Occasionally, something spectacular, fun, and exciting appears in the running shoe market. Another exciting shoe has arrived, and the biggest surprise for some is who's behind it all!
has surprised us greatly over the past year with a fantastic update of the marathon shoe Rebellion Pro 2, the fun and exciting tempo trainer Rebellion Flash 2, and now they're ready to launch the ultimate super trainer, .
Mizuno has long known they've created something unique. In December 2023, they began revealing a mysterious shoe that immediately sparked great interest. At the time, we had already seen and tried it in the office, and we were more than excited for this launch.
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Mizuno Neo Vista - Smooth bounce
I've run about 80 km in , and I'm sure this shoe is the real deal. Some shoes take time to understand their purpose, but not Neo Vista. It was as clear as a crisp spring morning in the Norwegian mountains that this shoe is here to conquer the soft shoe market. It's almost as if Mizuno designers have found the source code for creating a fantastic super trainer.
When you put it on, you immediately notice the softness and forward roll. It's not unlike the feeling I got when I first put on
v1, but some things make
a more runable shoe.
Not everyone will agree, but this is my opinion, and the basis for this review will be a comparison with what I can only say is one of the most successful new running shoes in the last five years, New Balance Fuel Cell SuperComp Trainer v1.
Mizuno Neo Vista has an incredibly low weight for its height and softness. The midsole has a full rocker from heel to toe, unlike SuperComp Trainer v1, which has most of the rocker placed further forward towards the front of the shoe.
While you find a carbon plate in New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1, you find a nylon plate inside the Mizuno Neo Vista midsole, which now only contains the brand new Mizuno Enerzy Nxt foam.
With a nylon plate, Mizuno Neo Vista has a more flexible midsole construction, making the takeoff less abrupt and increasing the softness under the arch. It's so smooth and effortless to run in, and a dream on longer runs where you want to feel comfortable but still want to keep a decent pace.
Mizuno Neo Vista - Versatile
Versatility is where differentiates from NB SC Trainer v1. Yes, the midsole is soft, but it's still a shoe that can handle faster-paced runs. In this test period of about 80 km, I've tried all types of runs in Neo Vista. Fast and slow, long and short, and where I found limitations, they were small.
Neo Vista can handle most paces, and surprisingly, it shines the most when you hit a moderate pace and get that extra bounce from the new Mizuno Enerzy Nxt midsole, which seems to become more springy and softer the faster you run.
At some point, though, it becomes too soft, which is where I think Neo Vista starts to hit its limits. This still makes Mizuno Neo Vista a clear candidate as a half marathon or marathon shoe for those who want a soft and comfortable shoe for longer runs in their daily training.
My maximum speed limit for Mizuno Neo Vista is around 4:00 min/km pace. This is slightly above my threshold pace. I'd choose a lighter shoe if I were doing faster interval training or tempo runs. Everything up to this pace is a pleasure.
Just remember, this is very subjective, and I know the other testers at RunningXpert mostly use Neo Vista as a shoe for long and soft days.
The outsole has good coverage, and the rubber is very soft and grippy. Softer rubber lasts shorter, but with the amount of rubber present, we're confident the outsole will be reliable and durable.
Mizuno Neo Vista - Just a sock
The other new feature of
is the new upper, which is made of a very comfortable and flexible knit that magically still has enough hold to keep the foot in place.
I'm usually not a fan of knitted uppers and like a bit more structure around the foot, and I think Neo Vista "sock" does a good job on daily runs and general road running.
The upper consists of a seamless, tongue-less design of stretchy knit material. There are some areas around the midfoot with enhanced structure, but comfort is the main feature. I can imagine the knitted upper becoming the most divisive part of the shoe.
The fit is comfortable, albeit a bit wide due to the stretchy upper, and maybe a few mm long. It's still "true to size" for all our testers, so I think you should stick to your size as long as your feet aren't between sizes.
Mizuno Neo Vista - The limits
The biggest limitations of Neo Vista are few, but they can be more divisive than usual.
The midsole is springy and soft, but high. And if you have a high midsole and a stretchy upper, you get less structure around your foot and a more unstable shoe. We haven't had any issues with this, but some may want more structure in their daily training.
Knitted uppers are also divisive. Either you like them a lot, like Emil, or you don't. The upper fits very comfortably around your feet but isn't the best for keeping your foot in place in faster turns. Whether you like knitted uppers or not, it's important to say that Mizuno Neo Vista's upper is excellent, as far as knitted uppers go.
Finally, there's the midsole. I can't find anything wrong with it personally, but I also know many people like to run in firmer shoes. If that's you, don't expect to love Mizuno Neo Vista unless you try it with an open mind.
Mizuno Neo Vista - Summary
is, in my opinion, the best new shoe from for daily training. The feeling you get while running is soft, springy, and effortless.
With a knitted upper, you'll enjoy seamless comfort around your feet. The fabric is breathable and very stretchy, making it more of a shoe for long runs than a fast, turning running shoe.
Neo Vista is a fantastic super trainer and a must-have for people who love soft running shoes with a knitted upper. Think New Balance SuperComp Trainer v1, just lighter and more versatile.
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