The following post was sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Mizuno
Over the past year, I have bounced through running shoes like Kim Kardashian bounces through boyfriends. Back in the day, I relied on my trusty Brooks Adrenalines until I discovered the Pure line. Then, I found the Mizuno Evo Cursoris followed by the Wave Rider 16s and Wave Sayonaras. I loved some instantly, didn’t completely hate any of them, but overall preferred a few: the Pure Cadence, Mizuno’s (now defunct) Evo Cursoris, and ironically, the Wave Rider 16.
So, when I received the opportunity to give the new Wave Rider 17s a shot, I was curious. This is the first time in awhile that I have worn the same shoe in two consecutive models, so I wondered if I would notice any changes. And you know what? I definitely did!
The Good:
Mizuno has done a hell of a job in cutting the weight of this shoe! At 8.8 ounces, the WR 17s are super light, especially for a traditional (not minimalist) running shoe. If memory serves, they are almost an ounce lighter than the WR 16s, and this is a definite plus for me. As y’all know, I tend to trend towards minimalist shoes with a splash of traditional footwear thrown into the mix, so a lighter shoe is perfect.
My initial run in the WR 17s was while I was at Cedaredge over Thanksgiving. The cabin is on the side of the Grand Mesa, so you have no choice BUT to run up a hill! I did two miles straight up the Mesa (650 elevation gain) before turning around and enjoying the easy two mile descent. During that time, I specifically noticed that the shoes felt very light and not-at-all clunky like I have come to expect in some traditional running shoes. Score! And, just like with the WR 16s, I totally love the cushiony bounce that comes along with this model. I still think the Wave Rider series is my favorite among all of the traditional running shoes I’ve worn!
The Questionable:
When I initially mashed my foot into the shoe, I had a flashback of the first time I tried on the Wave Sayonaras in June. The toe box wasn’t narrow, per se, but it definitely felt a bit more snug than I’d prefer. I wiggled my toes for a bit and realized it wasn’t necessarily the width of the box that I was noticing; instead, it was the height. I almost felt like my toes were being suffocated by a low ceiling or something! (Is that weird?!)
Honestly, I expected this to be a huge problem once I started running, but in reality, I never noticed that tight feeling again. My guess? I know that Mizuno redesigned the upper to make it more sleek and seamless, in addition to cutting weight. Maybe this “tightened” the toe box a bit? No idea really, but in the end, it didn’t matter. To date, I’ve only only run 9 miles in the shoes (including some trail time with Tals!), and that initial feeling has not been a problem. I’ll check back in next month to give y’all an update after I’ve logged some more miles!
Bottom Line:
If you’re already a Mizuno fan who loves the Wave Rider series, you won’t be disappointed with the 17s! If you’re a runner who loves traditional shoes but is looking for a lighter feel with serious cushion, definitely check these out. I suspect most people will be happy with them!
The Wave Rider 17s will go on sale December 5 (tomorrow!) and MSRP is $114.95.
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Are you a Mizuno fan? Are you brand loyal with your shoes?
10 Comments
IM SO SO SO MIZUNO CURIOUS and currently (whispers) VFF brand loyal 🙂
I’m not necessarily loyal with shoe brands…I wear what works, which changes all of the time, specifically based upon current need (gym, treadmill, road, trail, etc). Surprisingly Mizuno is one company I have NEVER run in! Glad to hear the narrow toe box hasn’t given you issues, I’d be curious to hear if you feel the same about it after a longer run?
Agreed. I’m not totally sold on these ones yet, but they worked enough that I’m willing to give them a shot over the next few weeks. Vamos a ver!
Too much advertising and sponsored posts. Good luck with your blogging “career” I’m done with ya.
Hey Nrmvrk (sorry, but I don’t know your real name!) Sorry to hear that you feel this way and I’m sad to see you go! I just pulled up your comment history and noticed you tend to only comment on my sponsored posts and that they are always complaints. I mention this only because I inherently feel the need to defend myself…human nature, I suppose. Regardless, I am sorry to lose you as a reader and only wish I had heard from you more frequently.
Heather, I LOVE your response to nrmrvrk. I also appreciate your review. I have some as well, and had similar findings (which I will be blogging about this evening).
I have been taking a break from the running, but shoes is one of the few things that I don’t have strong ties to any brand. When I get back into running I definitely want to try these.
We’ve been selling the 17s for like a week now! Maybe only running specialty stores did before? The customers who have tried them on loved them. I need to try them out at work tomorrow!
I bet your store is special 🙂 Seriously, I’m curious to hear what you think– what do you run in now? I ran in them on a treadmill the other day and I’m still torn!
Hi – after reading reviews across the internet I had high hopes for the 17’s. I’ve run in the Wave Rider for the last 3 years dating back to the 14 model. I’m in my 6th pair now, after out-mileaging the previous shoes. I was able to try a pair of the 17’s yesterday and I just don’t care for them. The rounded cushioned support I am used to is gone. The shoe is flatter and the reduction of fabric on the top to me, feels less stable. I agree with your comment about the Sayonara’s – I totally see more similarity to that model than the previous Wave Rider models. Unfortunately, I won’t be buying the new 17’s. The only think I do like about them is they made the price of the 16’s go down – which is good because I will be stocking up!