Mizuno Wave Sky 9 Review: A Comfort-First Workhorse Daily Trainer

Introduction

The Mizuno Wave Sky 9 is a cushioned daily trainer built for all-out comfort over easy runs and longer everyday sessions. It costs £165 or $180, weighs 292 g (10.3 oz) for men in a size 8, and has a 6 mm drop. Mizuno says both cushioning and energy output have been significantly enhanced in this version, and the shoe leans into that identity: it is a plush, stable workhorse designed to tick off miles, nothing more and nothing less.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a shoe designed for accessibility and relaxed, comfortable running. It suits beginners looking for a little stability plus plenty of comfort, and it also works well for general runners who simply want a comfortable, solid shoe for easy sessions, recovery runs, and long steady efforts. It is equally at home as a comfortable shoe for walking around town or walking the dog.

Main Strengths

The midsole combines nitrogen-infused Mizuno Energy Next foam for a soft, bouncy feel with a firmer layer of Energy Next EVA underneath for support. Cushioning in the heel has been increased by 6 mm, and the dual-layer setup means you are not just getting soft foam all the way through. The result is a shoe that lands nicely and feels very stable overall, which makes it a good accessible option if you want a bit of support alongside your comfort.

The upper is a stretch woven material with plenty of padding across the tongue and heel for a high level of comfort. The outsole carries a healthy, thick layer of rubber, and grip proved excellent even on wet public footpaths after heavy rain. Compared with some max-stack shoes, the Wave Sky 9 sits on the balanced side of the spectrum rather than the ultra-soft side, more in the territory of the Saucony Triumph 23 or Brooks Glycerin than something like the New Balance More v6.

On fit, the shoe runs true for a UK size 8 tester with average-width feet and felt very comfortable. There is plenty of room before the big toe and around the forefoot, and the midfoot is fairly average in width. Runners with wider feet may want to take that into consideration.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Versatility is limited. Picking up the pace in this shoe is possible but not enjoyable; it sits comfortably at an easy pace around 5:00 to 5:20 per km, and faster running is not what it is built for. It is not the smoothest cushioned shoe available, and the transition is good rather than exceptional, though fine for long runs of 20 to 25 km at a steady, non-speedy pace.

The firmer foam layer adds stability that some lighter or more neutral runners may not need, and the tester personally preferred a softer ride. Price is the biggest sticking point: at £165 or $180 it feels slightly overpriced, given how many strong options exist in this workhorse cushion bracket right now. If it drops to around £100 to £110 as an older version on sale, it becomes a much better value proposition.

Buying Advice

If you want a comfortable, stable, plush daily trainer for easy miles and can find it at a good discount, the Wave Sky 9 is hard to go wrong with. For similar money, the Asics Gel Nimbus 27 offers a very similar ride and stability, though the Wave Sky 9 had the nicer transition of the two. The New Balance More v6 is essentially this shoe with a softer midsole as the main foam and was the preferred choice for runners who want more softness, while those who want more stability may prefer the Mizuno. The Hoka Bondi range feels similar in character, a bit sturdier and blockier, and the Wave Sky 9 felt more comfortable than the previous Bondi tested.

If you want something in a lower price bracket, the Puma Deviate-style Nitro 4-class options and the Saucony Ride 18 come in cheaper: the Ride 18 is less max-stack but a bit more versatile, and both cover similar use cases well.

Conclusion

The Mizuno Wave Sky 9 is a solid all-round cushioned trainer that does exactly what it promises: comfort, a plush upper, a dash of stability, and reliable mile-ticking. It is not a versatile shoe for intervals or faster sessions, and at full price it faces stiff competition. But as a relaxed daily workhorse, it delivers, and it is a shoe most easy-pace runners would be happy to log serious distance in.