Mizuno Wave Rider 17

We’re stating the obvious when we say that these are very cool looking shoes. Yes, looks aren’t everything, but when it comes to having to dress your battered runners feet in footwear that you’ll be donning for extended periods of time, you want to be stylish. Aesthetically, the Wave Rider 17 is a winner, but is there substance to the style? Hell yeah!

Made as a lightweight, neutral, general mileage shoe, they tick all the boxes when it comes to comfort and feel. The fit is snug and supportive throughout and thanks to the new U4ic midsole material the Wave Rider 17 has a significantly reduced weight from its predecessor but still the same durability and improved comfort. One thing we love is the seamless upper design. It aids in weight reduction but also makes for a better fit. That said, we advise wearing sox as there are still some points of friction.

The toe box seems marginally wider than the 16. This is purely from a feel point of view and may not actually be the case. Nonetheless, it probably makes the shoe better suited to a greater range of people. The sole has increased flexibility that makes for a more dynamic and responsive shoe, particularly if you are doing fast efforts or even racing in them (Not that they are made for racing). What’s more, the cushioning is sensational, perfectly absorbing the pounding of 10 miles on the road and even handling some short trail runs on rocky terrain.

The sole offers good traction on most surfaces, but as is the case with a lot of road specific footwear, they weren’t so suited to wet or muddy conditions. But then again, this aint what they were made for. Stick to the grass, dirt, paths and roads and you’ll never have a problem.

The Rider is a quality shoe for neutral runners after a versatile, responsive and smooth feeling ride. Thanks also to the neutral fit, they’re great for those that wear orthotics. You can wear them for pretty much any training run, from the long stuff, to the quick stuff, and can expect to get several months of wear from them.

RRP $200

Weight: 250g (US9 Mens)

Colours:
Men White Fiesta / Olympian Blue
Women White Dewberry / Dark Slate

Stockist info: www.mizuno.com.au or 1300 796 457