Mizuno Wave Rider 22

Thoughts on Mizuno Wave Rider 22 after 80+ miles

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I have to be upfront and say that the Mizuno Wave Rider 22 is my go-to shoe for running at all distances. 

I have been rotating in other shoes, but I always reach for these shoes in my closet whenever I am going out for a run. They are a great all-around shoe, providing just enough cushioning for the long runs and enough responsiveness/spring/snap/pop (no crackle) for your tempo runs and speed work.

It just feels smooth and really comfortable whenever I put it on. I have never worn Mizuno before and I am very glad that I found this shoe since I will be snatching up another pair or two.  

Upper

The upper is a dual layer mesh material. The area around your toes is a very breathable and flexible material. This is really important if you live in a hot climate or if your feet tend to get hot and sweaty on your runs. 

I also like that it is not restricting so my toes can splay within the shoe when I am running.

The upper around the middle of the foot is a very sturdy synthetic material. It maintains the flexibility that really gives your foot a nice squeeze, like a bear hug. The nice and padded tongue make tying your shoe like a hug from a teddy bear. 

The heel cup does a job of keeping your foot cradled in and the padding along the collar help keep that bear hug throughout the foot and ankle. If you have a hard toe off when running, it could cause some rubbing on the back of the ankle.

I can’t say how well the plate works, but the midsole foam material is wonderful! 

Midsole

The centerpiece of the midsole is the wave plate in the middle of the shoe. It runs through the heel to the midsole. I have not done a lot of research, on this, but it appears to absorb Impact and return the energy.

I can’t say how well the plate works, but the midsole foam material is wonderful. Since I am a midfoot striker I got tremendous energy return from the midsole and just enough cushion to make my runs snappy, but comfortable.

The midsole is definitely the best part of the shoe for me, but if you are looking for stability, that’s not this shoe. Since it doesn’t have a very wide platform, it doesn’t offer any sort of stability that you get in other shoes. If you are a true neutral runner, this shouldn’t be too big of a problem.

Outsole

The rubber outsole on this shoe is substantial. I have used this on the road, single track trails and loose gravel and the outsole held up well in all of those conditions. It's grippy and thick but the shoe doesn’t feel super heavy because of it.

I feel that I will probably get 500 miles out of this shoe because I haven’t seen any breakdown on the outsole. In fact, it still looks new after 80+ miles running. 

Weight 

At about 8-9 ounces, this shoe was a lot lighter than I thought it would be with the dual layer upper and the plastic wave piece that is integrated into the midsole. When running, the shoe doesn’t feel clunky or like is weighing your feet down.

Performance

From the second you put these on, they cradle your feet. The 'bear hug' mentioned above is so cozy that you might as well be some boots, but you are not, you are in the nice springy Mizuno Wave Rider 22.

When I start running in these, no matter the speed, I feel the pop from the midsole. It’s not so pronounced that you feel like you need to log a 5-6 minute mile when you are running in it.

Pros

• Midsole provides a cushion on your long and short runs
• The outsole is durable and substantial
• Able to transition to different surfaces
• Upper is well constructed and hugs your foot like a bear, but still providing enough flexibility to allow your toes to splay while running
• Value for the shoe is amazing since it is so durable

Cons

• Doesn’t feel super stable underfoot since the platform isn’t very wide
• Runs small (I would recommend going a ½ size up)
• The aesthetics are reminiscent of an orthopedic shoe
• Upper goes up high and tends to rub against your skin

Mizuno Wave Rider 22: A second chance at a first impression

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This year marks the 22nd iteration of the flagship shoe for Mizuno’s running collection and it is one that I have both enjoyed and been vexed by at times over the years - the Mizuno Wave Rider.

The last version that I laced up helped me log the miles and speed work required to notch my sole overall marathon championship five years ago.

Conversely, I almost didn’t even try them on because previous models had been too heavy and rigid to provide the forgiving feel and comfort required for such an arduous task. With this in mind, I was very eager to give this latest version the benefit of another go around as I conclude my latest training cycle.

Upper & Fit

From the outset, it is easy to see that the main update to this recent iteration is the upper. It boasts of an engineered mesh that is both breathable and very comfortable.

The shoe required almost no break-in period and felt very supple along the heel collar and through the lateral forefoot, two main places that can be troublesome for medium to large framed runners as well as those with wider feet, as this shoe does not generally come in multiple widths.

Like most Mizunos in my personal experience, they seemed to run about a ½ size short. If I were to give it a good comparison, standing in the shoe initially reminds me of the feel of the old school Brooks Ghost 5, a shoe that is on my Mount Rushmore of trainers.

The heel counter certainly has some structure to it but does not feel overly rigid or restrictive to natural ankle movement. After 55 miles of wear, it is maintaining its integrity well, with no wear spots nor pilling on the fabric. This is a tremendous feat for the miles I have logged in the extreme heat of late summer in southern Iowa.

As a matter of fact, the plush upper and heel materials leave the foot feeling caressed rather than chafed. It is immediately apparent that some great attention was paid to ensuring that the upper wicks moisture well enough to compensate for the added weight to this shoe compared with previous models.

On this note, the only downfall to the upper is just that - unnecessary weight.

While the bird logo is ever present on the lateral border of the Mizuno brand, this year (and it appears for the past 3 models of this shoe) the designers elected to place a stitched on piece of TPU or similar material at the midfoot as the logo on both the lateral and medial sides of the shoe.

While minuscule on its own, this superfluous design cue, combined with other curious choices, has the cumulative effect of tipping the scale of the shoe overall to the double-digit mark on the scale (almost 10 oz. for men's size 9 compared with around 9 oz just a short 5 models ago).

While previous models and competitors opting for a more modern welded or 3-D printed logo, it is interesting that this throwback has made a reappearance again on this model.

Midsole and Insole Cushioning Systems

One thing that stunned me with the Wave Rider 22 is that it has changed in terms of the overall proportion of cushioning and structure. The last model that I donned almost had the feel of a racing shoe on shorter speed sessions.

As mentioned earlier, the shoe has put on some weight, gradually gaining nearly a full ounce per shoe in recent years. The tradeoff is noticeable: while the shoe does feel heavy on long distance runs, the extra foam and Cloudwave support plate technology in the heel of the shoe cradle the foot more smoothly and with a less stark perception of ground reaction force for those with a naturally heavy heel strike.

For those with a more midfoot or forefoot strike (myself included) the 12mm heel to toe offset, coupled with the well-apportioned heel padding, can become overpowering when working through pure speed workouts on the track or for race pace days. I liken the shoe in this way to a midsize luxury sports sedan. It looks great and feels like a $50,000 machine, but you don't expect it to bury the needle or go 0-60 in any big hurry.

In terms of overall feel, the insole maintains the tradition Mizuno holds for very ample, yet beefy insoles. The Dynamotion Fit insole has already started to mold to my foot and when heated up and moistened by the first mile or two, it feels like a Tempur-Pedic mattress immediately underfoot, a friendly mediator between the runner and Mizuno’s legendarily firm midsole and arch support.

Where there are shortcomings here again is the cumulative effect of added weight. While the upper wicks quite well and stays moderately dry, the insole and strobel are noticeably less permeable and weigh one down after a good lather has been built in the workout.

With the presence of the Wave plate, it would be great to see some sort of moisture relief ports built into the strobel and midsole to allow a sort of additional drainage to address the shortcoming à la Asics’ Gel Noosa.

Outsole & Durability

The outsole of the shoe also holds true to recent form with Mizuno’s premium line of running shoes, with SmoothRide blown rubber compound in the forefoot and X10 carbon rubber compound in the heel for greater durability.

Thus far, I have noticed no appreciable wear and tear to the shoe. In fact, despite being used for track, treadmill and one 10 miles out on gravel and pavement, the sole unit looks almost as it did right out of the box.

The presence of flex grooves in the forefoot and a de-coupled heel unit give the shoe some flexibility but feels much more structured than the Riders of old. Much as previous models have, the shoe almost gives off the air of being a go-between of neutral and stability trainer.

Where this shoe really showed great comfort and feel was in the workplace. As a worker in the field of Physical Therapy, I primarily stand on either tile or hard concrete masked with a very thin carpet. Having worn these shoes for over two weeks in, they are truly a shoe that has helped fight the daily fatigue of standing long hours with the wave plate lending a helping hand to firmly grip and support the arch when the day gets longer than expected.

In the same vein, as a walking shoe, the Ride 22 felt superb underfoot when using a more heel to toe gait pattern as opposed to my habitual forefoot land and release that tends to fall more in line with my running stride.

In terms of overall appearance, the shoe is also holding up structurally quite well in the toe box and toe cap, which has been a recent problem for me as a father of three pushing a jogging stroller with a rather stiff foot controlled parking brake.

Like a broken record, the only thing that could make the shoe better would be a less is more approach with the carbon rubber in the heel (which is quite large and usually only placed in the heel rather than the full length of the outsole for weight savings).

Style

In terms of versatility, the overall design of the shoe is impressively chameleon-like.

With a style reminiscent of the MetaRun from Asics, this shoe exudes an aura of class and panache with understated colorways and contrasting accent colors (there is also a black with gold trim version for the Steelers or Hawkeye fan in you) that look as sharp on the roads as they do at the bar after 5, in the halls at work or at school.

They also seem to hold their color quite well in the upper due to the muted tones. In contrast to previous years, those seeking a bright and flashy number may need to look elsewhere for this year's model has strayed away from multiple colorway options (Although the Rider 21 boasted a vibrant Team USA-like edition and the Rider 20 featured a lime and gray number that looked pretty sharp and stands out in the crowd).  

For those of us with a relaxed enough dress code for athletic footwear, but who need a modest color scheme, this shoe is up to the task of providing long lasting support in a professional looking package.

Pros

• Generous fit in the forefoot and toe box for a tapered lasted shoe
• Superior heel cushioning, firm arch support, and overall feel to the foot
• Versatile color schemes ideal for going between work and play
• Above average breathable and quick-drying upper
• At MSRP $119.95 it is a bargain for those wanting premium cushioning and stability for a neutral shoe

Cons

• Very stiff feel and limited flexibility, even for a traditional-style neutral trainer
• At 12mm offset, the shoe has one of the highest offsets still offered in the industry
• Decreased moisture management performance from insole to the midsole and beyond
• Limited colorways and lack of vibrant colors may turn off those seeking to stand out from the pack

Overall Take

The MizunoWave Rider 22 has evolved from its roots as a sporty middleweight champ into a premium, high mileage trainer with above class features and durability ideal for those seeking maximum protection from the ground.

Disclosure

For the purpose of this review, I’d like to thank Mizuno for providing me with a pair of the Wave Rider 22.  No additional compensation was provided and the review process objective over the course of a normal life cycle of my daily training shoes.