Together with the Mondo Control, the Contender debuted in 1995 and today returns more relevant than ever.

The CONTENDER S was introduced to the market simultaneously with Mizuno’s Mondo Control, which featured the design of Mizuno’s founder, Rhiachi Mizuno. The Contender took its base from the Mondo series and was adapted as a “neutral” runner for those who desired a lightweight, well-cushioned shoe for running. For the upper, the original Contender combined a Poly Pag mesh with synthetic leather and suede reinforcements, maintaining the maximum comfort of a walking sneaker. The reflective detail on the heel served as a safety feature on darker days.

The midsole is a single-density compression-molded EVA foam with Mizuno’s Transpower technology, highly responsive which also provides shock absorption and additional cushioning. A new one-piece rubber outsole was used with forefoot grooves for a smoother heel-to-toe transition.

For the SS21 collection, Mizuno Sportstyle revisits this archival model for the first time and updates it with a modern version of the upper using a blend of suede and mesh materials.

The Mizuno Contender S debuted on March 12 in a limited first edition and is now available again on the HANON website.