The Mizuno Sky Prime is for runners who want a thick, soft sole to absorb the impact on slow, long days and on easy recovery jogs. Released Sep 11, 2026, JPY 24,200. A 47 mm heel and 41 mm forefoot make it the thickest sole in Mizuno's SKY series.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
The Sky Prime is my top pick for days when you want landings absorbed by both thickness and width. The upper layer is the new ENERZY NXT+, lighter than ENERZY NXT and with more rebound. On top of that, the ground contact area widens to about 125 mm at most (27.0 cm). The worry with a thick shoe is wobble, and I rate a design that handles it with width. At 500 km a month, recovery days add the most distance. That's why I don't skimp on thickness for that day's pair.
Key points
- Released 9/11, JPY 24,200. About 295 g in a men's 27.0 cm, 6 mm drop (47 − 41)
- New ENERZY NXT+ above, ENERZY NXT below, in two layers. Ground contact area up to about 125 mm
- 4.5 mm thicker at the heel, 6.5 mm thicker at the front, and 30 g heavier than the Wave Rider 30
When does the Sky Prime come out? Price, weight and stack height
It went on sale on Sep 11, 2026 (Fri). The price is JPY 24,200, tax included, and it lined up at the Mizuno online store, brand stores and some Mizuno running retailers.
Mizuno's SKY series is the line for slow, long days on soft cushioning. The Sky Prime arrived as the thickest-soled pair in that series.
| Item | Sky Prime |
|---|---|
| Release date | Sep 11, 2026 (Fri) |
| Price (tax included) | JPY 24,200 |
| Weight | About 295 g (men's 27.0 cm, per shoe) / about 255 g (women's 24.5 cm) |
| Stack height | Heel 47 mm / forefoot 41 mm |
| Drop | 6mm (47 − 41) |
| Midsole | Two layers: ENERZY NXT+ above, ENERZY NXT below |
| Width and sizes | 2E-equivalent. Men's 25.0 to 29.0 cm, women's 22.5 to 25.5 cm, unisex 22.5 to 29.0 cm |
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno Sky Prime
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 24,200 (as of 10/18). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it at Super Sports XebioSee it on Rakuten IchibaWhat came before it? How is it different from the Wave Rider 30?
The Sky Prime is a new name, so there's no earlier generation. The one to compare against is Mizuno's daily-training pillar, the Wave Rider 30. It came out the same year and belongs to the same ENERZY NXT family.
| Sky Prime | WAVE RIDER 30 | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heel stack | 47mm | 42.5mm | +4.5mm |
| Forefoot stack | 41mm | 34.5mm | +6.5mm |
| Drop | 6mm | 8mm | −2mm |
| Weight (27.0 cm) | About 295 g | About 265 g | +30g |
| Price | JPY 24,200 | JPY 18,700 | +JPY 5,500 |
Most of the added thickness went to the front. The forefoot is about 19% thicker and the heel about 11% (6.5 ÷ 34.5, 4.5 ÷ 42.5). That's why the slope is 2 mm gentler. From landing to toe-off, a thick layer stays under your foot.
The 30 g gap is small for the difference in thickness. Weight per millimeter is about 6.3 g for the Sky Prime (295 ÷ 47) and about 6.2 g for the Rider 30 (265 ÷ 42.5). It's a plain result: heavier by what it gained in thickness.
How does it compare with other max-cushion shoes? 4 shoes in the same price band
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Drop | Price | Midsole build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Prime | 295g | 6mm | JPY 24,200 | Two layers, 47 mm heel, broad contact area |
| On Cloudmonster 3 | 295g | 6mm | JPY 24,200 | Nylon-blend plate, 35 mm heel |
| On Cloudrunner 3 Max | 330g | 8mm | JPY 24,200 | Two layers, CloudTec tuned for stability |
| HOKA Clifton 11 | 282g (28cm) | 8mm | JPY 19,800 | Heel 42 mm / front 34 mm |
- Max stack of about 48 mm, and you want the thickest wrap → ASICS GEL-SLOWCUSH (JPY 26,400)
- Thickness and a broad contact area, for slow, stable running → Sky Prime
- You want a nylon plate pushing you forward → Cloudmonster 3
- You want a thick daily shoe with stability first → Cloudrunner 3 Max
Comparing 3 shoes at the same JPY 24,200, the Sky Prime's heel is 12 mm thicker than the Cloudmonster 3's (47 − 35), at the same 295 g. You ride a thicker sole at the same weight. That's this shoe's biggest strength.
What I like
The new upper layer is working to cancel out the weight of the thickness. ENERZY NXT+ is lighter than the supercritical-foamed ENERZY NXT and has more rebound. A light, springy layer sits on a thick sole, so your feet get carried forward even at an easy pace.
It gets its stability from width. The ground contact area is up to about 125 mm (27.0 cm, per shoe). The thicker the shoe, the higher you stand, and the more side support you need. Meeting that need with a broad surface instead of a plate is kind to your legs day after day.
The foot wrap is carefully made. The upper is soft, stretchy mesh, and the tongue is knit, joined to the upper on both sides. The tongue resists shifting, so pressure across the top of the foot stays steady for hours. The insole is a premium insole and removable.
With a 6 mm drop, the slope is close to a racing max-cushion shoe. Plated race-day shoes mostly have a 6 to 8 mm drop. This pair makes it less likely that only your recovery days feel very different underfoot.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno Sky Prime
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 24,200 (as of 10/18). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it at Super Sports XebioSee it on Rakuten IchibaThings to watch
It's not a shoe for lightness. About 295 g is 30 g heavier than the Rider 30. On tempo or interval days, pairing it with a different shoe keeps your legs turning over better.
The 47 mm heel is 7 mm over the 40 mm road-race limit. This is a pair to accept as a shoe for training and recovery. The race thickness rules are covered in the carbon shoe numbers article.
Width comes in 1 option, 2E-equivalent. There is no super-wide (4E-equivalent) like the Rider 30 has. Men's length also stops at 29.0 cm.
Who is it for?
- A good fit for: runners who want to jog and do long runs slowly on a thick sole. Runners who want a recovery pair for the day after a key workout. Runners used to 6 to 8 mm drop shoes who want more thickness at the same slope.
- A good fit for: runners who like thick shoes but worried about wobble. The broad contact area is designed for exactly that.
If you need a 4E-equivalent width, the Wave Rider 30 from the same Mizuno in super-wide is another way to go.
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Prime | JPY 24,200 | JPY 24,200 |
| WAVE RIDER 30 | JPY 18,700 | JPY 11,220–19,800 |
The colors are 1 each: men's white/red/purple, women's white/yellow/coral pink, and unisex black/yellow. Model numbers are J1GM2650 for men's, J1GW2650 for women's and J1GU2650 for unisex. At shops, going by this number is quickest.
Other fall releases are listed in the release calendar and the 2026 fall releases roundup.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mizuno Wave Rider 30
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 11,220 (as of 10/13). It ranges up to JPY 19,800 depending on the shop. 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 Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanFAQ
When does the Sky Prime come out?
It went on sale on Sep 11, 2026 (Fri). The price is JPY 24,200, tax included, at the Mizuno online store, brand stores and some Mizuno running retailers.
How does the Sky Prime fit? Is there a wide version?
Width comes in one option, 2E-equivalent (normal), with no wide. Men's runs 25.0 to 29.0 cm, women's 22.5 to 25.5 cm, and unisex 22.5 to 29.0 cm. The ground contact area is broad, but the foot opening itself is normal width, so if you usually fit Mizuno's 2E, start from that length.
What's the difference between the Sky Prime and the Wave Rider 30?
The Sky Prime is 4.5 mm thicker at the heel and 6.5 mm thicker at the forefoot, and the drop falls from 8 mm to 6 mm. The weights are about 295 g and about 265 g, a 30 g gap, and the prices are JPY 24,200 and JPY 18,700. For 1 pair for everyday training, the Rider 30. For 1 pair for slow, long days and recovery days, the Sky Prime.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- Mizuno press release (Sep 8, 2026: MIZUNO SKY PRIME)
- Mizuno official Japan site: MIZUNO SKY PRIME special page
- Mizuno online store: Sky Prime men's (J1GM2650)
- Mizuno online store: Sky Prime women's (J1GW2650)
- Mizuno online store: Sky Prime unisex (J1GU2650)
- Mizuno online store: Wave Rider 30 men's (J1GM2620)
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