WORKOUT -
Ran outside -
11.25 miles/1:32
early morning run, still burping up pie and turkey
Ever since getting fitted for real running shoes three years ago, I’ve worn Mizuno Wave Riders.
I started with the Wave Rider 13 and eventually moved up to the new 16 that just came out a couple weeks ago.
(I try to put about 485 miles on a pair before washing them & donating them to Goodwill with the original inserts.)
Mizuno sent me a pair in the cutest colors; they’re killing it on the colors lately:
The Wave Rider 16 feels like a complete and total remodel of the 15 – it’s lighter, more flexible and even looks different to me.
So I looked up info and found out that they removed the overlays and used a lightweight mesh to make a .7 ounce lighter shoe – the lightest Wave Rider shoe ever made clocking in at 8.2 ounces.
The Wave Rider is a neutral shoe (you have high arches and need minimal support) and has a wave plate that runs from heel to midfoot which “disperses energy and shock absorption in the midsole”.
If you don’t know what type of shoe you need, get professionally fitted: have your gait and stride analyzed by someone who knows what they’re doing. Or just ignore all that business and check out this chart found on Road Runner Sports site:
Mizuno also sent my main man a pair of the men’s shoes as well:
lucky boy.
What brand and style of shoes do you wear?
I’m MFL FTD
Mizuno For Life, Fresh To Death
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{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the color of those shoes! So cute! Can I ask why 485 miles? I’m just curious. I usually try to keep mine for about 400 miles, or when they feel old.
I used to try to get to 500 but noticed around 475-490 my knees start hurting a lot more so i shoot for 485ish.
Thanks! I’m due for a new pair soon and I’m trying to do all of my research.
MFL!! Just got into a pair of 15′s and really trying not to buy the 16′s untiL I need a pair…but really….I eventually will NEED a pair…should have one waiting in the wings, right???
I wear Saucony Kinvaras most of the time, but I got the Mizuno Mushas from the Mezamashi project and I really love them. Now I’m wearing them about 50-50. I have strange feet (very high arches, yet I pronate, figure that out) and I’m picky about shoes because of that.
I have the same problem with high arches and pronating. I’ve always worn Brooks Adrenaline’s but I’m not completely sold. Do you really like the Mizuno’s?
Its all I’ve worn so I don’t know anything else and yes I Love them
Hey Debbie!
With your high arches, you don’t need the heavy support of the Brooks Adrenaline. Definitely some support if you are a pronater but, not that much. Have you been fitted professionally?
Lizzie – Yes, two years ago I was professionally fitted and I’ve never had any major problems so I’ve stuck with them until a few week ago when I bought some New Balance. So far, I like the NB, but like i said, it’s only been a few weeks. Even though I have high arches, every time they watch me run they tell me I pronate and need a stability shoe. I’m confused…
I have the same type of foot as you it seems. 9yrs ago I was fitted in Asics kayano when I first started running. They were good but heavy! Now Ive been in the Brooks adrenalin for maybe 4 years. They are good (and I get a 50%discount) but I’m still not in love. Which leads me to the mizunos inspire that just showed up on my front porch. Yay! I googled a shoe comparison chart and talked to other people and that’s what came up. They feel so different, much more narrow and lighter. My marathon is next week so I have not done a run in them but I’m super excited and the color is rad!
I also have brooks pure flow, saucanys kinvaras and brooks launch. None which work for over 4 miles…that’s just my .02 cents. Good luck!
Hey Debbie,
I believe you could use slight stability due to the pronation and long distance training but, given some recent research, pronating isn’t all that bad and using a stability shoe actually alternates your natural stride. Which NB model did you purchase?
Also, sometimes it takes trial and error. If you are serious about trying the Mizuno brand, they have an extensive online shoe finder guide check it out! Super helpful!
http://www.myprecisionfit.com/mobile/splash
Hey Lizzie -
I got the new NB 860v3′s. Thank you for all of your advice. I guess a lot of it is just trial and error. I also went up a half-size on the salesperson’s recommendation since I’m distance training now. Thanks again!
You are welcome and Good Luck!
Sounds like we have similar feet/styles and I have had major success with Brooks Ghosts, just fyi
Good luck!
I wear Mizuno Wave Inspires, so far I’ve had the 7s and 8s since being fitted at Fleet Feet. I love the colors
LOVE Mizuno, love those colors, love Wave Riders….you are a lucky lady
I wear Muzuno Wave Inspires. I got fitted and they work for me. I am thinking about using Newtons for shorter runs to help me with my form and help me be more of a mid-foot striker.
My arches appear high, but I overpronate so I think they just collapse when my foot strikes, even when I walk. I have been wearing Asics Gel-Kayanos for years, they keep my IT bands pretty happy
I love, love the Mizuno colors! I could definitely try those with my orthotic inserts if I ever decide to change it up a bit.
I love Asics….I have stuck with the same style for years and love them.
Newton Gravity is my shoe! I love them and they have lasted me about 700 miles now! I highly recommend them
Ok, that is a done of mileage from the Newtons! That is really great to hear. I’m running in Brooks Pure Flow, but they die around 300 miles. I definitely like a minimal shoe better. I’ll check this out – thanks!
Ton*
Saucony pro grid Mirage II. Love ‘em. Those Mizuno’s are hot, though!
Those ARE super cute!
These days, I’ve been like Brooks and Mizunos. That’s nice that Mizuno sent some shoes for your hubs, too!
While I LOVE Mizuno Waves- I was fitted for New Balance 1540. My husband calls them my bobo shoes. He always tells me that I put the shoes on the wrong foot.. Hardy har har… But for now it’s what’s getting me thru. Ill have to email you a pic. I even contacted New Balance about who I can talk to about the design.. Ugh!
Your new tootsies are cute girl!! Jaymo is way Lucky too!
Oh gosh those are SO cute! I’m all about colours and I love the ones they sent you!
I’ve been wearing Asics, but about to go shopping to get a new pair!
Love Mizuno – now I want some new ones – love the color they sent you!!
Those shoes are super cute! I wear asics, kind of always have and I guess they just work.
I’ve been running in Brooks Glycerins and Brooks Pure Flows for about six months now, but I’m considering the new Wave Riders for my next shoes.
Those are some awesome looking shoes. I’m currently running in Asics. I’d like to try Mizuno’s at some point.
I LOOVE the pink and blue!!
Ever since I was professionally fitted I’ve worn Brooks Ravenna. I am currently on my 2nd pair the Ravenna 3. They are slight stability shoes. I also wear the Brooks PureConnect (Brooks’ version of minimalist running shoes) which I also LOVE. I am slowly (very slowly) transitioning into them. I feel like they have made my feet stronger!
Love my Brooks!
I’m a loyal Wave Rider wearer as well but when I hear ‘remodel’ it makes me nervous as I really hated the 14s (mainly the more shallow instep which bruised the tops of my feet) which were touted as remodels of the previous several editions. The 15s are great, back to standard IMO, so I’m interested to know how you like them as compared to the 15s.
I don’t think anyone liked the 14s and yeah the 15s were way better, more like the 13s. I love the 16s so far.
I swear by adidos by Adidas! I have been wearing them for 3 years and they never fail to feel like home!
Mizuno Wave Alchemy for short runs; Brooks Addiction for long runs. Weird combo but it works for me.
Mizuno (Wave Creation) for life. Agree…love the new Mizuno colors I’ve seen over the past year and a half!
I was wearing Asic GT 2160s, but my feet have changed and I recently went from needing stability to needing a neutral shoe. I bought some Brooks Glycerin 10s last week and after two runs, my feet are much happier with the change.
I still have my eye on the PureConnects when spring rolls around. Just thought a traditional shoe might make more sense for running in Minnesota winters, which officially started yesterday, I think!
I have a high arch and need a neutral shoe too. Man, I love those 16s. But I had the 15s for awhile and they were a bit too narrow for my foot so they killed my pinky toes by the end of a race. I like the Mizuno Wave Creations the best, but right now I’m in Brooks Ghost 5. I like them about 90% but they aren’t perfect so I may try the new Creations next.
Your banner is back to the old one! Now you’re just messing with me.
Ugh dang you!! I’ve been wanting these shoes since they came out!:p you lucky girl!
I’ve worn Asics kayanos for many years and been very happy. Then they bought the 18 out a year ago and I hate it, it was a big change from the 17 and doesn’t suit my feet. I stocked up on 17s but they are getting hard to find and I’m on my last pair. The 19s are due out in Jan but I’ve heard bad reports. It pains me to say, but I think it’s time I found a new shoe. I’m going to have a gait analysis and see what they recommend. I have quite flat feet and I believe I overpronate a bit. I’m terrified that I’ll get injured if I get the wrong shoes. Any recommendations would be great. I have heard good things about mizunos and saucony. I run 250 – 300 km per month and replace my shoes approx every 3 months.
Oh man, those shoes are nice looking! I started running in Mizunos then moved away from them for the kinvaras, and now brooks, and when I tried to get back into them, they just didn’t work for me. But, seeing how light they’ve made those, I might have to give them another try as my everyday training sneaker…I like.
Mizuno is all I’ve ever run in! I don’t like those wild colors though. The last pair I bought was the 14s and I need to get a new pair. Sure hope they come in white with some kind of accent color. I love the way they fit and I’ve never felt any pain after running in them even though I am clearly one who needs a stability/motion control shoe. Maybe I just don’t run enough miles to make it matter!
You definitely got the better pair…sorry, maybe I’m biased but pink overrules yellow! I run in Vibrams, or at least when I was running (hiatus due to injury).
Shoe question- Do you walk in the same shoes you run in? I know some people say you only run in your running shoes, but just curious if you log the miles with the same shoes.
nope, i only run in my running shoes and walk in other shoes.
Wave Riders!! And I love that the 16′s are out, because the 15′s are now cheaper!!
I have worn Mizuno WR 13, 14, and 15. I wore New Balance between the 14 and 15 because I disliked the 14′s, but went back to Mizuno. I had the white 15′s and they were great, but when I got a new pair I ordered the purple/red. I’ve had to exchange them because I started to have problems with my right foot after running in the new pair for 2 weeks. I hope I was just a defective pair and the new ones are ok.
New Balance 750V1. Tried these on a whim and fell in love. They come in real WIDE WIDTHS!!!! And are so goddamn cheap, it’s criminal.
I bought those last week! I tried the model before and hated them, but I like to rotate my shoes and needed to add a new shoe. Love! I switch between these and the Nike Pegasus.
Started in Asics GT2160s, gave Brooks Adrenaline a try and ended up in physical therapy(not sure if it was the shoe’s fault or sloppy form), so now I’m back to Asics giving the Kayano 18s a whirl. I’ve been trying to win a pair of Mizunos from at least 5 different sites giving away 10pairs for the #mezamashiiproject. Still haven’t won…. I don’t play the lotto either for this reason.
I’ve been a Wave Rider girl, they were my first pair of real running shoes 3 years ago. Then they went weird, on either the 14′s or the 15s? And I switched to Asics, but can’t wait to get back to the new and improved Wave Riders!
I bought these 16s in the watermelon pink color on your recommendation and I’m in love. L-O-V-E, love. I was a straight-up Brooks girl before that, but I had too many miles on those and I needed some new ones so I searched out these 16s, got the right fit and I’m in super love with these.
eeek! mizuno’s are in fact awesome, but i sold my soul to nike and there’s no going back.
Wave Inspires (but the 8s!! – all I could find here!) then recently the guy at the store suggested the Wave Lasers. From the first run they were just wrong: instep too high (I have a high instep tho) and just a bit uncomfortable: I’ve had a really janky knee since then. Totally think it’s the shoes? Or just coincidence…anyway a 90$ mistake….
8 years ago I started wearing Asics Cumulus- just too cheap to shell out much $$ on shoes. I have freakishly high arches and have broken my right foot a few times so I wear custom orthotics. 4 years ago I decided to trust my physical therapist who said i could run and not hurt my foot. After about 18 months of running I made the change to Asics Nimbus. Love my Asics Nimbus because they feel so plush on the road. I am a little superstitious about my foot so I would be nervous to switch and would never go without my orthotics.
I was also sent a pair of 16′s a few weeks ago and absolutely fell in love with them! I have to buy this color though the ones I have are pink and green and grey. Super cute and great!
Got my first pair of Mizunos the day before Thanksgiving…I had a pair of Brooks forever, which suited me fine as I picked up running this past year. But, as those were on their last leg (no pun intended!), I gave myself an early Christmas present with a new pair of running shoes. My favorite running store hooked me up with the Mizunos – even after trying on a newer version of my beloved Brooks, the Mizunos Wave Inspired 9 ended up being the better pair. So far, so good! Happy running!
They definitely are top of the awesome colors situation. It’s funny that everyone hated the 14s because that was the first version I tried, and I liked them. So now the newer versions seem slightly weird to me.
Mizuno for life. LOVE those shoes… I have added them to my Christmas list. So cute!
I’m totally dedicated to Mizuno as well! My shoe is the Wave Elixir, nice and light and perfect for both training and racing. I find I need to retire these shoes around 450 miles. They also come in super fun colors and design! I geeked out a bit when I noticed on your blog that you are a Mizuno loyalist.
I HATE the new Wave Riders! I have been wearing them forever and was so excited to try them out last week when my local running store got them in. You’re right-they look and fit like a completely different shoe. And for me, that’s a bad thing.
I think without the lining around the toe box they fit like the Kinvara’s do and that I dislike. I get fabric bunching at the toe box because of the lack of lining.
Sorry Mizuno but you lost me on the new model!
I love my Mizunos, too. I’m a proud wave alchemy wearer
Just like some of the ladies at the beginning of the comment section, I have a high arch and pronate…. I have been running in adrenalines since I was a sophomore in high school (over 10 years… ), every time I try a new shoe my heels slip (I also have narrow heels) even with all the shoelace tricks in the book OR I get a narrow pair of shoes and the toe box is too tight. I haven’t tried Mizunos, however. How are the heels/toe box in them? I am having serious color envy as I look at my white and blue Brooks.
Love love love Mizuno! And also a wave rider girl… Love the 16′s too! My hubby has the same yellow pair and he is now a Mizuno member too!
hahahaha, MFL, FTD!!!
I’ve gotten fitted a few times. They’ve put me in Nike Zoom Vomero, Mizuno Wave Inspire, and Brooks Ravenna. I liked all of them really well, and recently picked out for myself some bright teal Mizunos and some neon coral New Balances.
I love my Wave Rider 15′s. That shoe completely changed the way I run…for the better. Not sure how to explain it, but the shoe transformed my form. I do most of my training in those but also enjoy running in the Newton Gravity. I’m waiting for the 16′s to hit REI where I have a big store credit. Can’t wait!
In my long running career (umm, this year only), I have run in Brooks (love) and UnderArmour. I’ve been hearing the Mizuno craze and feel that it’s high time I treated myself to a pair!
Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
Mizuno really does win on the colors. I’ve found that their shoes really don’t work for me, though, sadly.
I wear Brooks Adrenalines.
Obsessed with those colors. Mizuno was a rep for my run club for about 5 weeks and they had some great items!
I love those aqua/pink colors on the 16s! I wore New Balance for years and have recently switched to Brooks, but i’m not sold. I’m thinking i’ll try Mizunos next.
I was about to go pick up a new pair of the 15′s but I might have to go with a pair of the 16s now! Sooo freaking cute! I love the Wave Riders, too, and they’ve always been good to me. But I have a pair of 14′s I just pulled out of my closet that have been giving me a ton of problems and have less than 20 miles on them! I’m hoping a new pair will help!
You just sucked me into thinking Waveriders are perfect for my feet
Love the fact that they’re the lightest shoe!
I too am MFL FTD. P.S., I just picked up a pair of the Wave Rider 15′s that are that goldish/yellow with light blue soles. I didn’t realize you also had them until I was reading the blog a few days ago!
I am a Mizuno Wave Rider lover and so wanted to get the 16′s but when I tried them, I felt like my feet were floating too much in the toe box — personally I like my toes feeling a bit more secure. Just felt like after I wore them they would stretch out a bit more too and then they’s feel even more float-y — guess it’s the 15s for me until I can’t find 9.5′s any more!
Thanks for the review! I bought the shoes after working through “breaking up with Asics” angst….best decision ever! Reading your enthusiastic commentary helped seal my decision; so appreciated! Have a blessed weekend!
Im just starting out with mizuno shoes, and I love the wave rider. But the price on the 16s are pretty pricey for this college student. Would the 15s be a suitable alternative until I can get the 16s? Like could you tell there was a difference in the model of the shoes?
they are different, yes, but i also wear the 15s. thats what i have in phoenix right now and wore them for a marathon/half marathon double weekend last weekend.
i found them here for $70 and up: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CKZ61Q?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B005CKZ61Q&linkCode=xm2&tag=skinny02-20
Jumped on the Brooks bandwagon – not feeling them so far – I know I know I’m the only non Brooks lover.
I wear a 6.5, when you get more sent to you. What? Just sayin!