The Mizuno HYPERWARP ELITE 2 is a buy if you're aiming to break 3 hours in the full marathon and don't trust lightness alone. About 160g (27.0cm, per shoe), with a carbon plate between 2 layers of different materials, and a 39.0mm heel. It releases Nov 6, 2026, at the official online store, brand stores and some retailers.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
I'd buy the ELITE 2 as a shoe that shed 10g without changing the lower layer. What changed is the top foam layer and the upper; the lower layer that handles rebound and stability is the same ENERZY XP as the original. It's a lightening generation change that leaves the foundation alone. I read the 25g gap from the PURE 2 as the price of keeping that lower layer.
Key points
- By subtraction, the original's sole is 34.5mm at the forefoot and 38.0mm at the heel. The drop went from 3.5mm to 3.0mm, 0.5mm smaller
- The sole thickness is 36.0 / 39.0mm, the same as the roughly 96g HYPERWARP 96. The heel is 1mm short of the road limit of 40mm
- The gap from the PURE was 33g and 3.5mm in the original; in the 2nd generation it shrank to 25g and 1mm
The "middle model" has the shortest explanation
The middle of a series of 3 is usually dismissed with "well balanced." Sandwiched between the lightest shoe and the easiest to pick up, it's a spot where it's hard to convey what's different.
The HYPERWARP ELITE 2's announcement also had "balance first" as its tagline. But when you pick up the numbers, of the 2 shoes that carry their names over from the original, this is the one that moved more.
It lost 5 times as much as the PURE 2 (10 ÷ 2). Both the upper material and the drop changed.
Let's line up 3 of Mizuno's press releases and turn what's inside the middle model into numbers.
HYPERWARP ELITE 2 release date, weight and thickness: official figures
| Item | HYPERWARP ELITE 2 |
|---|---|
| Release date | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Official price | JPY 29,700 (incl. tax) |
| Weight | About 160g (27.0cm, per shoe) |
| Stack height | Forefoot 36.0mm / heel 39.0mm (27.0cm) |
| Drop | 3.0mm (calculated as 39.0 − 36.0) |
| Plate | Yes (carbon; 3D-shaped SMOOTH SPEED PLATE) |
| Midsole | Upper layer MIZUNO ENERZY XP+, lower layer MIZUNO ENERZY XP |
| Upper material | Engineered mesh upper |
| Where it's sold | Mizuno official online store, brand stores and some retailers |
The sole is 2 stories. The original's release explained that the carbon plate sits between the upper and lower layers. The 2nd generation's release also lists the upper layer, the lower layer and the plate in that order.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno HYPERWARP ELITE 2 (out Nov 6)
Pre-release: available from Nov 6How it differs from the original ELITE: what changed from the last generation
The original HYPERWARP ELITE came out on Dec 19, 2025. Mizuno writes the generation 2 figures as "versus the previous model." From that you can work backward to the original's thickness.
| Item | Original ELITE | ELITE 2 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | About 170g | About 160g | −10g |
| Forefoot stack | 34.5mm (calculated) | 36.0mm | +1.5mm |
| Heel stack | 38.0mm (calculated) | 39.0mm | +1.0mm |
| Drop | 3.5mm (calculated) | 3.0mm | −0.5mm |
| Upper layer | Lighter version of ENERZY XP | ENERZY XP+ | Changed |
| Lower layer | ENERZY XP | ENERZY XP | Same |
| Upper | Lightweight woven upper | Engineered mesh | Changed |
Weight: 10g is about 5.9% of the original's (10 ÷ 170). It's a figure with a thicker sole, so converted per millimeter of thickness the gap widens further.
The original is about 4.47g and the 2nd generation about 4.10g (170 ÷ 38.0, 160 ÷ 39.0). That's a reduction of about 8%.
Drop: 1.5mm was added at the forefoot and 1.0mm at the heel, so the front-to-back difference shrank by 0.5mm. That lines up the drop of all 4 second-generation shoes at 3.0mm. In the original, by subtraction, the PURE was 3.0mm and the ELITE 3.5mm, separate.
As a sub-2:30 runner, I check whether the slope matches between my race and training shoes before weight. Under the same HYPERWARP name, they lined it up at 3.0mm all the way to the plate-free training PACER.
Midsole material: this is the mechanism part. The 2-layer sole gives the upper and lower different jobs. In Mizuno's explanation, the upper layer's XP+ handles lightness and the lower layer's XP handles the balance of rebound and stability.
In the 2nd generation, only the upper changed. They made the side near your foot lighter and left the ground side as it was in the original.
Upper: the original had the same woven upper as the PURE. The 2nd generation changes to mesh, and Mizuno writes that it considered fit and design as well as lightness. The PURE 2 stays woven, so the upper is now a different material across the 2 shoes.
Plate: as with the PURE 2, it's 8mm longer toward the forefoot. The explanation that the sole shape was flattened with stability in mind is shared too.
How it differs from its siblings, the PURE 2, HYPERWARP 96 and RACER
Putting the ELITE 2 in the middle, we line up the ones above and below. All figures are for a 27.0cm, per shoe.
Scroll the table sideways →
| ELITE 2 | PURE 2 | HYPERWARP 96 | RACER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | About 160g | About 135g | About 96g | About 200g |
| Gap from the ELITE 2 | — | −25g | −64g | +40g |
| Stack (forefoot / heel) | 36.0 / 39.0mm | 35.0 / 38.0mm | 36.0 / 39.0mm | 34.0 / 37.0mm |
| Sole layers | 2 layers (XP+ and XP) | 1 layer (XP+) | 1 layer (limited XP+ version) | 2 kinds, inside and outside (XP+ and NXT+) |
| Upper | Mesh | TPEE woven fabric | DUAL SKIN UPPER | Mesh |
| Release date | Nov 6 | Nov 6 | Dec 4 | Dec 10 |
Versus the PURE 2: 25g heavier, with a sole 1mm thicker front and back. As a proportion, about 19% (25 ÷ 135). In the original, the gap between these 2 was 33g and 3.5mm (170 − 137, 38.0 − 34.5).
In the 2nd generation, the PURE moved closer to the ELITE. So the reason to choose is no longer thickness but the sole layers: the lightness of 1 layer, or the foundation of 2.
Versus the HYPERWARP 96: the sole thickness is the same 36.0 / 39.0mm. The 96's weight is 60% of the ELITE 2's (96 ÷ 160).
At the same thickness it's 64g lighter (160 − 96). What Mizuno lists as the 96's build is a carved-out dedicated sole and an upper without laces. It's a limited run of 696 pairs, releasing Dec 4.
Versus the RACER: 40g lighter, with a sole 2mm thicker. The RACER puts a stability-strong material on the outside and keeps plate stiffness down. Mizuno aims the RACER at people targeting 3 to 4 hours and people new to carbon plates.
- Aiming under 3 hours and want stability material in the lower layer → ELITE 2
- Same goal, and you want the 25g first → PURE 2
- The 3-hour range as your goal, or your first plate → RACER
- A plate-free shoe for training at race speed → PACER (about 205g, Dec 10)
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno HYPERWARP PURE 2 (out Nov 6)
Pre-release: available from Nov 6What I like
It got lighter, yet kept the foundation. For a generation change that sheds 10g, they could have combined the sole into 1 layer.
Mizuno kept the 2 layers and didn't change the lower layer's material. The build matches the words "balance first."
It's the thickest in the series. The 39.0mm heel is 1mm thicker than the PURE 2, 2mm thicker than the RACER and 3.5mm thicker than the PACER (39.0 − 35.5). Among the 4 mass-produced shoes, the ELITE 2 has the thickest sole.
The drop is lined up across all 4. The 3 racing shoes and the training PACER are all 3.0mm. Runners who split shoes between training and racing can move between them without changing the slope.
It writes the gap from the original in numbers. Forefoot 1.5mm, heel 1.0mm, about 10g, plate 8mm. Every increase and decrease is in the release, so someone who owns the original can check the gap from their own shoe as is.
Things to watch
- 1mm from the limit. The 39.0mm heel is 1mm short of World Athletics' (the international governing body for athletics) road limit of 40mm (40 − 39.0). The HYPERWARP 96's release carries a note that dimensions can vary slightly in the making. If you plan to wear it in a race where you're chasing a record, check World Athletics' approved list after release.
- The upper changed. From the original's woven fabric to mesh. For anyone who liked how the original's upper sat, it's a different shoe under the same name.
- Fewer places sell it. The original was released at retailers nationwide. The 2nd generation is the official online store, brand stores and some retailers.
Who is it for?
- A good fit for: runners aiming to break 3 hours in the full marathon who don't trust lightness alone. Runners who prefer the thicker side. Runners who want the same slope as the training PACER.
If you want even 1g lighter, the PURE 2, 25g lighter, fits. If your goal is the 3-hour range to 4 hours, the RACER fits better (shoes by finish time article). If you have no complaint about the original ELITE, wearing it out first is early enough (the sole gap is 1.0 to 1.5mm).
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| HYPERWARP ELITE 2 (out Nov 6) | JPY 29,700 | JPY 29,700 |
If you're torn between the original and the 2nd generation, look at 3 things: the 10g of weight, the 0.5mm of drop and the upper material. If none of those 3 catch you, you can decide by the Rakuten price gap without trouble.
In shops, tell the generation by the "2" in the product name. If you want it on release day, the official online store and brand stores come first. The retailers are described as "some."
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno HYPERWARP ELITE 2 (out Nov 6)
Pre-release: available from Nov 6
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno HYPERWARP ELITE (original, previous generation)
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 45,600 (as of 10/13). Prices move daily. Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit differs by brand, so read the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaTo set it beside plated shoes from other brands, our 10 max-cushion carbon shoes article has a table of weight, thickness and price. The December RACER and PACER are in the upcoming releases article.
FAQ
When does the HYPERWARP ELITE 2 come out?
Nov 6, 2026, at JPY 29,700 (tax included).
At what size are the HYPERWARP ELITE 2 figures measured?
The weight of about 160g and the sole thickness of 36.0 / 39.0mm are both for a 27.0cm, per shoe. The upper changes to mesh, and Mizuno cites consideration for fit.
What's the difference between the HYPERWARP ELITE 2 and the PURE 2?
The core difference is the sole layers: only the ELITE 2 has an ENERZY XP layer below. The numeric gaps are 25g and 1mm.
Mizuno's split is lightness first for the PURE 2 and balance first for the ELITE 2. The runner each aims at is the same, someone aiming to break 3 hours.
What's the difference between the HYPERWARP ELITE 2 and the original? Is it worth upgrading?
What changes is weight (about 10g less), drop (3.5mm to 3.0mm), the upper (woven to mesh) and plate length (8mm longer toward the front). The material of the lower layer is the same.
It means something if you want lightness, or a slope that matches the PACER. If the original's upper fits your foot, there's no hurry.
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Related reading
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