4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Inspire 10
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 3/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 3/5
Mizuno Wave Rider 17
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.0 oz · 31/18mm stack · 13mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 18 replaced it
How it ranks
The Mizuno Wave Rider 17 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Comfort scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who compared it with another shoe preferred the other shoe. The rating is based on 49 runner reviews and 16 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.
Bottom-tier
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.
Confidence
98 Very high
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.
- Our ratings
- Product line track record
- External ratings
What runners say
“Could consistently get 600-700 miles per pair. Now only getting 350-400 before feeling like I have to buy a new pair”
“Even number models tend to have a mesh upper that greatly decreases the life of the shoe, as well as makes the shoe fit large”
“Could really feel the terrain; running on rockier/rugged trails didn't make for the smoothest ride”
“Put about 1100 miles on first pair, and plan on putting a similar amount on current pair”
“Recently changed the foot plate and the sole material causing it to be less durable”
“Shoe has gotten denser with cushioning, but maintained a light weight feel”
“Nice firm ride. Around 600 miles before breakdown”
“After about two and a half months the outside of the shoe is starting to break down a little bit”
“Outsole material wears out quickly”
“Shoe is definitely on the narrower side with an overall snug fit”
“No issue with the 14, 15 or 16, but now with second pair of 17s (the PF started on the first pair of 17s) and wham”
“Wave Rider 15 had a more durable upper and actually made the entire shoe last longer”
“The shoe breaks down quickly”
“A tad too heavy for speedwork but great for doing uptempo long runs”
“Got an entire summer of training in (500 miles) and was injury free”
“Shoe was a little stiff at first, but that faded within about a week and a half”
“They give enough cushion for that distance, even as you fatigue”
“Great neutral running shoe that isn't too heavy but still gives the support and comfort needed”
“Have been durable shoes though I turn them over after 300 miles”
“Provides much needed cushioning for running on city sidewalks”
“While prefer slightly less shoe for true speed work, these are never cumbersome”
“Very comfortable and light shoe while still having good support”
“Had bad case of PTT during track season which caused a "find the right shoe to fix this problem" crisis”
Prefer this shoe over another
31% 11/36
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Comfort averages 4.3 out of 5 across forty-nine reviews.
- Averaging 8.0 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is lighter than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and several reviewers call it light.
- Three reviewers describe a firm ride with noticeable ground feel.
Cons
- Durability averages 3.8 out of 5, and many reviewers report the outsole or the upper breaking down early, one getting 350 to 400 miles where earlier versions gave 600 to 700.
- Several longtime buyers of the line prefer the Wave Rider 16.
- Six of the forty-eight reviewers who answered report an injury while running in it.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
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.
Release year
-
2026 · 1 review
84 Good
79 Confidence
-
2025 · 2 reviews
89 Good
80 Confidence
-
2024 · 6 reviews
95 Excellent
85 Confidence
-
2023 · 17 reviews
82 Good
92 Confidence
-
2022 · 21 reviews
77 Decent
93 Confidence
-
2021 · 2 reviews
79 Decent
80 Confidence
-
2020 · 4 reviews
77 Decent
86 Confidence
-
2019 · 7 reviews
85 Good
90 Confidence
-
2018 · 18 reviews
91 Very good
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 25 reviews
72 Decent
97 Confidence
-
2016 · 16 reviews
83 Good
95 Confidence
-
2015 · 12 reviews
67 Below average
93 Confidence
-
2014 · 36 reviews
76 Decent
98 Confidence
-
Wave Rider 17 This shoe
2013 · 49 reviews
59 Bottom-tier
98 Confidence
-
2012 · 42 reviews
65 Below average
96 Confidence
-
2011 · 4 reviews
62 Below average
91 Confidence
-
2006 · 0 reviews
74 Decent
80 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.0 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 8.6 oz · Women's 7.4 oz
- Release
- 2013
- MSRP
- $115
- Stack
- 31/18mm
- Drop
- 13mm
Runner reviews
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · May 9, 2015
70 mpw training for a marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Apr 10, 2015
20 mpw came from the Saucony Kinvara 3
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Apr 7, 2015
60 mpw came from the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 14
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
3/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Apr 6, 2015
15 mpw came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 16
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Mizuno
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Mizuno Wave Rider 17 In Context
More on the Mizuno Wave Rider
- Mizuno Wave Rider 30
- Mizuno Wave Rider 29
- Mizuno Wave Rider 28
- Mizuno Wave Rider 27
- Mizuno Wave Rider 26
- Mizuno Wave Rider 25
- Mizuno Wave Rider 18 next version
- Mizuno Wave Rider 16 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- ASICS GEL-Cumulus 14 3 runners
- Mizuno Wave Rider 16 3 runners
- ASICS GT-2000 2 1 runner