Wave Sky 8

This isn’t really an answer to your question, but I’m also someone who has run in the nimbus line exclusively since the 24 because they fit me great and I’m too afraid to change. However, this year I wanted to break out of the pattern (also shooting for sub 3:30 marathon) and find a two shoe rotation with non-ASICS brands. I got the Evo SL on sale for $70 for workouts and to potentially use for the race, and it’s been great (don’t love it for slow, easy days). However, I’m most hyped on getting the Mizuno wave Sky 8 for my daily training runs (nimbus replacement) for $100. You can find it on sale now, it’s actually amazing. Feels cushiony like the nimbus but more peppy and fun. I like the Megablast recommendation, but I highly recommend the Mizuno if you wanted to add an everyday shoe on sale to eat up the majority of the miles.

I have two pairs of wave rider 28 and a wave sky 8. I like them both for different things, the rider is better for faster runs, and the sky for moderate or slower runs, even though the sky in my case is lighter. Out of curiosity, my Wave Sky are lighter than my Riders 28 by 10 grams. the wave rider 28 needed to be a bigger size because they are narrower at the front, otherwise they would hurt my fingers, the wave sky I bought a smaller size and it worked. This year when prices drop more in my country, I will buy a pair or two of wave riders 29, I can get them on Black Friday for something close to 60 dollars. much cheaper than the current price which is in the range of 120 to 150 dollars in my country.

I love my Triumphs 20/21 and wave sky 8. All are versatile and can increase the pace without problems. of course, isn't a race shoes, but I can use all in 90% of my runs without problems.

I just bought 4 pairs of running shoes in the last 6 weeks: Brooks Ghost Max Hoka Mach 6 Mizuno Wave Sky 8 Anta PG7 Basic thoughts Hoka Mach 6 feel fast but not much cushion. They are super light weight, but I worry the soles will wear out fast. Brooks Ghost Max are stiff, heavy and the soles kind of suck. They are showing significant wear in 6 weeks. BTW, I only walk fast in all the shoes. Mizuno Wave Sky 8 are light weight with better cushion than both the Hoka and Brooks and their carbon rubber soles have lasted me over a year in 3 models so far. Anta PG7 shoes I just received on Saturday . These are so far the best feeling shoes out of the box. I never wear shoes 2 days in a row but couldn’t deny myself a test of how they would feel. So far so good. 1st real walk today, 4 miles 18min/mile this morning. The most cushioned and springy shoes of the 4. Pricewise, Anta was about $60 on Amazon, Brooks, Hoka and Mizuno were all between $100-130. I would recommend getting 2 pairs, choose between Mizuno Wave Rider/Sky (Sky has a bit more cushion) and the Antas. For the price, I would buy 2 pairs of the PG7 and 1 pair of the Mizunos. If you want to go higher end, the Hokas are really good shoes and I like walking in them. They have great ground feel. I just don’t know how they will hold up. They are probably really good for runs and I know others have questioned why I would use them for walking. I will not ever buy another pair of Brooks.

Just an update: I love my Anta’s still and love the Hoka’s. The Anta’s have firmed up a bit and have thus gotten a bit faster. I was walking about 18-19 minute miles sustained for 3-4 miles. I can now do about 17.5 minutes per mile in the same distance. The Hoka’s are definitely my speed shoes. I can do 16.5 minute miles in those and the rubber seems to be holding up. The Mizuno’s are still holding up and they seem to be just a bit slower than the Hoka’s. I will definitely keep buying Mizuno’s but want to keep trying the Chinese brand running shoes. We will see long term how they hold up. The Brooks are basically flat at this point. I’ve only had one other shoe that wore down this fast. Those were ASICS Gel KAYANO. It was 5 years back. I’m not sure if they have gotten better. I kind of soured on ASICS after that.

I have the Wave Sky 8 and will vouch for those as well. A lot of people say great things about the Mizuno Neo Zen as well. I have not had a chance to try them though.

I do this as well, and my shoes look just like yours after a while. I do it less with shoes that aren't max stacked like the Wave Sky, but then those shoes aren't as comfortable for me on long runs. I basically just wear what I like and accept that I'll wear down that part of the shoe faster. Right now my long runs are in the Neo Vistas and they are holding up well, maybe due to the very pronounced rocker.

I think the Mizuno Wave Sky would be something to check out. Not super fancy and not super fast. It's highly-cushioned, but not so soft that you feel like you're running in sand.

The test seems accurate to what I've seen with the shoes I have (Mizuno Wave Sky 8 and Brooks Glycerin 20).