Mizuno has introduced Gender Engineering, a running technology designed to deliver a “perfectly tailored and individually engineered shoe for both men and women,” resulting in optimal fit, feel, and performance.
“We have learned through extensive research that there are fundamental differences between the running styles of men and women,” said Rod Foley, director of marketing running footwear, Mizuno USA. “Gender Engineering adjusts to those issues by creating shoes that more closely fit the different running styles of the male and female runner, in return maximizing performance.”
Mizuno noted that since men are generally heavier than women, their running shoes must be able to absorb greater impact. Running shoe soles with inadequate width can lead to a feeling of insecurity. Therefore, Mizuno has introduced a wider, slightly flared sole, increasing the landing area in the running shoes specifically designed for men. The result is a more stable and secure run.
Women have a wilder pelvis than men, which causes them to pronate more when their feet land. Additionally, less muscle mass and softer connective tissue in women increase the speed at which the ankle rolls inward. By making the soles more flexible with more pronounced flex grooves, and the outside heel more rounded, a softer landing will occur, slowing the inward roll of the ankle, producing a more desired result for the female runner.
Designed in Mizunos Sozo Studio, Gender Engineering is the next generation of design technology to maximize fit and performance in athletic footwear. Gender Engineering is currently available in four models of Mizuno running shoes: the Wave Nirvana 5, Wave Inspire 5, Wave Creation 10, and the Wave Rider 12.
