New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v15 vs Mizuno Wave Inspire 22:
Which to Choose

Start with what's genuinely shared: both use gentle, plate-based guidance instead of an aggressive corrective post, both run an 8mm drop, and both are tuned for conversational-to-steady efforts rather than fast reps — neither is a tempo weapon. The differences are in the midsole philosophy. The 860v15 rides on soft, single-density Fresh Foam X over a tall ~40mm heel / 32mm forefoot stack; it's plush and absorbing, dialing down harshness on long efforts but returning little energy, and it can feel slightly floaty and vague if you slow way down. The Inspire 22 takes the opposite approach with nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT on a lower 37mm heel / 29mm forefoot stack — firm, planted, and predictable, with the Wave plate driving smooth transitions rather than pop. That firmness makes the Mizuno feel more connected to the road and more composed at true easy pace, while the New Balance feels more cushioned and pillowy underfoot. Weight follows the same story: the Inspire 22 is the lighter shoe at about 294g in a men's US 9 versus roughly 332g for the 860v15, so the Mizuno feels a touch nimbler while the New Balance trades some of that lightness for extra foam and protection. Guidance style differs slightly too — New Balance's full-length medially-wedged Stability Plane spreads support across the whole foot, whereas Mizuno's heel/midfoot Wave plate concentrates it through the landing and transition. Both grip and last well; the Inspire's X10 carbon-rubber outsole in particular is built to rack up durable miles.