Reader review
wc colonel · Sep 28, 2025
5/5
Overall
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Mizuno
Wave Rider 20
Daily trainer
· Neutral
· Road
Exceptional (98%)
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $120
- Drop Height
- 12mm
Exceptional (98%)
overall
Shoe details
- Weight
- 9.6 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $120
- Drop Height
- 12mm
Ratings & Reviews
Exceptional (98%)
Rated better overall than 98% of all shoes.
?
This score rates better than 98% of other shoes we judged.
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
Percentile vs. all shoes. Shaded bars reflect our uncertainty.
?
Rankings are based on real review data, but there is always some uncertainty.
The shaded bar shows a plausible range for this shoe’s rank based on the review data we have and normal variation in runner feedback. More reviews usually narrow the range.
Overall
Exceptional (98%)
Value
Exceptional (99%)
Comfort
Excellent (96%)
Durability
Excellent (90%)
Cushioning
Good (75%)
Appearance
Average (49%)
Comparison set
Rating
All Running Shoes
Better than 98% of 2,492 running shoes ranked.
Exceptional (98%)
Daily Trainers
Better than 98% of 1,818 daily trainers ranked.
Exceptional (98%)
Wave Rider Family
Better than 87% of 10 wave rider family ranked.
Very good (87%)
Mizuno
Better than 97% of 101 Mizuno shoes ranked.
Exceptional (97%)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Reviewers rate this shoe better than the Wave Rider 18.
- Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
- Rated among the top 5% of shoes overall.
- Rated among the top 5% of shoes on comfort.
- Rated among the top 10% of shoes on cushioning.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
Reference shoe
Newest
Lowest price
/
Best overall
/
Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral (Moderate)
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.6 oz M
—
—
Stack
—
—
—
Drop
12mm
9mm
—
Release
2016 Q3
2025 Q3
Newest
2025 Q2
MSRP
$120
—
—
Best price
—
$149.95
$129.95
Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (98%)
Exceptional (99%)
Exceptional (100%)
Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (96%)
Exceptional (99%)
Exceptional (100%)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Good (75%)
Exceptional (97%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best cushioning
Durability
Very good (90%)
Exceptional (98%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best durability
Appearance
Average (49%)
Excellent (96%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (99%)
Exceptional (98%)
Exceptional (100%)
Best value
Where to buy
No offers available
Check back soon for deals
Better alternatives
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Daily trainer
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100th percentile
+2% vs this shoe
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Daily trainer
$139.95
100th percentile
+2% vs this shoe
Cloudsurfer Max
Daily trainer
$129.88
100th percentile
+2% vs this shoe
Clifton 9
Daily trainer
$131.96
99th percentile
+1% vs this shoe
Wave Rider 29
Daily trainer
$149.95
99th percentile
+1% vs this shoe
Triumph 23
Daily trainer
$134.96
98th percentile
More from Mizuno
Reader Reviews
16 reader reviews
Showing 1–5 of 16 reviews
Reader review
Anonymous runner · Sep 28, 2025
5/5
Overall
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Wave Rider 20
Anonymous runner · Sep 28, 2025
5/5
Overall
I had been wanting to buy a pair of the Wave Riders since 2016, but only just this year finally bought a pair. Since the 20s were on sale (2 gens old) I ended up picking them up for a sale price. They wowed me from the first run. Whether it's a long run, easy trot, or uptempo work, they are suitable for it all. In my most recent long run (17 miles in just over an hour and fifty minutes on mostly pavement) they felt as cushioned as they had in the first mile. They've never felt too soft or too stiff. Somehow these shoes manage to constantly feel sturdy, but comfortable every mile I'm on the roads, trails, or grass. Currently I've got about a hundred miles on them.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Waverider 20
Anonymous runner · Sep 28, 2025
4/5
Overall
Overall this show has done me very well and been my go to shoe for roughly 3 years. However I’ve found it consitently wears down or rips its netting right by my forefoot even when I wear the wide shoes.
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reliable
Anonymous runner · Sep 28, 2025
5/5
Overall
I've been wearing the Wave Riders for the last 8 years through multiple versions. I've never had problems with new versions and it has been a reliable shoe for training.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5