Which is lighter, the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 or the Wave Rider 28?

The Wave Rider 28, by 0.4 oz in a men's US 9 (9.5 oz vs 9.9 oz).

Do the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 and Wave Rider 28 come in the same widths?

Yes. Both run in D, 2E for men's sizes, so a width that fit in the Wave Rider 27 carries over to the Wave Rider 28.

How do the stack heights compare?

38.5 mm heel and 26.5 mm forefoot on the Mizuno Wave Rider 27, against 41 mm and 29 mm on the Wave Rider 28. That is 2.5 mm more under the heel and 2.5 mm more under the forefoot. See the stack height note in the table above: the published figures changed convention mid-lineage.

Is the Wave Rider 28 still the newest Wave Rider?

No. The Wave Rider 29 replaced it in 2025, so the Wave Rider 28 now sells as an older model and usually below its $140 list price.

Mizuno Wave Rider 27 vs Wave Rider 28

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

Faithful successor

THE SHORT ANSWER

Whichever your size still exists in. The Wave Rider 27 is discontinued at retail, so remaining pairs sell against a thinning size run, while the Wave Rider 28 has a full one.

Mizuno Wave Rider 27Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's
Mizuno Wave Rider 28Men's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Wave Rider 27 · 2023

Wave Rider 28 · 2024

Every spec, side by side

Spec	Wave Rider 27	Wave Rider 28
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	9.9 oz	9.5 oz
	Mostly from the lighter jacquard upper.
Widths	D, 2E	D, 2E
Upper	Lightweight breathable engineered mesh	Seamless jacquard air mesh with a gusseted tongue
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	38.5 mm	41 mm
	Real foam this time, no convention change. RunRepeat's lab measured the drop at 14.7 mm against the quoted 12, among the highest they have tested.
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
	The first taste of NXT, as a hidden softening layer rather than a new ride.
Plate	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot, widened
VALUE
List price at launch	$140	$140

Weighing whether to switch at all, rather than which of these two to buy? What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 covers the verdict on the update, what loyalists made of it, and the closest alternatives from other brands.

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: Check remaining stock

Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026.

Buy the Wave Rider 28

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Which is lighter, the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 or the Wave Rider 28?: The Wave Rider 28, by 0.4 oz in a men's US 9 (9.5 oz vs 9.9 oz).
Do the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 and Wave Rider 28 come in the same widths?: Yes. Both run in D, 2E for men's sizes, so a width that fit in the Wave Rider 27 carries over to the Wave Rider 28.
How do the stack heights compare?: 38.5 mm heel and 26.5 mm forefoot on the Mizuno Wave Rider 27, against 41 mm and 29 mm on the Wave Rider 28. That is 2.5 mm more under the heel and 2.5 mm more under the forefoot. See the stack height note in the table above: the published figures changed convention mid-lineage.
Is the Wave Rider 28 still the newest Wave Rider?: No. The Wave Rider 29 replaced it in 2025, so the Wave Rider 28 now sells as an older model and usually below its $140 list price.