I’ve been running in mizuno wave elixirs the last two years and really like them but just found out they are being discontinued and replaced with a new model, the wave sayonara. I really liked the elixirs because they were light but had decent support (better in both respects, for example, than the wave riders). Anyone out there really like the wave elixirs and find something similar with which to replace them?
Try out Saucony Mirage and Adidas Tempo
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DS Trainer
Saucony fastwitch
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I tried the wave sayonara and did a short marathon training cycle in them coming off a HIM. They don’t provide a ton of support and I have developed an IT band issue. I can’t say that the shoe is the reason but a visit to get some PT suggests it could be.
I’ve since started running in the Inspire and have been able to run longer without IT band issues. So far I like them so I think they may be worth checking out.
My next thoughts would be to try the DS trainer or just buy a few pairs of left over Elixirs. I am hoping to avoid the latter option because as much as I like the Elixir, I think they are UGLY.
Brooks pure cadence 2.
I started in the elixir, then moved to the saucony mirage (great shoe) and am now in the pure cadence. Love it.
For what it’s worth, I used to love the Wave Elixirs… went through 5 pairs, and now I’m in the New Balance 890s and I like them even more. I know those blur the lines between neutral and support, but because the 890 has full ground contact, they seem to actually provide a bit of support. I videoed my gate with the two shoes and the difference was indistinguishable in therms of pronation. The 890s have a smoother ride and are a bit more responsive. Fit is very similar.
Interesting, I’m in a similar boat - have been using the Elixirs for a while. I ran in them, switched to Kinvaras (yeah, radical departure, I know), and switched back. Looks like those 890s could be a happy medium between the two. Anything you miss about the Elixirs after running the NB’s?
i’m just trying to stock up on some elixirs.
but I’ve tried the NB 890 and like them.
I’ve been fine running in neutral shoes and some with mild support. I just got a pair of adidas energy boost shoes but haven’t worn them yet.
depending on how much support you want, the brooks adrenaline gts is a nice shoe for some.
There may be just a little bit more room in the toe box of the Elixirs, but hardly a deal breaker, and some iterations of the Elixirs had better traction off the road (though some had worse). Between the two, the Elixirs were the best shoe I had ever worn, until I tried the 890s. There are some differences, but I actually wouldn’t change a single thing about the 890s, and I always wished the Elixirs were just a bit smoother, and I much prefer the 8 mm offset of the 890s (I think the Elixirs had 13mm).
Well crap, I stocked up on the Elixir 7s because I was afraid the 8s would change (did they?). So, I’m already a generation behind (I should still have enough to last me through 2014).
Are you sure the Wave Sayonara is the replacement? Their website lists it as a neutral shoe.
The Sayonara is a completely different shoe.
I’d take a look at the Zoot Ultra Tempo and maybe the Ultra Kane.
Also - I stand by my motto “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. You can find Elixirs on sale everywhere - I would just stock up and push this problem down the road a little ways if I were you.