What replaced the Mizuno Wave Rider 27?
Updated August 7, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Wave Rider 28 replaced the Wave Rider 27 in June 2024 at the same $140 list. It slid a softer Enerzy NXT layer under the plate, raised the published stack, and lightened the upper. It is also, in hindsight, the last 12 mm Wave Rider.
- Mizuno Wave Rider 27Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Mizuno Wave Rider 28Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Wave Rider 28 is 0.4 oz lighter
- 2.5 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 12 mm
- New midsole foam
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Wave Rider 27 vs 28.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Faithful successorThe last of the old guard, received mildly. More stack, less weight, and a hidden NXT layer kept the 28 recognizably the classic Rider, and Doctors of Running graded it B+ to A-. But RunRepeat measured the midsole firm and the effective drop enormous, and the shoe landed as the least-loved modern version: fine, familiar, and flat next to what the 27 had already perfected.
Stick with the Wave Rider 27 if
- The 27 is the sharper version of the same idea and still findable
- The 28's taller heel feels tippier to you
- You are unmoved by a roomier toebox and gusseted tongue
Move to the Wave Rider 28 if
- You want the last 12 mm Rider with the freshest stock and fit
- The extra forefoot foam helps your longer days
- Your size in the 27 is gone; the character is the same
Where the Mizuno Wave Rider is now
The line has moved three versions past the Mizuno Wave Rider 27, and the current model is now the Wave Rider 30 (2026). Measured against your shoe:
- The Wave Rider 30 is 0.5 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 mildest reception of the modern era, 63% positive in aggregated threads. Praise came from the line's core, heel strikers and calf-and-Achilles cases who want exactly this geometry, plus the 2E option. Complaints centered on a hard midfoot past 8 miles. Its retrospective role is bigger than its reviews: this is the last 12 mm Wave Rider, and the clearance pair traditionalists hunt.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Wave Rider 27 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Wave Rider 28, these come closest to what the Wave Rider 27 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 27: 0.3 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 27: 0.2 oz heavier, 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 27: 1 oz lighter, 4 mm less drop, $5 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the Mizuno Wave Rider 27, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the Wave Rider 28 a downgrade from the Mizuno Wave Rider 27?
- No. The Wave Rider 28 keeps the same ride and fixes small things. If you liked the Mizuno Wave Rider 27, the update carries over without an adjustment period.
- How much lighter is the Wave Rider 28?
- 0.4 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 9.5 oz against the Mizuno Wave Rider 27's 9.9 oz.
- Is the Mizuno Wave Rider still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Mizuno Wave Rider 30, released in 2026, 3 versions on from the Mizuno Wave Rider 27.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Mizuno Wave Rider 27?
- 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.