The Japanese brand has long been known for its iconic Wave technology, where a stabilizing plastic plate is placed in the midsole. The plate varies in stability depending on whether the shoe is meant to offer more or less stability
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In 2019, removed the plate from their flagship series . Stability was now found by increasing the amount of foam in the midsole, thus also enhancing the shoe's comfort at the same time: They called the technology Foam Wave.
Five years later, the plastic plate remains one of the differences between the and : Wave Sky 8 focuses on a comfortable and smooth running experience, while Wave Rider 28, without being a stabilizing shoe, offers more stiffness and aids in a more responsive foot transition.
But which of the two should be your next ? Read here to learn more about the differences.
Rider or Sky? Faithful trainer regardless
If I were to generalize with one sentence, it would be: Durable shoes where you can be sure that kilometer 500 feels like the first kilometers in the shoes.
A big downside of modern shoes, if you ask me, is that the new and very soft foam materials quickly lose their appeal. This is not a concern with either Rider 28 or Sky 8.
If my assumption, based on my experiences with previous models, is correct, then the 8 and 28 will feel almost identical on run number 100 as on the first run. And this is particularly impressive for Wave Sky 8, whose midsole provides a very special comfort.
Wave Rider 28- An old school midsole
The midsole on is a mix of Mizuno's Enerzy and Enerzy NXT foam materials. The latter offers great energy return while keeping the shoes soft – not quite as soft as other max-cushioned shoes on the market, but that doesn't bother me. The energy return is particularly noticeable. Mizuno used a technology they call U4icX in the midsole: What it specifically entails, I'm not sure, but something works.
's midsole also consists of a blend of the two foam materials but in a different combination – and it is quite noticeable. Wave Rider 28 is somewhat firmer compared to Wave Sky 8. The firmer midsole gives Wave Rider 28 a somewhat old school feel, in a running shoe industry where the goal often is to be the softest.
Wave Sky 8 has an 8 mm drop, and Wave Rider 28 is at 12 mm. Both have a traditionally high drop: Something most will recognize from earlier running shoes.
Surprising Upper - Mizuno Wave Sky 8
Also on the uppers, the two shoes are different. Wave Sky 8 features a so-called Smooth Stretch Woven upper, which at first glance most closely resembles regular fabric. Still, the material delivers great comfort, locking the foot in place without pinching anywhere. Even though the upper looks dense and heavy, it gives a lot, and I haven't experienced any breathability issues with the shoe.
Comparing with the upper of Wave Rider 28, which resembles any other upper, it's clear that Wave Sky is in a higher price range. The somewhat tougher mesh used on Wave Rider 28 does lock the foot in place but doesn’t allow much room for my foot. I don't have a particularly wide foot, but I had issues with Wave Rider 28's fairly narrow fit: Be aware of this.
Near-Indestructible Outsoles
The shoes' outsoles testify to my initial sentence: The shoes are durable. Both shoes come equipped with large portions of outsole, protecting the midsole from stones and asphalt. Both shoes have outsoles that are segmented, ensuring the foot can move naturally during the stride.
Yet here, Wave Sky 8 has the upper hand: The more segmented zones of the shoe mean a more flexible midsole, which pairs well with the dynamic foot transition I experienced with Wave Sky 8. Additionally, Mizuno used their X10 rubber in the outsole, delivering Mizuno's best durability in stressed areas.
On the other hand, Wave Rider 28's midsole and outsole are distinctly divided between the inner and outer sides; a technology Mizuno calls SmoothRide. This also aids the stabilizing plastic plate in reducing pronation speed, which all runners have.
Luxury or Old-School Cool
So, a picture emerges of two traditional training shoes. Neither wins awards for being the softest or fastest. However, I'm certain that the feeling these shoes provide will last a long time – a really long time.
When trying the two shoes, there's no doubt why Mizuno Wave Sky 8 is 300 kroner more expensive than its little sibling Wave Rider 28. The combination of the soft yet responsive midsole and the shoe’s premium upper gives the Wave Sky series a more luxurious feel. That said, you’ve always gotten a lot of shoe for your money with – also in the Wave Rider series.
28 appeals to runners of the old school. Although the midsole appears high, the shoe delivers a firm feel that few shoes provide anymore. If you want a softer shoe, the upgrade in 8 is noticeable, for a few hundred kroner more.
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