Skip to page content
mizuno-wave-rider-25-running-shoes

Kit & Gear

REVIEW: Mizuno Wave Rider 25

Same profile, different formula. Now in its 25th edition, the iconic Mizuno Wave Rider 25 delivers a smooth transition and responsive ride that this shoe is loved for all over the world. This season sees the introduction of MIZUNO ENERZY to the heel wedge - providing an even more cushioned landing with increased energy return, improving on the SmoothRide this shoe is known for. The upgraded upper fit and new tongue construction provide the next level of performance and comfort.

mizuno-wave-rider-25-running-shoes

Our Sportsshoes.com Trail Running Ambassador, Ben Mounsey, has been busy putting the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 running shoes to the test. Here he provides a brief summary of the shoe and explains what improvements have been made since the previous release of this iconic road running model.

Price:£129.99
Weight:275g (men's size 9)
Drop:12mm
Length:True to fit
Width:Standard
Type:Neutral
Stack Height:31mm (Heel) 19mm (Toe)
RATINGS (out of 5)
Comfort:4
Cushioning:4
Support:3
Breathability:4
Responsiveness:4
Overall:4

Any shoe in its 25th edition deserves the highest praise and Mizuno have clearly struck a winning formula with their iconic Wave Rider series. And having joined the party late at the 22nd edition, I’ve been making up for lost time ever since – recently adding the number 25 to my ever-growing collection.

Think of the Wave Rider 25 as your best running buddy – solid, dependable, always there when you need it – whatever the weather, distance or occasion. Come rain or shine, this shoe will always perform and should be considered a staple part of any athlete’s running artillery.

Scoring consistently top marks across the board, the Wave Rider 25 is extremely comfortable to wear, cushioned, breathable and responsive. This shoe is a true all-rounder; suitable for both fast-paced sessions and long distances, as well as daily training, providing a supreme level of cushioning for the neutral runner.

SAME PROFILE, DIFFERENT FORMULA. SO, WHAT’S IMPROVED FROM THE WAVE RIDER 24?

Firstly, the Wave Rider 25 has a smoother upper fit with no irritation points, made from a bio-based nylon material which has 38% CO2 emission. And because of this change to the upper material, this shoe is 5g lighter than its predecessor, now weighing 275g.This upgraded upper fit and new gusseted tongue construction both help to provide the next level of performance and comfort.

Moving down to the midsole, the Wave Plate (which allows for a smooth and stable transition) has been extended and made more visible, having been previously hidden in the Wave Rider 24. At the side of the shoe there is a more stable forefoot platform, which has been filled to provide more stability during toe-off.

The introduction of MIZUNO ENERZY to the heel wedge increases the cushioning by 17% and improves the energy return by 15%. In addition to this, there’s more propulsion as the rubber grip on the forefoot extends right to the very edge of the outsole and connects all the individual sections together, which means you feel a bit more spring in your step. The X10 outsole is also made from a reliable and highly durable rubber compound designed to last the distance.

All in all, these small technological advancements collectively make this shoe the most comfortable, cushioned and responsive Wave Rider yet!

mizuno-wave-rider-25-running-shoes

Our Sportsshoes.com athlete and GB international, Jenny Nesbitt, has been testing the Wave Rider 25. Here’s what she had to say;

Having run in only one model of mileage shoes for the past 4 years, when the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 turned up on my doorstep, I was excited to give them a go.

Upon opening the box, I was initially stuck by what looked like a good amount of cushioning and a sole which presented itself as very durable, with signs of providing good traction, which will be very useful as we move into the wet autumn months. But the real test came once I laced out and got out the door. 8 easy miles later, I returned with my first initial impressions.

I was right about the cushioning, the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 is a well cushioned shoe, yet still provides a good amount of stability. In the latest edition of Mizuno’s classic shoe, there is the addition of the new Mizuno Enerzy foam and wave plate, which has helped reduce the weight (225g for women) of the shoe and help provide an even better energy return. The more I have run in the shoe, the more I have discovered how well I recover in them after hard days, and I think this is down to the level of cushioning the shoe provides.

The shoe has a 32mm heel stack height and 20mm forefoot stack height. Personally, coming from wearing a shoe with a drop of 5mm, the 12mm drop of the Wave Rider seemed a little too high and I struggled with this feeling, preferring a lower drop in a training shoe, but this is personal preference. I think this would explain why the front of the shoe also felt a little thin, but the overall cushioning of the shoe didn’t make this feel like an issue when running in them.

The upper was comfortable, lightweight, thin and breathable, all things I look for in a shoe, as protecting my feet and keeping blisters away is something I take very seriously! I would say that comfort has been at the forefront of the upper design, rather than performance, as there are elements, such as the padded heel collar and gusseted tongue, something I don’t think is too much of an issue for a shoe primarily used for easy running. Interesting to note is that Mizuno has used eco-friendly materials for both the midsole and the upper – making this an environmentally friendly shoe.

An element of the Wave Rider 25 which I particularly liked was the traction on the shoe, and its apparent durability. I would need to run more miles in it, but so far, the soles still look like they did when they came out of the box. The deep flex grooves make it a great shoe for all weather conditions, again making it a great everyday shoe, where you don’t have to worry about the weather conditions. It’s durable, yet flexible, adding to the cushioned design of the shoe, helping you to have a smooth ride and good transition of the floor.

As an everyday mileage shoe, I think the Wave Rider packs a punch. Lightweight, yet cushioned, durable and with the new Mizuno Enerzy foam. This shoe gives you everything you want from a shoe to clock up easy miles. I personally wouldn’t use this shoe for anything but easy running, but if you wanted to pick the pace up a little in a run, I feel the energy return you get from this shoe would allow you to. Aesthetically, I think the Wave Rider could be improved, but how it looks takes nothing away from the quality of the shoe… that’s just me being a picky customer!

mizuno-wave-rider-25-running-shoes

We also spoke to Sportsshoes.com athlete and National Cross-Country champion Calum Johnson, to get his thoughts on the Wave Rider 25.

If you’re looking for that perfect middle ground, comfortable and lightweight running shoe for those steady runs and long tempos, then look no further!

First impressions; The Mizuno Wave Rider 25 is extremely comfortable to wear and has substantial cushioning to protect your legs from those hard pavements and long runs. They are a great fitting shoe, with no tight or slack spots. They’re snug but comfortable. The heel stack is a good height, not too tall, but enough to give a more than reasonable amount of cushioning.

The ever-popular blue with the multi coloured section above the sole makes them quite attractive and cool. They stand out without being too in your face and would make a great casual trainer if you wanted to wear them for a stroll in your local park.

I’ve been wearing these shoes for a couple of months now, mainly on long steady road runs ranging from 75 - 100 minutes and also on long tempo runs that are up to an hour. They are also great on really light trails, the sole provides a solid amount of grip, so if you did want to mix up your longer steady runs then these trainers fit the bill! From the moment I put these on my feet, it felt like a dream. They fit so well that I couldn’t wait to get them on for my longer tempo runs because I feel they have that ideal balance between cushioned and lighter weight. They allow you to run at faster paces because of their lightweight design, but at the same time they give you plenty protection from that muscle damage you get from pounding the pavement. What more do you need!?

Overall, these shoes cover all bases, a very comfortable ride for a long steady run and still feeling at home when upping the pace. I couldn’t recommend them more - the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 is the perfect all-rounder.

SHOP MIZUNO WAVE RIDER 25 HERE

Interested in the latest shoes, apparel and technology? Then head over to our Kit & Gear category for more reviews, tips, advice and product releases.

Welcome

Welcome to SportsShoes Kit & Gear Hub! Here you'll find all the information and advice you need about the very latest kit, technology and gear.

Read More

Share this

Trustpilot

Sign up for our newsletter

Get exclusive news and offers

By signing up you consent to receive updates by email about our latest new releases and our best special offers. We will never share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes and you can unsubscribe at any time. For more information please see our privacy statement.

Chat

Contact Us
EN flag

Change

Order Info

Copyright © 2024 B-sporting Limited | All Rights Reserved.

VISA Debit
VISA
Sofort
MasterCard
Google Pay
American Express
Giro Pay
PayPal
Apple Pay
Klarna