Mizuno Neo Vista 2 Performance Review

One of the really exciting things about the current running shoe scene is that nearly every single brand has at least one shoe with its own unique hype – and that’s true of Mizuno, a company experiencing some record profits over the last year.

Mizuno’s eventual standout shoe of 2024 was undoubtedly the Neo Vista, the company’s signature super trainer that received rave reviews from everywhere – including us. 

So when we received pairs of the sequel to that 2024 debut hit, the Mizuno Neo Vista 2, at the WearTesters review cave (secretly tucked underneath stately Wayne Manor), it didn’t take much for us to get excited. [Editor’s Note: There’s a review cave? Cool. Thanks for the invite, you jerks.]

But is this sequel more a Thor: The Dark World (which we try to forget) or more a 2 Fast 2 Furious (which redefined a franchise in undeniably amazing ways)? [Editor’s Note: Actually, never mind. I no longer feel like I’m missing out on whatever goes on in that cave….]

Let’s find out.

What is the Mizuno Neo Vista 2?

According to Mizuno:

“Mizuno Neo Vista 2 provides groundbreaking performance in every run. Designed and engineered for the ultimate supertrainer experience, Mizuno’s technologies come together for the smoothest experience. Utilizing foot angle science and SMOOTH SPEED ASSIST, the result is effortless transitions for all paces. MIZUNO ENERZY NXT (Nitrogen Infused TPU) delivers unparalleled cushioning, responsiveness and resiliency and creates the most versatile running shoe in the world.”

Foot angle science! That’s a new one, and I kinda like it. That’s a great science plus marketing language crossover. But we’re zeroing in on the “ultimate supertrainer experience” line. There are some great super trainer options on the market, enough that we made a best super trainer list. The original Neo Vista made that list… Can the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 take its place?

Cushion

Arune: I’ve never worn a Mizuno running shoe in my life – or if I have, it was probably around 20 years ago when I could finally afford name brand shoes. So I really had no idea what to expect from the Neo Vista 2 except that I knew Drew raved about the ride from the first model.

And if you like a bouncy midsole, you’re gonna get down on one knee to propose to the MIZUNO ENERZY NXT foam here. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this much bounce from a shoe…but, admittedly, that didn’t work for me.

My favorite running shoes over the years – namely, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3, Asics Superblast, and Nike Zoom Fly 6 – all tend to have snappier, firmer rides. Whenever I get to high stacks or crazy bouncy midsoles I find my joints and lower back don’t respond well. Maybe it’s being 210 pounds, maybe it’s my gait, or maybe I just need more Erewhon smoothies to build the necessary supporting muscles (is there anything Organic Sea Moss can’t do if Hailey Bieber is involved?). [Editor’s Note: Oookay, LA. It’s for sure not the third thing you listed.]

When I first took these shoes out, I audibly exclaimed, “WOW!” because the cushion propels you forward in a way that feels revelatory and yet also completely natural. However, after the first mile, I felt a lot of swelling on the lateral side of my feet and realized I was fighting the way these shoes were pronating my feet inwards.

The high stack here also took away any sense of groundfeel under my feet, and that is something that really distracted me during my run. I kept feeling like I’d roll my ankle, and it made the run that much harder. Again, keep in mind that this might be the result of being pretty early in my pursuit of running excellence.

I know that Drew is tearing his hair out right now, so let’s pass the baton over to him.

Drew: The Mizuno Neo Vista 2 does assist in pushing the shoe from the lateral side (the typical landing location of most runners) to the medial. This works great for those who have trouble getting over to their big toe for push-off. For others like Arune, it may be too much. For me, it felt natural and like I wasn’t having to work as hard to roll through my typical footstrike. So I’m with him that this will be a polarizing aspect of the Neo Vista 2.

Arune is also right [Editor’s Note: twice in one review? Not sure this has happened before. Don’t let it go to your head, Arune. He didn’t mean you were right about the smoothies…] about the groundfeel. [Editor’s Note: See?] The plush, pillowy feel of the Mizuno Neo Vista 2’s midsole mutes any groundfeel. In some shoes you can easily tell the subtle differences between running on asphalt, sidewalks, and crushed-gravel paths. Not so in the Neo Vista 2. Every step feels marshmallowy soft.

But it’s a fantastically soft landing, roll, and then spring into the next stride. The MIZUNO ENERZY NXT foam and WAVE plate combo is wonderfully propulsive. This is the exact type of underfoot experience that makes super trainers so appealing: soft and protective, but it still helps me feel fast.

Support

Arune: I think I’ve covered this a bit in the previous section, but it’s worth discussing the Smooth Speed Assist on the Neo Vista 2 that’s meant to lessen impact on your calf muscles and assist you in your longer runs.

With all my notes above in mind, let me say this: I think the SSA really works here because this shoe worked for me equally well at easy-run pace as it did during sprints.

The struggles I had with pronation are, I’m guessing, more likely the result of the stack height and my relative inexperience with this bounce.

But this shoe will keep you moving and will do so in a consistent way no matter the speed.

Drew: For a knit shoe with such a large stack height, the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 acquits itself quite well in the support department. I took turns with reckless abandon and easily stayed upright. The TPU support pieces keep the foot firmly on the footbed, and the laces feel like they do more to tighten and improve the fit than in the first Neo Vista.

That said, the lateral arch is pronounced and may cause some wonkiness with pronation depending on where you land and how your foot likes to pronate. For me, typically landing towards the rear of my lateral midfoot and pronating over to my big toe for takeoff, it was perfect. My footstrikes felt easier, and it helped the Neo Vista 2 make a good case to be a go-to long-run and recovery shoe.

Traction

Arune: I was surprised at how well this outsole gripped a variety of dry surfaces here in Los Angeles – hot pavement, gravel, some slippy grassy areas – but never got a chance to really test it beyond that.

Drew: The X10 rubber used is grippy, and I didn’t have any issues with wet-to-dry transitions or any circumstance that wasn’t a thin layer of slippery sand atop a slicker concrete surface. And I’m pretty sure the slippage in that instance was more so caused by the lack of outsole rubber in the middle of the foot (due to the large channel on the outsole that shows off the TPU plate). Once my foot pronated enough to get more rubber contact, I was back to getting solid grip.

I expect the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 to grip well and only come up short in instances where that channel may prevent you from getting enough ground contact on a slippery surface. It won’t be something that’s a regular occurrence.

Upper

Arune: A sock-like upper in 2025? This feels like a throwback to me and also a cause for worry given my wider-than-normal forefoot, AKA Hobbit Feet.

But it turns out those concerns were unwarranted because Mizuno ensured easy entry with two pull tabs (one where the tongue would be and one at the heel) and a very accommodating shape – especially in the forefoot – which allowed me full toe splay.

The knit upper did pretty well during a recent heatwave here, and I never felt like my feet got too warm despite the temperatures. Your feet truly do feel hugged instead of feeling squeezed into the shoe, the latter being a common experience I’ve had with this kind of upper structure in the past.

The laces [Editor’s Note: ope, here’s where you’re about to lose Drew, Arune…] are a bit long but do stay laced; so worst case, some folks with less voluminous feet may need to double knot.

However, let’s say this: the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 looks incredible and futuristic, like something out of My Hero Academia or even retro anime like Bubblegum Crisis. The blue/purple accents really add to the premium look of this shoe, and I got a whole lotta compliments on these during my runs – impressively, from the same people who never comment on my shoes. I’m curious what other colorways are planned because this minimalist design lends itself to some very memorable color combinations.

Drew: The engineered knit upper is breathable and feels like a slight upgrade from the original’s similar but slightly warmer knit upper. Just like the original, it’s very accommodating but this time brings a more casual-friendly look. Though I didn’t get the compliments that Arune got on his runs.

[Editor’s Note: See, now, as a lady, the notion of unsolicited “compliments” can sometimes be a bit more of a quagmire… For example, if a drag queen tells me I look fabulous, my self-esteem never suffers again. And I very much share the instinct to spread positivity and give someone a lift in their day (and try to do so regularly where appropriate).

However, I’m also all too conscious of the, shall we say, less sunny side of commenting on anyone’s physical appearance. Because I’m ALSO wondering if that guy I keep encountering during my run is innocently tracing a route that just happens to repeatedly intersect with mine or if he is, in fact, following me. Soooo…hey, that’s a fun difference between our experiences in the world… Too dark…? Whoopsie.

Bottom line: Please compliment responsibly.

Back to the shoes…

Drew, your Mizuno Neo Vista 2s look very nice, too.]

Drew: I’m not always a fan of knit uppers, but Mizuno has one of the better ones here.
[Editor’s Note: And that upper nicely complements your lanky legs. See? This is where the training video would pause to ask if we spotted the moment the compliments went sideways.]

Is the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 wide foot friendly?

Arune: Yes, to a degree. For reference, I can usually get away with standard-width shoes in most brands but have to go wide with Hoka and go half a size up in Nike.

So, if you’re a true wide-footer who always needs the wide option, I don’t know if this is for you.

Drew: There’s room up front for some toe splay, but the knit upper does narrow sharply at the back of the midfoot and heel to ensure a secure and supportive fit. If you need lots of room at the back of the foot, you may need to pass. But many wide-footers will find sufficient room.

Is the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 worth $200?

Arune: Probably YES.

That’s a significant price increase over last year’s $180 debut model; but, given the global economics of 2025, it’s not surprising – and it puts the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 right up against super trainers like the Asics Superblast 2.

Given how Drew and some others in the running community have reacted to this shoe, it seems like I’m in the minority and you’re likely to enjoy all the bounce that this shoe has to offer.

You can do all your runs – easy, tempo, speed – in this shoe and probably have a blast.

I’d still recommend the Nike Zoom Fly 6 for folks like me who prefer a firmer ride and want similar versatility, but the Neo Vista 2 is a true max-cushion super trainer and a standout at that.

Drew: The $200 price point is now where some of the best super trainers hang out. There’s usually a lot of fun technology that justifies it. With the Mizuno Neo Vista 2, the impressive midsole, support, and really the total package all make me think it can hold its own at $200. You’re not getting hidden value at this price, but you’re getting something fun and functional enough to make you feel good about spending that much while you cruise through the miles.

How to use the Mizuno Neo Vista 2

The Mizuno Neo Vista 2 is a versatile super trainer built to soak up the miles and blunt the impact forces that typically make the body feel drained. It can do long runs and the tempo sections your coach throws into them as your target race gets close. It also excels at easy-paced recovery runs where taking care of the body is key.

Mizuno Neo Vista 2 Summary

Arune: An early contender for super trainer of the year, the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 delivers perhaps the bounciest ride on the market which most runners will enjoy.

Drew: The Mizuno Neo Vista 2 is plush, bouncy, and fun. It has few flaws, and as long as it works with your mechanics, you’ll feel it offering an extra (Smooth Speed) assist along the way. If you love soft but springy shoes, the Neo Vista 2 should be on your list.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Mizuno did provide pairs of the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.