ShoeGeometry

Mizuno Wave Sky 9 vs Saucony Paramount Max

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneMizuno Wave Sky 9: heel 44 mm, forefoot 38 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 33 % of length, radius 37 % of length; heel bevel 11 % of length, 22 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Mizuno Wave Sky 9: toe rocker 33 % of lengthSaucony Paramount Max: heel 43 mm, forefoot 37 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 28 % of length, radius 27 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 30 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Saucony Paramount Max: toe rocker 28 % of length
  • Mizuno Wave Sky 944/38 mm · toe rocker 33 % · heel bevel 11 %
  • Saucony Paramount Max43/37 mm · toe rocker 28 % · heel bevel 12 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offMizuno Wave Sky 933.3 vs 28 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same44 vs 43 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same38 vs 37 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same6 vs 6 mm drop
Less weightMizuno Wave Sky 9292 vs 300 g

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricMizuno Wave Sky 9
Max cushion · Road
Saucony Paramount Max
Max cushion · Road
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmDerived6 mmStated
Heel stack44 mmStated43 mmStated
Forefoot stack38 mmStated37 mmStated
Weight292 gStated300 gStated
Toe rocker33 %est.28 %est.
Rocker radius37 %est.27 %est.
Rocker rise angle34 degest.32 degest.
Rocker angle at toe68 degest.62 degest.
Toe tip over ground45 mmest.35 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset76 %est.83.6 %est.
Toe spring (relative)22.5 %est.17.8 %est.
Heel bevel length10.7 %*est.12.3 %est.
Heel bevel height22 mmest.30 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)120 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)99.9 mmMeasured—
Interior forefoot width95.7 mmMeasured—
Toebox width70.4 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness90Derived—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamMIZUNO ENERZY NXT (nitrogen-infused EVA) + ENERZY base, Foam WaveIncrediRUN
List price$180$200

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for Mizuno Wave Sky 9, 6 mm for Saucony Paramount Max.
  • Mizuno Wave Sky 9's heel stack is 44 mm, 1 mm thicker than Saucony Paramount Max's 43 mm.
  • Mizuno Wave Sky 9's forefoot stack is 38 mm, 1 mm thicker than Saucony Paramount Max's 37 mm.
  • Mizuno Wave Sky 9's weight is 292 g, 8 g lighter than Saucony Paramount Max's 300 g.
  • Mizuno Wave Sky 9's toe rocker is 33 % of length, 5 % of length longer than Saucony Paramount Max's 28 % of length.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Mizuno Wave Sky 9

Saucony Paramount Max

Independent sites; we are not affiliated with them.

Mizuno Wave Sky 9 details · Saucony Paramount Max details · Add more shoes