Mizuno Wave Rider 21

Name: Mizuno Wave Rider 21
Brand: Mizuno
Rating: 4.6 (25 reviews)

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.6 oz · 12mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Mizuno Wave Rider 22 replaced it

How it ranks

The Mizuno Wave Rider 21 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Comfort and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 25 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the Wave Rider product line.

Decent

74/100

Overall

Decent 74

Comfort

Excellent 97

Durability

Very good 93

Value

Very good 92

Cushioning

Good 89

Appearance

Good 87

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

91/100

High 91

What runners say

“I can reliably wear them through 450-500 miles a pair without them feeling too broken down, but pushing past 500 isn't very viable.”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for a half marathon came from the 361 Degrees Spinject

“I normally retire them after about 600km, at which point they are still functional but the cushion has reduced somewhat.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Ride 7

“It holds up over marathon training and is extremely comfortable on long runs.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 2

“They are super comfortable and supportive, yet lightweight and do not feel heavy or bulky.”

5/5 Full review 80 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 20

“Can run long or fast in these - and they cope with roads and trails well.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 5

“They've kept it as the neutral sturdy trainer it's always been, while other models sacrifice support to become lighter.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a marathon came from the Topo Athletic Fli-Lyte 2

“Flexible, feel fast, cushioned, immediately comfortable on the feet.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Enigma 5

“Light and neutral with just enough cushion to do high mileage.”

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

“Light, but sturdy and firm enough. Responsive.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 22

“It provides adequate cushion and is lighter than many comparable shoes.”

5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Saucony Ride 7

Prefer this shoe over another

25% 8/32

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

Reviewers repeatedly call it comfortable, including on long marathon-training runs.
Many runners find it light for how much cushion it offers.
Reviewers describe a firm, responsive ride that handles easy and quicker running.

Cons

High-mileage runners say the cushion flattens after several hundred miles.
One reviewer finds it bulkier than past versions, and another cannot find anything special about it.
One reviewer finds stones lodging in the heel design, and avoids rocky trails in them.