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Mizuno

Wave Paradox

Wave Paradox
Daily trainer · Stability · Road
Good (68/100)

Shoe details

Weight
8.6 oz
Release
2025
MSRP
$135
Stack Height
29mm heel - 18mm toe
Drop Height
11mm

Ratings & Reviews

Good (68/100)

Better than about 26% of shoes

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
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This score rates worse than 74% of shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Good (68/100)

Overall ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (68/100)

Rank

Ranks above 26% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Above average (81/100)

Appearance ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (81/100)

Rank

Ranks above 64% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Above average (83/100)

Cushioning ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Above average (83/100)

Rank

Ranks above 64% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Durability

Good (72/100)

Durability ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (72/100)

Rank

Ranks above 41% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Value

Good (67/100)

Value ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Good (67/100)

Rank

Ranks above 23% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Below average (64/100)

Comfort ranking

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Estimate

Below average (64/100)

Rank

Ranks above 19% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.

29%

2/7

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Worse than 74% of 2,526 running shoes ranked.

Good (68/100)

Daily Trainers

Worse than 72% of 1,847 daily trainers ranked.

28%

Mizuno

Worse than 83% of 101 Mizuno shoes ranked.

17%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.

Cons

  • Rated below average overall.
  • Rated below average on comfort.
  • Rated below average on cushioning.
  • Rated below average on durability.

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Mizuno Wave Paradox
Mizuno Wave Paradox 3
HOKA Clifton 9
Wave Paradox
Wave Paradox 3
Clifton 9
Current shoe
Newest
Lightest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Stability
Stability
Neutral
Weight
8.6 oz M
11.1 oz M
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
29/18mm
32/20mm
40/35mm
Drop
11mm
12mm
5mm
Release
2025 Newest
2017 Q3
2023 Q1
MSRP
$135 Lower MSRP
$140
$165
Best price
—
—
$164.99
Ratings
Overall
Below average (26%)
—
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Bottom tier (19%)
—
Exceptional (>99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Above average (64%)
—
Exceptional (>99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Average (41%)
—
Good (80%) Best durability
Appearance
Above average (64%)
—
Very good (81%) Best appearance
Value
Below average (23%)
—
Good (74%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

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91st percentile

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New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v3

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83rd percentile

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82nd percentile

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81st percentile

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Shoe image placeholder

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Reader Ratings

10 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 10 written reviews

Reader review

RunnerPod · Dec 4, 2015

5/5

Overall

Nice high mileage daily trainer - not as responsive as Id like for tempos / speed work but a great daily trainer for runners with excess forefoot motion / pre-existing foot pain. I run with a powerstep orthotic as well and they go together nicely.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

oldog94 · May 13, 2015

5/5

Overall

So far I like it a lot. I haven't had a lot of opportunity to run in it of late due to my schedule. It's very comfortable and seems well built.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

oldog94 · Apr 17, 2015

5/5

Overall

It seems much sturdier than my previous running shoes. I've ran in the hurricanes since the 5 or 6 model and they basically cured my nagging shin splints. However, they seem to have went downhill in quality in the last few models. So, hopefully these will do the trick. So far so good. Right now I'm just getting back into shape d/t injury and hope to do some local 5k again.
Comfort
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Apr 5, 2015

4/5

Overall

Have been running in Mizuno stability shoes (Wave Nirvana) for several years. This shoe is relatively light and flexible for a stability shoe compared to the shoes it replaced. Works well, although I am making shift to lower heel toe drop shoes gradually (bought my first Hoka recently) and more midfoot strike to reduce injury.
Comfort
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

OTRunner3 · Sep 10, 2014

3/5

Overall

Background info: I was running in the wave rider since model 13 then walked into a running store on my way home from work and wound up on the treadmill for a gait assessment. The Paradox is "light" for a stability shoe in my opinion so I do like that about it. However, it feels very hard both in the midsole and the heal which gets annoying. If it is doing what the salesman said it would do (keeping my right foot from overpronating) I will rotate the shoe during my runs hopefully to keep some of the injuries away. Overall, I like what the shoe does and the weight of it. It is a smooth ride, however the shoe is very stiff. I've been running in them for about 2 weeks so maybe they need some break in time.
Comfort
2/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
2/5