ekiden at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Mizuno Wave Ekiden at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

3 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

4 Visualizing the Attributes of the Mizuno Wave Ekiden

How Mizuno Wave Ekiden compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Mizuno Wave Ekiden compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Mizuno Wave Ekiden compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Mizuno Wave Ekiden compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

5 Comparisons

Here are a few comparisons the Ekiden's competition.

5.1 Mizuno Wave Ekiden and Wave Universe

Comparing the Ekiden and to the Mizuno Wave Universe, they offer similar limited levels of cushioning. The big differences are the weight (the Ekiden is nearly twice as heavy) and the lack of longevity in the Universe. Overall, the Universe is a far better shoe until it disintegrates, which sadly won't take long.

Mizuno Wave Ekiden top	Mizuno Wave Ekiden bottom	Mizuno Wave Ekiden inside	Mizuno Wave Ekiden outside
Mizuno Wave Universe 5 top	Mizuno Wave Universe 5 bottom	Mizuno Wave Universe 5 inside	Mizuno Wave Universe 5 outside

5.2 Mizuno Wave Ekiden and Merrell Trail Glove‏‎

The Ekiden and the Merrell Trail Glove are quite similar shoes in spite of their looks and marketing. While neither is heavy, they don't offer much cushioning for the weight they carry. They both last reasonably well, though the Trail Glove has the edge on longevity as well as comfort, and the Ekiden has better grip on asphalt. I'd choose the Trail Glove in most situations.

Mizuno Wave Ekiden top	Mizuno Wave Ekiden bottom	Mizuno Wave Ekiden inside	Mizuno Wave Ekiden outside
Merrell Trail Glove 3 top	Merrell Trail Glove 3 bottom	Merrell Trail Glove 3 inside	Merrell Trail Glove 3 outside

5.3 Mizuno Wave Ekiden ‎ and New Balance RC5000

The New Balance RC5000 is stunningly light, but it's not a minimalist shoe like the Ekiden. Instead, the RC5000 provides quite a bit more cushioning than Ekiden that's nearly twice as heavy. Because the RC5000 has enough cushioning to improve Running Economy it will be far faster to run in than the Ekiden. Perhaps surprisingly, I found the RC5000 more comfortable in the upper as well.

Mizuno Wave Ekiden top	Mizuno Wave Ekiden bottom	Mizuno Wave Ekiden inside	Mizuno Wave Ekiden outside
New Balance MRC 5000 top	New Balance MRC 5000 bottom	New Balance MRC 5000 inside	New Balance MRC 5000 outside

6 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
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