Mizuno Wave Rider 19 Review

April 27, 2016
Mizuno Wave Rider 19
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
87
Comfort
5
Fit
7
Responsiveness
9
Speed
9
Ride Quality
7

The Good

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Better fit over Wave Rider 18
  • Responsive and ready to rip

The Bad

  • Quite stiff
  • Lacks all day comfort
  • Very firm ride
THE VERDICT

If you enjoy a firm, stiff and responsive ride the Wave Rider 19 from Mizuno is for you. Classified as a neutral everyday trainer the Wave Rider 19 outperformed in response and speed while underperforming in pure comfort compared to other everyday trainers. A one-shoe everyday trainer that can easily go from a long Sunday run to Tuesday’s tempo run and Wednesday’s recovery run.

FULL REVIEW

The Mizuno Wave Rider 19 is a lightweight daily trainer designed for the neutral runner. New for the Wave Rider 19 is upgraded premium sock liner and upper design. A 12mm drop makes the Wave Rider 19 a great option for the runner who favors a more of a heel strike. Weighting in at 9.6oz for men and 8.1oz for women the Wave Rider 19 is a great balance of cushioning and performance.

Comfort
Mizuno definitely took a step in the right direction over last years Wave Rider 18 by upgrading the upper with a premium sock liner however the Wave Rider 19 still falls short in pure comfort compared to other shoes tested in this category. The upper is soft and breathable with a modest amount of padding around the heel collar and tongue.

Fit
All our testers agreed the Wave Rider 19 fits true to size. A flexible seamless upper with stretchy laces will suit narrow and wider feet. The heel cup is very firm which provided excellent support and prevented any slippage.

Responsiveness
Whenever you’re ready to change gears, the Wave Rider 19 is ready to respond. It was the most responsive shoe tested in this category. Mizuno used an improved U4ic midsole to assure no energy was lost with each foot strike. One tester summed it up perfectly, “Light, snappy firm feel with a smooth transition.”

Speed
Speed and responsiveness go hand and hand and this is where the Wave Rider 19 excels compared to other everyday trainers. The Wave Rider 19 is one of the lightest shoes in this category weighing in at only 9.6 oz men and 8.1 oz women. Remember that stiff feeling that caused the Wave Rider 19 to feel uncomfortable? Well here’s why…the recoil on these shoes is amazing.  No energy is lost in translation to the ground.  

Ride Quality
If you’re a runner who enjoys a stiffer, firmer feeling shoe the Wave Rider 19 is perfect for you. On paper the Wave Rider isn’t ideal for midfoot and forefoot strikers with a 12mm drop, which favors heel strikers, however I never found the heel to get in the way. The ride was smooth from touch down to take off.

 


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