What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 25?
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Wave Rider 26 replaced the Wave Rider 25 in the fall of 2022 at $140, up $5. It added about 2 mm of Enerzy under the whole foot, moved the plate forward, and rebuilt the outsole for a smoother, quieter landing, at the cost of 0.3 oz.
At a glance
- The Wave Rider 26 is 0.3 oz heavier
- 6.5 mm more heel stack
- 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 25 vs 26.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeA classic traditional trainer, modernized, per RoadTrailRun's 9.29. Two millimeters more Enerzy and a full-contact outsole made the 26 smoother and less harsh than the 25 without changing what it was. Testers' one repeated flag: on a 12 mm drop, the forefoot still runs firm for recovery-day duty.
Stick with the Wave Rider 25 if
- You want the lighter shoe; the 26 gained 0.3 oz
- The 25's firmer, lower feel is the Mizuno you signed up for
- Clearance 25s in your size undercut it meaningfully
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the Wave Rider 26 if
- The 25's slappy outsole landing annoyed you
- You want a touch more foam under the same ride
- Your 25s are worn out; this is the same shoe, smoother
Where the Mizuno Wave Rider is now
Four generations separate the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 from the Wave Rider 30 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The Wave Rider 30 is 0.3 oz lighter
- 10.5 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 12 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $15
What loyalists said about the update
Positive and quiet. Reviewers from Believe in the Run to Forbes filed it as a dependable workhorse improved at the margins, and the community treated it the same way: a good year in the classic era, without the 25's cult following or the 27's peak reputation.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Wave Rider 25 stock
Old stock goneAmazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 25is 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 26, these come closest to what the Wave Rider 25 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 25: 0.5 oz heavier, 4 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $15 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 25: 0.4 oz heavier, 5 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $10 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 25: 0.8 oz lighter, 6 mm more heel stack, 4 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 still available?
- No. Amazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 25 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 26 a downgrade from the Mizuno Wave Rider 25?
- No. Most runners rate the Wave Rider 26 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much heavier is the Wave Rider 26?
- 0.3 oz heavier in a men's US 9: 10 oz against the Mizuno Wave Rider 25's 9.7 oz.
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Mizuno Wave Rider 30, released in 2026, 5 versions on from the Mizuno Wave Rider 25.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Mizuno Wave Rider 25?
- 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.