Hyperwarp Range: Mizuno Has Entered the Chat
Mizuno recently dropped the Hyperwarp racing range - three new shoes, each thoughtfully crafted with subtle differences across the lineup.
It’s a pretty interesting direction for Mizuno and feels completely different from what they were doing with the Rebellion series. In the last 18 months or so, Mizuno has been stepping up their game with some standout innovations and we’ve seen it in popular models like the Neo Vista 1 & 2, Neo Zen, and Wave Sky 9 which have quietly become favourite in many runners rotation, including some of our team members.
Now, it seems like they’ve finally brought that same energy and innovation into the racing category - which, in our opinion, makes the Hyperwarp a serious contender for race day.
Here’s a quick breakdown at how the three shoes differ from each other. For a deeper dive and full comparison, check out our review on YouTube:
Hyperwarp Pure
A super shoe that’s super light - just 137g - featuring Mizuno’s Enerzy XP midsole, made entirely from PEBA-based foam, paired with a winged carbon plate wedged into the midsole. With a lower stack height of 34mm, this shoe is designed to help you hit PBs from 5km up to the half marathon. Light and nimble, the G3 outsole gives you the confidence to maintain race-day pace.
Hyperwarp Elite
Closer to a traditional marathon racing stack of 38mm, the Hyperwarp Elite features dual-layered Mizuno Enerzy XP foam. The top layer is 100% PEBA compound for a responsive feel, whilst the bottom layer uses TPEE for added integrity under the carbon plate, perfectly balancing cushioning and propulsion. Built on the same G3 outsole as the Hyperwarp Pure, this shoe keeps PBs within reach from the half to full marathon distances.
Hyperwarp Pro
The Pro offers excellent cushioning with some inherent stability. It's built to withstand high compression rates through its TPEE (Mizuno Enerzy XP) midsole, a carbon infused plate and a generous 39mm stack. It’s versatile enough for 10km races through to a full marathon, along with speed workouts or interval training.
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All three Hyperwarps have been engineered with a lightweight upper with air mesh construction, lifting the expectation on breathability and how race shoe uppers should fit and function.
Testing the Hyperwarp: Early Feedback
A few of our team members have been testing the shoes over the last couple of weeks, and here’s what they think so far:
Ed – Hyperwarp Pure
Incredibly lightweight, punchy, and responsive. The full PEBA midsole feels excellent underfoot, delivering a lively ride without feeling unstable. The lower stack height offers great control and the upper feels premium and race-ready.
I used these for a 4 × 8-minute Vo2–threshold session and they felt comfortable at pace and almost effortless to run in, even on the grass track. The lower stack gave me really good ground feel and control, while still getting plenty of return from the high-quality PEBA midsole.
Georgia – Hyperwarp Pure
The first thing that stood out was just how light this shoe is, you instantly know you’re lacing up a race shoe. The upper fits really well with excellent lockdown, giving a very secure, dialled-in feel. Underfoot it’s smooth and extremely propulsive, yet still feels stable thanks to the lower stack height. It also has a really clean, sharp look. Super easy to pick up the pace in and just get rolling.
Oakley – Hyperwarp Pro
Light and snappy from the first run. For me, this is shaping up as a great speed training shoe, but I can also see it being an excellent first “super shoe” for some runners. The wider forefoot base makes it feel quite stable, the outsole is a bit tackier than the Pure and Elite, which should translate to better durability.
For fit, I found it runs about half a size small. This is the shoe I’d be reaching for on short to medium-length reps and faster sessions.
Asher – Hyperwarp Elite
A pretty stable platform with a nice balance of cushioning, without feeling over-stacked, which suits me well as someone who typically races shorter distances. They do run a bit short, but the fit is snug in a good, race-day way. This is definitely a shoe you’d want to try on to dial in sizing.
The upper is solid and secure and I’d happily race a 5k in these as well as use them for faster training sessions like 1k reps. They feel nice and responsive, and the dual-layer midsole gives the shoe more structure and integrity compared to the Pure. In terms of feel, it actually reminds me a bit of the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris.
Harry – Hyperwarp Elite
Super smooth and responsive. I actually raced the Victor Harbor 10k in these and felt really good throughout - snappy, fast and efficient. The fit is snug but I didn’t have any issues with hot spots or blistering. The outsole is grippy and confidence-inspiring. I’d happily race 5–10k in them and also use them for track sessions. Overall, they remind me a lot of the Vaporfly v1 or v2 in terms of feel and ride.
Lach – Hyperwarp Pure
Extremely light and very fun to run in. I used these for a 2 × 15-minute threshold session and felt great throughout, although I think they’re even better suited to shorter, faster efforts. The lower stack makes them noticeably more stable than a lot of other super shoes, especially on bends and corners.
They feel very responsive underfoot, and I really like the upper - it’s super breathable and race-ready. Fit-wise, I’d say they run about half a size small.
Miffy – Hyperwarp Elite
Super light and fairly stable compared to other super shoes in this category. The outsole feels grippy in all the right spots. I haven’t been able to put a heap of mileage into them yet while recovering from injury, but based on my runs so far I’d happily race anything from a 10k up to a half marathon in these.
They’re the kind of shoe you almost forget you’re wearing because of how light they feel. For me, the upper feels a touch wider (slightly higher volume), and I’d also say they run about half a size small.
Wrap-Up
After hearing from the team and putting some early miles into all three Hyperwarp models, it’s clear that Mizuno has taken a big step forward with this racing lineup. Across the board, the shoes are impressively light, responsive and stable.
It’s still early days and we’ll have a clearer picture once durability and long-term performance come into play but first impressions are very positive. Mizuno has clearly translated the innovation we’ve seen in their recent trainers into a legitimate race-day lineup.
Stay tuned for more!
