I wore Mizuno WVs for two years until I developed a metatarsal problem. Switched to Addidas Super Nova Cushions. Working well for me, though I noticed they just ‘updated’
Zappo’s has the Wave Rider Team G2 in both black and white. They are under the Voleyball section of the Mizuno lineup, but they look like and have the exact same specs of the Wave Rider 8/9. I’ve also never bought shoes from Zappos, but that is where I first saw the shoes.
Tried the Vomero’s yesterday. So far so good after a 1 hour run-we’ll see how they how up in terms of mileage. These shoes have more cushioning than the WV’s but not so much as to feel awkward on your feet. I did notice a bulging feeling under my footpad, but after 20min I didn’t even feel it. I’m eager to test these shoes on some of the steep downhills around my neighborhood, as I suspect they will reduce the bone crushing sensation I was getting in my old shoes.
I would like to tell people that these shoes have made me x seconds faster per mile, except I don’t believe in that stuff… : )
Overall, they feel very comfortable, light, and form fitting. At $110 a pop though they are a little overpried in my opinion. Again, lifespan will be key.
Out of curiosity, did you change to a new type/brand of sock that would cause the increase wear (if it is internal)? FYI, I had different feel on new Mizuno’s as well and am going to LRS this weekend to go through the new shoe process again.
Try Asics Nimbus or 21XX as a reasonable alternative. For long-term success, try Vitruvians, 'cuz they never change!! If you can get comfortable in them, they’re the least expensive shoe anywhere and they never change the models.
Also, go on line (Road Runner and other catalogue shops) and buy twenty pair of the previous version of your shoe while they’re still available. I have four more pairs of the Asics Cumulus 7 still in inventory. No problem with the 8, but I wear them to work (health club) and the red 8s don’t pass muster with management, so I wear the blue and white 7s. It’s little things like that that are soooooo annoying about the shoe companies. It’s like the design guys want to justify their phoney-baloney jobs (as Mel Brooks would say) so they keep making changes.
"Also, go on line (Road Runner and other catalogue shops) and buy twenty pair of the previous version of your shoe while they’re still available. "
LOL…about 20 minutes into my run in the new Nike’s that thought crossed my mind. I’m mean, I’m in the middle of an ironman build-up, I ain’t got no time for no stinking shoe shopping expedition after work! Actually, I did stockpile Skylons, I had about 6 boxes of new shoes and my wife thought I was nuts.
Out of curiosity, did you change to a new type/brand of sock that would cause the increase wear (if it is internal)? FYI, I had different feel on new Mizuno’s as well and am going to LRS this weekend to go through the new shoe process again.
No, I wore one or two pair of nike liner socks, or, sometimes liner socks and ultimax ironman cushion socks. I never had blister problems in the 8/9 WV’s. When I realized I was getting hot spots and blisters I tried a number of different combinations, but nothing worked. Putting band aids on helped a lot, for a while. Ultimately though, the shoe is simply different and doesn’t work anymore. Too bad for mizuno since now I have switched back to Nike, a brand I had stuck with for 5+ years until only a few years ago.
I’d second the “head to DSW” advice. The store locally had the Wave Rider 9s (which I don’t wear) and the Inspire 2 that I do wear. I now have two new pairs of Inspire 2s that work great and only cost about $40 each! I was shocked to find disco’d Mizunos there…but happy they had my size! Get thee to a DSW!