Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 3 Men's Review

Comfort - Score: 4.0

It is important to note that the fit of the Wave Exceed Tour 3s is best suited to narrow feet. With the caveat that the fit is designed for a specific foot type, our testers still came away appreciating the internal and underfoot comfort of their shoes. With medium-width feet, Sean found the fit to be a bit of a squeeze, but it was the length of the shoe that really bugged him. He explained, "The fit of these shoes was very interesting in that they ran narrow and long. Personally, I prefer my shoes to fit snugly, but the length was still an issue even when I went down to a 9 (I normally wear either a 9 or 9.5). I felt that the padding in the heel and tongue was generous, though, and I'd say that that the midsole felt firm and responsive."

Despite having wider feet, there was still plenty to enjoy for Jason. He said, "I immediately noticed that the fit was a bit too narrow for me in the forefoot. The uppers did open up a little as the playtest went on, but for players like me, with E-width feet or wider, the Wave Exceed Tour 3s might not be the best fit. Other than that, I thought they were very comfortable. The cushioning was more than adequate and provided a plush ride, especially in the heel. The uppers were soft and required no break-in period at all."

With his narrow feet, Troy found a natural fit. He said, "The first time I slipped these shoes on I loved how they contoured to my feet. These shoes have a rather slim fit, which is perfect for my foot type. The curvature of the toe area felt like a glove. I would have liked to try a half size smaller than the size 10 that I playtested, because it ended up being a little bit long. The cushioning in the heel was sufficient, but it felt rather firm underneath the balls of my feet. I felt well connected to the court, but the Wave Exceed Tour 3s weren't as comfortable as I would have liked when it came to the midsole cushioning. The ventilation was below average considering the weight of these shoes, and there didn't seem to be much breathable mesh in the uppers. The arches felt pretty average and matched well with my feet. One standout feature was that the tongues were very well padded. They were a nice addition to the overall comfort and kept my feet happy no matter how tightly I cinched the laces."

Chris also felt right at home in his shoes, saying, "I found a great fit for my narrow feet in these Wave Exceed Tour 3s. The general fit felt narrower than medium and slightly long, with a medium-height arch. I liked the way the shoes hugged my feet to offer a lot of support while still being very comfortable. The cushioning was impressive, and I felt protected from the court on hard landings. The ride also felt very responsive, which added to the fast feel of the shoes. Ventilation was decent, and my feet stayed dry enough that I didn't worry about blisters."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.4

The Wave Exceed Tour 3’s most notable feature is in the name: Mizuno Wave. The Wave technology that Mizuno incorporates into these shoes promises to disperse energy from impact to a broader area, providing a stable and smooth ride while keeping the wearer centered in the shoe. Although that technology seemed to deliver on lateral stability, our testers all noted some heel slippage issues when moving forward. Chris explained, "I found a supportive fit from the Wave Exceed Tour 3s. The uppers did a great job of holding my feet. I did not have any sliding around inside the shoes, and I found enough support that my feet didn't fall over the edge of the midsoles on aggressive lateral cuts. The shoes were definitely most supportive for side-to-side movements. I had some heel slipping issues when sprinting forward, which required me to cinch the top eyelet uncomfortably tight. Apart from that, these shoes provided all the support and stability I needed without ever feeling stiff or restrictive."

Jason also had to use the back eyelet in order to feel locked in. He said, "The stability while moving side to side was great. The upper and chassis did a solid job keeping my feet from rolling over, but I did notice a bit of heel slippage when moving forward for a ball. I ended up utilizing the last eyelet, and it seemed to take care of most of the slipping. I would've liked a more locked-down fit, though."

"The strength of the Wave Exceed Tour 3 is in its on-court performance," said Sean. "I really liked the level of stability these shoes provided, and I always felt confident pushing my movement to its limits. The one issue I had was with heel slippage, but I relaced my shoes to the back eyelet, and that seemed to hold my feet in more securely."

The blend of fit and design helped Troy feel connected to the court. He said, "The way these Wave Exceed Tour 3s contoured to my feet made me feel very supported. The upper material was sturdy enough to hold my feet in place whenever I slammed on the brakes. These shoes felt low to the ground, and I felt connected to the court when I was on the balls of my feet. For as light as these shoes are, the midfoot shank provided a lot of lateral stability. When I put all my weight and force into a lateral stop these shoes held up just as well as my Asics Gel Resolution 7s. The only issue I had in this category was a bit of slippage in the heels, even when cinching up the last eyelets. I think part of the problem was that these shoes were a bit too long for my feet; I could have likely gone down a half size."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.8

Due to its responsive feel and light weight, the Wave Exceed Tour 3 isn't made to last forever. However, it seems Mizuno still took the time to factor durability into the equation. Although the longevity wasn't turning any heads on our team, the general consensus was that the outsole held up adequately over the course of the playtest. Chris described, "I would put the Wave Exceed Tour 3s in more of the lighter speed category rather than a durability silo. The outsoles wore at about the same rate as an adidas Ubersonic 3 or Nike Air Zoom Vapor X. The toe bumpers resisted scuffing well."

The durability impressed Jason the most. He said, "The durability was above average for fairly lightweight shoes. Mizuno appears to have made the tread pattern deeper than most shoes I've tested, so it's held up well over time. I can see that I've worn it down under the balls of my feet, but there is still a good amount of tread pattern left."

Unlike Jason, Sean found himself wishing his pair had lasted longer. He said, "I was hoping for a little better durability from these shoes, even if they are fairly light. There was very noticeable wear under my toes, while the rest of the outsole was relatively unscuffed. I suspect a pair of these would last me about a month of heavy play."

Troy felt the durability was in line with similar offerings, but he would have liked an outsole warranty. He responded, "I found the durability to be about average considering the weight of these shoes. The rubber outsoles were more durable than most lightweight shoes on the market, but not quite as durable as the premium stability shoe competitors. I would say that the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 3s are close in durability to the Nike Air Zoom Cage 3s. The downside is that these shoes do not come with a six-month durability guarantee, and the Cage 3s do. At the end of this playtest I had some balding of the tread around the toe area and the balls of my feet. The rest of the outsole held up well."

Traction - Score: 4.4

Complementing the low-to-the-ground feel and locked-in stability, the traction of the Wave Exceed Tour 3 sat comfortably in the middle of the grip-to-give spectrum. That versatility translated to easy acceleration and a good amount of give. Troy said, "The level of grip made me feel confident in my movement. From my first time on court with these Wave Exceed Tour 3s on my feet, I felt as though I could change directions on a dime. The combination of a low-to-the-ground ride in the forefoot and a reliable level of traction allowed me to put all my force into my movement without ever feeling like I might roll an ankle. There was enough give in the rubber outsoles that when I slammed on the brakes, it didn’t feel too jarring. I would put these shoes right up there with my Gel Resolution 7s when it comes to traction."

The Wave Exceed Tour 3’s traction agreed with Sean's movement as well. He said, "I felt the outsole was very middle of the road in terms of traction. These shoes were sticky enough to grab the court when I was pushing off but also slick enough for the occasional slide."

The right blend of grip and give can be hard to achieve, but Jason thought Mizuno managed it with the Exceed Tour 3s. He described, "I liked the amount of traction I got with these shoes. They were sticky enough to keep me from slipping while trying to start my movement, but it was nice that there was a little give there when I came to a stop. These shoes could slide a bit, so I didn’t feel like I stepped in glue."

Chris had no issues moving. He said, "I liked the level of traction in these shoes. I was able to get lots of grip when I needed to make an aggressive cut or quick first step. The level of grip very much matched the fast feel of the shoes, and I was able to move comfortably in them. I also found enough give to be able to transition and pivot without the outsoles sticking to the court too much."

Weight - Score: 4.4

Coming in at 13.3 ounces, the Wave Exceed Tour 3 was definitely speedy on court. Aside from the average durability, it's impressive that Mizuno has done so much with so little excess weight. Jason explained, "Nice and light on the feet, this shoe feels similar to the Nike Vapor X or adidas Ubersonic 3 weight-wise. With a firmer, lower-to-the-ground ride in the forefoot and a more plush ride in the heel, the shoe transitioned well from heel to toe, which made it feel faster and lighter than the static weight would imply."

Chris also commended the fast feel of his pair. He said, "I liked the overall feel of the Wave Exceed Tour 3s. They felt very natural to move in, and I didn't notice any extra weight or bulkiness to the fit. I felt very fast in the shoes when sprinting for drop shots or scampering side to side. These were definitely some of the faster-feeling shoes I've tested in the past year."

Impressed with the balance of weight and performance, Troy felt the Wave Exceed Tour 3s were on par with some of his favorites. He complimented, "There was a nice balance with these shoes. They felt relatively light and fast, but had enough rigidity to maintain support and stability. As the scale would indicate, these shoes felt lighter and faster out of the box than my Gel Resolution 7s. Surprisingly, the stability was very close to my shoes, even though these are about an ounce lighter. After a minor break-in period they contoured and flexed with my feet well, and I felt fast around the court."

Sean was able to forget about the shoes and just focus on playing in his pair. He said, "Considering the stability, I was impressed with how light these shoes were on the scale and on the court. I never once thought about the mass of the shoes during play, and at the end of the day that's all I can really ask for."

Overall - Score: 4.1