Mizuno Wave Rider 19

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.

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.

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.

The standard for support and consistency. Love the roll I get in these shoes!

I ended up in these after years (a decade and change) in stability shoes. Maybe those were right for a time but I had a string of injuries and sought input at the local running shop. They thought I didn’t need stability and put me in a stiffer pair of Mizuno’s than these as an intermediate choice. This line was discontinued, back to the store I went and I’ve been about four years in the wave riders. They are cushioned but don’t feel like too much. Injuries at bay despite two pregnancies that were each full of running. Only complaint is I get holes in the fabric of both toes before they otherwise wear out.

This is a show I continue to repeat buy as each pair wears out. The are comfortable and durable. I am somewhere between someone who needs a neutral shoe and stability shoe. It's perfectly in the middle. Other stability shoes feel like they are pushing up into my arches, but I call this one my Goldilocks shoe.

The cushioning of the shoe is to hard, it feels almost like concrete

Wave Rider by the addition of an improved U4icX midsole. This midsole is a lighter and more cushioned iteration of the U4ic that was seen in the previous models. The Wave Rider 19 still has the Mizuno Parallel Wave technology that is a hallmark of the Mizuno brand. The Parallel Wave technology is essentially how Mizuno incorporates stability into their shoe. Instead of having a gradient of foam density to create stability (like a majority of other running companies), Mizuno has essentially a plastic material that runs along the forefoot and the heel for optimal foot guidance. The Wave Rider is a neutral shoe so the Wave Plate is there to provide minimal guidance and some lightweight flexibility.

Overall, the Wave Rider 19 was very comfortable, responsive and just soft enough to feel like it was absorbing shock yet still agile enough to respond to changes in speed. I think this shoe is a great overall trainer for a neutral runner. This shoe also felt light enough that it would be a good choice to race a half marathon or even a marathon.

The Wave Rider 19 has improved flexibility and is soft, but not too soft. It felt cushioned, yet still responsive. It was a really nice shoe immediately out of the box. I have to admit, that I didn’t notice the upgraded premium sock liner, but maybe that would make more of a difference in longer runs and in hotter temperatures.

The Wave Rider 19 is light and springy. I know this sounds silly, but I felt fast in this shoe. I liked how this shoe was still shock absorbing yet had a softer feeling under foot. During my run, I felt like there was a smooth transition through the running cycle.

I have narrow to normal feet and I found this shoe to fit true to size. There was no break in time (for me). I was able to put the shoes on immediately and head out for a run.

The forefoot Wave Plate does provide some guidance in the forefoot, but there was no added stability to the heel or the midfoot.

This shoe weighs in at 8.1 oz which is light, giving this shoe a peppy feel..

This shoe is a great trainer and is particularly great for runners who like doing faster tempo workouts and speed workouts. The Wave Rider 19 is a durable shoe thanks, in part, to the Wave Plate technology. This shoe would be great for an everyday trainer for someone that enjoys a variety of running workouts. Basically, you cant go wrong wearing this shoe and it is worth trying on to see whether the support in the midsole and the Wave Plate technology works for you.

I've had several iterations of this shoe. It's the shoe that I don't really ever LOVE but keep coming back to, as it's very versatile: a marathon-distance shoe that doesn't feel clunky, a solid option for all but the most versatile trails, etc. I will note that the sole feels harder than a lot of its more soft/cushioned peers (or even more minimalist shoes like the Kinvaras), but I like that.