Hoka Mach 6, Adidas Supernova Solution, Metaspeed Edge Paris and Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2: First Impressions

Introduction

Four recently updated or soon-to-arrive running shoes, one clear question for each: would we pick up a pair? This round of releases is a good example of how crowded the market has become, with several models borrowing ideas from each other and some shoes within the same range becoming hard to tell apart. Here is how each one stacks up.

Hoka Mach 6: Light, Nimble and Full of Trade-offs

The Hoka Mach 6 packs a 37 mm heel stack into a genuinely light package. A sample size weighs around 232 g, which should put a larger size comfortably below 260 g. For a non-race shoe, that is an impressively light figure.

The midsole uses a slab of super critical EVA, with rubberized EVA on the outsole and the super critical version on top. That keeps the weight down, though some runners may miss the squishier feel of pricier Hoka superfoam models like the Rocket X2 or Cielo X1. With roughly a 5 mm drop, it also works as an option for runners wanting a slightly lower-drop daily shoe.

The sticking point is the upper. It pulls in noticeably toward the final eyelet, which can leave the lacing almost touching at the top and force an uncomfortable amount of lace tension across the top of the foot. Generous upper material was also a trait of the Mach 5, and at around £140 in the UK it is a lot to gamble on a fit that may not work. Runners who already have a light, better-fitting shoe in rotation, such as the Brooks Hyperion Max, may reasonably sit this one out.

Adidas Supernova Solution: Too Close to the Rise

The Supernova Solution is the stability version of the Supernova Rise, and the difference is remarkably subtle. The upper is practically identical, with slightly more of the firmer support-rod material in the lower section of the shoe. The sample carries a 36 mm heel stack with a 10 mm drop.

The Dreamstrike+ midsole is a peba-based foam and the Rise felt reasonably cushioned, but the foam support rods reduce that character somewhat, making the ride fairly firm. As a daily shoe pitched alongside models like the Pegasus, Brooks Ghost or Puma Velocity 3, the whole Rise, Solution and Stride line-up feels confusing: three very similar-looking shoes with only small differences, such as the small plug of Dreamstrike+ in the Stride.

For anyone who already found the Rise stable and firm underfoot, the Solution does not add enough to justify a second similar shoe. It is a difficult one to recommend over simply buying the Rise.

Adidas Metaspeed Edge Paris: The Cadence Version Arrives

The Metaspeed Edge Paris is positioned as the cadence version of the Metaspeed series. Its setup looks more conventional than the Sky Paris, with the carbon plate sitting closer to the heel and running much lower toward the outsole, closer to the Vaporfly-style carbon plate shoes. The Sky Paris, with its slightly unconventional plate placement, arguably has more character, and the Edge may not replicate that same feel.

Outsole and upper are basically identical between the two, the weights are very close, and the price is the same. That makes it a genuinely close call between the two models, and ideally one you would settle by trying both in a store. Availability has been affected by logistics hold-ups in the UK, but the shoe is landing shortly, so runners interested in a faster shoe for 5K and 10K paces should be ready to move quickly.

Given how well loved the Sky Paris is, the Edge Paris is a promising proposition, and one worth pursuing if a pair is within reach.

Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2: Characterful but Costly

The Wave Rebellion Flash 2 looks similar to the Wave Rebellion Pro 2 at first glance, but the midsole is quite different. It uses a dual-layer setup: EVA lite closer to the foot, with firmer Enza material underneath the glass fiber plate to stabilize the landing, improve durability and adjust the stack height. The Flash is a little heavier than the Pro 2 at 244 g in sample size, with a more padded upper in the tongue and heel, and measures 35 mm to 34 mm for a 1 mm drop.

The most talked-about feature is the aggressive heel cutout, which Mizuno calls the Smooth Speed Assist, paired with a near-zero drop. That aggressive heel angle could take some newer runners a while to get used to, and the tall stack of this family is not for everyone.

At around £175 in the UK, the asking price is steep for a non-carbon-plate speed shoe that plays in the same space as models like the Endorphin Speed or Boston 12. Runners who already have a cheaper alternative in rotation may prefer to wait, especially with the Wave Rebellion Pro 2 currently discounted in several stores.

Buying Advice

If you want a light daily trainer and know the Hoka fit suits your foot, the Mach 6 is compelling. If you need stability, try the Supernova Rise first, since the Solution adds very little. For fast-paced 5K and 10K racing, the Metaspeed Edge Paris is the most exciting of the four, provided you can secure a pair. The Wave Rebellion Flash 2 suits runners who want a characterful, plate-equipped speed shoe and are comfortable with the heel geometry and price.

Conclusion

Only one of these four earns a clear yay in our book: the Adidas Metaspeed Edge Paris, which looks like a genuinely strong option for faster-paced running. The Hoka Mach 6 is attractive on weight but risky on fit, the Supernova Solution is too close to the Rise to justify, and the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is characterful but hard to buy at that price with cheaper alternatives available.