We already have the analysis and characteristics of the Mizuno Wave Daichi 6, which happens to be the most versatile trail running shoe of the Japanese brand. It comes with important changes, especially in the midsole, with the aim of remaining among the favorites of many runners, whether they have little experience or don't know where to run without repeating the path.
And it is one of the most recommended shoes since it covers a wide spectrum of needs. That Mizuno has a competition shoe like Wave Hayate? … Well, there will be those who think that perhaps they do not need so much specialization. That Mizuno has a shoe that devours kilometers like the Wave Mujin, perfectly valid for all kinds of distances, including ultra-distance? … Well, there will be those who make more modest outings and who find it too much shoe. And those who, on the contrary, being newcomers to the mountain, believe that Wave Ibuki falls short? (by the way, a mistake that many people often make, because Ibuki is more than what he appears to be)... Well, they will also need something to help them launch...
The answer to all these doubts is the Mizuno Wave Daichi, a model capable of leaving with a good grade in all these situations: To start: a good option; take it to races: good option; make long runs, or very long ones: a good option.
Mizuno says of this shoe that it is made for people to run without fear. After several analyzed editions, I would say that rather, run with the confidence that it will respond in the different situations that the mountain runner faces: go out only looking for performance; accompanied in a more playful way; going to a competition where this model does not detract... Pretending to take a little from everyone else to achieve the most versatile shoe... if you have not achieved it now, it is only because you have already achieved it before.
I said that the midsole comes with important changes, we are going to see them in the specific section of this part of the shoe, but from the outset I will say something that I am already repeating a lot among the new batch of models from Osaka: don't look for the Wave plate (the pebax one). Flew. He went away. But if Mizuno replaces one of its best arguments in decades, it has to be justified. And if that one did not fail... it only remains to think that what comes now surpasses it.
The weight drops by 20gr for both sexes: Now they weigh 300gr in the case of the finish for men and 250gr in the one for women. But we have seen more details, such as the plate hidden under the metatarsals… We see everything.
Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 Review
Midsole
The midsole of the Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 comes with important changes compared to the Wave Daichi 5. If in that release the Wave piece that helps cushioning and stability was clearly distinguished, now that plate does not exist.
Does that mean cushioning and stability have dropped? If that question reaches the ears of "Mr. Mizuno" he would surely be offended. Japanese brands in general, and Mizuno in particular, take this issue very seriously.
No. What Mizuno has done has been to evolve the Wave, not needing that rigid piece on which he based much of his success. What it has now achieved is joining two pieces of different foam material, and doing it according to patterns that favor both cushioning and stability (and, incidentally, increase another feature: softness to the touch).
All this has a name and it is Mizuno Foam Wave. It is the way the Japanese brand calls this clearly wavy shape of the midsole, which runs from back to front and which, incidentally, separates the two materials with which it is made: ap+ and U4icX (what a fabric with Mizuno and their cryptic names..., don't worry, I'll explain them now).
The idea is to assemble two plates of different material that, although on the outside you can see a more or less regular wavy shape, on the inside this is not the case. The way in which the two materials are distributed, with different responses, densities, etc., is key to obtaining one type of cushioning or another. And the same goes for stability.
Thus, the largest part of the midsole, the one that goes from the heel to the toe box (in yellow, in the photos) is the ap+ material, while the smallest part, which is just below the ankle and heel (here in gray, in the photos), is the U4icX material.
ap+ is a cushioned, comfortable, light and resistant material. The Japanese brand has been producing it for many years, although in recent seasons U4ic and U4icX have been eating the toast. And in this Daichi the same thing happens.
In the new Wave Daichi 6, the U4icX compound is already deployed in the midsole. It is the gray material that can be seen in the photos that is just under the entire ankle. The question is: what is gained? From the outset, U4icX has more rebound than ap+, hence the cryptic name that, read fluently, would sound something like "Euphoric" (euphoric), referring to the use of energy when running, which is high.
Another value that has changed, and quite a lot, is the drop. It drops no less than 4mm, thus, from the 12mm that we have known in all Daichi models since the first saw the light of day back in 2016, it now jumps to 8mm based on a midsole height of 28mm in the area of the heel. heel and 20mm in the forefoot. Mizuno is perhaps the brand that has most resisted the market trend of progressively reducing midsole drop... Well, the Japanese cut their losses, as has become clear in this review of their most versatile model.
Sole
The Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 sole is another part of the shoe that changes compared to the previous installment. In fact, in proportion, it is the one that changes the most.
It does so because it abandons the design that has accompanied it since its inception, which were the Michelin soles inspired by the studding of MTB tires, which we explained in detail in its day in Michelin soles in the new trail running collection. So, we said that Daichi used a sole design based on the Cyclocross Mud 2 tire, from the French brand. This has evolved to Daichi 5, but in this sixth edition, a new script twist...
Versatility leads the way, and in those designs there was grip, but it lacked more bite. Those who went calmly or at cruising speed, without problem. It was those who went fast who perhaps demanded something more. For this reason, the new sole improves the appearance of its use in difficult terrain and at high speeds.
The studs are more incisive, have enough space between them and have a two-height design similar to what we have seen before and that helps expel the mud after going through areas where we find this element.
Of course the heel area is countergrip. All the heel, about 13 heels, to jump into an open grave with confidence, come on.
Speaking of trust. Between the sole and the midsole, in the part of the metatarsals, Mizuno has provided an anti-rock plate (it can be seen through two little triangles on the sole), which will save those annoying stones, rock tips, roots or anything with pointed shape that in other conditions can press by surprise and become very annoying, even painful. This is avoided by Daichi 6 with that board. As it is not rigid (it is not carbon fiber, but a derivative of EVA with a higher density), it defends the foot, but also without limiting its flexibility.
Upper
The Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 upper also comes with many changes. After having seen those of the midsole and sole, it may now seem that those of the upper cut may be more superficial, but nothing is further from the truth. And not only the external appearance changes, but also. Now we see an adjustment system that does not travel from the eyelet to the insertion of the midsole, but a whole series of lateral reinforcements that go from the toe to almost the heel.
The truth is that they are made with grace: they have the shape of mountains, which overlap each other, as if we were looking at the horizon and seeing their peaks rise, but the objective is clear: to encapsulate the foot inside the shoe and hold it in a comfortable and soft way and, by rebound, raise the level of flooding of the shoe. There was already a similar resource in Daichi 5, although now, the height is greater.
The big difference in feel compared to Daichi 5 is that the foot moves a little more freely with respect to the transition of the step. The tightening is also less since the lacing pulls directly on the mesh instead of the coarser reinforcements of previous finishes. And this is where losing weight by 20 grams begins to be justified, everything adds up... or rather in this case: everything subtracts 😉
The mesh is of the AIRmesh type, light, ventilated and resistant. And as always happens in a shoe, sometimes, for a feature to go up or improve, unfortunately there is another one that has to go down or lose steam. In this case we see how the toecap is still protected, but somewhat less than in its predecessor: where before there was a synthetic piece sewn to the shoe, now there is a heat-sealed strip of less than 1mm. Logically, a kick to a rock will resist less with less protection. It will be a matter of looking better where we are going... easy!
At the top, we see some flat shoelaces passed through five eyelets... Lies! One of them is not an eyelet, but a strap that, if the tongue is separated to look inside this Daichi 6, it is discovered that it is double and that it goes down the inside of both sides of the shoe until it is inserted into the midsole. Here, then, we have a good resource to hold the foot laterally and not trust it solely and exclusively to the resistance of the mesh.
The tongue is padded and is attached to the body of the shoe on both sides, so it will not move and will protect the foot from stones or any other small nuisance that tries to slip through the laces area.
The interior is also very padded, and hides a 4.5mm foam insole that, together with a 2mm cushioned material footbed, all together show that Mizuno has taken care that comfort is also present.
The heel presents a reinforcement around the ankle. It is neither very visible nor very forceful, but it does the job of stabilizing the ankle in each contact with the ground, when running. It is finished off at the top with a practical strip that helps to introduce the foot if it stretches.
MIZUNO WAVE DAICHI 6 GORE-TEX
Continuing with the tradition, for Wave Daichi 6 it also has a Gore-Tex finish for those places where the weather conditions are harsher. To better resist the blows of cold, wind, rain or snow, it is essential to have the right tools and, in this, Mizuno delivers.
As usually happens, the sole and midsole, as they are not affected, do not undergo changes compared to the "normal" finish. That is, same sole and same midsole.
Winning in waterproofing allows Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 GTX to dare with all types of terrain and climates, at least much better than others that do not incorporate Gore-Tex. The impact on the shoe is that it weighs a bit more, reaching 315gr in the men's finish and 260gr in the women's. Despite everything, it weighs less than the “normal” finish of the previous Daichi, which shows how it has fought to shed a few grams. The price is also higher, ranging from €10-€15 more.
Summary Mizuno Wave Daichi 6
Wave Daichi 6 is the most versatile trail running shoe from the Japanese brand Mizuno, but also one of the most on the market. And now even more, since the improvements of the new Daichi have focused on optimizing its use where it previously fell short: in intensity and in demanding places.
The last change in the drop of the midsole, going down from 12mm to 8mm gives it a more agile touch, taking it out of the way that someone can classify it as exclusively rolling. Fifteen, twenty years ago, or more, it would not be like that, but today the battle is focused on a few millimeters of margin and it seems that Wave Daichi is fully involved in that fight.
It's a shoe that will work well in any territory and also works well for runners and runners mainly of medium weight, but it will not go badly for those who are lighter or heavier. He does not have the agility of Wave Hayate (competition), nor the resistance and protection of Wave Mujin (long distance and control), nor the simplicity of Wave Ibuki (initiation), but he is better than all of them in that he can get in and out of its silos with performance guarantee.
The Michelin® sole has changed radically. He no longer uses cyclocross bike tire-based studs. Now it's a new design, with aggressive and mud-repellent treads. Above, the mesh is much softer to the touch and uses lightweight reinforcements to hold the foot in all phases of the tread.
The official price of the Mizuno Wave Daichi 6 is €135, while the Gore-Tex finish must be added €15 to reach €150.
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