Why be a Swimmer when you can be a Wave Rider (22)
5/5
Overall
fastandlow · Jan 19, 2020
60 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 20
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Mizuno Wave Rider 22
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.0 oz · 37/25mm stack · 12mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 23 replaced it
How it ranks
The Mizuno Wave Rider 22 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 18 runner reviews and 16 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.
Very good
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
95 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.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Excellent durability: had a pair lasting for 3 marathon cycles and well over 1k miles.”
“Sizes run about a half too small, and a little too narrow.”
“They breakdown a bit quicker than I'd like and have worn out on the inside material near the base of my big toe.”
“Really mitigated the impact pain that I have felt in other shoes.”
“Cushiony feel around foot, compared to WR20, which feels good but not as comfy as the 22s.”
“My little toes start to wear through and make holes.”
“The wave technology seems to do as it says and gives a bit of spring when going forwards.”
“Still feel cushiony soft and light when running.”
“Very roomy toe box and great cushioning.”
“Smooth soft run easy on the knees enjoyable during long runs.”
“More room in toe area than Adidas or Nike and I like that.”
“Nike is too narrow. Asics is too wide.”
“Very breathable upper, especially compared to some of the earlier models.”
“The upper tears slightly on the medial side close to the big toe.”
“Ran Berlin in them and had no blisters.”
“Now I'm beginning to worry they maybe are feeling too soft.”
“Sometimes while running I wish they were more responsive.”
“A little heavier than I'd like.”
“Durability seems average.”
Prefer this shoe over another
52% 13/25
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers describe a soft, cushioned ride suited to long, easy miles.
- Reviewers praise the roomy toe box, one finding more room there than in adidas or Nike trainers.
- Three reviewers report pairs lasting well past 600 miles.
Cons
- Three reviewers report the upper wearing through near the big toe.
- Three runners want more responsiveness or find it a little heavy at 9.6 oz.
- Appearance is the weakest dimension at 4.1 out of 5, and one reviewer calls the looks unremarkable.
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
-
Wave Rider 22 This shoe
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
-
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
- 9.0 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 9.6 oz · Women's 8.3 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q3
- MSRP
- $120
- Stack
- 37/25mm
- Drop
- 12mm
Runner reviews
Why be a Swimmer when you can be a Wave Rider (22)
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 19, 2020
60 mpw training for a marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
First marathon shoe
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 11, 2020
35 mpw training for ultramarathons came from the Brooks Ghost 10
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5
Well-cushioned, affordable shoes
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 3, 2020
30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the On Cloudflow 1
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Great shoe but sometimes wish they were more responsive
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Oct 17, 2019
15 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Kinvara 8
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- 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 22 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 23 next version
- Mizuno Wave Rider 21 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Mizuno Wave Rider 20 2 runners
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 20 2 runners
- On Cloudflow 1 1 runner