I got the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 for the purpose of review from Mizuno Germany. However, they have no control over this review and I will try to give my honest opinion on the shoe.
Before I will write about the shoe a few facts about me, that are important for the review. My current easy run pace is between 5.40 and 5.50 min/km, my longrun pace between 5.20 and 5.40 min/km, my tempo pace between 4.40 and 4.50 min/km and I run some faster 1 kilometer repeats at 4.10 min/k pace. So now you know at what paces I tested the shoe.
What does Mizuno say about this shoe
This shoe is an excellent choice for everyone from beginners to marathon fans who like moderate cushioning. The incorporation of NITROGEN INFUSED MIZUNO ENERZY NXT takes the softness and energy output to the next level in this shoe. It helps you smoothly transition from ground contact to pushing off. The MIZUNO WAVE structure works in concert to support forward propulsion and smooth weight transfer.
How I used the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 so far
Till today I ran about 100 kilometers in the shoe. Before I write a shoe review, I normally do quite some runs in the shoes, from easy recovery runs up to tempo runs, intervals and a long run. This shoe is considered as a daily trainer.
To be honest, most of my runs in this shoe were at easy paces. I did one run with segments at marathon goal pace and some strides after my easy runs. The longest run in this shoe was a 16 kilometer easy run.
Fit of the shoe and upper
The shoe for me fits true to size. The upper hugs the foot nicely and there is no problem with the lockdown. I have normal wide feet but I think that even runners with wider feet will have no problem with the shoe.
The upper is very comfortable, with a roomy toe box and a very structured heal cup with a lot of padding, that holds the foot nicely. I had no heel slippage, no blisters and no hotspots during my runs. The material itself is on the thicker side and not super breathable. Same goes for the tongue, it is very plush and gusseted.
Laces are a bit stretchy and when I first tried the shoe it took me two or three attempts to get a secure lockdown. Not a major issue but something you should now. Once looked down, the tongue stays in place and is not sliding around.
As expected from a daily trainer, the upper is very comfortable but not the most breathable. In warmer conditions your feet might heat up a bit during runs. Overall I would say that it’s a very standard upper for a daily trainer.
Midsole, outsole and performance of the shoe
The Midsole of the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 is made of Mizuno’s ENERZY NXT foam. It’s a nitrogen infused material, that provides high softness and good energy output. In the heel and midfoot area, there is Mizuno’s WAVE PLATE, that supports forward propulsion and smooth weight transfer.
I don’t want to compare the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 to other daily trainers on the market. But in my opinion, Mizuno made a big step forward with this midsole foam, compared to many other brands and shoes I ran in over the last years. The majority of running shoe brands use EVA based foams in their daily trainers, some EVA and PEBA blended foams. To have a running shoe in the daily trainer category with a nitrogen infused material is bold.
The ride is a blend of soft and bouncy but not too soft or super bouncy. During easy runs I land mostly on my heel and it felt like a smooth roll to my toes. The wave plate inside the midsole does the job. It provides just enough support inside the foam that the transition from landing to toe off feels almost effortless. Combined with the 10 mm drop from heel to toe, the Mizuno Wave Ryder 29 is a reliable daily trainer.
When picking up the pace up to marathon and half marathon effort I didn’t sink into the foam. Instead I got a nice forward propulsion. However, for faster running I would still prefer a shoe with a slightly more aggressive setup. Not that this shoe can not handle faster paces but there are shoes on the market, even from Mizuno, that do the job better.
The outsole of the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 is made of Mizuno’s X10 carbon rubber. I ran in the shoe in dry ant wet conditions and I can tell you, that I had no issues with grip, not even on some tighter turns. As for durability: well, let me tell you, that after 100 kilometers there is no visible wear, not even on the outsole of the shoe. If you ask me, the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 is a shoe that will go the distance.
How will I use the shoe
I think that somehow I already answered this question. The shoe is build as an do it all running shoe but I will use the shoe for my easy runs mostly and during the winter months, when roads can get a bit slippery, probably also on my slightly faster runs. Mainly because of the outsole grip.
Just a few days ago I came back from Budapest, where I ran the Budapest Marathon. I used the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 as my travel shoe. Walked in the shoe around the city and did my shakeout run the day before the marathon in the shoe. As such, the Mizuno Wave Ride 29 can be used also as you travel or vacation shoe. If you plan to do walks around a city or you want to go for a run, this shoe is a great choice.
Would I recommend the Mizuno Wave Rider 29
It’s a reliable daily trainer with a modern midsole and superb outsole grip. Not the most aggressive setup. As such I think, it is a great option for those new to running or people, who do a walk / run routine. The shoe will suite a lot of runners, looking for a durable daily trainer.
In my opinion it is even a good option for those, seeking some stability in a running shoe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a stability shoe. But the wide platform in addition with the wave plate, make it a very stable shoe to run in. Because of the nitrogen infused midsole foam I also think, that this shoe is a good choice for heavier runners.
If you are, on the other hand, looking for a more responsive shoe, with lots of cushioning, this shoe might not be the best choice.
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