Mizuno Wave Rider 24 Review by FF Race Team Ambassadors

Since our hiatus from Pub Runs may have you missing the chance to try on different shoe brands, we thought we would bring some reviews to you here...

 Some of our Fleet Feet Race Team Ambassadors took the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 for a spin and gave us their impressions. Read their reviews below!

Remember that time in your early to mid 20s when you found those shoes that looked so good that you were excited to wear them? You finally had an opportunity to wear them out, and right away you thought these aren't the most comfortable, but I just need to break them in. Sadly, you were about an hour into the evening when you realized that you weren't breaking in the shoes, rather they were breaking in you. Well, I have great news, that's not these shoes! As a frequent runner with weekly mileage from 16-40+ (It just depends on the season and training cycle) I'm a fan of the high cushioned shoe, and while this isn't that, it's still very comfortable from the get go. No break in period needed! There is a noticeable firmness in the heel before the cushioned step throughout the rest of the sole. Each step is like that little league coach that taught you how to hit the ball. Firm at first, then always there to support you after that. After the first couple of miles the shoes just feel like a light weight, invisible extension of the foot.  

To give this pair a fair test, I wore them during each run over a 2 week period without switching them out with another pair. Day 14 felt just as good if not better than day 1. They were used mostly on street runs up to 6 miles at a time, with some running in the grass, on gravel, and at a boot camp thrown in there for good measure. I like a shoe that is able to handle some side to side action without feeling like you're going to rip through the fabric. That's just asking for a rolled ankle.  The top of the shoe has a nice stretch to it that conforms to your foot, but it's not so stretchy or tight that it's like wearing a water sock. The bottom of the shoe really grabs the road thanks to its design, which was nice on a run following an afternoon storm. The tongue of the shoe does extend above the sock a little, which made me nervous for repetitive wearing away of the skin on my shin, but it's so cushioned and soft, that it's not even noticeable. If you're a sweater it will soak some of that sweat in, but I never noticed it impacting performance, though it does take some time to dry. Also for the sweating crowd, the shoe has pretty good ventilation so your feet don't feel like they're overheating just from wearing the shoe. 

If you're new to running and not a fan of flashy looking shoes, or you just have really good peripheral vision and get easily distracted, these are a good shoe as they are mostly solid in color with a little stripe of color along the outside sole. Mostly, I think this is so you'll be able to wear the shoe out in public while not running and when another runner spots your shoe out the corner of their eye, you'll be able to look at each other and know what's up. Yeah, I run, but I also like wearing sensible and comfortable shoes when I'm walking around the farmer's market on the weekend. 

Overall, this is a comfortable shoe that is not flashy or about being the star of the show. It's that introverted friend that you can count on to get you through a run. Let's be honest, when you're running you don't want to think about your shoes. Thankfully, the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 let's you get out there and just enjoy the miles. 

-Steven Infinger

Love the lightweight feel to the shoe, and still feel support for the longer runs. Nice and firm, but also has some bounce as well for energy return. As a runner who likes to have a rotation of shoes for different workouts, I love the fact that I feel I can use these in a variety of runs ranging from tempo days to long runs. 

 -Doug Anderson

After spending the last 10 days testing out the new Mizuno Wave Rider 24s, I'm tempted to buy a few pairs now before any changes come out in the next version. I seem to have recently developed a tendency to do this (100% realizing that I'm turning into my dad, who would buy multiples of favorite items, frequently noting "They don't make 'em like they used to!"). When I put these shoes through their paces, I was surprised by how solidly they performed in a wide range of activities. I ran up and down gravel hills, not expecting much as they are not designed for trails, but they definitely held their own on the rocks with a relatively stiff but comfortably cushioned sole. In my neighborhood, I tested out road running and some long walks, and the Wave Rider 24s performed solidly right out of the box. I especially appreciated the somewhat bouncy cushioning in the heel on these outings. I was initially worried about the snug, more form-fitting style of the upper, as I tend to get more blisters in the humid Charleston summers, especially with snug-fitting shoes, but there was plenty of room in the sides and toe area, and happily, no blisters appeared! The snug fit turned out to be a design feature that I liked because it seemed to help prevent any slipping on my heel which happens with some shoe styles. I did notice that the shoe laces seemed a bit shorter than most, but they were long enough to double knot, so not really a significant flaw, just something to note if you have a preference. As for design, I appreciated the more muted dark grey color with swipes of neon on the sole. My first-ever pair of big-girl running shoes in 2009 were also Mizunos and were predominantly hot pink with some futuristic, metallic silver accents thrown in. This pair is much more likely to be worn around town, even after I'm done with my run, thanks to the understated and fairly simple styling. Across the board, I would recommend taking these new Wave Riders out for a spin to see if they will work well for you, too. Happy running!

 -Sarah Petkus

I have used these shoes to both walk and run in. The walks have been 3 miles or less and very comfortable. During the last two mornings, I have worn them on an easy 7 miler and a fast 8 miler. On both occasions, they felt the exact same. I almost forgot that I was wearing shoes! They are an extremely comfortable shoe with a surprising amount of cushion and bounce upon landing. The toe box has so much room and the shoe itself has more than enough width. The tongue is exactly what you would hope for but rarely get in a running shoe - it doesn't move!! The laces are normal and I tie them with my special double knot, but will most likely be switching them out to caterpy laces because I like them. Although the last two mornings have been cooler, I don't have to put these shoes on my drying rack for longer than 30 minutes, unlike the Karhu's which get soaked. I really like the color scheme, style and everything about this shoe. I will need to test them out on some longer runs which I have coming up, but I am very impressed with them and will keep them in the rotation with my Karhu's. Once I hit the miles on them, I will purchase another pair for sure!

-Bryan Weiss

When Fleet Feet first asked their Ambassadors if they would be interested in trialing the new Mizuno Wave Rider 24s shoes, my first thought was, "Not Interested!" I have tried other Mizuno shoes at different Fleet Feet Pub Runs and was never impressed by them.  

Boy am I glad I changed my mind and decided to say yes to trialing these shoes!!!  By my 3rd run in them, I was completely in love with their comfort level! I am now two weeks into wearing them with a total of 33.21 accumulated miles and have decided that I will not go back to any other type of shoe, including my once beloved Brooks Levitates or newly acquired Karhu's.

My runs over the past two weeks have consisted of speed training, tempo runs and distance running which are followed by recovering walking.  The Mizuno Wave Rider 24s have consistent, soft cushioning from heel to toe that provides reactive support both during running and walking.  The upper shoe is just as comfortable with it's flexible, breathable material and moderate toe box which allowed my toes plenty of room to move and splay out during my runs without being squeezed or squished. 

I highly recommend the new Mizuno Wave Rider 24s! 

-Juanita Johnson

Thank you for the opportunity to test out the Mizuno Wave Rider 24.  The first thing I noticed was the oddly placed yellow and orange stripe on the side of each shoe.  I am a fan of wild and loud shoes, but the stripes stick out like a sore thumb on an otherwise neutral grey shoe.

The Wave Rider 24 held my orthotics well due to the generous toe box and soft heel.   Once on my feet, the initial comfort level was like that of my Brook’s Launch 5.  The thin tongue, wide lace pattern, and seamless transition from the tongue to the shoe’s sides allowed me to really tighten the shoes; a necessary evil due to the arch support of my orthotics. 

I took my size 13 Wave Riders for a 3-mile trip.  I immediately noticed an energy return that is comparable to the Brook’s Levitate.  As my run progressed, I was surprised that the Wave Rider 24 was quite comfortable, not causing the typical “hot spots” I would get from a new shoe.  While the shoes appear to be constructed from a breathable mesh, I did notice that the Wave Rider 24 heated up a little more than expected. 

Overall, the Wave Rider 24 is a great shoe.  I am excited to see how they feel as I put more miles on them.

-Jason Mark