Mizuno Wave Rider 29 vs Wave Rider 30
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Both are still stocked, so this is a real choice: the two weigh the same, and older models usually sell under list once a successor ships.
- Mizuno Wave Rider 29Men's at AmazonWomen's
- Mizuno Wave Rider 30Stock unverifiedMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Wave Rider 29 | Wave Rider 30 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.3 oz | 9.4 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Two-layer jacquard mesh with reinforced eyelets | Engineered knit with an updated heel counter |
| Roomier throughout; Doctors of Running notes many former 2E wearers fit the standard D now. Breathability is the knock. | ||
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 39 mm | 42.5 mm |
| Real foam, into modern high-stack territory. Running Warehouse's calipers read slightly higher at 44/36 with the same 8 mm gap. | ||
| Forefoot stack | 29 mm | 34.5 mm |
| Drop | 10 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | Full-length nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT foam | Dual-layer nitrogen-infused Enerzy NXT, softer over firmer |
| Plate | Pebax Wave plate, heel-to-midfoot, flattened and more flexible | Full-length plant-based PEBAX RNEW Wave plate |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $150 | $150 |
| OTHER CHANGES | ||
| Wave plate | Heel-to-midfoot | Full-length, under a mild rocker |
| The first full-length Wave plate in the line's history. Marathon Sports called the result more cohesive heel to toe than any previous version. | ||
| Drop | 10 mm | 8 mm |
| 12 to 10 to 8 mm in two years. The retreat from the traditional geometry is complete. | ||
Weighing whether to switch at all, rather than which of these two to buy? What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 covers the verdict on the update, what loyalists made of it, and the closest alternatives from other brands.
Buy the Wave Rider 29
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Buy the Wave Rider 30
Stock unverifiedAvailability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Which is lighter, the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 or the Wave Rider 30?
- Neither by a meaningful margin. Both weigh about 9.3 oz in a men's US 9.
- Do the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 and Wave Rider 30 come in the same widths?
- Yes. Both run in D, 2E for men's sizes, so a width that fit in the Wave Rider 29 carries over to the Wave Rider 30.
- How do the stack heights compare?
- 39 mm heel and 29 mm forefoot on the Mizuno Wave Rider 29, against 42.5 mm and 34.5 mm on the Wave Rider 30. That is 3.5 mm more under the heel and 5.5 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 30 still the newest Wave Rider?
- Yes. The Wave Rider 30 is the current Mizuno Wave Rider, listing at $150 at launch.