Mizuno Wave Rider 30 Review

• Shifted from a 10 mm heel-toe drop to 8 mm
• Redesigned full-length polypropylene WAVE Plate 
• Dual-foam midsole for softness underfoot and firmer stability beneath the plate

All in all, we were unanimously pleased by how well Wave Rider 30 performed. As a standard daily trainer, it did exactly what we would expect, providing a smooth cruising experience. Those of us with sensitive knees were glad the Wave Rider is full of cushion, but isn’t overly squishy. Both Linda and Aliyah prefer the added support of stability shoes, but they didn’t have issues taking this neutral trainer out on the roads. Specifically, they mentioned that they could feel the WAVE plate underfoot, adding smooth stability to their runs.  

This is the kind of shoe that we’d wear around the office, run some errands, and then hit some true running mileage in. Because of the reimagined materials and heel-to-toe drop, the shoe felt nice and smooth. It isn’t made to be a fast shoe, but the underfoot experience does well to give daily mileage a hint of energy and whisperings of speediness.  

The outsole performed well both on pavement and indoors. From road to treadmill to daily walking, this shoe checked all of the essential boxes for us. While it is a comparable weight to its competitors, the shoe did feel a little heavy at times. However, that didn’t stop it from cruising through longer runs when we were ready to roll.  

For a daily trainer in a competitive price range, it offers some premium comfort features. There are plush touches of padding around the collar, plenty of breathability, and the upper provides a soft hug around your foot.  

Underfoot, we’re all on board with the cushioning layout, finding the balance between slightly springy and medium softness. For such a highly stacked shoe, we’re glad it feels plush enough for longer runs without feeling too mushy.

Aliyah, due to previous stress fractures, has some trigger points that occasionally act up with the wrong shoe. The Wave Rider treated her very well, soothing her injury post-flare up and providing enough comfort to log some extra mileage. As we roll through the shoe, there aren’t any weak points or dead zones. Put simply, it’s a comfortable shoe that is becoming a go-to for us.

Overall, the shoes fit well. For most of us, we found a proper balance where it wasn’t too snug and wasn’t too loose. They were true to size and fairly adaptive, even as our feet swelled up on longer runs.  

That being said, Linda did experience a low-volume feeling in the forefoot that may have benefitted from a wider option or half a size larger. The snug feeling didn’t cause issues during our mileage, but it was noticeable during try-on. Colvin also recommends wearing thinner socks; otherwise, the perfect snug balance may be too snug. Over longer runs, he mentioned slight hotspots popping up in the forefoot, but nothing too worrying.  

"This is a harder comparison because both shoes offer an excellent underfoot feel for a cushion for a daily trainer. I would give the edge to the Wave Rider slightly because of the subtle energetic underfoot feel thanks to the plate. However, the plate does add weight, making it a close race between the two." -Colvin

"The Cumulus has a lower stack height than the Wave Rider, which was noticeable to me. While they are both neutral, the ASICS shoes do not have a plate, while the Mizuno pair does. I felt a little more stability in the Mizuno, which made it my pick over the Gel Cumulus because I overpronate severely." -Aliyah

"The Pegasus is a classic daily training shoe, and the Wave Rider outclasses it. The underfoot feel is better in the Mizunos, and I prefer their subtle spring over the Pegasus." -Colvin

"The Wave Rider fits and feels much better than the Ghost for me. The Mizunos feel more plush and energetic while offering a soft upper and solid fit." -Colvin