Mizuno

Wave Rider 16

Wave Rider 16
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Excellent (90/100)

Shoe details

Weight
9.9 oz
Release
2012
MSRP
$115
Stack Height
28mm heel - 16mm toe
Drop Height
12mm

Ratings & Reviews

Excellent (90/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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Scores better than 89% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Excellent (90/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (90/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 89% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Excellent (94/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (94/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 91% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Good (71/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (71/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 43% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Average (67/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Average (67/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 30% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Below average (59/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (59/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 13% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Below average (57/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (57/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 9% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

64%

14/22

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 89% of 2,617 running shoes.

Excellent

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 87% of 1,872 daily trainers.

87%

Wave Rider Family

Scores better than 63% of 10 wave rider family.

63%

Mizuno

Scores better than 87% of 105 Mizuno shoes.

87%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • One of the most popular shoes among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated above average on cushioning.

Cons

  • Reviewers rate this shoe worse than the Wave Rider 15.
  • Rated below average overall.
  • Rated below average on comfort.
  • Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes on durability.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Reference shoe
Newest / Lowest price
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.9 oz M
Stack
28/16mm
Drop
12mm
9mm
7mm
Release
2012
2025 Q3 Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$115
$200
Best price
$119.88 Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Very good (89%)
Good (72%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Average (43%)
Good (72%)
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Excellent (91%)
Very good (82%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (13%)
Good (80%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Bottom tier (9%)
Below average (33%)
Exceptional (98%) Best appearance
Value
Below average (30%)
Above average (68%)
Very good (86%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

More from Mizuno

Reader Ratings

42 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 42 written reviews

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Dec 8, 2015

5/5

Overall

Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Dec 2, 2015

4/5

Overall

I have worn the Mizuno Wave Rider for nearly a decade now. I have forayed into a few other models such as the precision at times, but the standard has always been the Wave Rider. I felt they missed the boat a bit after the 15 but might be regaining a bit of momentum now.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · May 8, 2015

4/5

Overall

Comfort
3/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

garvin · Apr 4, 2015

5/5

Overall

I had terrible neuromas in both feet, and I tried 5-6 different pairs in the summer of 2013. This shoe worked, and I have run in it since. I think it is a bit wider than others, and that seems to have helped.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

aift319 · Apr 4, 2015

3/5

Overall

Comfort
4/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5