Mizuno Wave Rider 16

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 16
Brand: Mizuno
Rating: 4.5 (42 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.9 oz · 12mm drop · 28/16mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 17 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 16 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 42 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.

Below average

66/100

Overall

Below average 66

Cushioning

Good 84

Comfort

Decent 72

Value

Below average 68

Durability

Below average 62

Appearance

Bottom-tier 58

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

93/100

High 93

What runners say

“Consistently develop enormous holes in the sides and toes.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon

“Experiencing achilles soreness once the shoe broke down due to the softness of the heel.”

4/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

“The shoes seem to go flat more quickly than other brands.”

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

“Feels like I have no shoe on at all.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for middle distance came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 15

“Good for a lighter runner who wants feel of the road with enough cushioning.”

5/5 Full review 60 mpw training for middle distance

“Tends to rip along inside of toe box after several hundred miles.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon

“Usually last 300–400 miles, though 700 possible.”

5/5 Full review 60 mpw training for middle distance

“Not too heavy, but durable.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon

“The outer sole does wear away faster than other shoes.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for middle distance

“No injuries in this shoe despite being injury-prone.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw 1,738 miles in this shoe training for a marathon

Prefer this shoe over another

18% 4/22

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers find it cushioned enough for daily miles without feeling bulky, many having run the line for a decade or more.
Several reviewers prefer it to the Wave Rider 17 that followed, one buying a second pair of the 16 rather than switch.
Reviewers with wider feet and with neuromas repeatedly say the fit accommodates them.

Cons

Reviewers report outsoles wearing through and holes forming in the uppers, one coach saying Mizunos are the only shoes his runners consistently do this to.
Durability draws 3.9 out of 5 across forty-two reviewers, the lowest mark of any dimension, and several say the midsole goes flat sooner than other brands.
The Wave Rider 18, 20 and 22 score 84, 92 and 97 against its 67.

Wave Rider 16 rates 66. This shoe has high certainty. 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

60 66 2012 56 85 62 2015 92 74 2017 97 90 2019 68 71 2021 75 81 2023 97 81 2025 74

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Wave Rider 30

2026 · 0 reviews

74 Decent

49 Confidence
Wave Rider 29

2025 · 2 reviews

81 Good

75 Confidence
Wave Rider 28

2024 · 6 reviews

97 Excellent

89 Confidence
Wave Rider 27

2023 · 17 reviews

81 Good

85 Confidence
Wave Rider 26

2022 · 21 reviews

75 Decent

88 Confidence
Wave Rider 25

2021 · 2 reviews

71 Decent

72 Confidence
Wave Rider 24

2020 · 4 reviews

68 Below average

48 Confidence
Wave Rider 23

2019 · 7 reviews

90 Good

86 Confidence
Wave Rider 22

2018 · 18 reviews

97 Exceptional

95 Confidence
Wave Rider 21

2017 · 25 reviews

74 Decent

91 Confidence
Wave Rider 20

2016 · 16 reviews

92 Very good

91 Confidence
Wave Rider 19

2015 · 12 reviews

62 Below average

88 Confidence
Wave Rider 18

2014 · 36 reviews

85 Good

95 Confidence
Wave Rider 17

2013 · 49 reviews

56 Bottom-tier

97 Confidence
Wave Rider 16 This shoe

2012 · 42 reviews

66 Below average

93 Confidence
Wave Rider 15

2011 · 4 reviews

60 Bottom-tier

85 Confidence

Reader Ratings

42 ratings

5/5 21

4/5 19

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: 9.9 oz
Release: 2012
MSRP: $115
Stack Height: 28mm heel - 16mm toe
Drop Height: 12mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Sep 12, 2014

20 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

I have been wearing them for about 12 years. I have found them to work well for me. I can always find them at a reasonable price. I plan to keep on wearing them. The outer sole does wear away faster than other shoes but when you are paying $60 per pair at the end of the model year, I do not mind.

raliebers · Sep 9, 2014

35 mpw training for middle distance

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Currently running in the Mizuno Wave Rider 16. Ran in the Adidas Glide 6 before. This was a better fit , however I've been experiencing achilles soreness once the shoe broke down due to the softness of the heel. Switched to a firmer shoe. I normally run in adidas, mizuno or nike do to they cater to narrow high arched feet. I'm curious to know how you guys will tackle this process due to the variance of the uniqueness of different types of feet and the constant changing of shoe models. My Background 8 years of National Class running with a 13:28 5K PR 13 years in the running specialty business including 7 as a owner previously

rundre11 · Sep 9, 2014

30 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

Have run in previous models and then nike Pegasus. Bought the wave rider 16 for value reasons (cheaper than latest version of Pegasus). Have not experienced any issues with the shoe previously

Anonymous runner · Sep 9, 2014

60 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Reader review

4/5

Overall

The Rider is fine, but it does seem to break down very quickly. I also coach several runners who run in Riders and other Mizunos and they are the only shoes that CONSISTENTLY develop enormous holes in the sides & toes.

Anonymous runner · Sep 2, 2014

50 mpw training for a marathon