Reader review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 29, 2014
55 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Mizuno Wave Rider 17
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.6 oz · 13mm drop · 31/18mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 18 replaced it
How it ranks
The Mizuno Wave Rider 17 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and looks are its strongest sub-ratings. Comfort scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 49 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.
Bottom-tier
56/100
Overall
56
Cushioning
79
Appearance
67
Durability
58
Value
58
Comfort
54
Confidence
97
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
97/100
What runners say
“Could consistently get 600-700 miles per pair. Now only getting 350-400 before feeling like I have to buy a new pair”
“Even number models tend to have a mesh upper that greatly decreases the life of the shoe, as well as makes the shoe fit large”
“Could really feel the terrain; running on rockier/rugged trails didn't make for the smoothest ride”
“Put about 1100 miles on first pair, and plan on putting a similar amount on current pair”
“Recently changed the foot plate and the sole material causing it to be less durable”
“Shoe has gotten denser with cushioning, but maintained a light weight feel”
“Nice firm ride. Around 600 miles before breakdown”
“After about two and a half months the outside of the shoe is starting to break down a little bit”
“Shoe is definitely on the narrower side with an overall snug fit”
“Outsole material wears out quickly”
Prefer this shoe over another
31% 11/36
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- Comfort averages 4.3 out of 5 across forty-nine reviews.
- Averaging 8.0 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is lighter than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale, and several reviewers call it light.
- Three reviewers describe a firm ride with noticeable ground feel.
Cons
- Durability averages 3.8 out of 5, and many reviewers report the outsole or the upper breaking down early, one getting 350 to 400 miles where earlier versions gave 600 to 700.
- Several longtime buyers of the line prefer the Wave Rider 16.
- Six of the forty-eight reviewers who answered report an injury while running in it.
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.
Confidence
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
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.
Rating
40
60
80
100
60
2011
66
56
2013
85
62
2015
92
74
2017
97
90
2019
68
71
2021
75
81
2023
97
81
2025
74
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
-
Wave Rider 17 This shoe
2013 · 49 reviews
56 Bottom-tier
97 Confidence
-
2012 · 42 reviews
66 Below average
93 Confidence
-
2011 · 4 reviews
60 Bottom-tier
85 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.6 oz
- Release
- 2013
- MSRP
- $115
- Stack Height
- 31mm heel - 18mm toe
- Drop Height
- 13mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
4/5
Overall
th is shoe is great...it seems as though everyother model fits the way I like. The Wave Rider 15 had a more durable upper and actually made the entire shoe last longer. The even number models tend to have a mesh upper that greatly decreases the life of the shoe, as well as makes the shoe fit large.
Rocko · Aug 28, 2014
50 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 3/5
Reader review
4/5
Overall
I have been wearing this shoe since 2010 along with custom insoles. About 50 miles a week they last about 300 miles. Other shoes work for me but I can't run without my insoles for more than a couple days a week.
WWLD · Aug 28, 2014
50 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014
60 mpw training for middle distance
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014
30 mpw training for middle distance
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from Mizuno
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
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Reference shoe
Newest
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Lowest price
Lightest
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Best overall
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Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
8.6 oz M
—
8.5 oz M
Lightest
Stack
31/18mm
—
40/35mm
Drop
13mm
—
5mm
Release
2013
2026
Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$115
—
$145
Best price
—
$139.90
Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Bottom-tier (56)
Decent (74)
Exceptional (99)
Best overall
Comfort
Bottom-tier (54)
Good (80)
Exceptional (99)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Decent (79)
Good (85)
Exceptional (99)
Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom-tier (58)
Good (81)
Very good (92)
Best durability
Appearance
Below average (67)
Decent (73)
Very good (91)
Best appearance
Value
Bottom-tier (58)
Good (80)
Good (88)
Best value
Mizuno Wave Rider 17 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 18 next version
- Mizuno Wave Rider 16 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- ASICS GEL-Cumulus 14 3 runners
- Mizuno Wave Rider 16 3 runners
- ASICS GT-2000 2 1 runner