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Mizuno

Wave Shadow

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road

Very good (81/100)

Weight: 8.8 oz
Release: 2017 Q3
MSRP: $110
Drop Height: 8mm

Very good (81/100) overall

Where to buy

No offers available

Shoe details

Weight: 8.8 oz
Release: 2017 Q3
MSRP: $110
Drop Height: 8mm

Ratings & Reviews

Very good (81/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.

Scores better than 64% 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

Very good (81/100)

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

Very good (81/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 64% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Overall

Overall rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (81/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 64% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Very good (81/100)

Value

Excellent (91/100)

Value rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (91/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 87% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Value

Value rating

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (91/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 87% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Excellent (91/100)

Appearance

Very good (85/100)

Appearance rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (85/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 72% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Appearance

Appearance rating

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (85/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 72% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Very good (85/100)

Durability

Good (77/100)

Durability rating

Better Shoes Rating

Good (77/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 53% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Durability

Durability rating

Better Shoes Rating

Good (77/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 53% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Good (77/100)

Comfort

Good (72/100)

Comfort rating

Better Shoes Rating

Good (72/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 39% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Comfort

Comfort rating

Better Shoes Rating

Good (72/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 39% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Good (72/100)

Cushioning

Average (61/100)

Cushioning rating

Better Shoes Rating

Average (61/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 12% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Cushioning

Cushioning rating

Better Shoes Rating

Average (61/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 12% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Average (61/100)

60%

3/5

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 64% of 2,617 running shoes.

Very good

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 64% of 1,872 daily trainers.

64%

Mizuno

Scores better than 51% of 105 Mizuno shoes.

51%

Pros & Cons

Pros

Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
Rated above average on durability.

Cons

Rated below average overall.
Rated below average on comfort.
Rated below average on cushioning.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Wave Shadow

Wave Shadow 3

SUPERBLAST 2

Current shoe

Best value

Lightest

Newest / Best overall / Best comfort

Shoe properties

Type

Daily trainer

Pronation

Neutral

Weight

8.8 oz M

7.4 oz W Lightest

—

Stack

—

26/16mm

—

Drop

8mm

1mm

7mm

Release

2017 Q3

2019 Q2

2024 Q2 Newest

MSRP

$110

$200

Best price

—

$149.99

Ratings

Overall

Above average (64%)

Average (46%)

Exceptional (>99%) Best overall

Comfort

Below average (39%)

Below average (35%)

Exceptional (99%) Best comfort

Cushioning

Bottom tier (12%)

Bottom tier (8%)

Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning

Durability

Average (53%)

Good (73%)

Exceptional (99%) Best durability

Appearance

Good (72%)

Average (45%)

Exceptional (98%) Best appearance

Value

Very good (87%) Best value

Average (60%)

Very good (86%)

Where to buy

$109.99

Top 11%

Ranks higher than this shoe

Reader Ratings

7 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 7 written reviews

Fast, well-fitting, nice-looking trainer

mottman964 · Jul 20, 2019

5/5

Overall

Appreciate the good, comfortable fit. No advanced materials in the upper, really, but nothing to complain about. Laces are nice and stretchy but secure. Fit is standard - maybe a 1/2 size large. A firm, fast, straightforward shoe. As a forefoot striker I don't think I benefit much from the wave plate but it adds some stability if my gait falters. Color schemes are nice too. Outsole is fairly classic daily trainer--can work okay on mild trails but nothing more. Seems to wear well so far.

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

They are Oook

Dubyah · Feb 6, 2019

2/5

Overall

Bought these on sale after I started to bottom out on the Peg 34. Fit true to size. Mid - narrow fit. The ride is really firm and after coming from the softness of the Peg it was quite a shock. They are light but not that light and almost have a racing flat feel to them which I'm not that fond of. They have about 250k in them now and feel about the same as they did after 50k. Like a lot of Mizunos the heel is quite rigid and if you're not landing mid foot they feel clunky so you can't be lazy in these. Upper is really nice and supportive. Breathes well. The outsole is durable if not hard. The little slits collect little pebbles which is annoying. Over all an ok tempo/workout shoe if you like a really firm ride. I sorta can't wait until they are dead and I can get something more forgiving.

Comfort: 3/5
Cushioning: 2/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 3/5

Wave Shadow is an excellent tempo run training shoe

Anonymous runner · Oct 3, 2018

5/5

Overall

Wave Shadow is a great addition to ones shoe quiver. Light enough for fast distance race efforts, but stable enough for faster long runs. The Safety Yellow color is a fantastic statement. As some have noticed, the sole is prone to pick up stones, which is annoying. The thread is a little underwhelming when traction is an issue (wet roads, soft trails.) The fit is great, because the shoe is so close in shape and design to the Wave Shadow (my daily trainer.) The fit is slightly different, such that I wear a thinner sock.

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Super Fast but some Tendonitis Issues

jumpjumpjumpjumpjump · Sep 20, 2018

3/5

Overall

I love running in these shoes, I feel way faster than I do than in any other shoe I own. Unfortunately, I can only run in these 1-2 times per week. They rub my Achilles tendon in a weird way, and I have tendonitis flare ups if I train in these everyday. I bought these for $50 so they are insane value.

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

Fast trainer - right out of the box

Anonymous runner · Jun 7, 2018

5/5

Overall

Light enough to race in, the Shadow is also perfect for training. Other than a quick relacing, there's no break-in required. The first time I put them on it was like 'welcome home!' and I went out for 11 miles. The stretchy material forms around my feet perfectly. I've been running exclusively in Mizuno's for the past ten years. The Shadow is one of their classics.

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

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Wave Shadow

Where to buy

Shoe details

Ratings & Reviews

Rating breakdown

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Compared to other shoes

Where to buy

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Reader Ratings

Fast, well-fitting, nice-looking trainer

They are Oook

Wave Shadow is an excellent tempo run training shoe

Super Fast but some Tendonitis Issues

Fast trainer - right out of the box