Mizuno Wave Rider 18

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 18
Brand: Mizuno
Rating: 4.5 (36 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.5 oz · 27/15mm stack · 12mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 19 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 18 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Comfort scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 36 runner reviews and 16 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.

Decent

Overall

Decent 76

Cushioning

Decent 79

Appearance

Decent 77

Value

Decent 76

Durability

Decent 74

Comfort

Decent 72

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

98 Very high

Very high 98

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

“New sole irritates a nerve; toes go numb after 6-8 miles.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 17

“Only shoe that doesn't cause Achilles tendon issues.”

4/5 Full review 65 mpw

“The wave plate running through the sole prevents extra impact on injured legs.”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31

“Heel and midfoot formed to foot; toe box generous for movement and swelling.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 3

“Perfect for easy runs and base mileage without being too bulky.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a half marathon

“No visible wear issues at 400 miles.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw came from the Saucony Ride 6

“All pairs develop a hole over the big toe.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw

“2+ years of use across warmups, drills, tempos, and recovery runs.”

4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for sprints

“Cut-out under heel picks up rocks on rocky trails and in heavy mud.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw came from the Saucony Ride 6

“Firm due to wave plate, but smooth ride.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 3

“Not the lightest or sleekest, but never get hurt training in these shoes.”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31

“Could use a little more cushioning and bounce.”

5/5 Full review 10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 3

“Conk out after ~350 miles, but feel great until then.”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v8

“No air bladder to pop; more durable off-road.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw came from the adidas Response Boost

“Minimum 350 miles per pair.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 17

“Cut-out in sole picks up rocks or mud on trails.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw came from the Saucony Ride 6

“Comfortable but slightly heavy.”

4/5 Full review 10 mpw training for sprints

“Not as springy as the 16.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 16

Prefer this shoe over another

48% 21/44

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Reviewers use it for easy miles, long runs and tempo work.
Three reviewers get 400 miles or more from a pair.
The Wave Rider 17 before it scores 56 on forty-nine reviews and the 16 scores 67 on forty-two, against this version's 84.

Cons

Two reviewers say the cutout under the sole picks up rocks and mud, and they keep it off trails.
Three reviewers find the wave plate firm and want more give.
One of thirty-six reviewers so far wore holes over the big toe in four separate pairs.

Wave Rider 18 rates 76. This shoe has very 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 2006 62 65 2012 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 This shoe

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

2011 · 4 reviews

62 Below average

91 Confidence
Wave Rider 10

2006 · 0 reviews

74 Decent

80 Confidence

Runner Ratings

36 ratings

5/5 18

4/5 18

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: 8.5 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 9.2 oz · Women's 7.8 oz
Release: 2014
MSRP: $120
Stack: 27/15mm
Drop: 12mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Wave Rider 18

5/5

Overall

Best balanced shoe that I've ever ran in. It feels similar to the Nike Pegasus, but doesn't have an air bladder that can pop, which makes it much more durable off-road. Good cushion for a fairly lighter shoe.

Anonymous runner · Jul 4, 2019

30 mpw came from the adidas Response Boost

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

Mizuno Wave Rider

5/5

Overall

I bought a previous year's model (value) and ran sparingly in these until making this shoe my primary. The Wave Rider is a good all around shoe. I have not had any injuries while using it as my primary shoe. It's durable and comfortable. It has better arch support than my Wave Enigmas. To make it ideal, it would have a little more cushioning and have a little more bounce.

Anonymous runner · Jul 1, 2019

10 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 3

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

Good All Purpose Shoe

5/5

Overall

I use the Wave Rider for regular, long, and slower tempo work. It feels zippy enough to race longer efforts in, especially since minimalist shoes tend to lead to injury in my feet. They tend to conk out after ~350 miles, but feel great until then.

Anonymous runner · Mar 11, 2018

55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the New Balance 1080 v8

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

Mizuno is my favorite shoe company

5/5

Overall

Have used mizuno wave rider, wave creation, ekiden, and now the sonic. Comfort, fit, and design have appealed to me. I plan to continue wearing mizuno’s For many years to come.

Anonymous runner · Feb 10, 2018

24 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Creation 14

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

Mizuno Wave Rider 18

4/5

Overall

Provided 2+ years of use during warmups, cooldowns, drills and tempos for sprint workouts, on top of weekly recovery runs. Only just starting to show a hole. Comfortable if slightly heavy.

Anonymous runner · Feb 7, 2018

10 mpw training for sprints