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.
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.
Confidence
93/100
“Consistently develop enormous holes in the sides and toes.”
“Experiencing achilles soreness once the shoe broke down due to the softness of the heel.”
“The shoes seem to go flat more quickly than other brands.”
“Feels like I have no shoe on at all.”
“Good for a lighter runner who wants feel of the road with enough cushioning.”
“Tends to rip along inside of toe box after several hundred miles.”
“Usually last 300–400 miles, though 700 possible.”
“Not too heavy, but durable.”
“The outer sole does wear away faster than other shoes.”
“No injuries in this shoe despite being injury-prone.”
18% 4/22
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
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.
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
Better Shoes Rating
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 · 0 reviews
74 Decent
49 Confidence
2025 · 2 reviews
81 Good
75 Confidence
2024 · 6 reviews
97 Excellent
89 Confidence
2023 · 17 reviews
81 Good
85 Confidence
2022 · 21 reviews
75 Decent
88 Confidence
2021 · 2 reviews
71 Decent
72 Confidence
2020 · 4 reviews
68 Below average
48 Confidence
2019 · 7 reviews
90 Good
86 Confidence
2018 · 18 reviews
97 Exceptional
95 Confidence
2017 · 25 reviews
74 Decent
91 Confidence
2016 · 16 reviews
92 Very good
91 Confidence
2015 · 12 reviews
62 Below average
88 Confidence
2014 · 36 reviews
85 Good
95 Confidence
2013 · 49 reviews
56 Bottom-tier
97 Confidence
Wave Rider 16 This shoe
2012 · 42 reviews
66 Below average
93 Confidence
2011 · 4 reviews
60 Bottom-tier
85 Confidence
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014
30 mpw training for a marathon
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014
80 mpw training for a half marathon
4/5
Overall
nuke the whales · Aug 28, 2014
90 mpw training for a marathon
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014
40 mpw
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 27, 2014
45 mpw training for a marathon
Other shoes worth considering.
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
