Mizuno Neo Vista Introduction
There used to be a time when it was guaranteed that a Mizuno is always going to ride like a Mizuno due the signature Mizuno Wave plate: firm, supportive, and creaky. It used to take a while for the Wave plate to properly bed in which was also a Mizuno signature characteristic.
This can’t be said of Mizuno anymore. The Wave Rebellion Pro is arguably the wildest and craziest shoe design of the last 5 years: it’s aggressive, innovative and has a ride like no other. This race shoe is the complete opposite of the safe, typical Mizuno designs prior to it.
Now, Mizuno is focusing on the training side with a shoe which is inspired by the Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and Flash 2. The Neo Vista was named the “mystery shoe” by Mizuno when they teased it at The Running Event last year.
They didn’t provide the name of the shoe or the name of the new midsole foam in it. ASICS used a similar marketing tactic when they launched an all white version of the Nimbus 25 with no branding on it.
Mizuno calls it their first super trainer but they already have the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 which has all the technology to be classified as a super trainer. The Neo Vista is however Mizuno’s first running shoe above 40 mm in stack height.
The Mizuno Neo is a line of shoes designed with the environment in mind. They’re made from materials designed to limit carbon emissions. The line consists of the Wave Neo Wind, the Wave Neo Ultra and now the Neo Vista. On Mizuno’s website, they claim that they plant 2 trees for every Neo Wind or Neo Ultra sold.
The Neo Vista is 20 grams lighter than the Neo Ultra, and they claim that it has 83% more cushioning than the Neo Ultra but they don’t specify how they measured it. The Neo Vista is designed to be a versatile daily trainer for any type of run.
Mizuno Neo Vista First Impressions
My first run in the Neo Vista was a steady-paced 15 kilometre run. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I expected a really energetic, propulsive ride like the New Balance SC Trainer v2 or the Hoka Mach X.
The Neo Vista felt like an easy day or recovery trainer. The ride felt even softer than I imagined and it reminded me of the ASICS Nimbus 26. Both trainers have bootie construction uppers with really soft rides but the Neo Vista felt more squishy.
The stack height (44.5 mm) is similar to that of the ASICS Superblast (45.5 mm) but the Neo Vista felt much lower to the ground because of how much it compresses. The Neo Vista felt like it had under 40 mm of stack height.
Mizuno Neo Vista Upper
I have mixed feelings about the stretchy, sock-like upper of the Neo Vista. On the one hand, it’s comfortable and provides good lockdown but on the other hand, it feels very warm and it gives the entire shoe a relaxed, casual feel rather than a performance one.
There’s a design flaw with the lacing system: the lacing goes inside the shoe, between the 1st and 2nd eyelet. You can feel the lace on the inside of the shoe because it’s a flat lace that twists, so the twisted lace creates a pressure point on your ankle- it’s very difficult to keep the lace flat where it goes inside the shoe. There is also no way of using a runner’s knot due to the bootie construction.
The material bunches and folds over when I tie the laces but the fold doesn’t annoy me during runs. It has a snug fit which is best suited to narrow, low volume feet. If you have wide feet, you might need to go up a half size.
Mizuno Neo Vista Sole Unit
It’s quite evident that Mizuno was inspired by the New Balance SC Trainer version 1 when they were designing the Neo Vista. There are some noticeable similarities between the 2 trainers: bootie construction, a deep central channel, a flexible plate and above 40 mm of stack height.
The main difference between these 2 super trainers is that the Neo Vista has a much softer ride than the SC Trainer with less energy return. It also has a more flexible plate and forefoot than the New Balance.
It feels best when I’m running slower than 6 minutes per kilometre. It provides plenty of plush cushioning when my legs are tired and I’m not worried about my pace. I’m able to pick up the pace to my marathon pace for short periods but it’s not comfortable and it feels a bit like I’m running on a mattress.
The plate of the Neo Vista is flat, unlike the SC Trainer series which has a convex plate that can store and return more energy. The result is a flatter, less lively ride than the SC Trainer series. The Neo Vista has a less prominent forefoot rocker too.
The Neo Vista is one of the softest running shoes I’ve tested and its new foam, Enerzy NXT behaves like the older version of FuelCell that didn’t have PEBA in it. Enerzy NXT is an EVA foam, so it doesn’t possess the rebound that PEBA (or even TPU) has.
The midsole compresses so much that the ride feels mushy. If you’re a heavy runner, the ride will feel way too soft and the cushioning not substantial enough.
The Neo Vista has Smooth Speed Assist which is built into the geometry of the midsole. It’s designed to lessen muscle tension and promote a midfoot-strike, similar to Skechers’ M Strike technology so the midsole is shaped like a boat, with a rearfoot and a forefoot rocker.
My longest run in it was 32 kilometres (at easy pace) and it felt comfortable, cushioned and smooth throughout the entire run. It has a gentle forefoot rocker which makes it feel slightly more efficient but the rocker is muted due to how soft the midsole is.
Due to the softness of the midsole, there’s some lean bias so the Neo Vista is not ideal for heavy overpronators who need support. I’m a light overpronator and I find it stable enough, even during long runs.
The entire outsole is protected by a layer of soft rubber which makes landings feel very padded. This rubber is above average when it comes to durability. My pair is showing minute signs of wear after 80 km. Traction is not so great on wet surfaces because of how flat and smooth the outsole rubber is.
The hollowed-out central channel on the outsole is the longest and widest I’ve seen on a running shoe.
It aids in straight-line tracking, makes the ride softer and allows for a lot of weight saving. I thought that small rocks might get stuck in it but so far, it has never happened.
Mizuno Neo Vista Conclusions
I really enjoyed running in and testing the Neo Vista. It feels incredibly polished for a first generation running shoe and its super squishy ride is a breath of fresh air for Mizuno. It continues to break the Mizuno mould. Out of context, the Neo Vista is a good running shoe but it doesn’t quite do what Mizuno advertises.
I think that the Enerzy NXT foam needs some tweaking because it doesn’t have enough energy return and it feels too mushy. I would also prefer a traditional upper instead of a bootie because the bootie design has some issues.
When I think of super trainers, I think of really versatile, do-it-all shoes like the Superblast, SC Trainer v2 and the Kinvara Pro which have the ability to pick up the pace. The Neo Vista can’t compete with these super trainers when it comes to speed- it’s far too soft.
The Neo Vista is a glorified max-cushioned trainer, and is priced $20 more than the other max-cushioned trainers. I’ll only be using it for easy and recovery runs in my rotation. It should be closer to the $160 price point.
