Article by Sam Winebaum, Sally Reiley, Ben David, and Peter Stuart
Mizuno Neo Zen ($150)
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Light and max cushioned: very strong weight (8.3 oz US9) to cushion stack (39.5 / 33.5) ratio: Sam/Sally/Ben/Peter
Very energetic bouncy and fun ride: Nitrogen TPU foam and broad on the ground platform with excellent easy to transition geometry for a big plateless shoe: Sam/Sally/Peter
Secure performance-oriented upper fit: not the usual for a knit and a knit that will actually work well for lower volume narrower feet locking the foot well to the soft and high platform: Sam/Sally/Peter
Cons:
Could use more heel counter structure given soft foam: There is no real heel collar structure so those seeking more heel area counter for pronation control or slower paces heel landings may find this area lacking: Sam
Excessive midsole plush factor of the shoe might feel mushy to some: Ben
Introduction
Sam: With flair, and yes for sure elements of mystery and Japanese-inspired ceremony, Mizuno introduced, or more accurately teased, four run trainers at The Running Event named Mystery Shoes 001-004 with general releases in early 2025 with names revealed then.
The first shoe revealed was the Mystery 01 which is now released with its real name: Neo Zen. You will find mention and images of “Mystery 01” throughout along with the release colorway. It is the exact same shoe as the Neo Zen although very different in looks. Which look do you prefer? I prefer Mystery black and white bubbles!
The Neo Zen’s theme is: : “The Art of Bounce”. True and accurate marketing I say after testing it. We’ll leave the others aside for now and focus here on the Neo Zen, an all-new shoe released December for $150 of which we now have samples in hand for testing in their release color.
When Mizuno goes camo we sit up as we did with original Wave Rebellion Pro, which was a wild departure from their usual . They are known for deliberate changes to the Ride, Inspire, and Sky, all very traditional trainers. That is until recently when, while keeping loyalists happy, they realized to survive and grow they needed more.
So instead of just incremental conservative upgrades to their stalwarts they went wild with distinctively different designs and rides in the Wave Rebellion Pro and last year the Neo Vista plated trainer. After some mystery others on the team now join Sam and Sally and test the release colorway.
There are better and more stable “jogging” or slow paces shoes, but there are very few if any in its class that balance lightweight, energetic cushion and high stack as well as the Neo Zen with its state of the art supercritical TPU foam to deliver such Fun. Let’s get into the details we have put it through its paces the last couple of weeks.
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 8.39 oz / 238g US9
Sample Weight: men’s 8.1 oz / 230g US 8.5
women’s 6.9 oz / 194 g US W8
Stack Height: men’s 39.5 mm heel / 33.5 mm forefoot ( 6mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
Releases Dec 13, 2024 $150
Most comparable shoes
Novablast 5
Rebel v4
Topo Specter 2
361 Ventus
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Sally: I was incredibly fortunate to have a very unique first impression of this shoe. I attended TRE (The Running Event) in Austin, TX in late November with Sam and two other reviewers/writers from RoadTrailRun, and Mizuno wowed us not only with a very special party and classy unveiling of their upcoming 2025 lineup of four “mystery shoes,” but also with a personal presentation of matching black and white polka dot wrapped boxes of Mystery Shoe 01 for each of us.
I tried my pair on then and there, and was immediately struck by the immediate comfort of the upper and the SOFT bounce of the midsole, especially pronounced under the heel. The shoe is really striking in appearance with a stark white upper and that massive polka dot midsole.
The upper has a socklike foot opening and integrated tongue, but is easy to pull on (at least for my narrow foot).
There is a wonderful heel tab loop in the back to facilitate getting your foot in, if you have any issues (love a heel tab!).
The upper holds my foot securely, and I feel it would also accommodate a higher volume foot. My toes have plenty of room at the front, and I might even venture to say they run a tab a bit long at normal size (which is just fine by me). All in all, a very comfortable fit and immediate sensation of energetic soft bounce underfoot. Let’s run!
Sam: Sally describes the upper well. There is an unmistakable sense of fun to come from the visual design of both the camo Mystery version and the bright and cheery white,blue, green and silver release version.
Both looks also convey lightness and cushion and for sure at 8.39 oz / 238g US9 with a max cushion stack height of 39.5 mm heel / 33.5 mm forefoot we have both. And as soon as you start to walk then run the supercritical TPU Enerzy NXT delivers the goals of the design.
The upper is a knit, not usually my favorite upper material as often overly stretchy but here the knit has some initial give to accommodate a decent range of different shaped feet then the stretch, if you will, stops before things get sloppy. Again a tribute to a knit that gives as much as it needs to and not more.
Often with such a bunion “fit” appearance I feel pressure but not so here. That said this is not a broad toe box with the fit true to size in all respects for me.
The variable knitting also allows for ventilation holes in key places such as the toe box.
These openings also relax the fit vertically providing more volume while the denser lower knitting provides structure.
During an A/B run with the very comparable stats Novablast 5 I found the ASICS more accommodating upfront and throughout but notably less well held for my narrow to medium volume feet, almost sloppy in comparison.
The one thing I might improve here is the addition of a more substantial heel counter given the soft foam. While the 90mm heel is wide and stable, more side hold at the rear would be good especially for longer runs, slower paces and heel striking landings. Wind them up to tempo-type paces and for me sub 9 minute miles and that issue tends to go away.
More performance oriented than big and plush fitting my foot is very well held from toe box to heel. My bunion was never irritated even as shown above pushing out.
Even though there is no padding around the achilles or collars the stretch fit holds my heel well with no irritations with the small raised external lacing pad cleverly making for no lace bite, often an issue with stretch knit tongues.
Here in combination with the nature of the knit itself, the lace up is easy and pressure free but for sure tightly wrapping the top of foot. The fit is true to size, snug, comfortable and more performance oriented than the Neo Vista’s.
Ben: The Neo Vista Zen looks great and feels great upon step-in. This was the first high-ankle upper I had run in and I was nervous at first, but the fit is fantastic and lockdown is exceptional. My size 9 felt very secure before, during and after every run. There is a definite wow factor here with the amount of plush softness underfoot, though not so mushy to let the foot drown.
Right away it felt like a lively, highly runnable daily trainer, the little cousin to the very popular, plated Neo Vista. From what I’ve read the canyon that ran underneath the Neo Vista, was an inhibitor, not to mention a rock magnet.
My only concern with the upper was the tab at the top of the heel collar, which at times I found irritating, though nothing significant. The upper is extremely breathable (almost too breathable for wintery northeast conditions) and highly ventilated.
Peter: I got the non-mystery version of the Mizuno Zen. Knit upper, light weight, high stack, highly useful pull tab on the back. It’s a good looking shoe with a white upper and white, blue and green midsole. MIzuno has been making some really fun shoes in the past couple of years. The Wave Rebellion was unwieldy but fun and fast. The Neo Vista (RTR Review) was one of my favorite shoes of last year. A little bit unstable, but really enjoyable to run in.
The Neo Zen seems, off the bat, to be a lighter and faster version of the Neo Vista. The knit upper fits really well and is remarkably easy to pull on due to the tab on the back. First run in the Zen suggests that this is going to be a fantastic shoe.
Midsole & Platform
Sam: The midsole foam is a nitrogen infused TPU. This type of foam and related TPE foams are emerging rapidly as the go to for 2025, and across many brands at TRE, due to their soft and friendly high and quick energy return and very light weight.
This is one soft and “bouncy” midsole yet it has no mushiness. It is also very vibration shock absorbing . I found the midsole more pleasant to run and energetic than PEBA type foams or blends of EVA and PEBA such as in the competing Rebel v4 or denser feeling Nike Pegasus Plus with its PEBA. The foam feel is most like the Zoom X in the Nike Streakfly for me.
We have a stack height of 39.5 mm heel / 33.5 mm forefoot, what a few years ago would have been a max stack height shoe. I would characterize this as a “mini max” stack height as there are trainers emerging that are well above 40mm at the heel such as Hoka Skyward X and Mach X2, ASICS Glideride Max, Brooks Glycerin Max. Puma’s MagMax and others.
The difference here is that by keeping the stack height reasonable Mizuno keeps the weight very low at 8.39 oz / 238g in a US9. To help stabilize the soft foam (and to make up somewhat for the lack of a solid heel counter in the knit upper) they don’t skimp on the platform.
It is notably broad for the light shoes in its category and especially at the heel and midfoot at 90 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot while having a relatively narrow 110mm forefoot to increase agility on toe off. The agility is clearly felt in comparison, for example, to the Rebel v4 which has a 120mm wide somewhat overdone and harder to turn over forefoot.
A key component of the geometry is the “Smooth Speed Assist” technology. What is it exactly Mizuno doesn’t say but it is clearly felt as very smooth easy transitions and toe offs and this in a big soft shoe without a plate.
I think it is the shaping of the underfoot cavity with its dual front and rear bulged shapes and pronounced decoupling groove all the way to the front.
During an A/B run with the fine Novablast 5, the Mystery (Neo Zen) was clearly much smoother rolling especially at the forefoot. No need to sort of push down and lift up with the knees to get a toe off as much as in the ASICS. A subtle but real difference which also helps make it versatile over a wide range of paces, including slower ones.
Ben: I agree with Sam that the stack height is reasonable by today’s standards. It’s a highly plush TPU and thus extremely responsive and with the perfect level of softness underfoot.
The broader platform is also immediately noticeable and adds real stability (which might have been sacrificed with the booty upper). I found that its width helped it to feel sturdy even in inclement winter weather. The shoe isn’t marketed as a super trainer or tempo shoe but is not at all a clunky max cush recovery shoe (i.e. the New Balance More V4 or 5). In fact, it’s likely peppier than many of its recent competitors, such as NovaBlast 5 or for those looking for a softer alternative to the SuperBlast 2. This shoe is just really easy to run in, very relaxed, with a big fun factor.
Peter: Sam got all the details done up there. Thanks Sam! Yes, Yes, Yes! This is what a midsole should feel like. The midsole is nearly perfect. The Zen bounces, rolls and absorbs the impact of the road. It’s more stable than the Neo Vista and flows through the gait cycle effortlessly.
Outsole
Sam: The outsole rings the entire underside of the shoe. It not only has good grip but its design helps stabilize the soft foam above. In addition to the central cavity which clearly assists transitions I see an extended decoupling groove all the way to the front of the shoe which clearly assists with the smooth flowing toe off here.
I do not have enough miles to comment on durability but Mizuno typically has durable outsoles although here it is quite thin to keep the weight down.
Peter: The outsole of the Zen is the only place I have a quibble. While the Zen held the road well for the most part, there was some slight slipping on a moist sidewalk. It was only one stretch of sidewalk, so there may have been some oil there–but the shoe was slipping a bit on toe-off.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Sam: I could end my review right here with the following. This shoe is incredibly bouncy and soft with lots of effective energy return yet is not as unstable as one might expect.
It is very light for its 39/33 plus stack height at 8.39 oz in a US9. Its current competitors, as I see them, are the Novablast 5, Rebel v4, 361 Eleos, Topo Specter 2 and Nike Pegasus Plus. All are similar light unplated trainers with great modern foams. The Mystery 01 for me has notably more energetic foam than those fine shoes with 361 Eleos closest.
The knit upper is well executed with, unlike many such uppers, a secure performance oriented hold with enough give to work for feet from narrow to moderate volume feet. It could use a more substantial heel counter to help stabilize its soft heel but in the end this is a shoe intended for faster daily training fun and not slower paces back on the heels or pronation control beyond the basics.
When I wound them up to moderate tempo paces and beyond (down close to 8:00 miles for me) they were a rocket and one of the few newer high stack soft and energetic foam performance type trainers that I did not feel needs any plating, so the Smooth Speed Assist geometry shared with other speed oriented Mizuno such as the Wave Rebellion Pro proved effective.
2025 is not even here but for a supremely energetic and bouncy fun ride at moderate to faster daily training paces and non long run distances we already have a front runner that out smiles and performs 2024’s “fun” shoes.
Sam’s Score: 9.7 /10
(just wish for a touch more heel counter support which would extend the versatility of the shoe to longer runs for me)
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Sally: I likewise have been loving this shoe! It has been a joy to lace them up and head out on a run. The soft knit upper fits nicely true to size (perhaps even a tad bit long?) and holds my narrowish foot securely with no hot spots or areas of concern at all on my feet.
But the magic is in the midsole and the nitrogen infused TPU foam camouflaged by the visually striking black and white polka dot graphics: this shoe is soft and bouncy and fun!
The ride is smooth and easy and improves as you pick up the pace. The soft heel may be problematic for heel strikers and at slow paces, but midfoot and forefoot strikers are really going to enjoy this spunky and peppy unplated ride.
Perhaps we can think of this new as of yet unnamed mystery shoe as a younger sibling of the very popular but plated Neo Vista? Choose another shoe in your rotation for the slower recovery runs, but choose this one confidently for the faster paced daily training runs and intervals. I know that I ill be grabbing this shoe often! You can not go wrong with light and bouncy and fast and fun. And wow, doesn’t it look amazing?! Mizuno has a winner here with Mystery Shoe 01 - I can’t wait to also run in Mysteries 02, 03, and 04.
Sally’s score: 9.8 / 10
Ride (50%): 9.8/10 Fit (30%): 9.8/10 Value (15%): 9.8/10 Style (5%): 10/10
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Ben: Mizuno continues to make waves with a shoe that is fun, peppy and versatile. The Neo Vista Zen is light, lively and easy to run in and perhaps more versatile than its plated cousin. The midsole is forgiving while not sacrificing responsiveness. The wrap-around knit-booty may take some getting used to for some, but I believe it offers great lockdown and lots of comfort, especially for those long, easy days on the schedule. In the end this is a really good daily trainer that announces a very promising year for Mizuno.
Ben’s Score:
9.75 / 10
Ride (50%): 9.8/10 Fit (30%): 9.7/10 Value (15%): 9.8/10 Style (5%): 9.6/10
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Peter: Wow, what a terrific shoe. My first run in the Zen was fun. My second run in the Zen was 18 miles with 2 3 mile sections of pace. The Zen was perfect. The Zen was comfortable and easy to run in for all of the easy miles and it picked up pace like a dream. It’s rare for a shoe to feel great at a casual pace and great at pace, but the Zen was consistently great. The key word here is FUN. The Zen is a really fun shoe to run in. Really, really fun. There are other shoes I might use for a daily trainer, but only to keep the Zen fresh for quality runs and tempo days.
Peter’s Score:
9.8/10
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6 Comparisons
ASICS Novablast 5 vs. Mizuno Neo Zen (RTR Review)
Sam: Direct and close competitors! Slightly higher heel height for Nova at 41mm with the same forefoot forefoot stack for both. Nova is slightly heavier and sits on a slightly narrower platform. The Mystery is similar in softness (both soft!) but is clearly more energetic given its state of the art nitrogen infused TPU midsole. Its midsole and platform is quicker reacting with a notably smoother roll off the front while also being more shock absorbing as I found out in an A/B run, one on each foot and is for sure more energetic. Mystery is more stable everywhere except the far back heel as there is no heel counter, the Nova having one.
Mystery upper’s is more secure and does a better job locking my foot to the platform than the roomier lighter and thinner Nova’s but is a touch less comfortable as it is dense knit . Nova’s upper is almost sloppy and overly high volume in comparison affecting the shoe’s stability and especially at midfoot for my narrow to medium feet. True to size and I would consider sizing down a half size in a next Nova to try to reduce the volume and increase hold. Those with wider higher volume feet may be more “comfortable” in the Nova, otherwise the Mystery is a superior shoe for me.
Sally: (W8 in both) Mystery definitely a bouncier, more lively shoe and therefore more apt to get laced up repeatedly by me (I love a high energy return shoe). Mystery is also a bit more stable feeling.
Ben: For me, the Mizuno is a clear winner here. I wanted the Novblast to have more personality and more pep; the Mizuno has not only the fun factor, but is more forgiving, more responsive and a touch more versatile, in my opinion.
New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel v4 vs. Mizuno Neo Zen (RTR Review)
Sam: The Rebel v4 is lighter at 7.3 oz / 207g (US9), with a lower stack height and broader platform at the ground. Its foam is a blend of 80% EVA / 20% PEBA and is in comparison duller and firmer (foam plus lower stack height) than the Mystery’s all supercritical TPU higher stack midsole. I find the Rebel to be stiffer, harder to turn over but more stable. The Mizuno fit is more precise from the toe box through the midfoot and lower volume while the Rebel has a more substantial and stable heel area.
Sally: The Rebel is definitely a more traditional feel and has a firmer ride, whereas the Mystery 01 is bouncier and much softer in feel (thanks to that TPU foam). Both are great daily trainer options with different feeling rides, both “relatively” affordable at $140 Rebel and $150 Mystery. I once picked the Rebel as one of my top trainers, but I am gravitating these days to the bouncier rides such as the one in the Mystery Shoe.
Ben: I am apparently one of the few who didn’t love the Rebel V4. I had serious lockdown issues and kept waiting for it to come to life. The Mizuno is fast and fun in comparison and - to me - the lockdown is supremely better than the Rebel.
Peter: The Rebel 4 is a great shoe, but in many ways a more traditional shoe. The Zen feels like something new. The foam is more fun and forgiving and I feel I can go just as quick in them. While the Rebel is lighter, the Zen is more fun to run in.
361 Eleos vs. Mizuno Neo Zen (RTR Review)
Sam: Another close competitor sharing similar energetic supercritical type foams. Eleos is one of my top shoes of 2024 for its energetic ride, the Mystery 01 equals that ride with more stack height on a lighter platform (1.5 oz lighter) in main part due to the fact the Eleos is considerably broader on the ground while at the same time also lower stack. Thus it is more stable and this is helped by its full heel counter which the Mystery lacks. Upper fits couldn’t be more different. The Eleos has an easy going broad fit, also too easy going for my narrow to medium feet. Both true to size. Similar ride experiences but different purposes: Mystery more a fun and bouncy fast days shoe, Eleos a daily trainer especially for those with higher volume feet..
Peter: The Eleos was definitely my favorite daily trainer of last year (followed pretty closely by the Mizuno Neo Vista). There are some similarities between the Zen and the Eleos–especially in how the foam feels. That said, they feel like shoes that complement each other. I’d say the Eleos is a better shoe for everyday training and easy long runs, while the Zen is better for long runs with quality or for tempo runs–or if you’re just feeling frisky.
Topo Specter 2 vs. Mizuno Neo ZenRTR Review)
Sam: Nearly identical in weight, stack height on a slightly narrower platform the Specter has a full PEBAX midsole. It is somewhat firmer and responsive in ride feel with a more pronounced rocker while the softer Mystery is more bouncy with an easier rolling type ride. Both are true to size with the Topo have a broader anatomical fit up front and a more substantial heel counter. Both my narrow to medium foot and wider ones will be for sure well held in the Topo upper while the Mizuno is favor a lower volume foot with a more performance oriented fit.
Sally: (W8 in both) Lots of similarities between these two lightweight uptempo trainers, but the rides differ. Both fun shoes, Mystery more bouncy and peppy and Specter 2 more rocker rolling. TOPO is definitely more accommodating to the high volume foot and for good reason the choice of runners who prefer a broad natural toe box. I enjoy them both!
adidas Adizero SL 2 vs. Mizuno Mystery 01(RTR Review)
Sam: About the sa me weight on slightly lower heel stack height with a 10mm instead of 6mm drop, the adidas ride is more on the responsive side than bouncy as the Mizuno is and slightly firmer and less cushioned in feel. The thinner forefoot of the SL2 is both an advantage and disadvantage as it is quicker responding and more agile in feel but somewhat less cushioned than the Mizuno’s.
Comes down to a bouncier ride vs a snappier more traditional one upfront. The heel of the adidas is more stable as it has a real heel counter in the mix although its non gusseted tongue, non knit midfoot upper is for its part not quite as locked down as the Mizuno’s. If you are seeking a more traditional riding and higher drop, somewhat more stable light daily trainer the adidas. If you want a more modern riding bouncier and more fun shoe the Mizuno. Both true to size with the Mizuno have a snugger if more secure toe box due to its knit.
Mizuno Zen vs. 361 Ventus (RTR Review soon)
Peter: These are pretty comparable shoes. Both light, easy to run in and fun. The Zen feels a bit better in the forefoot over long miles and is an overall sleeker package.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who agreed against her better judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the past ten Boston Marathons, two NYC Marathons, one Chicago, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights. With a Boston PR of 3:25:55 in 2022 (9th place in AG) and two consecutive 2nd place in Age Group W60 awards in NYC, she competed in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships at the 2022 London Marathon and ran an all-time PR of 3:24:02, placing 6th in the world in her women’s 60-64 age group. She also competes in USATF races with the Greater Lowell Road Runners team. To add meaning to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Team Eye and Ear and has raised over $275,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally is 5’2’’ and 105 pounds and lives in Marblehead, MA, training outdoors year round. She blames her love of skiing out West for any and all Boston Marathon training challenges.
Ben is the Senior Rabbi of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Elkins Park, PA. A cancer survivor, he has run 21 marathons. He holds PRs of 3:15 for the marathon and 1:30 for the half. At 46, he still enjoys pushing himself and combining his running with supporting a variety of causes. Follow him on Instagram: @RabbiBPD or Twitter: @BDinPA
Peter lives in California and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:21 half marathoner in recent years.
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 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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