Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 4 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.0

Our playtesters were pleased to find an updated fit that ran true to size and provided a bit more breathing room. This was beneficial for Tiffani and her wider feet. She said, "Right away, I noticed an improved fit compared to the previous model. The Wave Exceed Tour 4s still felt tight in the toe box, but they were not nearly as suffocating as the Exceed Tour 3s. I was able to get the uppers to relax after about six hours, but I still preferred to wear my thinnest socks with these shoes. I could play without too much discomfort, even during the break-in period, but I would remove them immediately after playing. The most outstanding feature of these shoes was the cushioning. The Exceed Tour 4s felt soft yet responsive underfoot. As far as arch support goes, these shoes felt fairly average, and it was the same with ventilation levels."

Brittany found out-of-the-box comfort and appreciated the true-to-size fit. She said, "With a background in Mizuno running shoes and having playtested the previous model, I was super excited to see how Mizuno updated these high-performance tennis shoes. I was not disappointed! Mizuno addressed the biggest issue for me, which was the fit. The new Exceed Tours now fit true to size, and I stayed in my normal size 8 for the playtest. I didn’t need a break-in period and immediately felt comfortable in these shoes. The uppers molded to my feet, and I didn't have any hotspots or rubbing. The arch support was the perfect level for my medium arches. I do feel like the ventilation wasn't the strongest, but I playtested these shoes in winter and didn't come across any issues."

Michelle also appreciated a comfortable fit from the get-go, but she noticed some changes as the playtest went on. She explained, "As soon as I stepped into these shoes I felt so much cushioning underfoot — a very responsive, bubble-like pod of cushioning under several spots. It felt great. I do have to note, however, that it felt like my feet were sitting a bit high off the ground. Another thing I noted was the updated fit. The shoes were not too long, and they felt perfect for my medium-width feet. Once I spent some hours in them, I did feel I needed to utilize that extra eyelet to keep my feet locked in. After two weeks of wear I began to actually get a blister on the top of my left foot, which is weird; I am pretty sure the shoe opened up more, so it was rubbing in a new way. It was fine if I wore higher socks, but I definitely wasn't expecting it."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.7

Feeling secure in your movement is vital to any player's game, and our playtesters felt that the Wave Exceed Tour 4s didn't deliver the locked-in feel they needed to feel confident moving aggressively around the court. Brittany was able to utilize the lacing system to improve the shoe's support, but she was still left with some issues. She said, "My first time hitting in these shoes was a drilling session with heavy movement. I immediately noticed that my feet were moving forward and backward pretty aggressively in these shoes, enough for me to stop play. I took a break and noticed I hadn't used the last eyelet. Using the last eyelet significantly decreased the movement, but at the same time my laces were very short, and I could barely double knot them. I tried removing the laces from the middle eyelet and using the last eyelet to give myself more shoelace length, but I didn't feel like my feet were being held in place as well, so I went back to utilizing both of them. When it came to ankle stability, the Wave Exceed Tour 4s did their job. I didn't experience any possibility of turning my ankle or have any soreness after my hits."

"I think I could have done with a bit more support and stability," added Michelle. "The backs of my feet weren't as supported as I would have liked. Plus, because my feet rode higher off the ground, I didn't feel as connected to the court and didn't always feel as stable as I like. There were a few times when I took a misstep and was a bit concerned, but I never twisted an ankle or suffered any bigger issues from it."

Tiffani shared similar sentiments as the rest of the team. She said, “During my first outing in these shoes I felt I wasn't getting a secure enough fit around my ankles, so I pulled the laces through the extra eyelet. This made the laces very short, so I could barely tie my shoes. They still managed to stay tied during play, but longer laces would have been nice. Although I loved the cushioned feel of these shoes, it made me feel high off the court, especially in the heel. The Wave Exceed Tour 4s always managed to keep me upright, but there were a few times I thought I was going to go over."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.1

Our playtesters were impressed to find little to no wear after playing in their Wave Exceed Tour 4s for many hours on court. With the added security of a six-month guarantee, there shouldn't be any issues in this category. Tiffani was surprised by the durability, considering the lighter feel of the shoes. She said, "These shoes feel so light, so I'm quite happy with how well they are holding up. I have very little wear after playing 10 hours on hard courts in these shoes. The toes and outsoles will easily last me a few months, not to mention, it's rare to see shoes this light come with a six-month durability guarantee. Kudos to Mizuno!"

Michelle also had no qualms with the lifespan of the Wave Exceed Tour 4s. She said, "These shoes held up well. We put a solid month on the shoes, and I am impressed with how durable they are. They definitely have a lot of life left in them, and I think the rubber compound is one of the best around."

Brittany noticed an improvement in this category compared to the previous iteration. She said, "In my comments for the Wave Exceed Tour 3s I noted some significant wear by the end of the playtest. When it came to the 4s, I wasn't seeing any outsole or upper wear. Now a couple of factors could be involved. I might not have been as hard on the shoes or might have played on some grittier courts, but nonetheless I was impressed. And the toe durability was no different. I didn't find any wear on the toe bumper at the end of the playtest."

Traction - Score: 3.9

Our playtesters noted that the traction was a touch on the stickier side, which proved beneficial for Michelle. She said, "I liked the traction from these Wave Exceed Tour 4s. I would say they felt a bit stickier rather than slick. Because I was lacking confidence at times with the support and stability, it was good to have a bit more stick with the traction."

On the other hand, Tiffani could have used slightly less grip to feel more confident in her movements. She said, "The traction was consistent throughout the playtest, but I wanted a little bit more give from the rubber. Again, I wasn't feeling as secure when I was pulled out wide since I sat up high off the court in these shoes. I wanted the shoes to slide a bit in those instances, but they would hook up with the court before I wanted them to, and I had the sensation of being just about to roll over. Thankfully it never happened, but I would have preferred less stickiness from the outsoles or a lower ride in the shoes."

Brittany noticed that the traction evened out as the playtest went on. She described, "When it came to traction, there was nothing major to report. At the beginning of the playtest the shoes were just slightly on the stickier side, but not to the degree that I felt stuck to the court. The traction smoothed out after a couple of sessions, and I was getting that nice blend of grip and give. These shoes made my feet sit slightly higher up (thanks to the plush cushioning), and I prefer a lower-to-the-ground shoe."

Weight - Score: 4.3

The Wave Exceed Tour 4 weighs less than its predecessor, which was quite impressive to Brittany. She said, "I am not sure how Mizuno did it, but the designers made a light shoe even lighter. And they did this without sacrificing any stability or durability from the past model. The Wave Exceed Tour 4 feels extremely lightweight, and I felt really quick on the court. I was thoroughly impressed."

Tiffani also enjoyed a light, quick feel underfoot. She added, "It's not often you find a combination of superb cushioning and a lightweight feel, but somehow Mizuno made it happen. These shoes felt so comfortable underfoot, but I still felt very fast in them. They fit tightly and didn't have any extra bulk, even with the built-up midsole."

Unlike the rest of the team, Michelle thought the weight of these shoes was more middle of the road. She said, "They felt about average to me in terms of weight. They weren't ultra light, but I never felt weighed down either. They are built up a bit with good cushioning, which keeps them out of the 'most light' category."

Overall - Score: 4.0