Mizuno Wave Rider vs Saucony Ride
Comparing the current Wave Rider 30 and Ride 19. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
These two land within 0.5 oz and 4.5 mm of each other on paper, so the spec sheet will not decide it. Fit and foam feel will. Both sit in the same role (daily trainer). The Ride 19 lists $5 lower.
- Mizuno Wave Rider 30Stock unverifiedMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Saucony Ride 19Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Wave Rider 30 | Ride 19 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.4 oz | 8.9 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Engineered knit with an updated heel counter | Engineered mesh with a padded gusseted tongue |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 42.5 mm | 38 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 34.5 mm | 30 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Dual-layer nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT, softer over firmer | Supercritical PWRRUN+ foam |
| Plate | Full-length plant-based PEBAX RNEW Wave plate | None |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $150 | $145 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
The Wave Rider has done it 3 times in 7 versions, most recently with the Wave Rider 30 in 2026, and the Ride has done it 2 times in 7 versions, most recently with the Ride 17 in 2024. If you want a shoe you can rebuy without reading a review first, the Ride has the steadier record.
Buy the Wave Rider 30
Stock unverifiedAvailability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Buy the Ride 19
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Mizuno Wave Rider lineage and the Saucony Ride lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider or the Saucony Ride lighter?
- The Ride 19, by 0.5 oz in a men's US 9 (8.9 oz against 9.4 oz).
- Can I switch from the Mizuno Wave Rider to the Saucony Ride?
- The drop matches at 8 mm, which is the spec that usually forces an adjustment, so most runners move across without one. Check the width and toebox instead.
- Which is more cushioned, the Mizuno Wave Rider or the Saucony Ride?
- The Wave Rider 30, on stack height: 42.5 mm under the heel against 38 mm. Stack is not the whole story, though; the foams differ too.
- Which costs more, the Mizuno Wave Rider or the Saucony Ride?
- The Wave Rider 30, by $5 at list ($150 against $145). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated August 7, 2026.