Running shoes are the cornerstone of a successful runner whether you’re Running for fun or for a marathon.

That’s why you need to find the best brands that offer unmatched quality and performance.

Among the most popular sports footwear brands on the market; Mizuno vs Brooks. But, which one is better for you?

The biggest differences is that Mizuno shoes are lighter and cost slightly more compared to Brooks. Mizuno offers Wave Plate Technology cushioning designed to support the midsole and range between $120-$180.

Brooks offers a durable foam sole and a firm but comfortable shoe. Brooks are designed to be a higher-mileage shoe making them more durable than Mizuno. Brooks shoes range between $100-$145. 

Let's dive into our comparison.  

About Mizuno

Mizuno is a Japanese foot and sportswear company that was founded by Rihachi Mizuno in 1906.

It’s among the most popular brands of the running shoe industry with innovative technologies that provide an especially responsive ride while running with their shoes.

Top Features of Mizuno’s Running Shoes

Here’s a brief overview of Mizuno’s running shoe top features

Average Weight

Mizuno’s running shoes are characterized by being lightweight. Most of their shoes weigh between 5.5 to 9.8 ounces but they average at about 7 ounces.

You may like: Weight of the 101 most popular shoes 

This gives you extra speed that can shave up to one minute if you’re running for a long distance!

Durability

While Mizuno’s running shoes are characteristically light, they’re surprisingly durable and resilient, especially in the midsole region where the Mizuno’s Wave Plate Technology kicks in.

Although the technology isn’t designed for durability, it still supports the midsole and adds extra life to it.

Overall Quality

Mizuno utilizes a special wave plate technology when designing midsoles. This technology helps in dispersing the force horizontally while running, giving its midsole a unique and functional design.

These shoes also support natural gait with its support elements that are strategically placed to help you keep on track.

One thing that characterizes Mizuno’s shoes is that they’re usually cut quite narrow when compared to some other brands.

Best Running Shoes By Mizuno

Mizuno’s running shoes are usually branded under the name “Wave”, which stands for the innovative technology that they apply to all their running shoes.

Here’s a quick sample of the most successful and popular running shoes by Mizuno.

The Wave Sky from Mizuno is an upgrade from the Wave Enigma. This shoe is considered one of the most comfortable foam-based shoes that Mizuno offers.

The shoes have an ample cushion for both short tracks and long marathons and run pretty smooth and close to the ground.

Additionally, they’re quite lightweight and maintain decent firmness and durability when it comes to intense runners.

The Wave Rider is currently their most popular running shoes thanks to its high performance and relatively affordable price.

The upper mesh features DynamotionFit construction, which allows for an excellent level of fitness while wearing the shoes.

They aren’t the lightest shoes by Mizuno. However, they make that up by pairing the Mizuno’s wave technology with excellent quality midsole materials.

This helps the shoes to be dynamically cushioning and give a relatively light feel on the feet.

About Brooks

Brooks Running is an American Company that makes a wide variety of sporting accessories, especially running shoes and clothing for men and women.

The company was launched back in 1914 by John Brooks Goldenberg and is currently operating in over 60 countries around the world due to its major success.

One fact about Brooks that most people do not know is that the company is owned by Warren Buffet. Here's a little more info about Brooks history. 

Top Features of Brooks’ Running Shoes

Here’s a brief overview of Brooks’ running shoe top features.

Average Weight

Unlike Mizuno, Brooks’ shoes are a bit heavier in weight but not by much. Most of their shoes are within a range of 7 ounces to 13 ounces (almost one pound per shoe).

Durability

Ideally, the standard durability Brooks running shoe will last you up to 400 to 500 miles before it requires replacement.

If you run for about 20 miles every week, these running shoes can last you well over 6 months at top performance.

Overall Quality

When it comes to the overall quality of Brooks, they’re among the best manufacturers when it comes to dealing with foam and gel support.

Best Running Shoes By Brooks

If you like brooks, here are some of the most popular models for running they have.

As you already know, the Hyperion Tempo is one of the lightest running shoes that Brooks has to offer.

This shoe comes with the all-new DNA Flash midsole foam by Brooks, which is also nitrogen-infused to deliver the maximum energy return while running without weighing you down.

Brooks Ghost are one fo the highest reviewed, highest selling and most worn running shoes. In fact, in a survey of over 3600 runners nationwide the Ghost rank near the top. 

Similar to the Ghost, the Adrenaline an uber popular running shoe that is built on a foundation of tremendous support,  stability and comfort. 

Read the full review of the Adrenaline here. 

With that said, you now have a quick comparison between Mizuno vs Brooks. As you can see,  both brands are excellent when it comes to running shoes.

To be concise, Mizuno are slightly lighter were as Brooks shoes are more durable and weight a little more. Brooks offers a a firmer base resulting in higher mileage usage. Mizunos are perfect for weekend runners who do not put a ton a miles on their shoes. 

If you prefer lightweight shoes, you should consider Mizuno’s shoes. They’re much lighter with their wave plate technology that gives nice support to the midfoot.

However, if you’re more about longevity, Brook’s durable foam soles will last you longer. They’re also lightweight enough to preserve your speed while pacing.