Mizuno Sky Prime

The Mizuno Sky Prime is the Japanese brand's take on maximum cushioning: a cushioned trainer with a huge amount of foam underfoot, built for long runs, recovery runs and the days when your legs need some pampering. Within the Mizuno range it sits above the Wave Sky 9, with very similar geometry and fit but a taller stack and better materials, hence the "Prime". Anyone looking for something more versatile to mix in changes of pace has the Neo Vista 3, and for classic everyday running there is the Wave Rider 30.

As a new model, there is no previous version to compare it with. The upper is a soft, breathable engineered mesh, with a knit tongue integrated into the instep, very thin but good at shielding the foot from lace pressure. It holds the foot firmly on a very wide base, and there is no need to readjust the laces during the run. Watch the fit: the toe box narrows quite a lot, which is unusual for Mizuno, and has little volume, so it suits normal or narrow feet better. Anyone with wide feet should try it on first and allow for a few easy runs to get used to it. The heel counter is somewhat stiff.

The midsole has two layers: on top the new Enerzy NXT+, a lighter, bouncier nitrogen-injected foam, and below the firmer, EVA-based Enerzy NXT, which adds stability. With a 47 mm heel stack height (above the World Athletics limit, though it is not made for racing anyway) and a 6 mm heel-to-toe drop, the ride is soft but with a controlled bounce, never mushy, and stays comfortable to the end of long runs. It is neutral, but the 125 mm wide base and the filled-in midsole under the arch make it very stable. The X10 rubber outsole in the high-wear zones, combined with exposed foam, copes well with the miles, although its grip is no more than adequate. It is not light and does not like going fast at all: ideal for easy runs and long runs at a comfortable pace, and even for walking.