Mizuno is a Japanese sports equipment more popularly known in golf but is gradually gaining traction in the local running scene.  On this post I take a closer look at the 17th incarnation of the Wave Rider.

Design

At first glance the Mizuno Wave Rider 17 looks more of a racer than a trainer, even the weight is very light for a trainer at 250 grams or less than 9 ounce (US Men’s size 9).  The white version is a looker as you seldom see trainers in white, but it does come in other color options.

* Courtesy Mizuno.ph

Features

• U4ic midsole delivers lightweight, resilient cushioning.
• Dissolving upper fit with new DMF execution and soft, supple mesh materials.
• SmoothRide Engineering for a brilliant run.  Lateral Forefoot Sculpting for smooth touchdown and transition.
• Blown rubber forefront with deep flex grooves for optimal flexibility and cushioning.

Road Test

I first used my Mizuno Wave Rider 17 about a month ago.  I had the simple intention of breaking it in for a few kilometers so I planned a quick short run after office hours.  I picked a familiar route from my office in Makati to Bonifacio Global City for this purpose, at least 5 kilometers apart.  This involved elevated walkways, underpasses, overpasses, and some pedestrian crossings during afternoon rush hour so it was expectedly at a somewhat leisurely pace with combinations of running and walking.

One of the first things I noticed with the Mizuno Wave Rider 17 is its weight—it is very light and comparable to other lightweight shoes that I had.  For a trainer, it is probably the lightest one I’ve ever had.  I even forget I’m wearing them after a few minutes of running.

Fitting was good albeit a bit wide for my narrow feet.  I don’t know if the laces were just a bit loose since I didn’t bother adjusting them out of the box, but nonetheless they remain secure and my feet didn’t slip out of the shoes at any time during my test run.

Cushioning was good and stable, pretty much behaving like motion control or stability shoes, but don’t expect it to be similar to shoes marketed as cushioning.  It is more than sufficient though to have a comfortable ride even on concrete pavements.

Traction was also excellent.  I was presented with various types of surfaces while plying the Makati-BGC route, both wet and dry, but I did not experience any slippage.

The color though was a bit of my concern since it is white.  There were some portions that I had to run on unpaved sections of the road so I was a bit concerned of getting soil onto the shoe.

Upon reaching my destination in BGC my feet were hardly tired at all—no soreness or any discomfort whatsoever.  Since there was still daylight I decided to keep up my momentum and explore more of BGC on foot.  At the end of the day I managed to complete around 11 kilometers.

Verdict

Mizuno Wave Rider 17 is a great trainer: it looks good, very light, comfortable, and seems to be very durable.  I had accumulated at least 50 kilometers with my Mizuno Wave Rider 17 and I can hardly see any wear and tear on the soles.  It had also gone better after a month of practically daily use as it had become more flexible.  I found it a bit stiff when I wore it the first time since I’m used to wearing minimalist shoes.  And because of its light weight you can wear both as daily trainers and racers.

If there’s one thing I think that could be improved with the Mizuno Wave Rider 17 is its upper.  While it is not hot per se, I wish it would be more “breathable” especially for tropical countries like the Philippines where it could get really hot.  But for what it’s worth though I never found my feet soaking wet with sweat while wearing Mizuno Wave Rider 17 so I assume ventilation is sufficient.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Fit and comfort
• Traction and durability of sole

Cons:

• A bit stiff out of the box (breaking in needed)

Overall, Mizuno Wave Rider 17 gets my recommendation but make sure to break it in first for optimal performance.  It comes in various color options if you find white to be a dirt magnet, and it has a very reasonable SRP of ₱4,995.

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