What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 24?
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Wave Rider 25 replaced the Wave Rider 24 in June 2021 at $135, up $5. It went full-length Enerzy foam above and below a new plant-based PEBAX RNEW Wave plate, the update reviewers called the first truly modern Mizuno.
At a glance
- The Wave Rider 25 is 0.2 oz lighter
- Drop is unchanged at 12 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Wave Rider 24 vs 25.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Changed characterThe first truly modern Mizuno, in RoadTrailRun's telling: full-length Enerzy turned a famously firm shoe fun and energetic without touching the 12 mm formula, and their testers scored it 9.1 to 9.5. One went as far as saying that but for the drop it might be his favorite daily trainer of all time.
Stick with the Wave Rider 24 if
- You liked the 24's firmer U4ic forefoot feel
- Clearance 24s cover your miles; the fit is near-identical
- You are suspicious of first-year foam formulas
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the Wave Rider 25 if
- You want the full-length Enerzy bounce; this is where the modern Rider starts
- The 24's midfoot transition felt dated to you
- You keep shoes a long time; the 25 aged into a favorite
Where the Mizuno Wave Rider is now
Four generations separate the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 from the Wave Rider 30 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The Wave Rider 30 is 0.5 oz lighter
- 10.5 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 12 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $20
What loyalists said about the update
A durable fan favorite. Years later, aggregated threads still surface owners calling the 25 one of the best pairs they have ever run in. The only recurring reservation was the thing loyalists liked: the very noticeable 12 mm drop.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Wave Rider 24 stock
Old stock goneAmazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 24is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and discontinued stock does not come back. The best current match is the Brooks Ghost 18.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Wave Rider 25, these come closest to what the Wave Rider 24 did.
- 10.2 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 36 mm heel
- $150 list
The Ghost is the most natural cross-shop: the archetypal traditional neutral daily on the firmer side of soft, with a far bigger shoe-wall presence. The Rider counters with the Wave plate's snap and better outsole durability.
Against your Mizuno Wave Rider 24: 0.3 oz heavier, 4 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $20 more at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Pegasus is the other firm, responsive high-drop workhorse, $5 to $20 less at list. The Air unit and the Wave plate are rival answers to the same question: pop without mush.
Against your Mizuno Wave Rider 24: 0.2 oz heavier, 5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Ride is the balanced do-everything neutral in the same price class, and its 8 mm drop is what the Wave Rider 30 now matches. The Ride is the softer and simpler of the pair; the Rider keeps the plate snap.
Against your Mizuno Wave Rider 24: 1 oz lighter, 6 mm more heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $15 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 still available?
- No. Amazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 24 is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and old-model stock does not come back. Your move is the successor or a close alternative.
- Is the Wave Rider 25 a downgrade from the Mizuno Wave Rider 24?
- Not a downgrade, but a different shoe. The Wave Rider 25 scores well with new buyers while changing the ride that Mizuno Wave Rider 24 loyalists bought it for. Read the spec changes before assuming it will feel familiar.
- How much lighter is the Wave Rider 25?
- 0.2 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 9.7 oz against the Mizuno Wave Rider 24's 9.9 oz.
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Mizuno Wave Rider 30, released in 2026, 6 versions on from the Mizuno Wave Rider 24.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Mizuno Wave Rider 24?
- The Brooks Ghost 18. The Ghost is the most natural cross-shop: the archetypal traditional neutral daily on the firmer side of soft, with a far bigger shoe-wall presence. The Rider counters with the Wave plate's snap and better outsole durability.