Brooks Ghost 12 vs Mizuno Wave Rider 23 comparison

The Brooks Ghost 12 and the Mizuno Wave Rider 23 were both released last year. They are one of the most popular shoes in the line up of their respective brands. They may seem different, but they are actually quite similar shoes. They are in the same price range and they both are neutral running shoes with medium to high cushioning. So, which one should you get?

Brooks Ghost 12

• Weight: 264 grams
• Heel stack: 31 mm
• Forefoot stack: 19 mm
• Drop: 12 mm

The Ghost 12 has two different types of material in the midsole. Part of the heel are made up out of Brooks DNA LOFT material which is a blend of EVA foam with rubber and air. The rest of the midsole is made up out of BioMoGo DNA which is a material by Brooks that is a bit more responsive.

The two materials in the midsole makes for quite a snappy ride, but it still provides cushioning in the heel. It does give you enough cushion for those medium runs but is also snappy enough for some a little bit faster runs.

Mizuno Wave Rider 23

• Weight: 241 grams
• Heel stack: 32 mm
• Forefoot stack : 20 mm
• Drop: 12 mm

The midsole consists of two foams, most of the midsole is made out of Mizuno’s U4ic foam and the other one is their softer U4icX foam which is mainly in the heel. And then there is the plastic wave plate in the heel, which is there for the stability and shock absorption.

It is not a super flexible shoe, it is a neutral running shoe which does give you some stability due to the TPU plate that is underneath the midfoot.

Comparison

The Mizuno Wave Rider 23 and the Brooks Ghost 12 are pretty comparable shoes. They both have dual density midsoles and are good for heel strikers. If you are looking for a bit more medial support, than the Ghost 12 is a better option. But if you are looking for a softer feeling in the heel, the Wave Rider 23 is better. The midsole of the Ghost is a bit softer and the upper a bit more plush compared to that of the Wave Rider 23. But the Wave Rider is a little bit lighter. However, the Ghost has a bit of a wider forefoot than the Wave Rider.

Which one is the better of the two depends on personal preference. Both are good for heel strikers, although personally, I think the Wave Rider is a bit better for heel strikers than the Ghost 12. Both have a medium to plush feeling in the midsole, although they are not as plush as for example the Asics Nimbus 22 or the Saucony Triumph 17.

Both the Ghost and Mizuno are very good every day training shoes that could work for lots of different types of runners, they are alright for shorter faster distances and good for longer distances even up to a marathon. These are the types of shoes that, if you are only going to have one or two pairs of running shoes, these are good to have. I like both of them, and although they are quite similar, they are not the same. I like the upper of the Ghost a bit more than the Wave Rider, but I like the cushioning in the heel of the Wave Rider more than than of the Ghost. Which of the two is best, depends on how much of a heel striker you are, how much space you want in the toe box and if you like more of a plush upper or not.