If you have been keeping an ear to the ground in the running world lately, you will know that something big—or rather, something incredibly small and light—is happening. We are looking at a Preview: What To Expect Release Date News & Rumours for a shoe that is already sending shockwaves through the local parkrun and the elite circuit alike.

Welcome to the new era of Mizuno. For years, the brand has been known for its reliable, high-quality trainers, but 2026 marks a massive shift. They have stepped away from the wild, "chopped-heel" look of the older Wave Rebellion series and moved into something far more refined, stable, and quite frankly, staggeringly fast. The star of the show is the Mizuno Hyper Warp Pure , a shoe that feels less like a piece of footwear and more like a high-tech extension of your own feet.

The New Speed Philosophy: Less is More

For the last decade, the trend in racing shoes has been "more is better." More foam, more height, more bounce. We have seen shoes getting chunkier and chunkier, reaching right up to that 40mm limit. But Mizuno has decided to try something different with the Hyper Warp Pure. They are calling it "subtractive design," which is just a fancy way of saying they have stripped away every single gram that didn't absolutely need to be there.

The result? A racing shoe that weighs in at roughly 137g to 140g . To put that in perspective, that is about the weight of a medium-sized apple. When you pick it up, it honestly feels like the box is empty. This isn't just a minor update; it is a full-blown "weight war" in the racing category, and Mizuno has just fired a massive shot across the bows of the competition.

Meet the Family: Pure, Elite, and Pro

Mizuno isn't just dropping one shoe and calling it a day. They have created a three-tier system for 2026, and it is important to know which one fits your training best. Interestingly, they have flipped the usual naming conventions on their head. Usually, "Pro" is the top-tier model, but in the Hyper Warp world, the Pure is the halo product.

The Hyper Warp Pure

This is the one we are focusing on today. It is the lightest, the most expensive (around £275 / $300 ), and the most focused. It is designed for those days when you want to feel the road and move as fast as humanly possible. It has a slightly lower stack height than its siblings, which gives you a fantastic sense of control and ground feel that many "super shoes" lack.

The Hyper Warp Elite

Think of this as the marathon specialist. It is priced a bit lower at $275 but actually has more foam underfoot. It uses a blend of materials to give you that extra protection you might want when you are hitting the 30km mark in a race. It is still incredibly light, but it prioritizes that deep, squishy comfort over the "direct" feel of the Pure.

The Hyper Warp Pro

Don't let the name fool you—this is actually the "entry-level" carbon shoe in the range, priced at $230 . It is a bit heavier and more stable, making it a brilliant choice for your fast Tuesday night interval sessions or tempo runs. It uses a carbon-infused plate rather than full carbon, which makes the ride a bit more forgiving for everyday use.

The Tech Under the Bonnet

We don't need a physics degree to appreciate what Mizuno has done here, but the materials are certainly impressive. The magic happens in the midsole, which features a 100% nitrogen-infused PEBA foam called Mizuno Enerzy XP .

In plain English, PEBA is the gold standard for speed. It is ultra-light and returns almost all the energy you put into it. Because it is nitrogen-infused, the foam is full of tiny, consistent bubbles that keep it from collapsing under your weight. In the Pure model, they have used two layers of this foam and sandwiched a 3D Smooth Speed carbon plate in the middle.

The plate isn't just a flat piece of carbon; it is contoured to follow the shape of your foot. This adds a level of stability that was missing in some older models. It feels snappy and aggressive, pushing you forward the moment your foot hits the pavement.

Getting the Right Fit: A Word of Warning

If there is one thing you take away from this preview, let it be this: size matters. Early reports and reviews from the running community are almost unanimous—the Hyper Warp Pure runs small. The toe box is quite tapered and "racy," which means your toes might feel a bit cramped if you stick to your usual size. To avoid the dreaded black toenails after a hard 10K, the general consensus is to go up half a size from your standard running shoe.

The upper is made from a translucent, monofilament woven material. It is incredibly breathable—you can practically see your socks through it—but it is also quite structured. There isn't much stretch here, which is great for lockdown when you are cornering at speed, but it reinforces the need to get the sizing spot on. Also, the interior has some welded overlays that can be a bit scratchy, so we definitely wouldn't recommend going sockless in these.

Moving Away from the Rebellion

Many of you might remember the Wave Rebellion Pro from the last couple of years. It was a very "love it or hate it" shoe because of that extreme heel bevel that made it look like the back of the shoe had been sliced off. It forced you onto your midfoot, which was great for some but felt very unstable for others.

With the Hyper Warp Pure, Mizuno has listened to the feedback. They have moved back to a more traditional, "flatter" profile. It still has a lovely rocker to help you roll through your stride, but it feels much more grounded and stable. It is a more versatile design that works for a wider range of running styles, especially if you find yourself navigating tight corners on a road circuit.

How Does it Compare?

The Hyper Warp Pure is entering a very competitive "Hyper-Light" market. Its main rivals are the ASICS Metaspeed Ray and the Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1 .

• vs ASICS Metaspeed Ray: The Ray is a tiny bit lighter, but it is also much softer. Some runners find the Ray a bit "wobbly" because the foam is so squishy. The Mizuno Pure offers a firmer, more direct ride that gives you more confidence when you are really putting the hammer down.

• vs Adidas Adios Pro Evo 1: The Adidas shoe essentially started this category, but it carries a massive price tag (around $500). The Mizuno Pure offers almost the exact same weight saving and high-end performance for about $200 less. It makes this level of elite tech much more accessible.

• vs Nike Vaporfly 3: The Vaporfly is still the "standard" super shoe, but the Hyper Warp Pure is significantly lighter—about 40g per shoe. While the Vaporfly might be more comfortable for a full marathon, the Pure feels much faster and more agile for 5Ks and 10Ks.

The Verdict: Who is it For?

This shoe is a specialist tool. It is not the shoe you take out for a slow, chatty Sunday morning jog. It is the shoe you pull out of the box when you have a goal in mind and a race bib pinned to your shirt.

If you are a midfoot or forefoot striker who loves the feeling of turnover and wants to feel light on your feet, the Pure is going to feel like a revelation. The 3.5mm drop is lower than most traditional shoes, so your calves might feel it a bit more than usual at first, but the trade-off in speed is well worth it.

However, if you are looking for a shoe that will last you a thousand miles of training, this isn't it. Like all high-performance racing flats, the materials are optimised for speed over long-term durability. You can expect to get the absolute best out of them for about 200-300km. Think of them as your "Sunday Best"—reserved for the days that really count.