Discontinued · road · Daily / Long run · $160
Mizuno Wave Rider 28: 41 mm heel stack, 12 mm drop, 276 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. At 41 mm of heel stack this sits in max-cushion territory; legs stay fresher on long efforts, but the platform is tall. 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. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is wide, with space for the toes to spread late in long runs. It runs small; most runners size up a half. 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
269 g / 9.5 oz
6 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
41 mm
5 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 taller 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 Adrenaline GTS 24(2024)
283 g / 10.0 oz · 39 mm · 12 mm drop · — · $140
GuideRails keep the ankle honest — classic support without a rigid 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.