Review: Moving with Mizuno

“After months of checking out their website but not being brave enough to press buy, I finally bought into the #maketheswap campaign and did exactly that. I bought my first pair of Mizuno Trainers – and I’m so glad I did.”

For the whole of my netball life, I have stuck to one (very popular) brand of netball trainers. They suited me well, were reliable and let’s face it, I’m a creature of habit. However after suffering an injury in December, I thought that perhaps it was time to reassess my footwear and try something new. After months of checking out their website but not being brave enough to press buy, I finally bought into the #maketheswap campaign and did exactly that. I bought my first pair of Mizuno Trainers – and I’m so glad I did.

At first, I was slightly apprehensive as to whether I would find the same comfort, support and durability in the Mizuno Wave Phantom, but after some rigorous testing on the court, on the run and at the gym, I can announce with pride that I have made a change for good and will be sticking with Mizuno from now on.

I already have my eye on the Momentum ‘Super Shoe’ to wear when I get back to playing inside.

Not sure whether to make the swap yourself? Read the review below.

On the Court

As a defender, I like my trainers to not only be supportive around the ankle but to also be light on my feet so that I can change direction quickly and get maximum height in the air.

When I first tried on the Mizuno Wave Phantom, I initially though that they were going to be ‘too flat’ for me. Being used to wearing trainers with a sizeable sponge sole, I worried that perhaps I wouldn’t be able to jump as high as before, or feel as supported after multiple vertical jumps to reach the rebound. However as soon as I got on the court, I realised that my initial concerns were unjustified.

I quickly found that I actually preferred the lighter and thinner sole the trainers seemed to have in comparison to my previous brand. It made me lighter on my feet and I felt that I was able to change direction with more precision and speed than I had before.

A 20 minute hurdles and agility circuit felt comfortable and I had no feet complaints. My ankles felt supported throughout and I really did feel as though I was wearing nothing, meaning I could concentrate on my movement and the ball without worrying about any pains or niggles in my feet – something I haven’t been able to do for a long time.

On the Run

Admittedly they are not designed to be a running shoe, but with all of our budgets at a bit of a pinch at the moment, I wanted to see how I could get the most out of my new purchase.

Laced up and ready to pound the pavements, I noticed in my first few strides that I was really aware of my foot movement and stride length. The thinner sole meant that I was driving through my stride better than I was before and was more conscious of foot movement throughout the duration of my run.

They felt supportive for a quick 5km run, probably about the same distance you would travel in a netball match, however I wouldn’t recommend this trainer for long distance runs as the thinner sole is quite taxing on the foot. However after being so impressed with their performance on the court, I would definitely consider purchasing a Mizuno running shoe for my long distance Sunday Run Days.

Yes. I have already got my eye on a pair!

At the Gym

Continuing the mission to get the most out of this shoe as I could, I wore them to the gym to see how they would perform under the bar – once again I was not disappointed.

I usually train in bare foot so that I can feel the ground on those heavy lifts. I often find that wearing sports shows (i.e. those not specifically. made for lifting) actually inhibit my ability to lift heavy and throw me out of my movement. For this reason, I was apprehensive of how I would feel wearing this trainer in the gym.

Once again I was impressed. The flatter sole of the shoe allowed me to ground my feet well and the strong ankle support left me feeling supported in my clean and jerks. Whilst the Wave Phantom is not specifically designed for the gym, I would definitely say that they are well worth the investment as I felt perfectly comfortable wearing them for the 2 hour session under the bar.

Tips from the Experts

If I wasn’t raving enough about the fact that I had #madetheswap on socials, I also received a really lovely message from on of the customer service team members on IG who gave some really friendly and helpful advice for me to get the most out of my shoe which I thought I would share below. Who doesn’t love a new IG friend?

Tip 1: Make sure that you wear thick socks (I was wearing trainer socks at the time) – Court shoes work better with thicker socks as there is a lot of lateral movement that you need support with.

Tip 2: Lace them correctly – You want to be able to get the most secure fit so making sure that you lace them correctly is really important to help you feel supported (see below for instructions on how to do this).

Tip 3: Mizuno can be a little generous in sizing – Where possible, it is always best to go to a store to get them fitted and to try different sizes. However if you must order online and they don’t fit, we would be happy to exchange for another size.

How to Lace

Have you ever wondered what those extra two holes are for at the top of you shoe? If you have never used them, prepare to have your mind BLOWN. You are about to experience a level of comfort and support like no other.

1. Start by lacing the shoe in a ‘criss-cross’ pattern from the toe up to the heel.
2. Using the two holes on the side, create a loop in both upper holes.
3. Feed each lace across the tongue to the opposite loop and pull tight.
4. When you tighten them with your foot inside, you should really feel the difference in support and comfort!

With all that said, it is safe to say that I have made the swap to Mizuno for good. Will you?

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