Mizuno Wave Rider 15

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 15
Brand: Mizuno

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.7 oz (men's)

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 16 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 15’s rating is an early estimate. We’ve collected 4 runner reviews so far, with product line history also informing the score.

Below average

Overall

Below average 62

Value

Good 83

Durability

Decent 79

Cushioning

Decent 78

Comfort

Decent 74

Appearance

Decent 73

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

91 High

High 91

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Product line track record
Our ratings
External ratings

What runners say

“Extra wide forefoot with a narrow heel”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v3

“They are so comfortable, and I've had no discomfort running 3-6 miles 6 days a week for months”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon

“The later Waveriders are completely different, too narrow up front”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v3

“Quite good for running on tarmac and firm trails”

4/5 Full review 15 mpw

“Soft trails it has some problems with”

4/5 Full review 15 mpw

“Very light, fast and durable shoe”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for middle distance came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 13

“Durability is excellent”

4/5 Full review 15 mpw

Prefer this shoe over another

17% 3/18

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

At 8.7 oz it is lighter than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and one reviewer uses it for long intervals and threshold runs.
Two reviewers say it holds up over months of regular running.
One reviewer with a very wide forefoot and a narrow heel has bought ten pairs, finding later Wave Riders too narrow.

Cons

One reviewer says it has problems on soft trails.
It is the lowest-scoring rated Wave Rider on file, and eight later versions score 75 or above.

Wave Rider 15 rates 62. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Mizuno Wave Rider

Each dot is one version of the Wave Rider, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

74 62 2011 65 59 76 2014 67 83 2016 72 91 2018 85 77 2020 79 77 2022 82 95 2024 89 84 2026

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Wave Rider 30

2026 · 1 review

84 Good

79 Confidence
Wave Rider 29

2025 · 2 reviews

89 Good

80 Confidence
Wave Rider 28

2024 · 6 reviews

95 Excellent

85 Confidence
Wave Rider 27

2023 · 17 reviews

82 Good

92 Confidence
Wave Rider 26

2022 · 21 reviews

77 Decent

93 Confidence
Wave Rider 25

2021 · 2 reviews

79 Decent

80 Confidence
Wave Rider 24

2020 · 4 reviews

77 Decent

86 Confidence
Wave Rider 23

2019 · 7 reviews

85 Good

90 Confidence
Wave Rider 22

2018 · 18 reviews

91 Very good

95 Confidence
Wave Rider 21

2017 · 25 reviews

72 Decent

97 Confidence
Wave Rider 20

2016 · 16 reviews

83 Good

95 Confidence
Wave Rider 19

2015 · 12 reviews

67 Below average

93 Confidence
Wave Rider 18

2014 · 36 reviews

76 Decent

98 Confidence
Wave Rider 17

2013 · 49 reviews

59 Bottom-tier

98 Confidence
Wave Rider 16

2012 · 42 reviews

65 Below average

96 Confidence
Wave Rider 15 This shoe

2011 · 4 reviews

62 Below average

91 Confidence
Wave Rider 10

2006 · 0 reviews

74 Decent

80 Confidence

Runner Ratings

4 ratings

5/5 2

4/5 2

3/5 0

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 8.7 oz (men's)
Release: 2011
MSRP: $115

Runner reviews

Write a review

Mizuno Wave Rider 15

5/5

Overall

Very light, fast and durable shoe. Great for moderate mileage, long runs, speed play, long intervals on the track and anaerobic threshold runs around 5km.

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

30 mpw training for middle distance came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 13

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

4/5

Overall

I think this shoe is quite good for running on tarmac and firm trails. Soft trails it has some problems with. Durability is excellent, right now they look awful after last winter's running, but they're still great.

HMerwe · Apr 8, 2015

15 mpw

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

4/5

Overall

I have an extremely wide forefoot, with the widest part right behind my pinkie toe joint into the rest of the foot, I do NOT have a bunion, they are just wide, and best of all, I have a narrow heel. The Mizuno Waverider 15 is the only shoe that combined an extra wide forefoot with a narrow heel and a good tread that I have EVER found, and I am 46, running in my early teens through late 20's, then starting again in my early 40's. The later Waveriders are completely different, too narrow up front, so I have bought a total of 10 pairs online (after getting the first 2 at Fleet Feet). Still searching for a new "replacement" shoe--might be Altras, but the zero drop feels a little odd.

SlowDog · Apr 6, 2015

45 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v3

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

5/5

Overall

I got this shoe at the mall a couple moths ago. I was thrilled to find the anniversary edition! They are so comfortable, and I've had no discomfort running 3-6 miles 6 days a week for months. Awesome purchase!

lizgburgwv · Sep 13, 2014

25 mpw training for a half marathon