What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 26?
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Wave Rider 27 replaced the Wave Rider 26 in June 2023 at the same $140 list. It was a fine-tune year: a lighter, more breathable upper on an unchanged platform, and arguably the peak of the classic 12 mm formula.
- Mizuno Wave Rider 27Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- Weight is unchanged
- Drop is unchanged at 12 mm
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Wave Rider 26 vs 27.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe peak of the classic formula. RoadTrailRun called it an effective, modern fine-tune of a classic, and Doctors of Running made it their pick for high-drop loyalists and committed heel strikers. Nothing moved underfoot; the upper just got out of the way. If you want the old Wave Rider at its best, this is the version.
Stick with the Wave Rider 26 if
- The 26 fits you fine; the platform is identical
- You run warm and the 26's thinner mesh breathes similarly
- Discounted 26s beat full-price 27s for the same ride
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the Wave Rider 27 if
- You want the best-fitting version of the classic Rider
- Your 26 upper wore out before its midsole did
- You are stockpiling the 12 mm formula; this is its high point
Where the Mizuno Wave Rider is now
Four generations separate the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 from the Wave Rider 30 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The Wave Rider 30 is 0.6 oz lighter
- 4 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 12 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
What loyalists said about the update
The hoarder's pick of the 12 mm era. The reference quote in aggregated threads comes from a veteran of the line: the 27s were amazing, the 28s underwhelmed, and the 29s had them questioning the future. When loyalists mourn the old Rider, the 27 is usually the shoe they mean.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Wave Rider 26 stock
Old stock goneAmazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 26is 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 27, these come closest to what the Wave Rider 26 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 26: 0.2 oz heavier, 2.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $10 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 26: the same weight, 1.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $5 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 26: 1.1 oz lighter, 4 mm less drop, $5 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 still available?
- No. Amazon's stock of the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 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 27 a downgrade from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26?
- No. Most runners rate the Wave Rider 27 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Mizuno Wave Rider 30, released in 2026, 4 versions on from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Mizuno Wave Rider 26?
- 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.