Mizuno has been one of the most well known manufacturers of volleyball shoes for the last several decades.
As one of the few companies that originally started producing volleyball-specific shoes, they’ve grown to become one of the most popular brands when it comes to volleyball shoes.
In this article I’m going to walk you through Mizuno’s current best volleyball shoes, what types of players they’re good for, and which ones to avoid.
Let’s begin!
Mizuno’s latest and greatest volleyball shoe is incredibly light, springier than ever, and simply a joy to play in no matter what your position is on the court.
Best Overall Mizuno Volleyball Shoes
I’ve personally got the Mizuno Wave Momentum 2 ranked as #2 in my top 8 volleyball shoes for 2024 and for good reason…
The Momentum 2 is not only one of the lightest volleyball shoes in existence, but it’s received a big upgrade in terms of cushioning, making it one of the bounciest and most responsive shoes you can get.
The Wave Momentum 2 is a shoe which simply performs really well across the board for volleyballers but doesn’t have any special characteristics that make it suitable for certain positions over others.
It’s a great all-rounder.
Having said all that, there is one issue with this shoe you should be aware of… The impact protection is not so great.
With the upgraded Enerzy midsole, although significantly springier and more responsive than the Momentum 1, performs poorly in terms of shock absorption.
What this means is that your joints may start to ache if you’re jumping in them a lot, which isn’t ideal for hitters.
The good news is, the last shoe on this list, the Momentum 1 has really excellent impact protection if you prefer this over the extra bounce!
Recommended Use
Fantastic option for all position on the volleyball court. Anyone who likes a super lightweight, ultra responsive shoe will love these!
The Good
Ultra lightweight and super bouncy.
Fantastic traction and responsiveness.
Mid top design adds increased ankle support.
The Bad
Cushioning/shock absorption isn’t as good as the original Wave Momentums.
Definitely on the more expensive side.
The latest Mizuno Wave Lightning shoe has had some serious work on it, improving its bounce, impact protection, as well as lateral support.
Best Mizuno Volleyball Shoes – Runner Up
The Wave Lightning used to be known as a shoe with quite a few problems, however Mizuno have done a magnificent job with the Z6, making several improvements.
The cushioning in the Z6 is really nice and certainly does a better job than the Momentum 2, making this a really solid option for all sorts of hitters.
With a decent sized outrigger around the midsole, lateral support and containment in these is absolutely no joke, making them a very secure ride.
The mid tops have a nice amount of added padding around the ankle to further its lateral stability.
Unfortunately all this lateral support makes the shoe a little clunky when it comes to those quick side to side movements, making this probably not the best shoe for liberos.
These are also quite a narrow fitting shoe, making them unsuitable for wide feet.
Recommended Use
Another great all rounder for spikers which has excellent ankle support and cushioning.
The Good
Less stiff and far more comfortable than earlier generations.
Excellent cushioning system produces great bounce and shock absorption.
Mid top design adds increased ankle support.
The Bad
Responsiveness (particularly for lateral movements) could be improved somewhat.
If you’re looking for a tried and tested Mizuno volleyball shoe that’s been around forever and won’t break the bank, the Wave Tornado 5 is one of the best options.
Best Budget Mizuno Volleyball Shoes
The Wave Tornado 5 has been in production for over 10 years now and has gained a reputation as being extremely durable.
As you can tell just from looking at them, the toe box is reinforced with a pretty tough material and the entire mesh upper is covered with a thicker material which aims to boost lateral stability and containment.
This makes it a really secure shoe, excellent for those concerned about ankle injuries!
It also means they simply don’t fall apart as quickly as other shoes, which is quite surprising for a shoe on the cheaper side.
One thing to note is that they can feel a little hard or stiff and they’re no where near as bouncy or ‘nice feeling’ as the aforementioned shoes.
Unlike some Mizunos which run small, these fit true to size and are also a decent option for wide feet.
If you’re after a budget volleyball shoe, there are newer and better options however, so I’d recommend reading my roundup of the best cheap volleyball shoes for more inspiration!
Recommended Use
Decent budget option for die hard Mizuno fans!
The Good
Very affordable compared to most Mizuno shoes.
One of the most durable volleyball shoes. Great option for outdoor courts.
They’ve been around for over 10 years which is a lot longer than most shoes last!
The Bad
Can feel a little stiff.
Note: The Tornado 5s no longer sell on the Mizuno website and primarily retail through Amazon.
The original Wave Momentums are still an excellent choice, especially for athletes doing a lot of jumping who want better cushioning.
Also Great Mizuno Volleyball Shoes
Most people who have tried both the original Momentum and the Momentum 2 agree that the Momentum 2 is slightly better, but that the original is still a solid volleyball shoe.
The major reason you’d pick the original Momentum is if you wanted something with better impact protection which will keep your joints healthy.
For this reason, the original Momentum is a great pick for outsides, opposites, and middle blockers.
One other thing to be aware of with the Momentums is that lateral stability and directional change could be better and more responsive.
It’s by no means bad or a deal-breaker, but they could definitely be improved in this area.
If you’re overly concerned about ankle injuries, perhaps this shoe isn’t for you, in which case you’d be better off going for a Wave Lightning Z6.
Recommended Use
Great option for hitters with dodgy knees who want a little more impact protection when jumping.
The Good
Superior cushioning and impact protection compared to the Wave Momentum 2s.
Fantastic traction and responsiveness with ultra lightweight feel.
Really fantastic overall shoe. Very few complaints and almost no flaws.
The Bad
Not quite as much bounce and responsiveness compared to the Momentum 2s.
Still fairly expensive!
Final Verdict?
As a middle blocker, I always recommend hitters go for the original Mizuno Wave Momentums as they’ve got really solid impact protection which is vitally important for these players.
Setters and liberos definitely want the extra responsiveness found in the Wave Momentum 2s which is the best shoe on this list for good reason.
Big, heavy athletes like opposites and middles who want a really safe jumping experience can give the Wave Lightning Z6’s a go as they’re super secure with really great cushioning.
If you’re new to the sport and just want something that’ll last or can take a beating on an outdoor court, the Wave Tornado 5 is a decent, budget option.
Is Mizuno A Good Brand For Volleyball Shoes?
To answer this question, it really depends which shoe you end up buying.
Years ago, certain Mizuno shoes got a bad reputation for being very stiff and uncomfortable which caused a lot of volleyballers to try other brands like Nike, Adidas, and Asics.
However in recent times, Mizuno has made great progress, particularly with their Wave Momentum shoes which are now regarded as some of the best volleyball shoes out there.
The 2 primary Mizuno shoes I always recommend are the Wave Momentum and Wave Momentum 2 shoes which I feel are lightyears ahead of their older designs.
How Long Do Mizuno Volleyball Shoes Last?
Most volleyball shoes will last at least a year if they’re taken good care of.
If you take your shoes off after games and only wear them on hard wood courts, they can last 2-3 years quite easily.
Mizunos are very well known for their durability, so I’d expect these shoes to last at least as long as other volleyball shoe brands.
Do Mizuno Volleyball Shoes Run Big Or Small?
This one depends on each individual shoe as different Mizunos are designed slightly differently.
The Momentum range fits true to size whereas the Lightning and Tornado shoes tend to run a good 1/2 size too small.
I always recommend reading through the questions/reviews on product pages for a few minutes before buying to see what people are saying regarding sizing.
