The Wave Rider is a staple, neutral daily trainer which has a cult following due to its versatility, comfortable upper and its ride consistency from year to year.
The Wave Inspire is the stability version of the Wave Rider. It matches the Wave Rider in fit, comfort and versatility. Which of these shoes is the right choice for you?
The Wave Rider has a single-foam midsole setup with a thermoplastic wave plate situated in the heel. The heel of the Wave Rider is medium-firm and the forefoot super soft. The Wave Rider offers a very versatile ride which has enough cushioning for long runs and thanks to the wave plate, is snappy and firm enough for tempo runs.
The Wave Inspire has a similar midsole setup to the Wave Rider but in the heel, the wave plate has higher crests on the medial sides which prevent the midsole from compressing so the medial side is more supportive than the lateral side. The wave plate in the heel helps to shift weight smoothly from heel to midfoot.
The Wave Rider and Wave Inspire are not responsive in the forefoot and only slightly responsive in the heel due to the cavity in the heel that allows the heel to compress down into the cavity upon heel loading.
Both the Wave Rider and the Wave Inspire have a break-in period of about 100 kilometres for the foam to bed-in and flatten so that the ride becomes more efficient and the foam and plastic parts of the midsole can work together.
The drop of the Inspire is 12mm as is the drop of the Wave Rider which makes both trainers suitable for heel strikers because there is more foam in the heel to cushion heel strikes.
The Wave Rider and Wave Inspire share similar outsoles. They have harder, more durable rubber on the heels called X-10 and softer, blown rubber in the forefoot. X-10 rubber is durable but can be loud when the heel strikes the ground. Overall, the outsoles have excellent durability.
The Wave Rider has an engineered Air mesh upper with a secure fit and a toe box with adequate height. It has a gusseted tongue so no tongue slide occurs. The padded heel counter ensures that no heel slippage occurs but some might find the heel counter to come up a bit too high. The Wave Rider fits true to size and also comes in regular and wide versions.
The Wave Inspire also has an engineered mesh which was developed to be softer and have a more wearable day-to-day look. It has a narrow fit from the toe to the heel Cushioning in the tongue and heel collar are adequate and result in a secure fit. The Wave Inspire fits true to size and also comes in regular and wide (2E) versions.
If you’re a runner looking for a dependable, neutral everyday trainer, the Wave Rider is for you. The Wave Rider’s great versatility means that it has enough cushioning for long runs and is firm enough for tempo runs. Minor yearly tweaks mean that the Wave Rider is consistent in fit and ride from update to update.
If you’re a runner who loves the fit and ride of the Wave Rider but craves a bit more support, the Wave Inspire is the shoe for you. The Wave Inspire is just as versatile as the Wave Rider and just as comfortable but is suited to over-pronators.
