Mizuno Wave Rider 26

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 26
Brand: Mizuno
Rating: 4.1 (9 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.3 oz · 39/27mm stack · 12mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 27 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 ranks above most daily trainers in our data. Durability and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 21 runner reviews and 16 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.

Decent

Overall

Decent 77

Durability

Good 85

Comfort

Decent 73

Cushioning

Decent 73

Value

Decent 72

Appearance

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

External retailer ratings

We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.

The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.

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 heel wraparound became some kind of hard plastic, and the shoes seem to stiffen with version 24 and up.”

1/5 Full review 30 mpw training for 5K and 10K

“Perfectly suitable for orthotics, minimal concessions to faddish evolution and consistent feel year on year.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GT-1000 12

“The drop is too high. Knee pain is common because of it.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Saucony Cohesion 12

“I like the lightweight feel of the Wave Rider series and think the cushioning is adequate for daily training.”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for 5K and 10K

“They're the most reliable and consistent shoe I've ever worn.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GT-1000 12

“Having a shoe that knows who it is means so much.”

5/5 Full review training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 22

“Might have a bit too much padding for my liking.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Saucony Cohesion 12

Prefer this shoe over another

38% 6/16

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Durability is among its best-rated dimensions, and long-time wearers call it reliable.
Long-time users value the fit and the ride staying consistent year to year.
One reviewer says the 26 runs cooler than the 25, on road and hardpack trail.

Cons

At 12mm the drop is high, and one reviewer calls it too high for them.
One reviewer says the heel wraparound became hard plastic and the shoe stiffened from the 24 on.

Wave Rider 26 rates 77. 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 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 This shoe

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

2011 · 4 reviews

62 Below average

91 Confidence
Wave Rider 10

2006 · 0 reviews

74 Decent

80 Confidence

Runner Ratings

21 ratings

5/5 12

4/5 7

3/5 0

2/5 1

1/5 1

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 9.3 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 10.0 oz · Women's 8.6 oz
Release: 2022 Q3
Stack: 39/27mm
Drop: 12mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Thank you for letting the Wave Rider just… be

5/5

Overall

Over the rollercoaster years of my post-collegiate running life, I’ve tried to reinvent myself multiple times. (I can look back now and, thankfully, discern a path that eventually rose to find me. And I can laugh at myself more, too.) But through it all, I’m relieved that Mizuno has allowed their Wave Rider to iterate from year to year without trying as hard as I did to become someone i just wasn’t (and didn’t have to be).
From year to year, this shoe’s fit and ride has remained a great fit for runners with an even foot strike and a moderate arch. As we get older, and running injuries creep in more readily, having a shoe that knows who it is means so much.

Kevin Day · Jun 9, 2023

training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 22

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

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Jun 8, 2023

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

Always good, straight out of the box

5/5

Overall

I first bought Wave Riders in 1997.... and then missed them for a few years.... but fell in love again around 2012 and have always owned a pair since; they're the most reliable and consistent shoe I've ever worn, perfectly suitable for my orthotics, minimal concessions to faddish evolution and consistent feel year on year.

Tom Hickey · Jun 6, 2023

40 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GT-1000 12

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

Mizuno should have stopped at waverider 23

1/5

Overall

the heel wraparound became some kind of hard plastic, and the shoes seem to stiffen with version 24 and up. A good solid shoe has been turned to junk.

jk0 · May 31, 2023

30 mpw training for 5K and 10K