SmoothRide Engineered, Composite Parallel Wave for superior shock absorption and dispersion with a great transition to boot. SmoothRide Engineered, solid rubber forefoot outsole design for durability and flexibility.

Rob's Review:

Summary:
Weighing in at 10.4 ounces (for men) the Wave Rider walks the line between a typical neutral cushioning shoe and a performance trainer. The Mizuno Wave cushioning system that consists of a flexible plastic plate in the midsole does provide enough cushioning that most runners could use this shoe as an everyday trainer. Yet the light weight, superb Dynamotion Fit, and high degree of flexibility makes this shoe feel very fast underfoot! The Smooth Ride engineering works with the Wave plate and VS-1 compound to provide a very smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off.
Changes:
Mizuno has kept the midsole and outsole the same in their newest update to the Wave Rider so the ride should feel the same. There are some slight changes to the upper which contribute to an overall better fit. First, the Rider 13 grabs the heel more effectively and second, the tongue sits a little better against the top of the foot which helps eliminate annoying or even painful spots in that area. These upper changes also contribute to the shoe losing 0.8 ounces from the previous model.

Upgrade to the new improved
Mizuno Wave Rider 13
here:

Stick with your
Wave Rider 12 at great savings here:

Technically Speaking:

MIDSOLE:

HYDROFLOW – Dynamic viscous ﬂuid units for heel & forefoot enhance midsole cushioning—attenuating shock with industry leading dampening and comfort.

BIOMOGO – We’ve taken the long-lasting cushioning of our MoGo midsole and made it environmentally friendly. How, you ask? By adding a non-toxic, natural additive to the MoGo compound that encourages anaerobic microbes to munch away once it hits the landﬁll.

DIAGONAL ROLLBAR (DRB) – A high-density post at the medial arch is engineered for pronation control and creates a smoother transition from the midstance phase into the propulsion phase.

DRB ACCEL – Enhances tunable torsion of the midfoot. Shank-like thermoplastic devices vary from single units of a set modulus, to dual-unit versions of varied modulus (tuned with higher stiffness for medial support, the lateral side less stiff to smooth the ride).

OUTSOLE:

HPR PLUS – A higher durability, abrasion-resistant rubber outsole compound that wears longer.

ENGINEERED STABLE POD CONFIGURATION –Midsole and outsole components are engineered to set the foot up in an efﬁcient, balanced position from heel strike to toe-off, offering maximum stability and responsiveness.

UPPER:

ELEMENT–Upper technology featuring superior microﬁber construction to provide weather protection in a light, supple, quiet fabric that doesn’t sacriﬁce breathability, durability, or comfort.