Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 to the Wave Rider 27 and skip the Wave Rider 26?

Yes. Going Wave Rider 25 to Wave Rider 27 skips the Wave Rider 26, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: Full-length dual-density Enerzy foam to Full-length Enerzy foam.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.2 oz on in total, 9.7 oz to 9.9 oz in a men's US 9. The Wave Rider 26 took it to 10 oz first.

Is the Wave Rider 26 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 10 oz against 9.7 oz for the Wave Rider 25 and 9.9 oz for the Wave Rider 27, on a 38.5 mm heel and a $140 list price. Availability decides it: Amazon's Wave Rider 26 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 25 and the Wave Rider 27?

Heel stack went 32 mm to 38.5 mm, by way of 38.5 mm on the Wave Rider 26. Drop held at 12 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.

Where does the Wave Rider 27 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?

Two versions on from the Wave Rider 25, and already replaced itself: the Wave Rider 28 arrived in 2024. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Wave Rider 27 against it before deciding.

Mizuno Wave Rider 25 vs Wave Rider 27

Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 2 years separate the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 from the Wave Rider 27. Net change: 0.2 oz heavier, 6.5 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $5 more at list. Neither update in between changed what the Wave Rider is, so this is the same shoe refined twice rather than a new one.

Mizuno Wave Rider 27Sizes running outMen's at Amazon

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Wave Rider 25 · 2021

Wave Rider 27 · 2023

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 25 to Wave Rider 262022Refined, same shoe
Wave Rider 25 vs 26 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 25?
Step 2Wave Rider 26 to Wave Rider 272023Refined, same shoe
Wave Rider 26 vs 27 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 26?

Wave Rider 25 vs Wave Rider 27: 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 25	Wave Rider 27
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	9.7 oz	9.9 oz
Widths	D, 2E	D, 2E
Upper	Engineered mesh with recycled content	Lightweight breathable engineered mesh
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	32 mm	38.5 mm
Forefoot stack	20 mm	26.5 mm
Drop	12 mm	12 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	Full-length dual-density Enerzy foam	Full-length Enerzy foam
Plate	Bio-based PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot
VALUE
List price at launch	$135	$140

Or buy the Wave Rider 26 instead?

The Wave Rider 26 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 25 pairs and the Wave Rider 27.

Buy the Wave Rider 26

Old stock gone

Amazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 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 25 to the Wave Rider 27 and skip the Wave Rider 26?: Yes. Going Wave Rider 25 to Wave Rider 27 skips the Wave Rider 26, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: Full-length dual-density Enerzy foam to Full-length Enerzy foam.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.2 oz on in total, 9.7 oz to 9.9 oz in a men's US 9. The Wave Rider 26 took it to 10 oz first.
Is the Wave Rider 26 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 10 oz against 9.7 oz for the Wave Rider 25 and 9.9 oz for the Wave Rider 27, on a 38.5 mm heel and a $140 list price. Availability decides it: Amazon's Wave Rider 26 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 25 and the Wave Rider 27?: Heel stack went 32 mm to 38.5 mm, by way of 38.5 mm on the Wave Rider 26. Drop held at 12 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
Where does the Wave Rider 27 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?: Two versions on from the Wave Rider 25, and already replaced itself: the Wave Rider 28 arrived in 2024. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Wave Rider 27 against it before deciding.