I was sent a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 19 shoes to test. After spending a week running in them, I can say that they’re not the shoes for me. But there are some mighty nice things about them.

The basics:

• Classification: Neutral
• Weight: 8 1/4 oz.
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 12oz
• Retail: $120

Observations:

The shoe laces seemed longer than other shoes… I didn’t lay them out next to another pair of shoes, just a random and unverified observation. The shoes are definitely attractive, earning lots of “ooohs” and “aaaahs” when I posted them on Instagram. The upper felt soft, flexible, and comfortable. But once I started to run I felt like the shoes were pretty firm. I’ve heard reports from some that the shoes started out firm and softened up over time but I want my shoes to feel “right” from the beginning. My footfalls were a lot louder in these shoes, I think due to the more inflexible sole.

The shoes are available from most online retails.
Buy Mizuno Wave Rider 19 on Amazon (<affiliate)

However, if you are completely new to these, you may want to hit up a specialty run store where they should let you run around the store/block a bit in the shoes to get a feel for the shoe. If you are already in previous versions of the Wave Rider, it’s similar but with some minor adjustments.

I will find a good home for these to live, I have plenty of running friends who will probably enjoy the feel. That’s the beauty of running shoes… there are options for everyone!