Mizuno Wave Enigma – Lightness and softness

Mizuno’s take on a neutral shoe. And what a good take. A running shoe with a uniquely responsive toe-off, and a shoe that can really hold your foot in place during the running phase

• What can you expect from Mizuno Enigma
• Advantages and disadvantages of Enigma
• Find the best price on Mizuno Enigma

NOTE: Buy this week through iloebesko and save 214 crowns. Normal price: 1,500 kroner – great deals right now.

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Price comparison

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	3-5 dage		1,286 DKK	Til butik
	1-7 dage		1,295 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		1,500 DKK	Til butik

My assessment before testing the Mizuno Enigma

Mizuno is serious – and my best bet is that they will become a semi-major player when it comes to running shoes in Denmark. The Enigma model really seems to have some weight, and in terms of quality, there is no one to blame for the shoe here before the running test.

New in Mizuno Wave Enigma 6

The previous models of this running shoe:

• Mizuno Wave Enigma 3
• Mizuno Wave Enigma 4
• Mizuno Wave Enigma 3

Mizuno Enigma has been a shoe that I have believed in since it first appeared on the market. It has been a while since I first put my feet in a pair of Mizuno Enigma running shoes. At that time it was without doing a specific test of the shoe, but only walking around in it a little, feeling the fit etc..
When I now have to evaluate this 6th edition of the shoe, I have to say that even back then I personally thought that Mizuno could do something with the fit (at least on my foot) and that has certainly not changed in this Enigma 6 from Mizuno. It still fits really well.

If you are coming from a previous model, there are some important things that you will definitely notice in this edition of the Mizuno Enigma.

Updated cushioning and midsole

One very important thing has changed. The softness and shock absorption in the Mizuno Enigma 6 have been significantly updated compared to previous models such as the Enigma 5 and 4. You now get a much more elegant and comfortable shock absorption. The midsole has a full Wave plate which helps to give you the correct execution of each step, and in this way you also get a more responsive start in the midsole material. So here you will definitely be able to feel a significant improvement.

The upper has also been given a lift.

The upper has also been given a little boost. The upper itself is made of soft Airmesh, which of course gives you better and higher comfort when you run. It simply sits a little better around your foot. In addition, inside the shoe they have made an extra reinforcement around the toe, so you reduce the wear and tear between socks and running shoes..
The upper is of course also equipped with Mizuno Intercool, which is the feature that gives your feet the most optimal breathability, so that you always have the opportunity to absorb as much heat as possible away from your feet.

If you are a fan of Mizuno, and have you run in Mizuno Enigma before, then you can look forward to trying the Enigma 6 from Mizuno. It has received some good upgrades on the right parameters, and if you have to compare it with models from some other brands, it is still the same as Pegasus from Nike and Cumulus from Asics. Neutral running shoes with high comfort and lots of shock absorption.

Cool facts about the shoe

Mizuno Enigma, what kind of running shoe is it?

It is as written, a Neutral running shoe, a neutral running shoe with lots of cool details and features. Enigma has from day one been a running shoe that has catered to the market of runners looking for a running shoe with lots of support, comfort and cushioning..
Enigma is undoubtedly developed for the runner who moves on distances from 10 kiloemter and up. Not to say that Enigma from Mizuno can not be used on shorter distances, but the construction itself and not least the weight means that many people choose a different running shoe than just Enigma when they need to run short and possibly fast. On the other hand, with this running shoe from Mizuno you get a really stable running partner that is a really good friend for your feet when they start to get tired. Due to the large amount of shock absorption that the shoe has had right from the launch, it is a neutral running shoe that has won the most sales place among those who love shock absorption above all else.

The high level of cushioning and comfort is also spiced up with a relatively high drop on the running shoe. This feature also suggests that it is probably more the long-distance runner who chooses Enigma as their preferred running shoe. This shoe wins over customers more when it comes to longer distances where it can show that it supports your legs and feet in a really solid way, and ensures that it always responds really well. On the other hand, it probably falls a little short for him or her who loves short, fast runs. There, you simply don’t get to the point where the shoe hits its best.

Size in Mizuno Enigma – how to choose the best

Corresponds to normal sizes. I would say that you should choose based on your normal size. I use UK9 in Adidas running shoes, and in Mizuno Enigma I should also have a UK9 which corresponds to a size 43. So there are no immediate reservations you should make when choosing the size of Mizuno running shoes (Enigma)

Men’s sizes: 40 – 48½

Women’s sizes: 36.5 – 42½

Advantages and disadvantages

You should buy the Mizuno Wave Enigma if…

• you can live with a slightly higher drop
• you’re a fan of lots of shock absorption
• Can live with a lesser-known running brand
• you have a neutral running style

Analysis part 1: Who is Mizuno Enigma aimed at?

Running style

It is a running shoe aimed at the neutral runner. But like many other neutral running shoes, the midsole is still so stably built that if you have a little bit of pronation, this running shoe can easily handle it.

Fit

An absolute winner in this shoe is the fit. It fits well around the foot. It fits close to the foot, it has a suctioning feeling around the foot, without you feeling that the shoe is too close to your foot.

In fine clothes

Asphalt and, if necessary, gravel paths. As mentioned earlier in the review, it is a distinctly asphalt running shoe. The durability should be kept up against the fact that you only use it on roads and paths. It is a bit sensitive as soon as you start running in a slightly more challenging terrain. Branches and thorns are definitely not a good cocktail with the Mizuno Enigma

Price level

It’s a relatively expensive running shoe. You get a lot of cool stuff, but on balance it seems like it’s on the expensive side. If we compare it to other running shoes in the same segment and quality from other running brands, it should probably land around 1200,-

Weight

Men’s weight: 325 grams in size 42

Women’s weight: 249 grams in size 39

It’s not the heaviest running shoe in the world, but it’s not the lightest in the world either. It’s a running shoe that has the weight that corresponds to the shoe’s purpose of being soft and comfortable on all the kilometers of your run. And it doesn’t matter if you run 7 kilometers or 32 kilometers.

Type of shoe

A very ordinary casual running shoe. Some would probably call it a traditional running shoe. With a focus on high comfort and a lot of shock absorption. So it is a running shoe that is aimed at Mr. and Mrs. Denmark who want a good running shoe that can be used for a little bit of everything.

Durability

Has good durability if you stick to the regulations. but that’s how it is with all running shoes. The running shoes that are developed for asphalt, the manufacturers assume that you use it on asphalt, and then the material etc. they use on the upper in order to prevent it from getting unnecessary bumps from branches and thorns. For example, when you have to make an upper as breathable as possible, it is with thinner mesh material on top of the foot, and then it goes without saying that the durability will be accordingly.
If you stick to the recommendation, you’ll have a running shoe that lasts as it should, and you should be able to squeeze 800-1000 kilos out of it.

Analysis part 2: Construction of the shoe

Outsole

A solid outsole with a really good grip on the ground. So you stand firmly on both asphalt and gravel paths. There are extra reinforcements on the heel of the outsole, for example, as it is an area that is heavily exposed on almost all running shoes.

Midsole

Mizuno Enigma has U4ICX, which is an ultra-light midsole that responds very well and helps provide the high comfort in the shoe.

Heel

A soft cushioning in the heel is almost a must for a running shoe with high comfort. Mizuno Enigma has a heel section that is very soft, but at the same time ensures that your heel and Achilles tendon are kept in place during every phase of the movement when you run. This part has really worked well for Mizuno in this Enigma model.

Forefoot

Like most other running shoes produced today, there is full cushioning throughout the foot. The forefoot is no exception on the Mizuno Enigma. You are guaranteed a uniquely soft landing every time, and the cushioning does not get tired along the way, so there is softness in the forefoot throughout the journey.

Upper part

An optimized upper with a really good fit around the foot. The upper on the Mizuno Enigma is developed in Mizuno’s Airmesh, which ensures a very high breathability in the shoe upper.

Inside the shoe

Mizuno has also made some really good moves on the Wave Enigma. The shoe is equipped with a Premium Insock that can be removed to create the best possible hygiene in the shoe, and this running shoe also has Mizuno Intercool technology, which in short is about directing heat and moisture away from the foot. And it is a system that runs the entire length of the foot.

Outside of the shoe

There aren’t any major revolutionary updates on the outside of this running shoe. There are the supportive things and extra reinforcements where they need to be.

Differences in women’s and men’s Gel Cumulus

Selve opbygningen er skoen er præcis ens når vi snakker Mizuno Enigma til henholdsvis herre og dame. Af ganske klare og naturlige årsager er der selvfølgelig – som i alle løbesko – en forskel i vægt og i bredde. Det har kun noget at gøre med at der er brugt mindre mængde materialer i en str. 39 til dame kontra en str. 43 til herre.
So besides the logical differences, the shoes for women and men are completely the same.

Offers and sales on Mizuno Enigma

As with almost all other running shoes, with the exception of maybe Ecco and soon New Balance, there is also a lot of competition for customers at Mizuno running shoes. And there is almost always the possibility of finding Mizuno Enigma on sale or on sale. And it doesn’t matter if it is in a physical store or an online webshop.
Enigma’s normal suggested price is 1500,-, but the real price is probably more correct between 1000,- and 1200,-. You may want to look at our price table at the top or bottom of this article.

A little about the brand, Mizuno knows something about footwear

Mizuno has gained a lot of ground in Denmark with their running shoes, and it’s certainly not a trend that’s going to reverse anytime soon. There continues to be great quality in what comes out of their factories when we talk about running shoes in isolation.
Another segment where Mizuno is also really good is the indoor segment – and handball players in particular are familiar with footwear from Mizuno. Over the years, lots of very high quality handball shoes have been developed at Mizuno’s factories. So it is no surprise to the Danes that Mizuno manufactures very high-class footwear.

Comparison with other brands

As previously mentioned, the Mizuno Enigma is comparable to, for example, the Nike Pegasus and the Asics Cumulus. I think if you ask Mizuno themselves, they would really like to compare the Enigma to the Nimbus from Asics, but my assessment is that you get more running shoes in an Asics Nimbus than you do in the Mizuno Enigma..
In terms of price, an Asics Cumulus or a Nike Air Pegasus will probably hit around 8-900,- when there is a sale on the shoes. And in my world there is a good way up to 12-1300,- which Enigma will probably land at in the sale price.

Summary

I am basically very friendly towards Mizuno Wave Enigma, but if I have to put a word in it, it must be divided. Because if I take this running shoe and evaluate it separately and isolated, there is no doubt that the shoe is really nice, and packed with lots of cool things for the runner. But if I then start to hold it up against similar shoes from other running brands, I honestly think that I get more for my money with other brands. For example, if you look at the above article about comparison with other brands, I think that my feet get more or at least as much out of a pair of Asics Cumulus running shoes at a price that is significantly less than the 1500,- that Enigma costs in the recommended retail price.
That’s not to say that I don’t think there are customers for this running shoe, because there definitely are. Because there is always demand for a super regular running shoe with lots of good support and ultra-high cushioning.

Price comparison

Below you will find the best price and offers for Mizuno Wave Enigma. Then you are sure not to pay too much for your new running shoes.

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	3-5 dage		1,286 DKK	Til butik
	1-7 dage		1,295 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		1,500 DKK	Til butik