Mizuno Wave Rider 26 Shoe Review
Published: January 13, 2023
A Well Cushioned Daily Trainer With a Springy Nature
Likes
- Soft and comfortable upper
- Well cushioned and springy
- Excellent traction from outsole
Dislikes
- 12-mm heel-toe offset may not be for everyone
- Narrow toe box
What's New
The Mizuno Wave Rider is Mizuno's all-time best-selling neutral daily trainer, and this 26th iteration brings a few upgrades to an already impressive model. Mizuno has added more Enerzy Foam to the shoe to provide improved cushioning and a more pronounced springiness to the ride. An updated jacquard mesh upper gives the shoe a secure hold of the foot with enhanced breathability while creating a soft, premium feeling fit.
The Bottom Line
The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 is an excellent choice for any runner looking for a comfortable and lively underfoot experience. Even though the shoe may not be the most innovative or exciting, it is still a solid performer for anyone in the market for a reliable daily trainer. The Wave Rider 26 boasts a highly comfortable upper that secures your foot throughout your workout, and the padded design has a premium softness that is hard to ignore. The additional foam in the midsole provides a well cushioned underfoot experience while being bouncy enough to keep you moving forward.
While the 12-mm heel-toe offset may not be for everyone, some runners will love the steep drop. While it's higher than what our testers usually run in, they found that the steep offset didn't negatively affect their runs.
The fit of this version of the Wave Rider is a bit narrower than previous models. However, the premium feeling upper is adaptive enough to accommodate a wide variety of foot shapes. Despite a few small objections, our testers found the Mizuno Wave Rider to be an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable daily trainer with a premium upper and a cushioned, springy ride.
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Kaleb: "I thought the Mizuno Wave Rider 26's jacquard mesh upper was the highlight of the shoe. It fit around my heel and midfoot very well, with comfortable padding in the tongue and heel collar. I personally would appreciate a more spacious toe box, but I think a half size up would fix this issue for me. Honestly, conditions have been a bit cool on my runs lately, so I had no issues with hot feet, but I could see the Wave Rider being a bit warm in hotter weather. Ultimately, I do not have much criticism for the upper, and I was pleased with it throughout testing."
Marie: "The upper fabric was comfortable and fit my foot well. I have a narrower foot, so if a toe box has extra room it tends to bunch up on me. I didn't have that issue with this shoe."
Midsole
Kaleb: "When it comes to the midsole, I have a lot of mixed feelings. I tested version 25, and I immediately liked the Wave Rider 26 better upon first run. That said, a 12-mm drop is definitely outside my norm, and I struggled to find my rhythm throughout testing. Also, I found the shoe to be firm and probably would reserve the Wave Rider 26 for shorter efforts."
Marie: "I was pleasantly surprised by the cushioning and responsiveness when I started my first run in these shoes. I had another Mizuno model a couple of years ago, and the brand has definitely improved the foam and the overall upper construction. That said, I did notice that the foam started to feel less responsive by the end of my longer runs, almost like it lost some of its plush and bouncy feel."
Outsole
Kaleb: "There is a substantial amount of rubber underfoot, which offered excellent traction on a variety of surfaces. I felt very agile whether I was on paved roads, or loose, gravelly paths. Durability of the outsole is not in question with the Wave Rider 26, and I foresee this shoe lasting a long time and being able to handle countless miles."
Marie: "The outsole was durable, and the grip was good on grass and on cement."
Comparable Shoes
Kaleb: "As a daily trainer, I would compare the Wave Rider 26 to shoes like the Saucony Ride and Brooks Ghost. Honestly, all of these models are due for an update, and they all offer a pretty standard ride that is reliable, but not turning heads. I think the Wave Rider is a faster shoe than the other two I mentioned, with a more comfortable upper than the Ghost. Out of the three options, I would pick the Saucony Ride as it has an 8-mm drop, which I personally prefer for my running needs."
Marie: "I would put shoe this in a similar category as the NB 880, but it doesn't feel as lightweight due to the slightly deflated response underfoot I got toward the end of my runs. I see this as a good beginner trainer for those doing lower miles."
Men's Mizuno Wave Rider Running Shoes
The Wave Rider is Mizuno's all time best selling neutral everyday running shoe. It offers ample cushioning in the heel along with a firm, responsive feel at push off along with a great fitting upper.
Women's Mizuno Wave Rider Running Shoes
The Wave Rider is Mizuno's all time best selling neutral everyday running shoe. It offers ample cushioning in the heel along with a firm, responsive feel at push off along with a great fitting upper.
Individual Thoughts
KalebOverall Score: 7/10
The Wave Rider is Mizuno's best-selling neutral daily trainer, so despite my personal opinions, there is a large group of runners who obviously love the Wave Rider and swear by its performance. Ultimately, the shoe is just not for me given the other options currently available on the market and my specific training needs. The Wave Rider 26, like other similar models within the category, feels a bit out of date, especially with all the advancements in the uptempo, max-stack, recovery, and racing shoe categories. That said, version 26 is a noticeable improvement from the Wave Rider 25, providing a smoother, less harsh ride that was able to sustain a surprising amount of speed. I was also impressed by how stable and agile the shoe felt underfoot, and I could see myself using them when cross training. Further, the fit of the jacquard mesh was very comfortable, and I think if I went a half size up, then it would have been perfect for me. I would really love to see how the Wave Rider would feel with an 8-mm drop, but I know fans of the Wave Rider series will continue to enjoy the shoe's 12-mm drop, especially with the improvements that Mizuno made to this update.
Reviewer Picture
MarieOverall Score: 7/10
I wanted to have an open mind when trying this shoe, so I did not read up on it before I tried it out. I could immediately tell the heel-toe offset was on the steeper side, but I was surprised to learn that it was actually 12 mm, which is definitely higher than usual for me. Regardless, it didn't seem to affect my gait or underfoot feel as I ran.
The last Mizuno shoe that I tried was the Wave Sky from a couple of years ago, and that was a disappointment in terms of cushioning. This Wave Rider 26 felt like it had much better cushioning and pop which was great.
