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The RW Takeaway: Mizuno’s longtime plated midsole still feels responsive at speed, but takes a back seat to a new, softer Enerzy foam at easier paces, continuing the Rider’s legacy as a versatile, high-mileage trainer.
- New Enerzy foam through the heel and midfoot feels softer and more responsive.
- Waveknit upper runs slightly warm, but still offers a secure lockdown and stretchy toe box.
- Thinned outsole rubber and guidance line improve flexibility, without loss of traction.
Price: $130
Type: Road
Weight: 10.1 oz (M), 8.5 oz (W)
Drop: 12mm
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Hardcore Rider fans often wax nostalgic of their favorite models. Some runners adored the 20th version for its more mellow ride and extra cush, others flashback fondly to the svelte upper and speed of the 17. Ten versions from now, both camps will reminisce on this version as a game-changer. The 24th model picks up where its predecessor left off, carrying over the sleek and stylish Waveknit upper of the 23, but sees its biggest midsole switch-up of the past five years. Taking the place of longtime U4icX is the all-new Enerzy cushioning, a thick wedge of foam in the heel that one tester dubbed “insanely soft.” The wave plate also flattens out to accommodate more foam beneath the midfoot, which gives the shoe a ride that feels less snappy, but smoother, than previous models.
While both the traditional mesh and knit-style Riders share the same midsole, the shoes diverge at the uppers. The Waveknit is a touch heavier, but offers more stretch and wiggle-room in the forefoot. One tester said the more relaxed fit of the knit material better served his feet on weekend 20-milers, though it could trap some late-July heat.
Pros
- New Enerzy midsole foam feels more responsive
- Very soft heel cushioning
Cons
- Upper can trap some heat
A Softer, Springier Foam
My first run in the Wave Rider was an easy 13 miles right out of the box, and as I’ve continued testing, I’ve found it’s a shoe that rewards those patient with a short break-in period. By the end of that first run, my initial forefoot hotspots had dissipated, but testers still agreed that this is a shoe that doesn’t offer much room around the ball of the foot, although the toe box feels sufficiently roomy. Combined with its very tall drop and exceptionally plush heel, the Rider appealed more to our heel-striking testers than to those who landed on their midfoot.
That’s good news for the Rider, since the vast majority of us are heel strikers. Still, every gait will notice the shoe’s slightly different ride compared to the 23, thanks to the new Enerzy foam. Mizuno reports that the material is 17% more responsive and 15% softer, and while our RW Shoe Lab has been closed due to COVID 19, I’d absolutely agree (as did our testers) based on our on-foot impressions. The heel cushioning is super soft, with a firmer forefoot, and transitioning from one to the other feels much smoother than previous models, in part due to the thinned and shortened wave plate. Though the snappiness of the wave plate is less noticeable at easy paces, and instead lets the new Enerzy foam be the star of the shoe, the Rider 24 remains responsive and lively at speed and for miles at a punch. The downside is that the Enerzy foam is mostly at the heel, so midfoot strikers like myself might feel like they’re missing out on that bouncy softness on touchdown. (Personally, I’d love to see a midsole of just Enerzy foam.) Overall, the shoe is heavier than the trendier lightweight trainers, but the trade-off is a protected ride that made me confident to tack on extra miles and kept my legs feeling fresher than expected at the end of long runs.
Same Durable Grip, Less Rubber
The added bonus of Enerzy foam is that it’s also more durable and withstands ground contact better than the previous U4icX foam. That allowed Mizuno to cut down on the amount of rubber on the outsole. The shoe still uses a decent layer of X10 solid rubber, but has more flex grooves and a deep guidance line where the new foam is exposed to the road. Compared to the 23, I felt the change did make the shoe feel more flexible, and although the exposed Enerzy foam shows wear earlier than the rubber, I haven’t found that it’s taken a toll on the shoe’s traction. It performed well even on the soaked and flooded roads post-tropical rainstorm. Plus, the gap in the rear of the outsole that liked to pick up hitch-hiking rocks has been flared out at the edges so debris is less likely to get lodged inside.
Sturdy and Strong Knit
The Waveknit Rider has a completely different look and feel than the standard mesh version. Both shoes provide a truly secure and locked-in feel; they just accomplish it differently. Whereas the standard model uses a snug air mesh throughout, this model has a thick, tightly woven knit that wraps the foot closely—with a little more stretch in the forefoot for toe splay. And while the tongue is pretty minimal on padding, it’s fully connected on the sides with smooth fabric, so none of our testers reported any issues with sliding, bunching, or blistering. With some extra support from an external heel counter, the thick knit lends a very stable ride for a neutral shoe. The only drawback is that our testers said it runs a little toasty.
What One Tester Said
Andrew D. | Tester since 2019
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Neutral
“This shoe is super comfortable, with insanely soft heel cushioning and a nice, smooth ride. This is a better shoe for runners who land on their heels, given the high drop and softer heel cushioning. I’m a forefoot striker, so I may not enjoy those benefits as much as others would. My only major criticism is that I started feeling mild discomfort pretty early during runs (especially downhill) near the ball of my foot. Despite those hotspots, the Wave Rider was very comfortable with a wide toe box, plenty of room for my toes to splay, and a secure fit.”
