Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 to the Wave Rider 26 and skip the Wave Rider 25?

Yes, but going Wave Rider 24 to Wave Rider 26 means taking one change in a single step: the Wave Rider 25 is where the ride moved. Drop holds at 12 mm, so the difference is foam and fit rather than geometry: Enerzy heel insert with U4ic forward, plastic Wave plate heel-to-midfoot to Full-length Enerzy foam.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

It nets out. The Wave Rider 24 and the Wave Rider 26 both weigh about 9.9 oz in a men's US 9, though the Wave Rider 25 sat at 9.7 oz in between.

Is the Wave Rider 25 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 9.7 oz against 9.9 oz for the Wave Rider 24 and 10 oz for the Wave Rider 26, on a 32 mm heel and a $135 list price. Availability decides it: Amazon's Wave Rider 25 stock is gone in both men's and women's sizes, so it is not a live option.

Did the Wave Rider get taller between the Wave Rider 24 and the Wave Rider 26?

Heel stack went 32 mm to 38.5 mm, by way of 32 mm on the Wave Rider 25. Drop held at 12 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.

Where does the Wave Rider 26 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?

Two versions on from the Wave Rider 24, and already replaced itself: the Wave Rider 27 arrived in 2023. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Wave Rider 26 against it before deciding.

Mizuno Wave Rider 24 vs Wave Rider 26

Two versions apart. Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details

THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 2 years separate the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 from the Wave Rider 26. Net change: 6.5 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $10 more at list. The Wave Rider 25 is where the character changed, and that is the update Wave Rider 24 owners notice first.

Wave Rider 24 · 2020

Wave Rider 26 · 2022

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Wave Rider 24 to Wave Rider 252021Changed character
Wave Rider 24 vs 25 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 24?
Step 2Wave Rider 25 to Wave Rider 262022Refined, same shoe
Wave Rider 25 vs 26 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 25?

Wave Rider 24 vs Wave Rider 26: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Wave Rider 24	Wave Rider 26
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	9.9 oz	10 oz
Widths	D, 2E	D, 2E
Upper	Engineered air mesh	Soft, thin jacquard mesh with recycled content
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	32 mm	38.5 mm
Forefoot stack	20 mm	26.5 mm
Drop	12 mm	12 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	Enerzy heel insert with U4ic forward, plastic Wave plate heel-to-midfoot	Full-length Enerzy foam
Plate	None	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, moved forward
VALUE
List price at launch	$130	$140

Or buy the Wave Rider 25 instead?

The Wave Rider 25 is not a live option: Amazon's stock is gone in both men's and women's sizes. This is a two-shoe decision between remaining Wave Rider 24 pairs and the Wave Rider 26.

Buy the Wave Rider 25

Old stock gone

Amazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and discontinued stock does not come back.

Old stock is gone. See what replaced it

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 to the Wave Rider 26 and skip the Wave Rider 25?: Yes, but going Wave Rider 24 to Wave Rider 26 means taking one change in a single step: the Wave Rider 25 is where the ride moved. Drop holds at 12 mm, so the difference is foam and fit rather than geometry: Enerzy heel insert with U4ic forward, plastic Wave plate heel-to-midfoot to Full-length Enerzy foam.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: It nets out. The Wave Rider 24 and the Wave Rider 26 both weigh about 9.9 oz in a men's US 9, though the Wave Rider 25 sat at 9.7 oz in between.
Is the Wave Rider 25 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 9.7 oz against 9.9 oz for the Wave Rider 24 and 10 oz for the Wave Rider 26, on a 32 mm heel and a $135 list price. Availability decides it: Amazon's Wave Rider 25 stock is gone in both men's and women's sizes, so it is not a live option.
Did the Wave Rider get taller between the Wave Rider 24 and the Wave Rider 26?: Heel stack went 32 mm to 38.5 mm, by way of 32 mm on the Wave Rider 25. Drop held at 12 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
Where does the Wave Rider 26 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?: Two versions on from the Wave Rider 24, and already replaced itself: the Wave Rider 27 arrived in 2023. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Wave Rider 26 against it before deciding.