Mizuno Wave Kazan Trail Shoe Review...

The following is a sponsored post by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Mizuno.

The day after I came home from Boston in June, I was sent a pair of Mizuno Wave Kazan Trail Shoes to review from a FitFluential Campaign. I was super excited to test these shoes on the trails here in Alabama.

I was super excited to hit the trails then I decided to drop a huge 75lb piece of wood on my foot. I immediately knew it had to be broke. Thanks goodness it wasn't. However I would be out of running for about 5 weeks, Which meant NO TRAIL RUNNING:( Coming back from a foot injury is super hard. Luckily my foot wasn't broke, however it had severe deep tissue damage. It has almost healed up except it has a huge round scar tissue bump on it :( It has not bothered me too much in the past couple weeks that I have been able to train on it. The only time I really notice it is when I run on a hard surface like the sidewalk. So yesterday I decided to do some trail running. Now I am not a trail runner by any means, but do enjoy changing my workout up. I also love trail hikes. One of the great things about the park I run at is that it has lots of different trail runs in it.

I was excited to see that they had marked all the stumps with fluorescent paint. It makes it so much safer to run, and this makes me #HAPPY!

I was amazed at how great the Mizuno Wave Kazan felt on my feet as I was going over the pretty rough terrain. Here is a little more about the shoe...

 Mizuno Wave Kazan

 The Wave Kazan derives its name from the Samurai battle standard of “Furin Kazan” meaning “move as swift as the wind, stay as silent as the forest, attack as fierce as fire, and be as undefeatable as the mountain”. The striking upper design was patterned after topography and Japanese rock gardens.

 

KEY FEATURES

• Our most versatile, all-terrain trail shoe lets you glide smoothly over any type of terrain.
• A Concave Wave cradles the heel against excessive movement, while a midfoot “X” groove allows the heel and forefoot to move independently and adapt to uneven terrain.
• The ultra-aggressive x-studded outsole pattern is strategically patterned to provide optimal grip and traction while still allowing for optimal flexibility where needed.
• And at just 8.0oz., the Wave Kazan is light enough for a fast day on the trails, yet rugged and protected enough for an epic, 100 mile ultra.

 

As you can see above the bottoms of the shoes are designed for flexibility as well as comfort and support for your feet and ankles. I was surprised also at how lightweight the Kazan is. It didn't feel like your normal bulky trail shoe. I had decided to run my F.A.S.T. virtual race 5k on the trails to earn my awesome medal. Dani from Weight off my Shoulders hosted this virtual race to raise money for Stroke Awareness. I had an awesome time supporting a great friend, supporting a great cause, and earning this fabulous medal.

This morning I took the Kazan on a second trail run. Another great thing about the Kazan is how versatile they are from street to trail. I decided to run to the park which is about a mile a way and they gave me the support I needed to run on the pavement and the trails. 

My Thoughts:

• Super light at 8oz (woman) and 9.5oz (men)
• Awesome traction on damp trails
• Very stable and comfortable shoe
• Supports ankles and feet 
• Never felt like they would slip on the rough terrain
• They are a really cool looking shoe
• Price point $119, totally worth every penny
• I personally loved the way they look. Very limited in colors.
• Never got anything stuck in the grooves of the shoe

 To check out the Mizuno Wave Kazan...

• Mizuno women’s trail running shoes
• Kazan
• Hayate

 You can also check out the awesome video below, The Making of the Wave Kazan.

So I leave you with this...

Until tomorrow, work hard, play hard, and enjoy life:) and don't forget to enter my SPARTAN RACE entry giveaway HERE!

I was given a pair of Mizuno Wave Kazan to review as part of a FitFluential campaign, as always all opinions are my own.