New Balance Foam X More v5 vs Mizuno Wave Sky 9:
Which to Choose
Verdict
It genuinely comes down to feel, not capability, because these shoes do the same job to the same standard: both are tall, soft, ~300g neutral long-run protectors with no plate and no racing ambition. Pick the More v5 if you want a lower 4mm drop and a single, uniformly plush foam; pick the Wave Sky 9 if you want a 6mm drop, a firmer carrier that adds structure under the softness, and a hard-wearing outsole. Try both if you can — the decision is about which ride your stride prefers, not about one being the better shoe.
Pace
3 of 6
Cushioning
6 of 6
Responsiveness
3 of 6
Stability
4 of 6
Drop
4 mm
Support
Neutral
Plate
None
Distances
HalfMarathon
Pace
3 of 6
Cushioning
6 of 6
Responsiveness
3 of 6
Stability
4 of 6
Drop
6 mm
Support
Neutral
Plate
None
Distances
HalfMarathon
At a Glance
New Balance Foam X More v5Mizuno Wave Sky 9
Who Should Choose Each Shoe
Choose
New Balance Foam X More v5
Choose the Fresh Foam X More v5 if you want the plushest, most uniformly soft ride of the two and prefer a low 4mm drop that keeps you centered over a natural, midfoot-leaning stride. It's the pick for neutral marathoners and high-mileage daily runners who want maximum protection underfoot and run at a steady, sustainable rhythm rather than toggling paces. If you already like low-drop trainers and want cushioning that simply disappears beneath you on long easy days, this is your shoe.
Choose
Mizuno Wave Sky 9
Choose the Wave Sky 9 if you want that same deep cushioning but with a bit more structure underfoot — the firmer Enerzy carrier keeps the soft top layer from feeling bottomless and makes transitions feel more grounded on recovery jogs and long base-building miles. Its 6mm drop suits runners who prefer a slightly more traditional heel-to-toe ramp, and the X10 outsole is a plus if you log heavy mileage and wear through rubber. It's an especially friendly option for beginners building steady endurance who want forgiving, protective comfort without a bottomless sensation.
Head-to-Head
These two are genuinely close, so the honest differences are small but real. Both sit at a ~44mm heel stack, both weigh right around 300g in a men's US 9 (the More v5 is a touch heavier at roughly 303g versus the Wave Sky 9's 295g), and neither has a plate — so both cushion far more than they propel, and both turn vague and sluggish if you ask them to accelerate past about 5:00 min/km. The clearest spec gap is drop: the More v5 runs a low 4mm offset that encourages a flatter, more midfoot-leaning stride, while the Wave Sky 9's 6mm ramp feels a little more heel-friendly and conventional underfoot. The bigger character difference is in the foam. New Balance uses a single, uniformly soft EVA-based Fresh Foam X midsole — plush and impact-swallowing, but one note, which is why it can feel slightly ponderous at very slow shuffling paces. Mizuno instead layers nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT over a firmer Enerzy carrier, so you get a soft, cloud-like top with a firmer floor beneath it that keeps the ride from feeling bottomless and lends transitions a touch more structure. Mizuno also specs a durable X10 rubber outsole in the high-wear zones, a point in its favor for runners who grind through outsoles. Energy return on both is moderate rather than springy — this is a comfort-versus-comfort matchup, not soft-versus-fast.
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