Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5 Men's Tennis Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.4

While there is no denying the comfort and cushioning of the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5, there were a few areas our playtesters thought could be improved. After adjusting to a half size smaller than usual, Jason laced them up and hit the court right away. He said, "I thought these shoes were fairly comfortable, even right out of the box. The uppers offer great flexibility, and even though it's more minimal than in previous versions, the underfoot cushioning was good. I liked the fit for my wider, lower arched feet. The one area that I thought could be improved was the tongue. It's very minimal and has no padding to it."

Chris found the sizing slightly off, but otherwise he enjoyed the shoe's playability. He explained, "I found the Wave Exceed Tour 5s to fit a little long, and I'd go down a half size for the best fit. The uppers felt soft and pliable from the get-go, so there was no need to break them in. I never had any issues with blisters, and for the most part, I found the uppers to be nicely padded. The ventilation was average at best, and there were times when my feet ran hot. The tongue was a little too thin and allowed lace pressure to dig into the top of my feet. Things were better under my feet, and I liked the level of cushioning. I felt comfortable sprinting around the court because I was close to the ground, yet my feet still felt adequately protected."

Mark agreed with Chris regarding sizing. He added, "The length of the new Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5 was a bit long — about a half size — with the width and arch height being medium. Once I was in the correct size, the shoes aligned nearly perfectly for my foot type, and the ventilation was also top-notch. The out-of-the-box level of comfort for the Wave Exceed Tour 5 was great, and it only improved with wear and use."

The pluses outweighed the minuses in this category for Sage. He said, "These shoes quickly took over the top spot for having the most comfortable underfoot cushioning in the lightweight category. The uppers were flexible, and visually I expected them to be well ventilated, but I must admit I was left with the phrase 'middle of the road' in my head. I have pretty average-shaped feet and ended up settling on a half size smaller than I'd normally wear. The heel cup was plush, and I never had issues with blistering or slippage in that area of the shoe. The most uncomfortable aspect was definitely the tongue. It felt like Mizuno streamlined it as a weight-saving measure, and it led to some discomfort on the top of my foot. This category was a bit of a mixed bag, but overall I'm happy to recommend them."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.6

The Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5s struck a nice balance between stability and lightweight performance, though they did give one playtester some trouble. Mark said, "At a U.S. men's size 10.5, the Wave Exceed Tour 5 weighs in at a scant 11.7 ounces, so I expected a big trade-off between weight and support. I have to say I was surprised how supportive and stable these shoes were."

"I moved well in these shoes," added Chris. "The Wave Exceed Tour 5s flexed and moved well with my feet. The ability of the uppers to support my feet was impressive considering how supple they are. The shoes also flexed well under my feet, and the chassis of the Wave Exceed Tour 5s provided a very fast and responsive feel. These are not super stiff and stable shoes, but I found all the support I needed to move at full speed."

Sage offered the dissenting opinion in this category. He said, "This was where the playtest got a little rocky. The uppers held in place when I was rallying or hitting casually, but during drilling or point play it was hard to trust the stability. The flexibility worked against the shoes during lateral movement. They had a tendency to want to continue rolling outward after sliding into a shot. About halfway through the playtest I stopped chasing down balls I would normally go after."

Jason has worn more than one of the previous versions, and he noticed a drop in stability in this update due to the reduced weight. He described, "Making this update so much lighter than the previous version hindered the stability a bit. I would've liked a more rigid midfoot shank as well as some stability pieces in the upper. Luckily, the outsoles had some give, so there weren't many harsh or sudden stops, but I thought the support was solid. My feet felt locked in once I had my laces cinched up tightly."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.7

The main highlight of the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5's durability was the six-month outsole warranty. Sage loved that Mizuno chose to stand behind its shoes. He said, "The six-month durability guarantee sets these apart from the competition. Mizuno is one of the only manufacturers currently willing to back lightweight shoes with a six-month warranty. They definitely aren't the most heavy-duty shoes, but they held up well compared to other lightweight options. Sure, the toe guard could be built up, but it's a speed-oriented shoe at the end of the day."

These shoes were best in class for Mark, making the warranty a bonus. He explained, "Typically, a tennis shoe that has a sole warranty associated with it tends to be heavier, and the fact that the Wave Exceed Tour 5 features one definitely adds to its value. As far as whether or not the outsole is abrasion resistant, it was sufficient for me. It is far more durable than almost any other lightweight tennis shoe I have tested. That being said, if I were in my 20s I might not have quite the same answer."

"I was pleasantly surprised that the outsole was as durable as it was." Jason added. "I was expecting such a lightweight shoe to wear out very quickly, but after about 10 hours on court, they still show plenty of tread left."

Chris put these shoes through some long hitting sessions. He said, "The uppers of the Wave Exceed Tour 5s held up to my toe dragging very well. Where I did see the most wear was on the outsole under the big toe of my right foot. I tend to wear shoes out quickly there because I drag the outsole under my big toe on every serve and most closed stance forehands. After three weeks of hitting, I was seeing substantial wear and would be taking advantage of the outsole guarantee after a couple of months."

Traction - Score: 4.6

Our team found that the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5 provided just enough slip for reliably smooth changes in direction. Jason thought the traction tied the other components of the shoes together. He described, "The traction is definitely on the slicker end of the spectrum. I think it was helpful because of the lack of stability in the shoe. I was able to slide out of my shots so my ankles didn't turn over. If the outsole had been too sticky, I could see how very sudden stops and changes of direction might cause some stability issues."

Sage agreed with Jason. He noted, "The traction worked well from the first hit. The few times I did slide into shots, it was controlled until it came time to stop and pivot, which is where the lack of stability came into play. On the plus side, they broke loose nicely without crossing over into being slippery. This helped offset the lack of stability quite a bit, but in the end, I personally couldn't trust them. I think they'll align with players who prefer more slip than stick out of their shoes."

These shoes allowed Chris to sink into a shot, then trust the transition into the next one. He explained, "I was very happy with the level of traction offered by the Wave Exceed Tour 5s. When pushing off, the shoes offered ample grip to help me quickly get up to speed. I was able to change directions quickly and trust I'd get the traction needed. When coming to a quick stop, I was able to do so in a controlled manner. The outsoles also offered just the right amount of give. I could pivot and take quick adjustment steps without having the outsoles getting hung up on the court surface."

Mark's positive comments continued. He said, "Overall, I give the Wave Exceed Tour 5s high marks in every performance category, including great traction on any hard court surface. I prefer the outsole material to be dense enough to not wear down quickly but soft enough for a smooth stop. I want just a little give, and these shoes delivered precisely that."

Weight - Score: 4.9

The Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5s are certainly ultra lightweight. But what really stood out to our playtesters was how the other performance categories didn't suffer as a result of the cut in weight. Chris described, "The Wave Exceed Tour 5s felt very fast on court. I definitely felt like I was moving around the court as fast as I can when playing in these shoes. I really enjoyed playing in them. For the most part, I was able to forget about the shoes and focus on my tennis."

"The previous version was fairly lightweight already, but this update takes the shoes to another level," added Jason. "They felt super light, quick and nimble. It's definitely the highlight of these shoes."

Mark could barely believe just how light these shoes are when he looked at the scale. He said, "While 11.7 ounces is heavy for a tennis racquet, it is very light for a high-performance tennis shoe, and I have to say the Wave Exceed Tour 5 feels light around the court. The most impressive part is they maintain better-than-average support."

Sage echoed the rest of the team. He said, "Weighing in as one of the lightest shoes on the market, these do not disappoint in this category. Movement was as close to effortless as it gets. Acceleration was the highlight for me, as they offered the traction I prefer combined with a featherlike response."

Overall - Score: 4.1