Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 to the Wave Rider 28 and skip the Wave Rider 27?

Yes. Going Wave Rider 26 to Wave Rider 28 skips the Wave Rider 27, 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 Enerzy foam to Enerzy foam with a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.5 oz off in total, 10 oz to 9.5 oz in a men's US 9. Almost all of it came in the second update; the Wave Rider 27 weighed 9.9 oz.

Is the Wave Rider 27 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 9.9 oz against 10 oz for the Wave Rider 26 and 9.5 oz for the Wave Rider 28, on a 38.5 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Wave Rider 27 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Wave Rider get taller between the Wave Rider 26 and the Wave Rider 28?

Heel stack went 38.5 mm to 41 mm, by way of 38.5 mm on the Wave Rider 27. Drop held at 12 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.

Where does the Wave Rider 28 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?

Two versions on from the Wave Rider 26, and already replaced itself: the Wave Rider 29 arrived in 2025. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Wave Rider 28 against it before deciding.

Mizuno Wave Rider 26 vs Wave Rider 28

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 26 from the Wave Rider 28. Net change: 0.5 oz lighter, 2.5 mm more heel stack, a new midsole. 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 28Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's

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

Wave Rider 26 · 2022

Wave Rider 28 · 2024

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 26 to Wave Rider 272023Refined, same shoe
Wave Rider 26 vs 27 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 26?
Step 2Wave Rider 27 to Wave Rider 282024Faithful successor
Wave Rider 27 vs 28 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 27?

Wave Rider 26 vs Wave Rider 28: 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 26	Wave Rider 28
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	10 oz	9.5 oz
Widths	D, 2E	D, 2E
Upper	Soft, thin jacquard mesh with recycled content	Seamless jacquard air mesh with a gusseted tongue
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	38.5 mm	41 mm
Forefoot stack	26.5 mm	29 mm
Drop	12 mm	12 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	Full-length Enerzy foam	Enerzy foam with a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate
Plate	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, moved forward	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot, widened
VALUE
List price at launch	$140	$140

Or buy the Wave Rider 27 instead?

The Wave Rider 27 is the value play if you find it discounted. It carries most of what the Wave Rider 28 added while selling as an older model, and moving one version at a time is the smaller adjustment.

Buy the Wave Rider 27

Sizes running out

Discontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.

Men's: Check remaining stock

Women's stock is gone.

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 to the Wave Rider 28 and skip the Wave Rider 27?: Yes. Going Wave Rider 26 to Wave Rider 28 skips the Wave Rider 27, 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 Enerzy foam to Enerzy foam with a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.5 oz off in total, 10 oz to 9.5 oz in a men's US 9. Almost all of it came in the second update; the Wave Rider 27 weighed 9.9 oz.
Is the Wave Rider 27 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 9.9 oz against 10 oz for the Wave Rider 26 and 9.5 oz for the Wave Rider 28, on a 38.5 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Wave Rider 27 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Wave Rider get taller between the Wave Rider 26 and the Wave Rider 28?: Heel stack went 38.5 mm to 41 mm, by way of 38.5 mm on the Wave Rider 27. Drop held at 12 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
Where does the Wave Rider 28 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?: Two versions on from the Wave Rider 26, and already replaced itself: the Wave Rider 29 arrived in 2025. If you are shopping old stock anyway, price the Wave Rider 28 against it before deciding.