Mizuno Wave Rider 29 Review: The Daily Trainer That Gets Regular Runners

Mizuno describes the latest edition of its long time neutral trainer as an “excellent choice for everyone from beginners to marathon fans who like moderate cushioning.” A little ho-hum compared to its lofty description of this shoe’s predecessor, the Wave Rider 28, which Mizuno called “the ultimate daily trainer.”

Those who read my review of the Wave Rider 28 may recall that even I, as a long-time Brooks devotee, was impressed by the comfort and technology Mizuno shoes had to offer. The 28 has indeed seen plenty of easy miles as part of my new standard rotation. But then came the 29.

Sure, the Wave Rider 29 might not be as initially exciting as Mizuno’s super trainers, the Neo Vista 2. But don’t count it out – this update is not only excellent, it definitely gives the 28 a run for its money for that “ultimate daily trainer” title.

A moderately cushioned shoe that will handle a lot of miles, this is a neutral stable daily trainer for the everyday runner.

Mizuno Wave Rider 29 Overview

The Mizuno Wave Rider remains Mizuno’s top selling everyday neutral trainer for a reason, and that was made even clearer with the 29th edition.

As good as the Wave Rider 28 was, the 29 is somehow even better. However, big fans of the 28 will notice some differences.

The stack height is 1mm higher and the weight actually is a little lighter (by 0.4 and 0.3oz in the mens’ and womens’ shoes, respectively). This has made the shoe feel just a tad softer and like it can pick up the pace a little more. It’s still no speed demon, but you won’t feel held back either.

What I noticed first upon trying on the Wave Rider 29 was that the cushioning felt noticeably softer than the 28, though still was not too squishy.

Updated in the 29, you’ll find nitrogen-infused Mizuno ENERZY NXT compound throughout the entire midsole, which Mizuno says is “Designed to maximize energy return and cushioning for optimum performance.”

Additionally, the heel drop has decreased from 12mm to 10mm, which may not be good news for those with Achilles issues, but we believe is a win for everyone else.

The gusseted tongue, outsole, Wave plate and jacquard mesh upper remain the same. 

The next thing I noticed is that, just like in the 28, while the midfoot and toe box were both plenty roomy, the heel fit nice and snug. This is a positive for me, someone with narrow heels but toes that like to spread out.

I was intrigued to find that I didn’t notice the stiffness of the Pebax Mizuno Wave plate as much in the 29 as I had in the 28. Perhaps that was due to the slightly higher stack height and lower heel drop in the 29 – or the softer cushioning. Either way, I still believe it did its job in helping keep the shoe stable despite the additional cushioning.

As a reminder this isn’t a max cushioned running shoe. It’s got great cushion, but more like what you want in a daily trainer than a recovery run shoe.

While it’s definitely a neutral running shoe, that plate does provide a level of stability to your movements, not so much a plate for speed like a super trainer. If you don’t like any motion control in a shoe, this wouldn’t be the option for you.

As promised, the Mizuno ENERZY NXT also provided noticeable energy return and resilient cushioning that lasted throughout runs of all distances. The jacquard mesh upper held up well yet was still plenty breathable even in the hot and humid SC summer weather.

These don’t look a whole lot different from the Wave Rider 28, and that’s a good thing. I was a big fan of the appearance and colorway I received in the 28 and am an even bigger fan of the darker colorway I received in the 29 – a must when walking and running with a dog who loves puddles.

Mizuno Wave Rider 29 Fit

The upper and fit of the Wave Rider 29 is nearly exactly the same as the 28. As I mentioned before, these shoes have a roomy toe box and midfoot but a snug fit around the heel.

The midfoot isn’t SO loose that it feels sloppy, however, and can easily be adjusted to fit more snugly by lacing tighter.

Those who like a lower-profile, super padded heel might not like the slightly higher, tighter fit of the heel collar, but anyone with narrow heels like mine will appreciate it. My heels didn’t move at all, and I didn’t have any issues with rubbing or blisters. I do wear higher socks, which may help – if you prefer super low, no-show socks, your mileage may vary.

The gusseted tongue was the ideal thickness for me – not too thick where it put unnecessary pressure on the top of my foot, but not so thin I felt the laces through it either. It hugged my foot perfectly and didn’t move.

Mizuno Wave Rider 29 Feel

I had a good feeling about how the Wave Rider 29 would feel before I tried them on, given how much I liked the 28, but I was not prepared for just HOW comfortable they would feel.

The 29 felt immediately softer and more well-cushioned, without losing stability. I continued to reach for these for every run, then run/walk, then walk I did as my arthritic knee demanded less impact – and they felt great at every pace.

At 10mm, the drop is lower than the 28, but this seems to be the norm of many similar trainers as the stack height gets higher. For example, my other long-time favorite, the Brooks Ghost, has also decreased to a 10mm drop in the newest iteration (the 17). I didn’t notice the difference, but that may be because I’ve gotten used to that from the Ghost and Brooks Glycerin (also 10mm).

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