Wave Rider 28 vs Wave Rider 29

The Wave Rider 28 is Mizuno's long-running neutral daily trainer, and version 28 keeps doing what this line has always done: give you a smooth, dependable road running shoe you can lace up every day without a second thought. It is not the softest or the lightest daily trainer out there. At 280g and with a traditional 12mm drop, it leans firmer and more old-school than the tall, bouncy foam trainers filling shelves right now. That is the point. You get a settled, planted ride that rewards steady mileage and a natural heel-to-toe roll rather than a springy pop. We rate it as a workhorse for runners who want structure and longevity over trend. If you have run in Wave Riders before and liked them, the 28 will feel like home. If you want maximum softness, look elsewhere. For an honest daily miles shoe at RRP 140 pounds, it earns its keep. The newer Wave Rider 29 refines the same recipe if you want the latest version.

The Wave Rider 29 is Mizuno at its most dependable: a neutral daily training shoe built to soak up mile after mile without drama. This is the workhorse of the Mizuno road range, and version 29 leans softer and smoother than the firm, snappy Riders longtime fans remember. At 258g with a 37.5mm heel stack it sits right in the middle of the daily trainer market, cushioned enough for long runs but stable and grounded enough that it never feels wobbly or vague underfoot. You get a versatile running shoe that handles easy days, steady miles and the occasional longer effort with the same unfussy composure. It will not win you a personal best and it is not trying to. What it offers instead is comfort, consistency and the kind of build quality that racks up big weekly mileage. If you want one road shoe to do the bulk of your training, the Wave Rider 29 is an easy shoe to recommend and an easy one to live with.