Professionals:
Lightest shoe I’ve ever worn-Sally
Extremely light-weight – Jen
Excessive-performance racer that places Mizuno within the supershoe dialog – Jen/Sally
Minimal, featherweight higher with simply sufficient ankle collar for consolation – Jen/Sally
Properly padded round heel collar with glorious lockdown, regardless of the sunshine weight-Sally
Energetic responsiveness and pop with a modified tremendous shoe bounce-Sally
Easy no fuss higher that’s efficient, works effectively, and appears great-Sally
Moderately secure ride-Sally
Properly rounded formed toe field that’s surprisingly roomy widthwise (and thus extra accommodating than many opponents)-Sally
Sensible double lace loop on the skinny suedelike material tongue holds tongue securely-Sally
G3 outsole is sticky and grips effectively, but squeaks loudly on clean floors-Sally/Jen
Good brief race shoe possibility however not sufficient safety or bounce for me for a marathon-Sally
Cons:
Match may be very brief at huge toe, magnified by lack of stretch in toe field material -Sally
Runs half a dimension to ¾ dimension brief – Jen/Sally
Decrease drop (34.0/30.5 for less than 3.5 mm drop) challenged my pure quicker stride and made it tough for me to go full pace (and took some getting used to)-Sally
Comparatively loud footstrike (not practically as obnoxious as Nike AF3 however nonetheless noticeably loud)-Sally, squeaky/noisy trip – Jen/Sally
Tester Profiles
Most just lately Sally was 3d in her AG on the World Marathon Majors Championships on the NYC Marathon with a time of three:31. Jen is a 2:41 marathoner and is continuously on the rostrum in 50K path races in Northern California. Full run profiles on the finish of the assessment.
Stats
Approx. Weight: 4.93 oz / 137g US M9
Pattern Weights:
Unisex: 4.3 oz / 123 g (US M7.0). 4.4 oz / 124 g (US M7.5)
Stack Peak: 34.0 mm heel / 30.5mm forefoot (3.5mm drop)
Platform Width: 84 mm heel / 68 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot (US W9)
First Impressions, Match and Higher
Sally: I grew to become an enormous fan of the brand new Mizuno lineup once I first ran within the Mizuno Zen aka “the Thriller Shoe” launched at TRE final 12 months. Gentle, bouncy, responsive, snug, fast – what extra are you able to ask for? I used to be excited to study that I’d be capable to check a brand new race day prototype from Mizuno, however was instructed little or no about it. Attempt it out, run in it, then we’ll let you already know what the specs are and what it’s supposed for…
My first response to the Pure Prototype was wow, this shoe weighs nothing! So extremely mild at solely 123 g or 4.3 oz for my dimension US 7 (unisex sizing, so ought to be the equal to a W8.5).
It’s a clear all white look with an apparently decrease stack peak than the varied opponents’ sneakers we now have been testing. Is that this the start of the return to decrease stack heights, or does Mizuno have one thing else occurring on this prototype?
I’d count on a really stripped down higher with this mild weight, however the heel collar is surprisingly effectively padded and the toe field is surprisingly roomy widthwise because of its properly rounded form. The match is unquestionably brief on the huge toe, nonetheless, so I’d suggest sizing up if the manufacturing sneakers match the identical. My pair is definitely bigger than my regular dimension W8 and it’s nonetheless brief, tolerable solely with very skinny socks.
The tongue is a really skinny suede like material and is held securely in place by the sensible placement of two lace loops so there isn’t a sliding in any respect. The laces are race-ready with serrated edges for no slippage and I’ve not skilled any lace chunk regardless of the thinness of the tongue. It’s a very effectively becoming higher for my barely slim foot except for the too-short size.
Addendum: with time and miles the brief toe field has turn into much less of a problem, maybe because the shoe “breaks in” and I’ve adjusted by sporting my thinnest socks. This higher is mild and breathable and with out stretch, and it does its job effectively as a result of it holds my foot securely and comfortably.
Jen: My solely expertise with Mizuno beforehand was with the Wave Rider 29, so I used to be excited to strive the brand new Pure prototype. As Sally notes, it’s extremely mild, and one of many lightest sneakers I’ve run on this 12 months. The featherweight engineered mesh higher is bolstered solely barely by means of the toe field and with comparatively small overlays.
The velvety ankle collar is surprisingly effectively padded and makes for a snug first step-in expertise. The tongue is extraordinarily skinny however very soft-feeling as effectively, and I didn’t have any bother with it bunching or shifting round regardless of the shortage of gusset.
As Sally notes, the Pure runs fairly brief – for my part ¾ dimension. Whereas the toebox was a high quality width in my regular US W8.5, my toes had been urgent proper in opposition to the higher. Even half a dimension up felt a bit of brief, particularly when operating downhill quick. I ended up with a big huge toe blister the primary time I did a exercise in them, however didn’t have any bother after that.
Midsole & Platform
Sally:The midsole of the Pure options an efficient mixture of Nitrogen-infused supercritical foam and a 3D-shaped full size 100% carbon fiber clean pace plate. Each the highest and the underside soles are the brand new “Mizuno Vitality XP,” a PEBA-based foam for max lightness and responsiveness, sandwiching the carbon fiber plate.
The stack is decrease than we now have turn into accustomed to in a current tremendous racer at solely 34.5mm within the heel and 30.5mm within the forefoot for a mere 3.5mm drop. The end result for me is a little more floor really feel and a mushy but on the identical time firmer really feel with some bounce and loads of pop and propulsion. It additionally means my leg muscle mass are working a bit in a different way than they’re with the upper drops and I felt this in my calves.
Jen: A carbon plate sandwiched between two layers of superfoam is a well-established recipe for achievement at this level. The extremely mild Mizuno Enerzy XP foam performs effectively right here with their appropriately named Clean Velocity Plate.
Whereas I’m not a barefoot/minimalist runner, I do choose average stack heights over teetering round on 40+ mm, so I appreciated the 34/30.5 mm stack right here. I used to be shocked to see the specs are available in at solely 3.5 mm drop, as I didn’t discover that my calves had been any extra beat up than regular.
Holding the peak in examine permits the bottom to stay reasonably huge as effectively, with the end result that the Pure feels nimble and able to rip. I ran a couple of exercises of 10-13 miles in it and would fortunately attain for it for races from 5k to half marathon because it feels nice within the 5:30-6:00/mi vary.
A full marathon can be questionable for me solely due to the toebox sizing. (It feels good at slower paces too, however undoubtedly needs to speed up: this shoe can be wasted on simple days.)
Outsole
Sally: The Mizuno G3 outsole is sticky and grippy and holds very well on moist pavement. It does sound like a squeaky basketball participant making his strikes on a shiny court docket ground, however I turned the quantity up on my Shokz headphones. There are not any grooves or crevasses to catch gravel, at all times a optimistic attribute of a purposeful outsole.
I’ve 40 miles on my pair and no indicators of wear and tear so the sturdiness appears good. My solely grievance about this outsole is the loud squeaky footstrike.
Jen: I agree with Sally that the one draw back is the noisiness: you gained’t be sneaking up on anybody in these. Having the forefoot totally protected with the waffled G3 outsole ensures good grip even when turning corners at quick paces or on moist pavement.
Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions
Sally: The Mizuno Prototype Pure is a tremendous product of Japanese innovation and engineering that may flip heads. It personifies lightness to the intense however has the supercritical nitrogen-infused foams and full-length carbon plate that allows it to be able to pace to the intense as effectively.
The trip is environment friendly, bouncy, responsive and propulsive whereas being comparatively low to the bottom and secure.
For me (a light-weight runner at 105 kilos) it’s not as wildly explosive as different supershoes such because the AF3 or the Endorphin Elite 2 or the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, however it’s fast and energetic.
The foams really feel considerably firmer and the decrease stack peak is noticeable. I undoubtedly really feel quicker with a heel-forefoot drop larger than 3.5 mm however that is also one thing I may merely get accustomed to.
The higher match is nice except for a really brief toe size – know forward of time to dimension up one and even two half sizes for the size. The foot maintain is nice, particularly within the surprisingly effectively padded heel.
Is it a 5K shoe to match to the Streakfly or Takumi Sen, or a marathon shoe to match to the AF3, Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, Professional 4, Endorphin Elite 2, Cielo X 1 2.0 and many others?
For me, it feels quick for shorter distances. However necessary notice: As somebody who values my huge toenails, I couldn’t run longer than 8 miles on this shoe as a result of brief sizing of my pattern pair, however wouldn’t it’s enjoyable to get a bigger dimension and do some marathon coaching runs in it! (Subsequent up for me is the Tokyo Marathon so a Japanese race shoe can be applicable).
It’s a stylish trying easy but efficient shoe with unreal lightness and good responsiveness. Innovation at Mizuno is spectacular and this shoe is not any exception.
Sally’s rating: 9.11 /10
Experience (50%): 9.3 Match (30%):8.5 (factors off for brief) Worth (15%): 9.4 Fashion (5%): 10.0
😊😊😊😊1/2
Jen: The Pure vastly exceeded my expectations. Merely put: mild and quick. I’d put this up there with the perfect race sneakers I’ve examined this 12 months, particularly for runners who don’t need most stack peak or platform width.
The closest comparability might be the Vaporfly 4, and the Pure wins that battle of lightweights by a couple of grams. I beloved it for exercises, with the one downsides being the squeakiness and sizing.
The one motive I didn’t race a half marathon in November was concern for my huge toenails on a hilly course. The sizing is mostly a disgrace, since being about ¾ dimension brief means you may’t simply dimension up a half or full dimension. In any other case, although, I can’t wait to see what this prototype appears to be like like in its remaining incarnation!
Jen’s rating: 8.8/10
Experience (50%): 10
Match (30%): 8 (brief by a clumsy quantity)
Worth (15%): 9 ($300 is steep, however it’s a high-performance shoe)
Fashion (5%): 10
😊😊😊😊😊
Index to all RTR critiques: HERE
Tester Profiles
Sally Reiley:
Sally is a lifelong runner and mom of 5 who in opposition to her higher judgement ran her first marathon—Boston 2014—at age 54. Her plan was for a “one and executed.” She has since accomplished 20 marathons, together with twelve consecutive Bostons, 4 New Yorks, two Chicagos, London, and Berlin, and can earn her Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal in Tokyo in March 2026. She has raced in a number of Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships, operating her marathon PR of three:24:02 in London in 2022 (age 63, sixth place) and just lately inserting third on the 2025 NYC AG Worlds in 3:31 at age 66. Sally additionally competes in USATF occasions for the Better Lowell Highway Runners. She provides that means to operating Boston yearly by operating with Staff Eye and Ear and has to this point raised greater than $360,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. She stands tall at 5’2” and weighs 105 kilos and lives in Marblehead, MA the place she trains year-round open air. She blames her love of snowboarding out West for any Boston Marathon coaching setbacks
Jennifer Schmidt discovered path operating in her mid-20’s and started dabbling on the roads a couple of years later. Path 50k’s are nearest and dearest to her coronary heart, and he or she just lately took wins on the 2025 Means Too Cool 50k and Silver State 50k. Today, yow will discover her totally on the candy California singletrack round Auburn, chasing aggressive and private targets over a wide range of surfaces and distances. Relying on the season, she additionally competes within the USATF street and XC circuits for Sacramento Working Affiliation’s racing group, with a marathon PR of two:41.
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