Article by Sam Winebaum, Peter Stuart, Ryan Eiler, Michael Ellenberger, Jeff Beck and Derek Li
Mizuno Neo Vista ($180)
Introduction
The Neo Vista is Mizuno’s entry into the “super road trainer” category. What are super road trainers? I generally consider them to be shoes whose heel height is higher than the World Athletics standard of a maximum 40 mm for elite level racing and in the Vista we are 44.5 mm and all 4 of us testing think it is a delightful shoe setting a new high bar in its category.
Designers of such shoes have a tricky task. The higher the stack the less stable and stiffer a shoe can become. Thus, most but not all, such giants incorporate a plate and/or broaden the underfoot platform. Broaden the platform and you get more weight and less agility and flexibitity so many incorporate the new lighter more resilient super critical foams as midsoles and use a plate to provide a propulsive rocker and to stabilize the foam.
The Neo Vista incorporates a lower soft layer of Mizuno’s Enerzy NXT supercritical foam with above that a full length and somewhat flexible fiberglass plate and then above that is more conventional light Enerzy EVA blend foam.
Part of the design magic here is that the center of the shoe is deeply “canyoned”with a closed loop of foam and outsole all around to reduce weight, decouple the platform in motion and by compressing give some deflection at landings.
The result is a shoe that sits on a very broad 90 mm heel / 85 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot platform yet weighs just 8.96 oz / 255g in my US8.5 sample. Its closest competitor, as I see it, is the New Balance SC Trainer v2, also $180 which is about 0.25 oz / 7.1 g heavier with a 4mm lower heel.
The upper is a quite compressive engineered stretch knit. Wait a knit upper? I thought we were done with them due to their sloppy hold, thickness and weight. Here the knit is thinner and along with the upper design leads to a secure smooth performance fit heel to toe and this without even including or needing a conventional heel counter.
After their radical Wave Rebellion Pro and overly stiff and firm Flash, Mizuno places the Neo Vista right between the other two with lessons learned from the heavier lower stack Neo Ultra with its sights set on leading the super trainer class with a combination of “semi” radical design and, as I found so far ,practical versatility and any pace or distance reliability and performance
Pros:
Versatile: wide range of training paces and distances, also a racer: Sam
1st true “daily trainer” super trainer (>40mm heel) Sam/Michael
Midsole is a delightful combo of comfort and propulsion - Ryan/Peter/Michael/Sam
Fiberglass plate is clearly propulsive, has some flex and in no way harsh (unlike Flash) - Sam/Ryan/Peter/Michaell/Jeff/Derek
Foam combination of softer supercritical below plate and EVA above blends together seamlessly - Sam/Ryan/Peter/Michaell/Jeff
Notably stable for just a big stack without overdoing the stability - Sam/Ryan/Peter/Michaell/Jeff/Derek
A flawless stretch knit upper: hold & comfort. Never thought I would see one! Peter/Sam
Cons:
Weight: very tough to reduce given broad platform, high stack and reasonable price point but wish it was lighter Peter/Sam
Forefoot containment - Ryan
Slow transition keeps it firmly in the ‘trainer’ category - Ryan/Michaell/Jeff/Derek
Upper is warm - Derek
Most comparable shoes
Adidas Prime X Strung 2 (RTR Review)
New Balance SC Trainer v2 (RTR Review)
ASICS Glide Ride (RTR Review)
Hoka Skyward X (RTR Review)
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.2 oz / 261g US9
Sample Weight: men’s 8.96 oz / 255g US 8.5
Stack Height: men’s 44.5mm heel / 36.5mm forefoot ( 8mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 85 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot
$180 Available June 1
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
The Neo Vista looks big, sleek and modern. All things it actually is under the hood!
Starting with the upper, I have rarely found stretch knit uppers to be effective in performance running shoes. They tend to be thick, hot and difficult to secure the midfoot and rear without plastic cages and such.
This remarkable one piece knit upper here has a totally secure hold with no overlays or cages whatsoever and without even a heel counter or any rear padding.
The high collars at the rear in combination with a thin non-stretch side gray underlays (that it seems is also intended to grip the heel while also reducing friction) had me very well held.
Totally effective and comfortable.
The midfoot is equally secure without any added gimmicks. The upper is literally a sock as even the tongue area is the exact same material without seams as the rest of the upper.
A cord is woven over to create a touch of structure and of course hold the laces. Elegant and simple.
The toe box is moderately wide and of course stretch knit as with the rest of the upper with enough stretch to accommodate moderately wide feet. My feet are narrow to medium and the hold is perfect with a small touch of felt and appreciated vertical and bunion area stretch room, a bit of a toe bumper and impeccable hold. Even at faster paces things never got sloppy and loose as knit uppers can get. The fit is true to size in length, width and overhead toe volume.
Peter: Jumping in here. Sam took care of the details up above. I have to say that I was skeptical when I saw these come out of the box. I had no idea what they were and feared a stiff, heavy and loose fitting mess. I was very pleasantly surprised by the weight–not too heavy, the fit–surprisingly good hold and no hot spots on the high ankle collar, and most importantly on the run–really fun.
The “super-trainer” category seems pretty tricky. I think it’s easy to put out overly heavy shoes or shoes that have a ton of cushion but not at all fun to run in. Threading the needle to come up with a highly cushioned daily trainer that you can also push the pace in is tough. First impressions suggest that Mizuno have done just that!
Ryan: You’d be forgiven if your immediate reaction was to judge this one as a fun but ineffective marketing project from Mizuno. But from its hi-top-ish looks and its towering, cavernous midsole, the Neo Vista delivers a lot of practical innovation.
The knit upper really does feel like sliding on a thick sock — so pleasant, and super hospitable to all of the foot’s bulges and curves.
Lace-up is a breeze, and despite the tongue being essentially the same material as the surrounding upper, there wasn’t any noticeable lace bite. Although there was a tiny bit of bunching as I dialed in the tension to my liking, as is often the case with this integrated tongue design.
The outer overlays do a bit of work when it comes to helping contain the lateral side of the foot. Without them, things may have gotten a little too squirrely.
The knit runs a little on the warmer side as compared to a typical engineered mesh, but I still found it to have plenty of ventilation — and my feet run on the warm (ie, sweaty) side.
I do wish that there was a bit more of a bumper on the sides of the forefoot, as the knit let my foot creep a little further over the edge than I preferred when the road got a little off-camber or when I took a turn. It’s a minor quibble though, and it went fairly unnoticed for the majority of my testing.
The upper’s mesh tries its hardest to stay out of the way and to remain as pleasant as possible — and that it does. All in all, there’s a homely feeling to this upper which I felt performed surprisingly well for training runs.
Michael: I’m a huge fan of the upper that Mizuno has concocted here. I couldn’t go quite as far as to call it “flawless,” but it’s really, really good. My biggest concerns, given the shaping, were irritation from the high heel collar and/or an awkward, overly-roomy fit. Neither presented an issue in practice; even with short socks, I had no problems with hot spots or irritation - and though the upper does take a little lacing work to find a sweet spot, it remained comfortable and snug all run.
Jeff: Mizuno’s been putting out impressive knit uppers for a little bit, they’ve just been mating them with big and heavy platforms meant for easy day runs (Neo Wave Ultra) or European only release (Wave Sky Neo) so most of my faster colleagues haven’t experienced it. This upper is closest to the Neo Wave Ultra, with the fit a little more dialed in and the weave feeling a little tighter. The result is definitely more of a performance fit, and given the midsole it's attached to, it makes a lot of sense.
I’d say the fit is true-to-size with plenty of room for wideish feet, and the toebox width is good, but not great. Also, even though the “tongue” is as thin as everything else, there’s not much in the way of lace bite either. I appreciate the pull tab on the heel, which allows you to slide them on your feet in one motion.
Derek: There is an interesting story around the Neo Vista for me. You see, i sort of missed the first round of seeding for this shoe, after hearing a lot of positive chatter around the shoe, I went ahead and pre-ordered a pair (in bright canary yellow) off the Mizuno Japan website in mid-May. Then while waiting for the pair to ship from Japan, a fresh blue pair arrived from Mizuno US for testing. Ultimately the pair from Japan also arrived and now i have a blue pair and a yellow pair. Double the fun! Anyway back to my first impression.
The platform is very wide, and the shoe ends up looking huge. As others have mentioned, knit uppers can be a little hit and miss, and nowadays, unless it’s Atomknit or Strung, things tend not to work out very well. Fortunately in this case the upper actually works very well, as a trainer.
The fit is true to size for me, and I’d say the overall volume is quite close to what you get with the Nike Alphafly 3 at TTS. There is a little bit of stretch to the upper but the nice thing about this upper is that you can pretty much get a nice comfortable lockdown without having a very snug performance feel. It can take a little getting used to, if you are traditionally accustomed to having a lot of tension in your laces.
The shoe just disappears on your foot with very little lace tension needed, and the heel cup while soft, does an excellent job of keeping your heel locked in for the ride. The lace eyelet structure is such that one can’t really lace the shoes in any other way other than how they come pre-laced so take that into consideration if you typically need some special lacing technique.
Another thing to note is that the first row of eyelets starts relative high up toward midfoot, and with the knit being a bit stretchy, and the platform being on the wider side, people with narrower feet might find that the forefoot is a little bit too sloppy, as Ryan alluded to. I found this as well with certain socks, and i kind of got round it by using toe socks with this shoe. Toe socks tend to artificially increase your forefoot width a little bit by adding more material between the toes, in addition to allowing your toes to naturally splay a little more. I have been increasingly using toe socks more of late with most of my shoes, and i found that they work especially well in this shoe.
My biggest knock on this shoe is in the ventilation department. The upper is thick and will definitely feel warm if you run in warm/humid conditions as I do in Singapore. This issue is compounded by the fact that the shoes come stock with some really thick Ortholite sockliners. In my experience, the Ortholite "sponge" is incredibly good at accumulating heat. This might come in handy in the winter months, but in the summer months, you are definitely going to notice the bottom of your foot heating up. If this becomes an issue for you, my recommendation is to swap the sockliners out for any EVA or even (beaded) TPU sockliners you might have from other shoes and you will likely find that the shoes are a little more tolerable to run in.
Midsole & Platform
The stack height is 44.5mm heel / 36.5mm forefoot ( 8mm drop spec) with the platform width 90 mm heel / 85 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot. So clearly we have a super max cushion shoe. The only super trainers that I know of that are higher stack at the heel are the Hoka Skyward X at 48.5mm and adidas Prime X Strung 2 at 50mm. Both are about 1.5 oz more heavier than the Neo with the Skyward sitting on a slightly wider platform with more forefoot cushion stack height and the Adizero on a considerably narrower (and less stable) rear and midfoot platform.
To give a sense of comparison, an “old school” Nike Pegasus 40 has a mere 33 mm heel / 23 mm forefoot stack height, weighs about 0.2 oz more, and is on a far narrower platform, My have trainers evolved!
The midsole consists of a Enerzy NXT supercritical foam bottom softer layer with above the full length fiberglass Wave plate a slightly firmer Enerzy EVA blend.
The prominent central cavity reduces weight, provides very good stride transition decoupling and I think, on landings, splays out to further cushion yet with all well under control, and at all paces.
This is unlike the more open at the heel all soft foam SC Trainer’s Energy Arc approach which can feel mushy and somewhat unstable at the heel, especially at slower paces. The geometry and cushioning remind me most of the ASICS Glide Ride 3, close in heel height to the Mizuno but with the Glide having a more rigid heel for sure and stiff rocker based ride at the front.
The midsole feel here was always consistent, very well but not mushily cushioned, easy to turn over, stable and propulsive and at any pace from slower (10:30 min miles) to faster (sub 8 min miles) in my initial testing.
Big credit goes to not only the careful overall design but the moderately flexible and snappy fiberglass plate and to the lay up of slightly firmer foam underfoot to stabilize and mask the plate with softer more energetic supercritical foam below toward the road. The combination popped me off the heel, decisively but without shock at all paces and off the front by cushioning the plate from the ground just right and, as at the heel, providing a noticed friendly return and easy any pace roll through the flexible yet snappy plate.
The platform is very stable (far more stable than say the Prime X or SC Trainer) without overdoing it or making the shoe feel rigid or awkward although I do wish for a touch less midfoot stability/rigidity but only a touch.
Mizuno calls the combination Smooth Speed Assist with a focus on relieving calf stress and I fully agree with the marketing slogan! Full on carbon race propulsion feel? No, but for most a midsole that is suitable for all forms of training, and for all but the slowest of paces. And if carbon super shoes are too aggressive or the combination of soft foams with rigid plates especially at the heel, hard to run to the finish, the Neo Vista is certainly a great choice for racing even if a bit heavier than “super race shoes”.
Peter: Once again, Sam has all of the details covered, so I’ll jump in with some color commentary! The cushioning is goldilocks just right and is comfortable and responsive at any pace. While some shoes with plates either feel overly stiff or harsh, the Neo Vista feels very flexible and the plate provides an excellent propulsion forward when you need it. The platform is extremely stable and, somewhat surprisingly given the huge stack, the Neo Vista doesn’t ever feel like “too much” shoe.
Ryan: One of the nicest things about this “super-max” midsole stack is that on foot, it doesn’t feel as heavy as you’d think it would. It certainly performs like a 44+mm behemoth when it comes to cushioning impact and bouncing you along, but it doesn’t feel blocky. And there aren't any crazy personality traits or sloppiness to contend with here. I’d call the Neo Vista’s personality approachable and crowd-pleasing, as it feels pillowy at foot strike, but still manages to propel you back up and forward through its NXT foam layer and fiberglass plate. I agree with what Sam and Peter have noted above, which is that the plate is fairly subdued and shouldn’t be a reason to scare anyone off.
I think Sam makes an important and helpful distinction when comparing this one to the SC Trainer (or Elite) — a shoe with a heel that can feel a little too soft and decoupled, in my opinion. With shoes that split the heel into distinct segments, often it feels like those segments can splay and wobble, delivering a suboptimal feeling as you strike the ground. That isn’t the case for the Neo Vista, as I think creating the midsole in a continuous perimeter around the shoe prevents a lot of that sloppy behavior. Throughout the entire time you’re in touch with the ground, the feeling is predictable and reassuring.
Underfoot, there’s a distinct rockered feeling which mutes the rigidity of the plate and allows the foot to roll through the stride effortlessly.
While the softer layer of foam allows you to pronate fairly freely, the firmer layer keeps things under control and prevents undue roll in the massive stack. The huge cavity running down the center of the midsole also focuses the landing forces around the perimeter of the foot, further adding to a sensation of stability.
Contrast this to a shoe like Nike’s Invincible, whose monolithic slab of ZoomX feels comparatively like a pogo stick, bouncing you in a less predictable direction. In summary, the ride here is toward the soft end of the spectrum, smoothly but powerfully rolling you through your stride, but it doesn’t sacrifice smile-inducing bounciness despite its softness.
This is the type of shoe that has me convinced I can add an extra 10/mi/wk to the training block without getting injured…
I will say that because of its depth of cushion and very rockered shape, the shoe’s transition is on the slower side. For that reason, I think it’s best to leave this one happily categorized as a ‘trainer’, and to pull out something with a bit more responsiveness if you want to go fast.
The Neo Vista somehow manages to deliver an admirable level of stability without being flat-out boring, like many other hi-stacked trainers. I’m increasingly becoming a fan of hybrid foam midsoles such as this, especially when they seem to deliver a “1+1=3 effect”, in that you get most of the benefits from each type of foam, without experiencing their drawbacks.
Michael: Just looking at the Neo Vista, my biggest concern with regards to platform was the stability - so much stack, with not that much width (and who knows how the foam will compress!). From step one, that concern was largely alleviated. The midsole is soft - actually, softer than I expected, given the other Mizuno Neo trainers - but it’s not sloppy, and whether it’s that firmer layer stabilizing, or the plate (or both), I did not have any concern with regards to wobbliness or unstable footing, even on right corners.
At quicker paces, I was also happy to feel some distinct feedback from the Neo Vista - it wasn’t the same ride as a “traditional “ (2016 and on) plated shoe, in that I didn’t feel a forward rock or a distinct propulsion - I personally could have been fooled into thinking this was a plateless (albeit stabilized somehow) trainer, just insofar as all of the energy seem to come from a midsole “pop” rather than a plate “roll,” if that makes sense. It’s nuanced, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.
Jeff: As the token slow fat guy of the group, I really wouldn’t disagree with anything above. As a bigger guy I’m always cognizant of how much midsole collapse can lead to instability on very soft shoes, and there’s virtually zero collapse here. It’s incredibly soft (especially for a Mizuno who has historically made firm shoes regardless of the stack height) but the plate keeps everything balanced and stable despite my supinating strike.
I’d agree that the midsole paints it in a corner for more of a trainer for most runners, though I could see heavier or slower runners loving this shoe for races 10 miles or longer. The mid-to-back of the pack runners don’t need as much pop as protection, and there’s so much protection to be found in the Neo Vista.
Derek: The midsole here is incredibly soft and bouncy and does just enough not to bottom out for me. The plate is hardly noticeable in that it blends very well with the midsole and flexes very smoothly through transition. We have come a long way since the traditional Mizuno Wave Plate.
With that much width across the midfoot, my worry tends to be that the shoe may feel a little clunky through transition, but fortunately this is a non-issue in this shoe, as the soft foam (and outsole) deforms very well on impact and you get a very natural transition through the shoe. Vibration dampening is very good as well, and there is some very good leg saving cushioning here.
If there is a knock on the shoe, for me, i would have liked for the plate to have a more aggressive swoop through midfoot. The soft foam makes the shoe feel a little flat if you are not front loading the shoe. It feels fine at easy paces, but in that moderate pace zone where i like to do my steady long runs, i do kind of feel like i would want the heel to not compress so much; a more curved plate, even if not stiffer, would probably be enough to prop up the heel a little more.
Outsole
The outsole is “full” coverage, that is except for the giant cavity!
Removing all the midsole foam and rubber that isn’t needed is genius. Using the plate way above keeps things stable while the outer walls deflect a bit to increase cushioning but never so much to feel overly soft or unstable.
The rubber appears to be a softer variety and is relatively thin and of a consistent thickness back to front. I will be watching carefully for wear especially at the front on the medial side as 12 miles I am already seeing some scuffing. Mizuno is always careful about durability and I assume the rubber will hold up but will update after more runs.
Peter: The huge channel underneath the shoe helps keep weight down, but can pick up some larger rocks. I’d avoid any rocky runs. Outside of that the outsole grips well and is holding up extremely well at about 50 miles so far.
Ryan: As I mentioned in the section above, fashioning the midsole as an effectively continuous path around the shoe’s perimeter seems to prevent a lot of unwanted behavior. This means that the outer doesn’t have the tendency, which we commonly see in shoes this tall, of splaying out in an uncontrolled manner and grinding against the road.
This one feels super quiet and well behaved against the road, complementing the characteristics of its midsole and upper nicely.
Michael: I have now stomped down thousands of cicadas with the Neo Vista without issue. Across wet and dry (cicada-covered) ground, I am yet to notice a slip! You pay pick up some rocks, I agree, though they’d be large enough that you’d notice them pretty readily. No complaints.
Jeff: Mizuno rubber has been pretty solid for a decade, and this compound is grippy on all surfaces. I appreciate that the channel is big enough to easily dispense of any rocks that you do happen to pick up.
Derek: The soft rubber outsole grips very well on wet surfaces. I have been facing some wet weather lately and the shoe has been very confident on downslopes and corners (the knit upper getting waterlogged notwithstanding). I am not seeing any accelerated wear so far despite the use of a soft rubber compound but we will have to wait and see what kind of mileage we can get out of this outsole. The other big supertrainer i tend to benchmark against is the ASICS Superblast and that shoe has loads of carbon-injected rubber on the outsole and is uber-durable as a result.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: Mizuno, known for being somewhat conservative strikes a powerfully effective middle road here between their super radical Rebellion Pro and their more mundane stalwarts such as the Wave Rider. Last year they hinted at more bold things to come with the highly sustainable (and pricey) Neo Ultra which also had a superb knit upper and great ride although it was a heavier shoe than here and considerably lower stack,
A thoroughly modern do it all super trainer, it is light, lively, very well cushioned and priced reasonably. I was very surprised how well it handled both easy paces and more uptempo ones, something I have not as of yet experienced with super high stacked trainers. Such trainers are either wildly fun (Prime X) but not practical day in day out, struggle at slower paces and in terms of stability with a combination of soft foam, a deep central cavity and rigid carbon (SC Trainer) or provide tons of cushion roll well but end up on the heavy side (Skyward X RTR Review).
Here, balance is achieved with a friendly yet effective (and cost effective) combination of foams, a fiberglass plate with both snap and some flex, a central cavity that reduces weight and aids decoupling and strong stability for such a high stack shoe. I would add another surprise: a knit upper that works brilliantly for me.
If you have not yet considered a super trainer, and maybe are worried about the practicality of such giant shoes for day in day out training, the Neo Vista is for sure worth considering, even I would say, as a single shoe rotation for all your runs and even races which is a first for me in its category.
Sam’s Score: 9.6 /10
Deductions for weight and a bit less rigid easier to transition midfoot platform although those seeking a touch of stability will be happy,
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Peter: The Mizuno Neo Vista is an excellent super trainer. I liked the Wave Rebellion Pro (though it wasn’t nearly as stable-it was fun to race in). The Neo Vista keeps some of the fun of the Wave Rebellion and tames it down a bit for a great daily trainer with some pop. It’s been my go to shoe for the past couple of weeks. It’s really fun to run in and I’m not feeling beat up at all. The knit upper is surprisingly comfortable and holds well and the shoe is fun, fun, fun. Neck and neck with the NB SC Trainer for the most enjoyable daily “super” shoe.
Score 9.5/10
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Michael: Over more than 50 miles, I’ve come to absolutely love the Mizuno Neo Vista, which I see as an early candidate for Shoe of the Year. There’s a lot than can go wrong in a 44mm-stack super trainer (especially one with a totally knit, high-top upper!), and yet Mizuno has avoided misstep - and in fact, excelled! - and basically every juncture. Even the price - $180 - feels reasonable enough in this 2024 landscape. I would not have been surprised to see this shoe at $200 or even $220 (though I am certainly glad it’s priced where it is). Those wary of Mizuno, worry no longer - this is an exceptionally good shoe!
Michael’s Score: 9.8/10
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Ryan: This one takes the cake as the most friendly super trainer on the market, I’d say. The Neo Vista takes a delightfully mellow approach as it delivers a super soft, yet bouncy and stable ride via its mega midsole. Its upper is one of the better knits out there — although it’s still a knit. The rockered, dual-density foam makes for a trainer whose ride you’d be crazy not to love.
I don’t feel the need to deduct points for its weight, as it feels lighter on foot than you’d expect, and because I view it as a trainer rather than a racer. I’ve been using this one every other day for the past two weeks, and the enjoyment of lacing them up for easy runs hasn’t diminished a bit. This is a great choice for folks who want to knock out high mileage on asphalt while simultaneously minimizing muscle soreness and enjoying a hospitable ride.
Score: 9.6 /10
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Deductions for containment and breathability of the knit upper, as well as for its super soft platform reducing the shoe’s ability to turn over for uptempo running.
Jeff: I’ve been a borderline Mizuno fanboy for some time, appreciating their fine details and high craftsmanship even when the designs don’t quite pan out. This time around, the design is top notch. They took a great upper in the Wave Neo Ultra and made it that much better, and glued it to a super shoe trainer/racer that virtually all runners could find a spot in their rotation for.
Faster runners are unlikely to lace them up in a race, but slower runners couldn’t ask for a better shoe that provides a solid blend of comfort, protection, and performance.
Unlike the old car adage “fast, cheap, reliable - pick two” this shoe delivers on all aspects. Mizuno hit one out of the park with this shoe, and having it retail for $180 as more and more standard daily trainers cross the $150 mark also paints it as one of the best deals around. Nicely done.
Jeff’s Score: 9.73/10
Ride (50%):9.5 Fit (30%): 10 Value (15%): 10 Style (5%): 9.5
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Derek: The shoe gave me mixed feelings. It has a very fun and dynamic ride, but i am not seeing any “super” benefit in the HR data. At all. The perceived effort at the end of the runs corroborates this as well, so while it may be a fun shoe, and the shoes are saving my legs, I don’t really see it as a true super trainer that has a running economy boost like the SC Trainer, Prime X, Tempo Next% etc..
The ride is such that even though it has quite a traditional heel-toe drop on paper, the ride tends to feel more like a 4-6mm type of drop because the heel is so soft. I contrast this to (again) the 4mm drop Nike Tempo Next% that has a firmer heel that makes the 42/38mm drop feel like a 8mm drop!
The big plus for the shoe is that it has a smooth energetic bounce that is very consistent throughout the shoe, and if you can maintain a consistent mid-forefoot strike, you will probably enjoy the shoe quite a lot! The shoe is very fun for me as an easy run shoe up to 10 miles, butI find it a bit tedious to run in for longer runs.
I have also alluded to the warm upper earlier, and that may play into why i find myself stopping short of taking it for longer runs.
The weight also starts to come into play when trying to pick up the pace. At faster paces, the lack of snappiness through the shoe becomes more obvious and i find myself fighting the shoe and struggling to hold any sort of uptempo effort in this shoe. For me, the best use case is as an easy run shoe, and I tend to reach for other shoes if I want to do a more moderate sort of effort. The price point of $180 is on the higher side, and I think the shoe might struggle against the likes of the upcoming ASICS Superblast, NB SC Trainer 3, Puma Deviate Nitro 3, and the already released Endorphin Speed 4.
Derek’s Score: 8.85 / 10
Ride (50%) 8.8, Fit (30%) 9, Value (15%) 8.5, Style (5%) 9.5
Smiles Score 😊😊😊
6 Comparisons
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Mizuno Neo Vista
Approx. Weight: men's 9.2 oz / 261g US9
Stack Height: men’s 44.5mm heel / 36.5mm forefoot ( 8mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 85 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot
$180
Mizuno Wave Neo Ultra (RTR Review)
Jeff: Roughly an ounce heavier and equipped with a similar, though looser upper, the Wave Neo Ultra was one of my favorite shoes of 2022. While it is a near max height trainer, the Neo Vista towers over it, and while the Neo Ultra looks and even feels like a slightly wider platform, the tale of the calipers has virtually identical forefoot and heels with the Vista having a 12mm wider midfoot than the Ultra. While the Neo Ultra has a nice energy return bounce to it, it’s nothing like what the Neo Vista brings to the table - the near two year gap between the two shoes has paid off for Mizuno with a massive leap forward in performance.
New Balance SC Trainer v1 & v2 (RTR Review)
Peter: This is the most similar shoe in my quiver. I put a lot of miles on V1 and V2 of the SC trainer and really like it. The Neo Vista is more like the slightly wilder V1. I haven’t gotten the chance to A/B these as my SC’s are in a truck somewhere, but I think that the Neo Vista is ultimately a little more fun than the SC Trainer V2. It’s a tiny bit lighter too. All in all a great shoe. Can’t go wrong with either though.
Sam: v1 of the SC Trainer was higher stacked with an aggressive forward geometry and was a great long run at fast paces trainer. I agree with Peter V1 was closer to Neo Vista than V2 is. V2 was lower stack and softer with its carbon plate and foam not as well coordinated as in the Neo Vista and its soft heel not nearly as stable or even pleasant at slower paces as Neo Vista’s. Lighter, higher stacked, more pulled together with a broader range of paces possible the Neo Vista is a better shoe for me.
Derek: I did not test the SC Trainer 2, but I was one of the early testers of the SC Trainer 1. Even though the Neo Vista is significantly lighter than the SCT1, and softer and more bouncy to boot, I found the nice rockered ride of the SCT1 to be more assistive. Neither has what i would consider an ideal upper though, with the Neo Vista being a warm upper and the SC Trainer 1 rubbing my ankle bones. It might just come down to which fits you better and which is more comfortable on the run.
Hoka Skyward X (RTR Review)
Peter: Ugh, I keep trying to fall in love with the Hoka, but it’s everything I feared the Mizuno would be. The Hoka is very stiff, quite heavy and not that fun to run in. The Neo Vista is a way more dynamic and enjoyable shoe. No contest.
Sam: If you want the maximum amount of cushion possible and a yet more stable ride than Neo Vista go Skyward. More than an ounce heavier, considerably higher stacked yet, with beyond copious amounts of supercritical foam, and almost over supported (upper and carbon plate) the Skyward has a more lumbering ponderous ride if a fine one at slower paces. Neo Vista is a more versatile super trainer.
Derek: Both shoes are true to size for me. The Skyward X is noticeably heavy but the rocker is a little better and while neither shoe feels that great for me at faster paces, both are pretty great as easy run shoes. Both shoes tend to be a little warm, so it is sort of a wash in that department. Overall, I think I prefer the Skyward X for the more prominent rockered ride. Note that I scored both shoes nearly identically, though the breakdown is a little different.
Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3 Flyknit (RTR Review)
Ryan: The Nike feels much blockier and less smooth than the Mizuno especially in the ride it delivers, but in the comfort and execution of its upper as well. The Invincible relies on a uniform slab of thick ZoomX foam to bounce you forward, and even though the latest version has been stabilized in the footbed, it still results in a relatively wily ride as compared to the Neo Vista.
The large channel in the NV’s midsole is likely the biggest reason for this difference, allowing pressure to be distributed around the perimeter of the foot, as opposed to directly underneath it. This design also seems to help control the ride and make for a more predictable energy return.
The other main differentiator is in the design of their uppers. The Nike uses a fairly tenacious engineered mesh which holds the foot well (which is required for such a lively ride), whereas the Mizuno takes a drastically more casual approach with its much more comfortable but weaker, one-piece knit.
ASICS Superblast 1 (RTR Review)
Sam: No plates in the Superblast, more than 1 oz lighter and slightly higher stacked the ASICS is incredibly light on foot for how much shoe it is. While its FF Turbo foam is more energetic and the shoe somewhat more cushioned, it lacks the drive and impulse of the Vista created by its plate and the central cavity relying entirely on its giant slab of foam to move and you need runner weight and a more powerful drive to get it going than the the Neo Vista..
Official Weight: men's oz 8.43 oz / 239g (US9)
Derek: I went down a half size for Superblast 1, while I am true to size in the Neo Vista. The Superblast is the one shoe that really struggles on easy runs as it can be a bit harsh at slower paces, while the Neo Vista really shines for easy runs for me. I think if i could only have one daily trainer, the Superblast is the better all-rounder but Neo Vista is a better easy cruiser. Both have ~45mm heel stack but the superblast is about ¾ oz lighter.
Adidas Prime X Strung (RTR Review)
Sam: The first Prime X was wildly shaky at the rear and had a spectacular drive off the front, a true sensation of flying. Lighter than Neo Vista with 5mm more heel stack height and a narrow rear platform it called for constant concentration and fast paces to be enjoyed. V2 broadened the unstable rear considerably adding to weight which is now 1.3 oz heavier than the Neo Vista. Adidas went to far in trying to “fix” the rear of the shoe and would have been better off and better competition to Neo Vista by bringing the stack height (and $300 price) down which would have also reduced its weight.
Derek: I went down a half size in PXSv1, and am true to size in the Neo Vista. I did not test PXSv2. The PXSv1 ticks all the boxes for everything i want in a super trainer. Assistive ride, very good cushioning, good supportive upper, and excellent outsole. The main knock is in terms of cornering stability. The Neo Vista is a much more stable shoe with its wider platform. I think if stability is a key concern for you, the Neo Vista is a better option for you. Otherwise, I don't see any reason not to go with the PXS.
The Mizuno Neo Vista is available now
Peter lives in Austin, Texas and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:21 half marathoner in recent years.
Michael is a patent attorney and graduate of Northwestern University Law School. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). Michael’s PRs include a 67:43 half-marathon (Chicago Half-Marathon) and a 2:21:19 marathon PR at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon. Michael continues to race on the roads, and is chasing a sub-2:20 marathon and potential OTQ in the future.
Ryan Eller A hopeless soccer career led Ryan to take up running, and after taking a decade-long break from competing, he is back racking up mileage whenever he can. He calls the 2018 Boston Marathon the hardest race of his life, where he finished in 2:40, barely remembering his name at the finish line. Rya more recently has a PR of 2:14:23 from the 2024 Boston Marathon finishing 3d American and 15th overall, a 2:17:16 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, from the 2023 Philadelphia Marathon after two other 2:18 efforts in the last year.
Jeff Beck is the token slow runner of the RTR lineup, and as such his viewpoints on shoe and gear can differ from those who routinely finish marathons in three hours or less. Jeff runs 20 miles per week on roads and trails around Denver, CO (and sometimes on the treadmill when the weather gets too much for a Phoenix native). Jeff only got into running in his 30s, as a result his career PR's are 4:07 for the marathon and 5K at 23:39. Jeff has finished several ultra marathons, from 50K up to 50 miles, and is still debating if he wants to go down that road again.
Derek is in his 40’s and trains 70-80 miles per week at 7 to 8 minute pace in mostly tropical conditions in Singapore. He has a 2:39 marathon PR from the 2022 Zurich Marathon.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s
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3 comments:
Will comparisons be added?
Yeah - it says 5 comparisons but none currently appear.
The Superblast is too narrow for me in the midfoot.
Is the neo vista wider midfoot?
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