Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Introduction
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is a “super” training shoe that has been redesigned from the previous model with the inspiration of the Wave Rebellion Pro 1.
The Wave Flash 2 can be utilized as both your workout shoe and possibly your race day shoe. At only $170 USD, this shoe can be a valuable option if you don’t want to break the bank with the Wave Rebellion Pro lineup or any other race day shoe.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 First Impressions
My first impressions as I opened the box were that there was A LOT of midsole going on. The geometry of the midsole was something unique. As I tried them on, I definitely felt the shoe wanting you to use your midfoot right away.
If you try to lean back with your heel it will feel like you’re falling off a cliff or something because of the cutout of the back of the midsole.
My first run I did a 17 miler at a steady pace (6:40 per mile/4:09 per km) and I noticed halfway through my run feeling some irritation on the top of my right lateral toes.
When it comes to my first impressions of the ride of the midsole itself, I tried running on both my midfoot and forefoot to see if there was a difference of feel between the two.
And sure enough, both strides had a very different sensation underfoot.
Overall, I was looking forward towards putting more miles in the shoe and testing the shoe out in various ways.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Upper
The upper of the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 uses an engineered mesh and is very light and breathable. The upper is also translucent as it gives you a nice race day feel to it.
There are some designs on the outer layer that do provide some sort of structure for the upper. The shoe fits true to size as I had no major issues with it feeling too snug or loose.
However, with that being said, my first run in the shoe the toe box area on my right lateral toes seemed to be feeling some irritation with the inner layer mesh material rubbing into them.
Since then, I’ve had to tape up my toes to prevent any hot spots or blisters from happening.
The shoe lacing system and the shoelaces itself are pretty standard with no issues. Mizuno did not get too high tech with that part of the upper.
The tongue is not gusseted and is very thin with little to no padding. I was afraid that it might move or fold in but so far it hasn’t.
The heel counter itself uses a hard cover inside the outer material that makes it not pliable. It is very structured and does provide enough padding for your heel to feel locked and comfortable.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Sole Unit
The Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 uses a dual layer midsole that actually balances well together. The top layer uses what they call ENERZY LITE+, a PEBA base material that is really soft and forgiving underfoot.
The bottom layer of the midsole uses their ENERZY compound, which is not as forgiving, and more firm compared to the ENERZY LITE+. And finally, sandwiched in between the midsoles is a fiber glass wave plate that is designed in a way to make the ride snappier as you transition into your strides.
The outsole uses G3 Rubber that covers almost the entirety of the outsole with the exception of the canyon that is at the center of it. The canyon on the outsole is due to shedding weight and exposes the fiber glass wave plate.
Just watch out catching a “hitchhiker”, as I had a rock stuck in the canyon of the outsole during my runs. After running 71 total miles on the shoe (as of right now), I see no wear on the rubber and see the durability of the shoe as one of its strong points.
The grip of the outsole is really good as I was able to race a full marathon in the rain with no issues with them. Besides testing the shoes out in the rain, I have also tested the shoes out on the track, dirt, grass, concrete, and cement and seems to do well on all the terrains.
Overall, the ride of the shoe has a nice plush feeling as you land. I found that if you land on you midfoot you get a sense of bounciness and responsiveness. And if you land on your forefoot the “Smooth Speed Assist” rocker in the front area of the shoe gives you an aggressive rollover on your toe off.
The midsole not as bouncy compared to the Nike Zoom X nor as too plushy as the New Balance FuelCell, but the sensation is somewhere in between.
Since the heel is cut off and if you are heel striker, this shoe will be problematic for you. The entire sole unit wants you to either land on your midfoot or your forefoot.
As far as it goes with the stability of the shoe, that can be a concern since the stack height is pretty tall (34mm forefoot/35mm heel). The midfoot and heel section is pretty narrow so take precaution when you are taking sharp turns.
Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 Conclusions
In conclusion, I have to say that the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2 is a reliable “super” trainer that can pretty much do it all; your long runs, intervals, tempos/threshold, and on race day.
Although I didn’t really mention anything about the weight, it is on the heavier side at 243 grams with a US men’s size 9.
I honestly couldn’t tell the difference when it came to weight and wasn’t really a concern for me. The more I ran in them, the more convinced I was that this shoe was a great alternative if you are looking for a shoe that you can race in without breaking the bank.
The midsole uses high quality materials, and the outsole rubber will give this shoe some serious durability.
If I had the chance to purchase this shoe again, would I? And the answer is yes!
I know the geometry of the midsole is very unique and something to get used to, but once you do it is a fun ride.
