Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite

The Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite is a dual-foam racer designed for speed. Priced at $275, it competes most directly with the ASICS Metaspeed Edge ($270) and Sky Tokyo ($270). The Elite is part of Mizuno’s new race line and it falls in between the Pure on the lighter side and the Pro, which is heavier and is designed to be more stable. The top layer of foam in the Elite is the softer Enerzy XP PEBA blend and the bottom layer of foam is the firmer TPEE version of the Enerzy XP with a full-length carbon fiber plate in between. The step-in feel is great and the upper fits much better than the Metaspeed shoes. It has a lot of snap, firmness, and stiffness and it encourages you to get up on the forefoot and really dig in and drive. The question is whether it is protective and cushioned enough for the marathon distance for most people. The set-up is very similar to the ASICS Metaspeed racers with a very similar geometry, narrow platform, and fairly low drop. On the run, the plate position seemed reminiscent of the Metaspeed Sky with the roll of the Edge. It is very lean and mean and doesn’t feel high stack, cushioned or protective; however, it is very lightweight, nimble and speedy with some aggression and snap without being too harsh. While we wouldn’t recommend it for runners with any stability needs due to the narrow platform or for those who are predominantly heel-strikers, if you have enjoyed the Metaspeed racers, the Hyperwarp Elite is a great speed-oriented alternative to those shoes.