Wave Rider 28 vs 880 15

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 New Balance 880 v15 is the definition of a dependable neutral daily trainer: a road running shoe built to soak up steady miles rather than chase them. It sits in New Balance's line as the sensible, plush workhorse below the pricier Fresh Foam X 1080, and that is exactly its job. You get a tall, well-cushioned platform and a roomy, forgiving fit that suits easy runs, long runs and the daily grind of marathon training. It is a soft, protective ride first and foremost. At 286g it is on the heavier side, so this is not the shoe you reach for when you want to run fast, and there is no plate or standout tech giving you free energy at pace. What you get instead is comfort you can trust and an outsole that keeps going. For runners who want one reliable trainer to log the bulk of their week, we rate it as a safe, comfortable buy, if not an exciting one.