Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 28 to the Wave Rider 30 and skip the Wave Rider 29?

You can, but treat the Wave Rider 30 as a new shoe rather than a restock. Both the Wave Rider 29 and the Wave Rider 30 reworked the ride, so a Wave Rider 28 owner takes two character changes at once: Enerzy foam with a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate became Dual-layer nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT, softer over firmer and the drop moved 12 mm to 8 mm.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

It nets out. The Wave Rider 28 and the Wave Rider 30 both weigh about 9.5 oz in a men's US 9, though the Wave Rider 29 sat at 9.3 oz in between.

Is the Wave Rider 29 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 9.3 oz against 9.5 oz for the Wave Rider 28 and 9.4 oz for the Wave Rider 30, on a 39 mm heel and a $150 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Wave Rider 29 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Wave Rider get taller between the Wave Rider 28 and the Wave Rider 30?

Heel stack went 41 mm to 42.5 mm, by way of 39 mm on the Wave Rider 29. Drop moved 12 mm to 8 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.

Where does the Wave Rider 30 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?

It is the current model, two versions on from the Wave Rider 28 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.

Mizuno Wave Rider 28 vs Wave Rider 30

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 28 from the Wave Rider 30. Net change: 1.5 mm more heel stack, a drop change from 12 mm to 8 mm, a new midsole, $10 more at list. Both updates in between reworked the ride, so the Wave Rider 30 is two character changes away from what you own.

Mizuno Wave Rider 28Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's
Mizuno Wave Rider 30Men's at Amazon Women's

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

Wave Rider 28 · 2024

Wave Rider 30 · 2026

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 28 to Wave Rider 292025Changed character
Wave Rider 28 vs 29 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 28?
Step 2Wave Rider 29 to Wave Rider 302026Changed character
Wave Rider 29 vs 30 What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 29?

Wave Rider 28 vs Wave Rider 30: 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 28	Wave Rider 30
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	9.5 oz	9.4 oz
Widths	D, 2E	D, 2E
Upper	Seamless jacquard air mesh with a gusseted tongue	Engineered knit with an updated heel counter
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	41 mm	42.5 mm
Forefoot stack	29 mm	34.5 mm
Drop	12 mm	8 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	Enerzy foam with a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate	Dual-layer nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT, softer over firmer
Plate	PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot, widened	Full-length plant-based PEBAX RNEW Wave plate
VALUE
List price at launch	$140	$150

Or buy the Wave Rider 29 instead?

The Wave Rider 29 is worth a look only if you want the ride it introduced, because that is the update that changed the shoe. Buying it to soften the jump does not work: you would be adapting to the same change either way, just at an older spec.

Buy the Wave Rider 29

Stocked at Amazon

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

Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Mizuno Wave Rider 28 to the Wave Rider 30 and skip the Wave Rider 29?: You can, but treat the Wave Rider 30 as a new shoe rather than a restock. Both the Wave Rider 29 and the Wave Rider 30 reworked the ride, so a Wave Rider 28 owner takes two character changes at once: Enerzy foam with a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate became Dual-layer nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT, softer over firmer and the drop moved 12 mm to 8 mm.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: It nets out. The Wave Rider 28 and the Wave Rider 30 both weigh about 9.5 oz in a men's US 9, though the Wave Rider 29 sat at 9.3 oz in between.
Is the Wave Rider 29 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 9.3 oz against 9.5 oz for the Wave Rider 28 and 9.4 oz for the Wave Rider 30, on a 39 mm heel and a $150 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Wave Rider 29 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Wave Rider get taller between the Wave Rider 28 and the Wave Rider 30?: Heel stack went 41 mm to 42.5 mm, by way of 39 mm on the Wave Rider 29. Drop moved 12 mm to 8 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.
Where does the Wave Rider 30 sit in the Wave Rider lineup now?: It is the current model, two versions on from the Wave Rider 28 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.