Mizuno Men's Wave Momentum Mid Volleyball Shoe Review
The Mizuno Men's Wave Momentum Mid Volleyball Shoe is designed to meet the demands of intense gameplay. With a focus on support, responsiveness, and comfort, this shoe incorporates advanced technology to ensure you perform at your best even during the most challenging matches. The sleek black and silver design adds a touch of style without compromising functionality.
Related Products
Features
- 3-Layer No Sew Upper: Provides an exceptional fit and feel while minimizing seams for enhanced comfort.
- Booty Construction: Ensures a soft and secure fit by wrapping around your foot, allowing for better movement.
- Mizuno Wave Technology: Disperses impact energy across a broader area, offering stability and superior cushioning.
- Dura Shield: Protects your toes from friction damage, increasing durability.
- XG Rubber: High-grip rubber outsole ensures excellent traction on the court.
Pros
- Exceptional fit and comfort due to the no-sew upper and booty construction.
- Mizuno Wave technology provides excellent shock absorption and stability.
- High-traction rubber outsole enhances performance on various surfaces.
- Dura Shield toe protection increases longevity against wear and tear.
Cons
- May take some time to break in before achieving optimal comfort.
- Available only in specific color schemes, which may not appeal to everyone's taste.
Comparison With Other Similar Products
| Feature | Mizuno Wave Momentum | ASICS Gel-Rocket 9 | Nike Air Zoom Hyperace 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Material | No Sew Textile | Synthetic Leather | Mesh & Synthetic |
| Cushioning Technology | Mizuno Wave | Gel Cushioning | Zoom Air |
| Outsole Material | XG Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Weight | Lightweight | Light | Moderate |
Detailed Review
When it comes to volleyball shoes, comfort and support are paramount. The Mizuno Men's Wave Momentum excels in both areas. The innovative 3-layer no sew upper wraps snugly around your foot, providing a second-skin feel that minimizes distractions on the court. As you dive into plays or change direction rapidly, you’ll appreciate the responsiveness of the Mizuno Wave technology, which effectively absorbs impact and spreads it evenly, giving you a stable platform to jump and land confidently.
Moreover, the booty construction inside the shoe enhances security, allowing you to focus purely on the game. The addition of the Dura Shield further protects your toes, particularly beneficial if you frequently play on hard surfaces where friction is a concern.
However, one potential downside is the initial break-in period required for the shoe to reach its full comfort level. New users might find it slightly stiff at first, but this typically resolves with use. Additionally, while the design is undoubtedly sleek, the limited color options may not cater to everyone’s personal style.
Overall, the Mizuno Men's Wave Momentum Mid Volleyball Shoe stands out in performance, making it a worthy investment for serious players looking to enhance their game.
Detailed Rating
| Category | Score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 4.5/5 | Excellent cushioning and fit, though may require break-in. |
| Support | 5/5 | Outstanding support thanks to Mizuno Wave technology. |
| Durability | 4/5 | Strong materials used, especially Dura Shield for toe protection. |
| Traction | 5/5 | High-level grip on various surfaces, ideal for indoor volleyball. |
User Reviews
I'm a longtime racquetball player, and have always favored NFS (natural foot shape) court shoes... NFS shoes are so quick to move forward without the added (useless) "point" that most shoes have (NFS shoes just have a squared off toe box, not the typical pointed/rounded shape). Let's realize for a moment that most shoes don't reflect our actual foot shape... not sure why anyone needs a pointed/rounded toebox.To my dismay, Prince stopped making my favorite NFS shoe for racquetball (the same shoe was marketed by Ektelon but was made in vinyl, which broke down quickly). To my further dismay, nobody seems to be making NFS shoes at the moment. I get it... they look weird and don't sell. They're a niche product.So I started reading reviews and searching for a new shoe. I bought the Asics Rocket and it was simply terrible... my foot was swimming around in this shoe and I could feel it slowing me down. I felt clumsy in this shoe. Can't believe they get such good reviews.I next tried the New Balance Freeze V2 indoor lacrosse shoe, which was better and almost good, but still felt a bit heavy and dull. A big part of my love for racquetball is to move quickly... I guess I'm known for making impossible returns, and that has transferred to pickleball. I love to scramble – that's my favorite part of either game (not necessarily an asset in pickleball btw, which is very much a face-forward strategic and defensive game). I must be a dog at heart because I love the feeling of my body reacting and getting to the ball. The worst part of the New Balance shoe is that it hurt my big toe by pushing it inward (never had this pain in any other shoe... especially New Balance, making me wonder if these were legit NB shoes). It would take days for the pain to go away.So I kept searching. I considered the Salming Kobra Mid 2, but couldn't bring myself to spend $175 on a shoe that is reportedly a bit frail and breaks down with hard use (hard to argue with user photos, and I'm probably harder on shoes than those folk).Kept searching and this shoe came up. More than I wanted to spend, but less than I spend on running shoes. Great reviews. Okay, worth a shot.My first impression wasn't favorable... the toe box seemed to push on my big toe, much like the New Balance. Very synthetic feeling. And there's an extra length to them... I wear a size 9 in high-end Nike shoes (which perfectly fit my foot) but these feel like a 9-1/2 (if you're a cusp size, I'd recommend going smaller).The first time I played in them took away any worries... this is an exceptional shoe. There's a cage that surrounds an incredibly supple inner shape. They adjusted to my feet – no big toe pain. Quite the opposite in fact – my feet felt well secured at the ankle and very free at the toe. Kind of amazing, given that they felt like they might impinge on my big toe at first. They felt light and responsive. They held my ankles well (two lace holes just for the ankles!), absorbed my abrupt moves and moved with me perfectly. Even the long snout of the toe didn't seem to matter... I could move at will, any direction, with speed and force. I felt a perfect cushioning and rebound as well (there's some sort of deep rebound/shock absorption that happens but only for an instant... no slop... you only feel it in hard moves).This is an intelligent shoe.Better than my favorite Prince/Ektelon shoes... way better in fact. This is a perfect racquetball/pickleball/court shoe even if it runs a bit long. It somehow manages to adapt to your feet (I normally order wide in other brands when available but these feel fine). They brace your ankles, cushion the shock and move with you as quickly as you could hope.It made me feel alive on the court, and I got to balls that I wouldn't have in my other recent shoes. It kept up with me.A definite new favorite. I'm thinking best ever. Hope they last awhile.I'll post updates as time goes on, but these shoes are instant love when wearing (not necessarily when first putting on).EDIT: Felt a little big toe pain after playing pickleball 4.5 hours twice in three days (we love to keep going until we can't). But to be honest, the rest of my body felt pain as well (I'm not a young man) and these aren't advertised as wide, unlike the New Balance. I also have a mild Morton's Neuroma that seemed to get aggravated by the end of the day, but it's doing fine here the next day. The shoes definitely help me move... still favorites, but I'll keep updating.
Bought this shoe because I had developed tendinitis in my heel and the cut away heel and sock insole was suggested by my podiatrist. This is my go to shoe now. I play indoor pickle ball 3-5 times a week. It provides great grip and support without adding the weight. I have recommended this shoe to many other players. The sole seems soft so I am not sure how it would hold up on outdoor or rougher surfaces, but it fit my needs perfectly.
These fit really well. I bought them for playing racquetball and they worked out great. They feel light but with good support. Superior grip for indoor courts and reasonably priced. Don’t know about durability but Mizuno has always been good to me so I’d definitely recommend. I wish they had more color options
Using these for Pickleball on wooden courts. They felt broken in the first time I used them. Great comfort, support and reinforcement in key areas. Definitely a step up from the ASICS ELITE volleyball mid high’s I previously used, that had small splits above the toe area after only nine months use. I highly recommend to give them a try and see for yourselves.
The shoes are great. They fit well and provide the ankle security that I need.
I bought these for my son who is playing his first high school season and he loves them. Great fit and very comfortable.
Got these to play Squash in, which they performed well, light, maneuverable, with lots of grip and stability. But the fit was horrible, after my match my right big toe felt like it was dislocated or fractured. I did not realize the toe box on this shoe was so small! Whose feet are shaped like that? If anyone wanting a good Squash/Racquetball/etc. Shoe with a Roomy Toebox and ankle support may want to try the Salming Kobra 2/3 Mids, or New Balance Lacrosse Indoor Shoe - Wide version.
I play racquetball a lot. I use kswiss hypercourt express. I struggled with shin splints before the kswiss. With a fellow Raquetball player’s recommendation I purchased this shoe. It is cool looking and felt great. But doing a couple of double knee jumps at home testing, caused shin splints.As much as I want to like it , I had to return it.If you shin splints I would check out in your house thoroughly before using it on the courts for raquetball or volleyball.