Mizuno Wave Rider 30

The Mizuno Wave Rider 30 is the daily trainer for neutral runners looking for a balanced, cushioned and reliable ride to pile on the miles; in other words, a classic daily trainer, as its name suggests, much like the Ride 19. Within the Mizuno range, it is still the most iconic shoe despite the deep transformation it has gone through recently, which seasoned runners know well.

Compared with its predecessor, the Wave Rider 29, the changes are notable. The upper drops the jacquard mesh for a knit with lots of ventilation holes; it looks delicate but breathes better and, together with a tongue stitched to the sides, gives a more modern fit. The heel counter has been redesigned to improve lockdown without adding weight, and the fit stays true to size, with enough room in the toe box for those long runs where the foot tends to swell. It is built to last, with no flashy gimmicks, since the trend seems to be less about a nice design and more about colourways that look good on "Insta".

The midsole debuts a dual layer with nitrogen-infused Mizuno Enerzy NXT on top and EVA below, combined with a Mizuno Wave plate that runs the full length of the shoe for the first time, which raises the stack height significantly. Mizuno is experimenting in edition number 30: they clearly need to define again who they want to be and commit to it to find their place in the market. With an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop, the geometry makes for a smooth transition from the heel, while the wider base in the midfoot adds extra stability without adding weight. Ideal for daily runs, recovery runs and controlled long runs.