Reader review
wc colonel · Aug 11, 2019
5/5
Overall
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Mizuno
Wave Rider 20
Daily trainer
· Neutral
· Road
Exceptional
(97/100)
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $120
- Drop Height
- 12mm
Exceptional
(97/100)
overall
Shoe details
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $120
- Drop Height
- 12mm
Ratings & Reviews
Exceptional (97/100)
Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?
Scores better than 95% 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.
?
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
Exceptional (97/100)
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
Exceptional (97/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 95% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Value
Exceptional (99/100)
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
Exceptional (99/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 99% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Comfort
Exceptional (97/100)
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
Exceptional (97/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 96% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Durability
Excellent (93/100)
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
Excellent (93/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 92% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Cushioning
Excellent (92/100)
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 (92/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 90% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
Appearance
Good (80/100)
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
Good (80/100)
Compared To Other Shoes
Scores better than 63% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.
38%
6/16
Prefer this shoe over another.
Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.
Comparison set
Rating
All Running Shoes
Scores better than 95% of 2,617 running shoes.
Exceptional
Daily Trainers
Scores better than 95% of 1,872 daily trainers.
95%
Wave Rider Family
Scores better than 88% of 10 wave rider family.
88%
Mizuno
Scores better than 97% of 105 Mizuno shoes.
97%
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Reviewers rate this shoe better than the Wave Rider 18.
- Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
- Rated among the top 5% of shoes overall.
- Rated among the top 5% of shoes on comfort.
- Rated among the top 10% of shoes on cushioning.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
Best value
Newest
/
Lowest price
Best overall
/
Best comfort
/
Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral (Moderate)
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.6 oz M
—
—
Stack
—
—
—
Drop
12mm
9mm
7mm
Release
2016 Q3
2025 Q3
Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$120
—
$200
Best price
—
$119.88
Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Excellent (95%)
Good (72%)
Exceptional (>99%)
Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (96%)
Good (72%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Very good (90%)
Very good (82%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best cushioning
Durability
Excellent (92%)
Good (80%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best durability
Appearance
Above average (63%)
Below average (33%)
Exceptional (98%)
Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (99%)
Best value
Above average (68%)
Very good (86%)
Where to buy
No offers available
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More from Mizuno
Reader Ratings
16 reader ratings
Showing 1–5 of 16 written reviews
Reader review
Anonymous runner · Aug 11, 2019
5/5
Overall
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Wave Rider 20
Anonymous runner · Oct 1, 2018
5/5
Overall
I had been wanting to buy a pair of the Wave Riders since 2016, but only just this year finally bought a pair. Since the 20s were on sale (2 gens old) I ended up picking them up for a sale price. They wowed me from the first run. Whether it's a long run, easy trot, or uptempo work, they are suitable for it all. In my most recent long run (17 miles in just over an hour and fifty minutes on mostly pavement) they felt as cushioned as they had in the first mile. They've never felt too soft or too stiff. Somehow these shoes manage to constantly feel sturdy, but comfortable every mile I'm on the roads, trails, or grass. Currently I've got about a hundred miles on them.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Waverider 20
Anonymous runner · Feb 8, 2018
4/5
Overall
Overall this show has done me very well and been my go to shoe for roughly 3 years. However I’ve found it consitently wears down or rips its netting right by my forefoot even when I wear the wide shoes.
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reliable
Anonymous runner · Feb 8, 2018
5/5
Overall
I've been wearing the Wave Riders for the last 8 years through multiple versions. I've never had problems with new versions and it has been a reliable shoe for training.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5