Mizuno Wave Rider 19

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 19
Brand: Mizuno
Rating: 4.2 (12 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 10.6 oz · 12mm drop · 31/19mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 20 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 19 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 12 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.

Below average

62/100

Overall

Below average 62

Cushioning

Good 80

Durability

Decent 77

Comfort

Decent 75

Appearance

Decent 71

Value

Below average 63

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

88/100

High 88

What runners say

“The cushioning of the shoe is too hard, it feels almost like concrete.”

3/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas CC Fresh Bounce

“Very comfortable, responsive and just soft enough to feel like it was absorbing shock yet still agile enough to respond to changes in speed.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“Newer models have been made with a less durable fabric in the toe box. Big toe rubs a hole in the fabric.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for a half marathon

“This model was a little too much shoe and for the first 100 miles hurt my achilles.”

3/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

“Get holes in the fabric of both toes before they otherwise wear out.”

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

“Improved flexibility and is soft, but not too soft. Felt cushioned, yet still responsive.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“Fits true to size. No break in time.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“The sole feels harder than a lot of its more soft/cushioned peers.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 17

“Felt like there was a smooth transition through the running cycle.”

4/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a marathon came from the Brooks Transcend 3

“A little more stiff than preferred and didn't really feel super fast.”

3/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

Prefer this shoe over another

36% 8/22

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Three reviewers find the ride smooth and versatile across tempo, long and easy runs.
Four reviewers keep coming back to it, one of them four years in and one seven.
Durability averages 4.3 out of 5 across twelve reviews.

Cons

Three reviewers find the midsole firm or stiff, one saying it feels almost like concrete.
Two reviewers wear holes in the toe box fabric before the sole is done.
Averaging 9.4 oz across the men's and women's builds, it is heavier than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers on sale.

Wave Rider 19 rates 62. 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 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

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 This shoe

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

2012 · 42 reviews

66 Below average

93 Confidence
Wave Rider 15

2011 · 4 reviews

60 Bottom-tier

85 Confidence

Reader Ratings

12 ratings

5/5 4

4/5 6

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: 10.6 oz
Release: 2015 Q3
MSRP: $120
Stack Height: 31mm heel - 19mm toe
Drop Height: 12mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Jul 18, 2019

6 mpw training for a half marathon

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

I have a great relationship with wave riders—will be sad if we break up

4/5

Overall

Great shoe. Great memories, happy moments, cheery runs. I’ve worn this shoe for a solid 7 years. Our time together has been a rush. I’ve dabbled in some sort of Nike neutral shoes at times. But then I’ve always looked at my Wave Runners and been happy that they are there and steadfast. The wave runners are a super reliable shoe with good support and versatile for running mileage. My biggest complaint lately is that for the past several years, the newer models of the wave runner have been made with a less durable fabric in the toe box. My big toe rubs a hole in the fabric and I start having to think about ordering a new shoe because my toe is falling out before the sole gets worn out. That has made me want to start checking out other shoe models—gasp—but it will be a sad breakup if it comes down to that.

Anonymous runner · Jul 17, 2019

45 mpw training for a half marathon

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

Stiff, but good value on sale

3/5

Overall

Was looking for something that could take the miles well and I could alternate with another less stiff and structured shoe. I found that this particular model was a little too much shoe for my liking and for the first 100 miles hurt my achilles despite the generous 11+ heel to toe drop. It also was a little more stiff than I like and still didn't really feel super fast. This all being said, I was able to get it on sale so it was an overall good value.

Anonymous runner · Feb 15, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Brooks Launch 3

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

wave rider 19 reveiw

4/5

Overall

Good overall comfort and has good cushioning in heel area. Looks good in different colors. Transition is smooth and not clumsy. Soft inside and strings right length and stays tied. Good for tempo, long runs and easy runs.

Dardee · Feb 8, 2018

50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 5