Mizuno Wave Rider 19

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 19
Brand: Mizuno
Rating: 4.2 (12 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.5 oz · 31/19mm stack · 12mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 20 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 19 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 12 runner reviews and 16 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.

Below average

Overall

Below average 67

Cushioning

Decent 77

Durability

Decent 75

Comfort

Decent 74

Appearance

Decent 72

Value

Below average 69

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

93 High

High 93

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

“The cushioning of the shoe is too hard, it feels almost like concrete.”

3/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas CC Fresh Bounce

“Very comfortable, responsive and just soft enough to feel like it was absorbing shock yet still agile enough to respond to changes in speed.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“Newer models have been made with a less durable fabric in the toe box. Big toe rubs a hole in the fabric.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon

“This model was a little too much shoe and for the first 100 miles hurt my achilles.”

3/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“Get holes in the fabric of both toes before they otherwise wear out.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon

“Transition is smooth and not clumsy.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 5

“Improved flexibility and is soft, but not too soft. Felt cushioned, yet still responsive.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“A marathon-distance shoe that doesn't feel clunky.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 17

“The sole feels harder than a lot of its more soft/cushioned peers.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 17

“Fits true to size. No break in time.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“A little more stiff than preferred and didn't really feel super fast.”

3/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“Super reliable shoe with good support and versatile for running mileage.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon

“Felt like there was a smooth transition through the running cycle.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“Good overall comfort and has good cushioning in heel area.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 5

“Weighs in at 8.1 oz which is light, giving this shoe a peppy feel.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“Felt fast in this shoe.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“Perfectly in the middle.”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

36% 8/22

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Three reviewers find the ride smooth and versatile across tempo, long and easy runs.
Four reviewers keep coming back to it, one of them four years in and one seven.
Durability averages 4.3 out of 5 across twelve reviews.

Cons

Three reviewers find the midsole firm or stiff, one saying it feels almost like concrete.
Two reviewers wear holes in the toe box fabric before the sole is done.
Averaging 9.4 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is heavier than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale.

Wave Rider 19 rates 67. 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 2006 62 65 2012 59 76 67 2015 83 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 This shoe

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

2011 · 4 reviews

62 Below average

91 Confidence
Wave Rider 10

2006 · 0 reviews

74 Decent

80 Confidence

Runner Ratings

12 ratings

5/5 4

4/5 6

3/5 2

2/5 0

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 9.5 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 10.6 oz · Women's 8.3 oz
Release: 2015 Q3
MSRP: $120
Stack: 31/19mm
Drop: 12mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Jul 18, 2019

6 mpw training for a half marathon

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

I have a great relationship with wave riders—will be sad if we break up

4/5

Overall

Great shoe. Great memories, happy moments, cheery runs. I’ve worn this shoe for a solid 7 years. Our time together has been a rush. I’ve dabbled in some sort of Nike neutral shoes at times. But then I’ve always looked at my Wave Runners and been happy that they are there and steadfast. The wave runners are a super reliable shoe with good support and versatile for running mileage. My biggest complaint lately is that for the past several years, the newer models of the wave runner have been made with a less durable fabric in the toe box. My big toe rubs a hole in the fabric and I start having to think about ordering a new shoe because my toe is falling out before the sole gets worn out. That has made me want to start checking out other shoe models—gasp—but it will be a sad breakup if it comes down to that.

Anonymous runner · Jul 17, 2019

45 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Stiff, but good value on sale

3/5

Overall

Was looking for something that could take the miles well and I could alternate with another less stiff and structured shoe. I found that this particular model was a little too much shoe for my liking and for the first 100 miles hurt my achilles despite the generous 11+ heel to toe drop. It also was a little more stiff than I like and still didn't really feel super fast. This all being said, I was able to get it on sale so it was an overall good value.

Anonymous runner · Feb 15, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

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

wave rider 19 reveiw

4/5

Overall

Good overall comfort and has good cushioning in heel area. Looks good in different colors. Transition is smooth and not clumsy. Soft inside and strings right length and stays tied. Good for tempo, long runs and easy runs.

Dardee · Feb 8, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 5