Mizuno MZ-450 MZ-650 and MZ-84 vintage sneaker ad from 1983

We don’t cover Mizuno sneakers often but today we have a 1983 vintage running shoe ad for the MZ-450, MZ-650 and MZ-84 models. These shoes featured Mizuno’s ‘Cassette Insole System’ pads which could be customized to the comfort of whoever wore them.

Ad info is below:

How to buy one pair of shoes and take home 81.

We would like to offer you one of the best deals going in running shoes. The Mizuno Cassette Insole System. It's standard on three new '83 Mizuno running shoes. And with it, you can customize any pair to your body weight and shock absorption six ways to Sunday. (81 at last count.)

We designed it for the simple reason all runners are not created equal—even when they wear the same size shoe. For all the difference it makes, the Cassette Insole System is uncomplicatedly simple. It consists of two molded cassette insoles, and two sets of six different fore-foot and heel pads. You choose the pad that's right for your toe, your heel, your right foot, your left foot — all depending on your weight and what shock absorption and stability you're after. (The chart shows a recommended place to start.) But now for the hard part. Choosing which of Mizuno's technologically advanced shoes to put them in. And here you'll choose from three new models. The Mizuno MZ-450 and MZ-650 all-purpose trainers. Both have the special go-farther, last-longer features you expect from Mizuno (RB mid-sole and double heel counter, to name two).

And while the MZ-450 is made for rough terrain—with a black com-pounded outsole using multi-studs on the whole, studs on the edge and a keyhole heel design for extra shock absorption and stability — the MZ-650 is made for asphalt. In this case, with a two-level wave outsole that's made to give you extra traction and shock protection. Or then there's the running shoe that stands by itself. The MZ-84 racer— with more patented features than a 10K race has miles. For starters, a patented pronation bar prevents your foot from pronating, yet allows your foot to be positioned naturally (unlike other pronation wedges). And a patented heat process midsole of molded RB material gives you all the endurance of our standard RB, with an even lighter weight for faster starts. The Mizuno Cassette Insole System is available on all three models. Which we admit may make your decision about which to buy a bit difficult. But the happy fact is, no matter which you choose in the store, you'll always have 80 more to choose from at home.

Mizuno
Marketed and distributed exclusively by Curley-Bates Co., 860 Stanton Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 (415) 697-6420

Mizuno 1981 vintage sneaker ad

Here's a 1981 ad for some old school Mizuno running shoes featuring the RB midsole which supposedly had a longer life span. According to this ad "Laboratory tests show that it retains its strength and resiliency when other materials have lost theirs."

​Ad info is below:

There are two ways to pick a running shoe: With your feet, or with your head.

Your feet can tell you a lot about a running shoe. But if you're a serious runner, you need to know more. You need to know how well a shoe protects you from injury. You need to know how well it will stand up to your running program. And you need to know how it will feel once you start running in it.

That's why you also need to use your head. And that's why Mizuno has created a line of running shoes unlike any other in the world. Mizuno is one of the world's leading manufacturers of baseball, volleyball, and all-purpose athletic shoes. This experience has helped us develop uniquely durable materials and incorporate them into a new line of technologically advanced running shoes.

In the store they'll impress you. Down the road they'll amaze you. For example, only Mizuno shoes have the exclusive RB* midsole. Laboratory tests show that it retains its strength and resiliency when other materials have lost theirs. So the shock absorption you feel when you first run in a pair of Mizunos stays with you after other shoes have gone flat. Mizuno has specially designed features to protect you from injury. Like an extended medial heel counter of extra-firm leather board material. A removable conformal footbed cup insole. And a carbon black compounded rubber outsole.

In addition, an 8° last design in the sole guides your foot to its most natural position each time it lands. The result is a shoe with lightweight flexibility, exceptional fit, outstanding cushioning, and protection from the kinds of injuries that can be caused by improper shoe design. One other reason to use your head when buying running shoes is price. While Mizuno shoes are not inexpensive, they are priced to compete with shoes that we believe offer you far less. We hope we convinced you that Mizuno is an outstanding new running shoe. And if so, we hope you'll see your Mizuno dealer—and let us convince your feet.

Marketed and Distributed exclusively by Curley-Bates Co., 860 Stanton Road, Burlingante, CA 94010 • (415) 697-6420 .

*RB sole not available in beginner model MZ TR-50 

Mizuno

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The Exclusive RB Midsole 
After equal wear, cells of the RB midsole stand up far better than cells of the less expensive EVA midsoles which are used by many leading manufacturers.

The Impact Life of a Running Shoe / Impact Force Resiliency
While the average training shoe has a "prime" life of about 350 miles, you can expect that Mizuno shoes will retain their superior impact characteristics and give you many more miles of wear. Quality you would expect from Mizuno, one of the world's leading suppliers of athletic footwear

Mizuno MZ-84 1984 vintage sneaker ad

Here's a vintage 1984 sneaker ad for the Mizuno MZ-84 featuring stabilizing plugs and tons of cutting edge tech for the time Back in the early 80s a lot of running shoe brands were testing out these plugs but it seems like the technology trend never really took off.

Ad info is below:

​The most remarkable thing about the new MZ-84 is how it performs when it's the old MZ-84. 

Anyone can make a running shoe that feels good in the store. We've just made a shoe that will still feel good hundreds of miles later. The Mizuno MZ-84. We designed it to wear better and break down far slower than any other shoe. So it offers comfort and protection far longer than any other shoe.

One reason for this is our new patented heat processed RB midsole. It allows us to keep the MZ-84 incredibly strong, as well as incredibly light. And tests show that our exclusive RB material retains its strength and resiliency when other materials have lost theirs. So the shock absorption you feel when you first run in the MZ-84 stays with you long after other shoes have gone flat.

But that's not all. Because we've also designed the MZ-84 to have the kind of long-lasting stability you simply can't find in any other lightweight training shoe.

The secret is our new, patented pronation system. First, we inject a special RB resin pronation bar into the midsole. Then, we add reinforcement with a unique system of stabilizing plugs. And f Mizuno Midsole unlike other shoes that try to solve pronation by building up the midsole, the Mizuno pro-nation system allows your foot to be positioned in the most natural, most comfortable position possible.

The MZ-84 has other outstanding features, as well. Like an extended double medial heel counter of extra-firm leatherboard material. A carbon black compounded rubber outsole. And a special fiber-board last in the sole. All designed to provide maximum flexibility, comfort, and support over many hundreds of miles.

But we don't just fine-tune the MZ-84 at the factory. We've designed it for you to fine-tune at home. Our patented Cassette Insole System lets you customize the MZ-84 to your bodyweight — for precisely the right combination of stability and shock absorption. Of course, we build many of these same features into our new MZ-84 Racer, as well. For more protection than you've ever experienced in a lightweight racing shoe. If the new Mizuno MZ-84 sounds pretty amazing, just wait until you've run in it a while. Then you'll really see why it's not just any old shoe. 

Mizuno
Marketed and distributed exclusively by Curley-Bates Co.
860 Stanton Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 (415) 697-6420
Our 60th year.