Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro Review
By Matthew Klein and Andrea Myers
Mizuno Hyperwarp ProPrice: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.1 oz, 201 g (men's size 9 / women's 10.5)
Stack Height: 39 mm heel / 33.5 mm forefoot
Drop: 5.5 mm
Shoe Purpose: Super Trainer
Pros: Extremely light for stack height, excessive lateral flare ideal for runners with lateral ankle instability/history of ankle sprains (Andrea)
Cons: Excessive lateral flare (Matt), clunky heel, loud midsole (Andrea)
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro is a super trainer/racer meant to be the most approachable shoe of the Hyperwarp racing trio. A full-length Enerzy XP midsole delivers a bouncy ride, while a carbon-infused nylon plate provides structure and snap to the midsole. A slightly short but extremely light upper sits up top. An extreme lateral flare makes this shoe a unique option for those with excessive lateral instability. The Hyperwarp Pro takes the Rebellion Flash series to a whole new level with this model, but with some sacrifices that limits the number of runners this will work best for.
SIMILAR SHOES: ASICS Megablast
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro fits me slightly short in my normal US men's size 10. The upper is a thin, monofilament woven upper that is almost see-through. The volume is on the lower side, especially in the forefoot. The mesh does stretch a little, which has made this fit a bit more tolerable. The toe box is tapered with a slightly snug forefoot. This makes the slightly short fit more noticeable and those using this shoe for longer distances should strongly consider going a half size up (Andrea did this and had a much more comfortable fit). The midfoot is slightly snug with a low instep (height) and a thin, non-gusseted tongue. The tongue is flexible and needs to be laid down flat while putting the shoe on or it does bunch up. It is also thin enough that the laces cannot be tied too tightly without excessive pressure on the top (dorsum) of the foot.
The heel fits normally in width with light padding around the collar. There is no heel counter, so those with heel sensitivities will do extremely well here. There is a little heel slippage, which tightening the laces quickly fixed. I would not recommend wearing this shoe sockless as the monofilament material is scratchy and did cause some abrasion on the top of my foot when I tried (so use at least thin socks). The upper security is surprisingly okay for being so thin. Wearing socks helps more with this as the monofilament material actually grips the sock slightly. However, the lack of major overlays and loose structure creates some sliding when attempting lateral movement. So if you are going to run in these shoes, make sure you are mostly going in a straight line.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Andrea: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro fits short in my usual women's 9.5, so Mizuno sent me a women's 10 as a replacement. I have had to go up 1/2 size for the Hyperwarp Elite and Pure, as well as Wave Rebellion Pro 1-3 and Wave Rebellion Flash 2 and 3. All of the Hyperwarp models fit similarly for me, but the Pro has a little more volume in the toe box as compared to the Pure or Elite. After going up 1/2 size, I have a full thumb's width from the front of the shoe to the end of my big toe, and the toe box is sufficiently wide that I had no irritation at my 1st or 5th MTPs. The midfoot and rearfoot are normal width and like the Hyperwarp Pure and Elite, it is easy to lock the laces down in the Pro without much adjustment. There is no heel counter and there is a small amount of internal padding. The tongue is paper thin and very flexible and care is required to prevent the tongue from folding over when donning the shoe. There is a lace loop on the tongue that helps it stay in place once your foot is in the shoe. I found the overall fit of the Hyperwarp Pro to be comfortable and secure, of course once I went up half a size for length.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Not Flexible
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro is a lightweight super trainer/racer. It features full-length Enerzy XP (supercritical TPEE) with a carbon-infused nylon plate. The foam is softer and bouncy but not as aggressive as its lighter siblings. The weight is lower at 7.1 oz (men's size 9) which makes it feel like a distance super racer. There is a 5.5 mm heel drop and the Pro feels like it is in the 5-7 mm drop range. The drop would probably feel lower with the softer midsole and slightly longer heel bevel. However the lateral flare and plate extension make the heel clunky. The sole is flared quite a bit to the outside, which causes early landings and a quick push inward. This is similar in the midfoot and is exacerbated by an equal lateral extension of the nylon plate. This makes for clunky heel and midfoot transitions.
The forefoot is smooth with equal medial and lateral flare and a slightly early forefoot rocker. There is only a tiny bit of flexibility in the forefoot, with most of it coming from compression of the midsole rather than bending of the plate. Those with toe mobility issues should be mostly fine, while those wanting flexibility at the front will need to look elsewhere. The forefoot transition is smooth and not aggressive, which helps make the Hyperwarp Pro great for tempo and uptempo runs. I have struggled to use this shoe for faster efforts such as track intervals in the 5k-10k pace range.
Running longer has felt better (despite the clunkiness) as the geometry, plate and midsole makes it better as a longer distance workout/racing shoe. While recreational runners may find this to be a faster shoe over shorter distances, experienced runners will find this a better option over long distances and races. If the heel/midfoot weren't so clunky, I would definitely consider this for long runs, but the medial bias, not the other components, has prevented me from using it for that. Of the three shoes in this Hypewarp series, the Pro is the most tuned for long-distance, half-marathon to marathon-type races for most people.
The classic Mizuno G3 outsole nubs provide great traction on most road surfaces. This has been a great shoe (other than the transition) for wet pavement as the grip is solid. I would absolutely not use this on trail as the nubs get torn up on rough surfaces. If you keep this to road, the durability is excellent for a workout/racing shoe. I have 40 miles on my pair and there is no wear on the outsole except a little wear on the nubs in the posterior-most section of the shoe. The midsole has also stayed exactly the same as the first miles, continued to provide a similar midsole feel and is just as clunky as the first run. Thus, if you find these shoe work for you, it will likely last an above-average number of miles for this shoe type.
Andrea: Unlike Matt, I have greatly enjoyed testing the Hyperwarp Pro and I expect to put many more miles on them in the coming months. Matt and I often have very different experiences in shoes due to our different biomechanics, and the large lateral sole flare of the Hyperwarp Pro has resulted in another polarizing shoe for the two of us. I have sprained both ankles more times than I can count as a result of playing basketball when I was younger and trail running as an adult. I land at my lateral midfoot and struggle with shoes that have any traditional medial stability features, as I do not need more resistance to pronation. Shoes like the Hyperwarp Pro, with a large lateral sole flare, provide guidance into pronation, which is a feature in many of my favorite shoes.
The Hyperwarp Pro feels light on foot at 7.1oz for a men's 9 and provides moderate compliance at initial contact followed by an extremely bouncy push off. The Hyperwarp Pro is overwhelmingly the most compliant of the three Hyperwarp shoes, which for me makes it more suited to uptempo long runs and threshold to marathon pace intervals. I have used it for 5k and 10k pace intervals, but it feels too soft for faster running for me. I have tested it for a 10 mile run around marathon pace, another 10 mile run at regular easy pace, and a few tempo/progression runs ranging from half marathon to 5k pace. At easy pace, the shoe does not feel as responsive as it does at marathon pace or below. It doesn't feel like it is forcing me to run faster than I intend, like many super shoes do. It feels well cushioned without being mushy or bottoming out, and the lateral sole flare and moderate forefoot rocker encourage a quicker, but not aggressive turnover. At faster paces with increased midsole loading, the midsole comes more alive and mid stance to push off feel much bouncier than at slower paces.
The shoes feels like its stated 5.5mm drop and the wide base and large lateral sole flare make it feel ideal for lateral midfoot landings. The lower drop and moderate heel bevel make the rearfoot of the shoe completely disappear for me. The wide base and lateral sole flare made the shoe feel relatively stable for me and I had no issues running short distances on grass or dirt in the shoe. The high coverage rubber outsole provides exceptional traction on wet roads. The one feature of the shoe that I do not like is the shoe is very loud. It sounds like I am bouncing an exercise ball with every step. The noise is not a deal-breaker for me because I like everything else about the shoe, but it is the loudest shoe I have run in.
I have 35 miles on my pair and there is almost no wear on the exposed midsole and zero wear on the rubber outsole. I would expect higher than average durability out of this shoe based on the midsole material and the likely high durability of the outsole.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro is a neutral shoe with excessive medial bias due to extensive lateral sole flare. There are no major sidewalls, so those sensitive to those will enjoy this shoe. The sole looks wider, but the majority of the width comes from the extension laterally in the heel, midfoot and forefoot. This makes the medial midfoot cutout look smaller than it actually is which is why the shoe looks more stable than it is. Landing at any point in this shoe causes a push toward the inside. This feels better at the forefoot as there is some medial sole flare that somewhat offsets this.
However, the strong heel and midfoot flare make the shoe clunky (as mentioned above) as it immediately drives motion toward the inner side the second you land. This feeling is made even more extreme by the fact that the midsole plate also extends just as far laterally as the midsole, which further adds to this sensation. This is an excellent shoe for the rare person who supinates or has lateral instability secondary to chronic lateral ankle sprains. However, anyone with issues with pronation or excessive medial motion will absolutely struggle with this shoe. This shoe has been difficult for me to run in and has even more extensive lateral flare than what I experienced in the Rebellion Flash 3.
Andrea: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro is a neutral shoe that will work well for runners with lateral ankle instability like myself. The shoe features a large lateral sole flare that runs the length of the shoe, with much less medial flaring in the rearfoot and midfoot. The forefoot features additional medial flaring, but not to the degree of lateral forefoot flare. This results in a strongly medially biased ride that will not work for those with medial stability needs. The medial bias feels similar to the medial bias of the Hyperwarp Pure for me, but I find the medial bias of the Pure more aggressive due to its stiffer platform and more responsive midsole. The increased compliance of the Hyperwarp Pro results in a less aggressive medial drive as compared to the Pure, but both shoes will be best for those with lateral stability needs.
Thoughts as a DPT: What Does Lateral Flare Do?
By Matthew Klein
Sole flare refers to an extension of the midsole or sole beyond where the foot sits. This can occur medially (to the inside), posteriorly (behind the heel) and laterally (to the outside). Lateral sole flare refers to a midsole extension to the outside of the foot. Any time the sole of the shoe extends in a direction beyond where the foot sits, it can do a few things. The most common function is that it resists motion of the foot in that direction. While not a full "stability" method like a medial post or wedge, additional material on one side of the foot can act to guide the foot in the opposite direction.
Lateral sole flare has an additional unique contribution given that the majority of people land on the outside of the foot first and role in. The extension of the midsole to the outer side of the foot means that sole flare laterally will cause someone to hit the ground before they normally would. With extremely soft midsoles, this can cushion the landing and prolong the landing phase. With a rigid midsole, ie one with a plated extension or a stiff midsole, this can cause an abrupt landing and accelerate the transition from an inverted position (sole of the foot pointed in) to a foot flat or everted position. The acceleration may be good for those who have control of this motion or have lateral instabilities, where they have trouble controlling motion on the outer side of their foot. A small percentage of the population truly supinate, ie roll to the outside of their foot through the landing phase of gait (most people start in an inverted position and pronate). In this group, lateral sole flare may be great to facilitate motion to the inner (medial side).
For those that have trouble controlling medial motion, ie those with pronation troubles, posterior tibialis issues, medial tibial stress syndrome, etc, this not only will cause an abrupt, clunky transition but will accelerate them inwards faster than they can control. Most of landing is eccentric, meaning muscles are being lengthened under tension. This causes the most muscle damage of any of the primary types of muscles contracts, and adding a speed component increases the stress even more. During controlled therapeutic interventions and properly prepared athletic movements, this is fine. In this cause the fast acceleration of the foot inwards from the lateral sole flare and lateral plate extension will put a great deal of stress on the muscles that control pronation, causing a fast eccentric motion.
So anyone who pronates and has a history of pronation-related injuries, lateral sole flare is something to avoid. The rare person who supinates with a history of supination-related injuries (chronic lateral ankle instability) may benefit from this lateral sole flare. Given how small that population is compared to the number of people that pronate or have pronation-related injuries, companies should be careful with how much of this they put in a shoe. They should be especially careful not to call the shoe "stable," as technically a shoe with extensive sole flare in one direction without being balanced the other way is an unstable shoe.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: This shoe has so much potential, but I strongly dislike it. The advertising that it is supposed to be the "stable" shoe of the series is so frustrating, given how excessive the lateral flare is, how much of a medial push the shoe has and how clunky this makes the ride. While I have more miles on this shoe than any of the other two, it is my least favorite. This is fixable, but a great deal of the shoe's sole design needs to be changed. Mizuno's racing shoes continue to fit on the shorter side. I think Mizuno can shift everything a half size down if they don't want to change the last, as this has been consistently an issue in their racing models since the first Rebellion.
Second, the lateral flare has to be toned down. It is so extreme that it irritated my posterior tibialis. Driving someone excessively medial or lateral is not good. I would suggest evening the sole flare out, reducing the extension of the lateral plate so it sits under the foot and filling in the midfoot. I would make sure to balance extensions of the plate and midsole and even bring the plate up a little more around the foot to actually center it. This has to be done carefully as superior extensions of plate can either push into the foot (causing irritation) or make the shoe uncomfortably stiff. There is potential with this shoe, but in its current form, it will work for such a small population that I don't know if it will be successful unless major modifications are made to version two.
Andrea: I personally have really enjoyed the Hyperwarp Pro, but I also recognize that it does not live up to its marketing as the more stable shoe of the Hyperwarp line. I certainly do not see anything wrong with Mizuno making a shoe that is best for runners with lateral stability needs like myself (we deserve and appreciate shoes designed for us), but this is not a stable neutral shoe or a shoe that will work for runners with medial stability needs, which is a more common issue. This shoe could absolutely be a stable neutral shoe if the sole flaring was balanced medially and laterally. I would also recommend that Mizuno fix the sizing of the Hyperwarp line because many runners will need to go up half a size for length.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro is a unique shoe that will work for a small subset of the population. Those who land lateral who need tons of lateral support/resistance to motion through the excessive sole flare will do well here. Those who want a responsive, cushioned and light ride will do well here. While carbon infused, the nylon plate is a tiny bit more flexible and less aggressive, making the Pro a better option for those who do not do as well with really stiff carbon shoes. The upper will work well for those with narrow feet or who want a close fit, while others will need to go up a half size. If not for the excessive lateral sole flare, this shoe would match its marketing as a more approachable super racing shoe. However, its extreme medial bias makes it anything but stable except for those who supinate or have lateral instabilities.
For me, this shoe absolutely does not work and has not been fun to run in. I still have hope for Mizuno, given their history with the Catalyst and Sayonara (anyone remember those from over a decade ago?). So don't get excited if you are still looking for a stable super racer here.
Andrea: The Mizuno Hyperwarp Pro is a medially-biased super trainer with a lower drop (5.5mm) and a moderately compliant, bouncy ride. Due to its medial bias, it will work very well for those with lateral ankle instability, those who land too far laterally, and/or need guidance into pronation. I am one of those runners, and I have loved running in this shoe. It fits comfortably (once I went up half a size) and I have enjoyed every run I have done in the shoe. It is best for uptempo runs or threshold to marathon pace, as the midsole is too compliant for faster running.
It is my replacement for the Wave Rebellion Flash 2, as the heel of the Flash 3 gave me blisters and prevented me from continuing to run in it. However, at $250, it is overpriced for a super trainer, considering the Wave Rebellion Flash 3 is $180 and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is $175.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B (Slightly short fit with tapered toe box may require half size up for many. Comfortable heel without a counter)
Performance: B- (Clunky rearfoot transition, but forefoot is smooth over uptempo distance paces)
Stability: C- [Medial Bias] (Excessive lateral sole flare and lateral plate extension create medial bias from heel to midfoot. Forefoot balanced better with equal medial and lateral sole flare)
Value: C+ (Good durability but way too expensive for a super trainer or "approachable" super shoe, especially with the fit being off and the clunky transition)
Personal: C- (The lateral sole flare and short fit have made this shoe extremely uncomfortable for me. This is not a shoe for someone with medial instabilities)
Overall Design: C+
Andrea
Fit: A- (Extremely comfortable all around fit, but runs 1/2 size short)
Performance: A- (Large lateral sole flare works well with my mechanics, very comfortable, bouncy shoe to run in. Best for threshold-marathon pace for me, not responsive enough for anything faster. Minus half a grade because of how loud the shoe is.)
Stability: [neutral] A personal/C general (The medial bias works extremely well for my mechanics due to my history of multiple ankle sprains and will work very well for runners like me. For others, this is not a stable neutral shoe and will actually create instability, as Matt experienced. Mizuno should not advertise this as a stable racing option.)
Value: C+ ($250 is too much for a super trainer with a nylon plate and TPEE midsole. As much as I like the shoe, I wouldn't pay $250 for it.)
Personal: A- (I love running in this shoe and will likely get many more miles on it. Personal negatives are how loud it is and its price.)
Overall Design: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORMizuno Hyperwarp ProPrice: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
*Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
Check out Gear We Love
Naked Belt The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist.
Saysky Running Gear: We were really taken aback by this Scandinavian company's ultra-thin, durable performance clothing
Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor: Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup
goodr Sunglases: Run in style with goodr's super fun sunglasses.
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Water Bottle: Perfect for long runs when you need hydration in the summer
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Ciele Hat: Our team's favorite running hat of choice!
Fractel Hats: Our team's wider fitting running hat of choice!
FURTHER READING
Mizuno's long distance super shoe.
Mizuno's short distance super shoe.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW DOCTORS OF RUNNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: Doctors of Running
Youtube Channel: Doctors of Running
Instagram: @doctorsofrunning
LinkedIn: Doctors of Running
Strava: Doctors of Running
Podcast: Virtual Roundtable
Pinterest: Doctors of Running
PODCAST
Check out the Doctors of Running Podcast to find more reviews, interviews, and running features from the team.
Visit our Podcast Page
Find us on Apple
Find us on Spotify
Contact us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com
NEXT: Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite
