Discontinued · road · Daily / Long run · $160
Mizuno Wave Rider 27: 38 mm heel stack, 12 mm drop, 279 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for daily, long run, at a target pace of 7:30–10:00 /mi on road.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Mizuno Wave Rider 29.
Mizuno tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 38 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A tall 12 mm drop tips weight forward off the heel, which usually suits heel strikers and calves that dislike low-drop shoes. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.40 per mile at $160.
For the foams and plates Mizuno uses across its line, read the Mizuno brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
279 g / 9.8 oz
4 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
38 mm
2 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
12 mm
6 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$160
Level with the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Mizuno line it is heavier than the brand's median (266 g / 9.4 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (40 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Brooks Ghost 16(2024)
269 g / 9.5 oz · 36 mm · 12 mm drop · — · $140
Smooth, predictable and forgiving — the safest landing spot for easy miles.
Mizuno Wave Inspire 21(2025)
286 g / 10.1 oz · 38 mm · 12 mm drop · — · $150
Wave-plate stability that guides firmly without a traditional post.
Brooks Glycerin StealthFit 21
283 g / 10.0 oz · 38 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $180
Brooks Glycerin StealthFit 21: 38 mm heel stack, 10 mm drop, 257 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Adidas Supernova Solution
278 g / 9.8 oz · 36 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $150
Adidas' support daily with Support Rods for mild guidance.