Mizuno Wave Rider 26

No more expensive than the next shoe. I like the lightweight feel of the Wave Rider series and think the cushioning is adequate for daily training

The drop is too high. Knee pain is common because of it. The look is amazing though. Might have a bit too much padding for my liking though.

agreatrunningshoe/wonstateinit

The 26 is a nice upgrade from 25. It has all the qualities that the wave rider is known for without running “hot”. My feet were cooler in the 26’s I use these in the road and hard pack trail and have had a solid experience. 

Over the rollercoaster years of my post-collegiate running life, I’ve tried to reinvent myself multiple times. (I can look back now and, thankfully, discern a path that eventually rose to find me. And I can laugh at myself more, too.) But through it all, I’m relieved that Mizuno has allowed their Wave Rider to iterate from year to year without trying as hard as I did to become someone i just wasn’t (and didn’t have to be). 
From year to year, this shoe’s fit and ride has remained a great fit for runners with an even foot strike and a moderate arch. As we get older, and running injuries creep in more readily, having a shoe that knows who it is means so much.

I first bought Wave Riders in 1997.... and then missed them for a few years.... but fell in love again around 2012 and have always owned a pair since; they're the most reliable and consistent shoe I've ever worn, perfectly suitable for my orthotics, minimal concessions to faddish evolution and consistent feel year on year. 

the heel wraparound became some kind of hard plastic, and the shoes seem to stiffen with version 24 and up. A good solid shoe has been turned to junk.