Mizuno Neo Vista 2 Review: The NXT Best Thing

Introduction to the Mizuno Neo Vista 2

MEAGHAN: When the original Neo Vista launched last year, my expectations were low. Mizuno had been using wave plates in its shoes for a while, and the innovation felt stale. But to our surprise, the Neo Vista was a standout, so much so that it earned a spot on our BIG (Best in Gear) Awards list as the “Best Under the Radar” shoe.

Now, with version 2 in hand, I was genuinely excited to see what Mizuno had cooked up, and spoiler alert: it did not disappoint.

This is a complete overhaul from top to bottom, but the most important element — the fun — is still very much intact. The upper has been redesigned with a new engineered knit that trades the sock-like fit for a roomier, more accommodating feel, especially in the forefoot.

The midsole still features Mizuno’s Enerzy NXT, but it now comes in a dual-density configuration: a nitrogen-infused TPU top layer sits above an EVA base. Sandwiched between the two is a glass-fiber reinforced nylon plate, paired with a rockered design Mizuno calls “Smooth Speed Assist.”

One other change? The price jumped from $180 to $200. So the question is: are the updates worth it? Let’s dive in.

LINDSAY: The shoe that shocked the nation is back! This is round two for the Mizuno Neo Vista, and my feet are thankful for another go.

I’m happy to report they kept many of the same features for version two because there’s simply no need to fix something that is not broken. The midsole still has the Enerzy Nxt foam and Wave plate, but there’s something else sandwiched in there now (more on that later). Their signature rocker geometry, known as the Smooth Speed Assist, is still loud and proud. Lastly, the weight and stack height all match up.

So now you might be thinking: why are we getting a second version if it’s essentially identical to the first? It’s the little things that matter, people. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Just because you can’t see the change doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Ok, I’m done, but you get the point. Mizuno made some small, not-so-obvious tweaks for this sophomore effort. All for the better, though, so without further ado…

RYAN: Hello again, it’s Mizuno Boy, back in action. I can safely say that I ran more miles in Mizuno running shoes than anyone else on the Believe team in 2024, and I’ve taken on something of a “before it was cool” mentality about that fact. It’s like the attitude we all had about Asics a few years ago and the one we currently have towards Brooks, but with Mizuno, I felt like I was banging the drum a bit louder than most.

I didn’t always feel that way — one of my first reviews here at Believe was the Wave Rider 25, a shoe I put my required miles into and never touched again. It was heavy, had a high drop, and its technology felt dated — nothing I usually like to lace up for miles fast or slow.

Then (several years later), we teamed up with Mizuno to launch the original Neo Vista at a Believe Run Club event on a Thursday night in late spring, and the rest, as they say, is history. I signed on to train for and race the Amsterdam Marathon with Mizuno, putting hundreds of miles into a combination of the Neo Vista, the Wave Rebellion Pro 2, and ultimately the Wave Rebellion Pro Beta, coming away with a shiny new marathon PR and a newfound respect for one of the oldest running brands.

And now, it’s time for another brand-new generation of Mizuno running shoes. Meg and Lindsay covered most of the basics, and now you have my personal history, so let’s get on to the good stuff.

CHAD: The Mizuno Neo Vista was one of my favorite shoes of 2024, just missing out on being in my top 5 for the year. It was an amazing leap into the Supertrainer category for Mizuno, and a great training companion to their race day offering, the Rebellion Pro series. I ran the Baltimore 10-miler in it as a fun run, and even with some warm conditions and a hilly course, I had a great run.

When the Neo Vista 2 arrived at my door, I was excited to see just how Mizuno could improve on a shoe that was already a very solid shoe that could handle nearly every type of run you could throw at it. A lot stayed the same, such as the midsole foam and the geometry and similar weight, but some things did change, including a new nitrogen-infused TPU layer underfoot above the glass fiber wave plate and a slightly redesigned upper. Oh yeah, and it now comes in at the Super Trainer price of $200.

What we like about the Mizuno Neo Vista 2

MEAGHAN: You already know I’m a fan of a big, white, chunky trainer, so naturally, the Neo Vista 2 hits the right aesthetic notes for me. While it leans a little toward a high-top silhouette, the overall design still works really well. One curious change: Mizuno moved the logo placement from the outer side to the inner side of the shoe. I’m not entirely sure why, but honestly, I don’t mind the update.

The step-in feel is excellent. That new nitrogen-infused TPU top layer in the midsole delivers a plush, soft landing right out of the gate, and the updated knit upper strikes a great balance — stretchy enough for comfort, yet structured enough to lock your foot down. The knit also features wider ventilation holes, making it noticeably more breathable than the original version.

But it’s once you hit the road that this shoe really shines. The dual-density foam combined with the wave plate delivers an incredibly smooth and energetic ride. It’s bouncy, it’s light, and most importantly, it’s fun. I’ve found myself running faster and farther than planned more than once in this shoe. It’s the kind of ride that lets you completely zone out, only to look up and realize you’ve clocked more miles than expected. That’s the hallmark of a great shoe.

Even after 10 miles, the foam still feels fresh and responsive. While I haven’t pushed it past 12 miles yet, I’d absolutely trust it for longer easy runs — even ones with a few pace changes thrown in. At 7.8 oz, it’s not the lightest shoe on the market, but with nearly 45 mm of foam under the heel, that weight feels totally justified.

I mentioned this in our First Thoughts video, but it’s worth repeating: the Neo Vista 2 reminds me a lot of the original New Balance SC Trainer — if the SC Trainer got lighter and just… better.

LINDSAY: Knit uppers are such a gamble. I remember the first Mizuno Neo Vista being a bit warmer, but version two is more breathable. It’s not as tightly conformed to the foot and has more ventilation holes. New to version two is a solid piece of plastic (?) on both sides of the heel, which adds some structure and works to reduce heel jostling. There’s also now a loop on the tongue and the loop at the heel, making it super easy to pull on.

The midsole is where the magic happens. The original Enerzy Nxt foam is still there, but now it’s complemented by a nitrogen-infused top layer. This alone adds more pop to each step and, fortunately, it’s not too wobbly. I feel like it’s mildly offset by the now more enclosed underfoot cavity that used to run the length of the shoe. This midsole makes for an excellent long run cruise or even on a more up-tempo run. I probably wouldn’t wear it for speed work because it’s a little wobbly, but maybe I’m just clumsy.

Again, the outsole has a little more coverage than previously. There is also a different tread pattern, which I found more grippy and likely to be more durable in the long run. The fit was true to size for me.

RYAN: Alright, so I have to be honest — even though I’m Mizuno Boy, I was never supposed to be on this review. The fine folks at Mizuno sent Robbe a US M7.5, which we’ve both kind of accepted isn’t really his shoe size anymore, because it fits my US M8 foot perfectly — so maybe we’re both just smaller dudes than expected. I, however, cannot hold that against Mizuno, because it just keeps working out in my favor.

As for actual perks of the Neo Vista 2, I have to say that I agree with pretty much everything that Meg and Lindsay have said. This shoe is bouncier than before, it’s better looking than before, and I think it’s more breathable, too, at least on cooler days. I like 99% of the all-white colorway that Mizuno sent us, only knocking a point because it badly bears the stains of a nasty run-in with Robbe’s morning coffee. Again, not Mizuno’s fault, but now I have one shoe that looks like a soft-serve twist cone.

Underfoot, I think everything about the Neo Vista 2 works pretty much perfectly. I loved the two layers of Enerzy NXT foam on the original, and the addition of nitrogen in version two is just better. It’s got a little more pep to its step, yet the platform is wide enough and thick enough that I don’t feel like I’m about to roll an ankle. I hardly notice the Wave Plate — which is mostly there as a stabilizing agent — and I haven’t had much of an issue getting pebbles or other debris stuck in the midsole cutout.

But, while the Neo Vista 2 is mostly a case of steps forward, I think it has one or two steps back, too, so let’s keep going.

CHAD: I agree with Lindsay; knit uppers are risky, and I feel like they are either a super hit or a super miss. However, I think Mizuno has dialed in its approach in the Neo Vista line, with the upper in the Neo Vista 2 being slightly better than the first.

It is more breathable with bigger venting in the knit material, and despite having a bit more volume to it, it still holds the foot pretty well over the platform. Plus, it’s an excellent touch to have both a heel tab and one on the top of the foot, which makes getting into the shoe a breeze, something which can tend to be an issue with knit, booty-like uppers.

Once on the foot, you can immediately feel the improvements over the first version. Underfoot, you can definitely feel that the nitrogen-infused TPU foam provides both increased comfort while also giving great pop off the ground. Combined with the wave plate, the Enerzy NXT foam under the plate, and the Smooth Speed Assist rocker, the ride is incredibly smooth mile after mile. At no point during any of my runs did I feel like this shoe wasn’t giving me back nearly everything I needed, which is a must in any supertrainer.

And finally, not only did Mizuno nail the performance updates on the Neo Vista 2, they also crushed it in the aesthetics department. The white upper with the glittery blue Mizuno logo on the medial side of the shoe is so striking to look at. I was hesitant to take them out on a run after it rained because I did not want to do anything to get them dirty; I had to remind myself that they’re “tools, not jewels.”

What we don’t like about the Mizuno Neo Vista 2

MEAGHAN: I’m dropping this in the “bad” section, even though I personally didn’t have any issues, but it’s worth noting. Nearly everyone I’ve spoken to about the Neo Vista 2 has mentioned sizing troubles. Common complaints include a toebox that feels overly roomy and excess material in the upper.

For me, the fit was spot-on in my usual US W7.5. But based on the feedback I’ve heard, it might be wise for most runners to consider going down half a size.

LINDSAY: Although improved, it’s still not the most stable shoe. Taking corners is still a bit of a gamble, but nothing that caused any casualties, even on the winding promenade along Baltimore’s inner harbor.

I also don’t remember being so bothered by the knit upper around my ankle. It’s quite uncomfortable to run in this shoe with no-show socks.

The higher price is super unfortunate, but that’s just the way things are headed right now with shoe pricing. Le sigh. Can’t really blame Mizuno (who is based in Japan).

RYAN: As you could probably imagine, I have to be the one to complain about the sizing on the Neo Vista 2. Yes, getting Robbe’s pair worked out in my favor, but straight-up sizing isn’t my main issue. Instead, the problem is that the updated knit upper doesn’t hug my foot in quite the sock-like way I was hoping for. It feels good around my big toe, but falls apart a little bit as it works towards my smaller toes, leaving just a bit too much wiggle room.

Also, I can’t shake the feeling that the Neo Vista 2 feels heavier underfoot. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m coming over from the light, simplified Neo Zen — which I think is one of the best trainers of the year — but the result is a supertrainer that feels just a little bit bigger than it needs to.

Sometimes, the midsole feels like it’s pulling down on my feet, yet I’ve cinched down the laces just as tightly as they’ll comfortably go. I haven’t noticed this sensation as much the more miles I’ve logged, though, so maybe I just had to get used to the dual-layer, plated structure over again.

CHAD: So, that extra volume I mentioned earlier? I had to tie my shoes pretty tightly so I wouldn’t feel like I was swimming in the shoe. On the run, I could still feel my heel moving around a bit, which tended to give me some wiggle medially, especially on cambered roads. I also don’t like how the laces go into the shoe on the final set of holes, as I think it adds an increased friction point and could lead to unnecessary rubbing or blisters.

Final thoughts on the Mizuno Neo Vista 2

MEAGHAN: The Mizuno Neo Vista 2 is, without question, my current favorite daily trainer. Period. If it were solely up to me, this shoe would top our “Best Of” list in the daily trainer category. Unfortunately, not everyone on the team had the same experience, mostly due to fit and sizing inconsistencies.

That said, this is a shoe I’ve kept reaching for long after the initial testing, and I plan to keep it in my rotation. It’s just a genuinely fun shoe to run in. And really, what more could you ask for in a daily trainer than something you actually look forward to lacing up each morning? And yes, I do think the $200 price tag is justifiable.

LINDSAY: The Mizuno Neo Vista is excellent, and that stands true for both versions. If it’s not in your budget to drop $200 on the Neo Vista 2, I highly recommend catching the OG Neo Vista on sale at Running Warehouse for $125. The colorways are better with the second version, but like I said before, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and both versions excel in that regard.

RYAN: Mizuno Boy tested, Mizuno Boy approved. Sure, there are some stumbles along the way, but overall I think the Neo Vista 2 is exactly what I was hoping for from Mizuno’s second-generation supertrainer. It nailed everything from the colorway to adding a new, nitrogen-infused foam, and I think the miles you’ll get out of your pair more than justify the slight increase in cost. I agree with Lindsay, though — scoop up remaining pairs of the OG while you still can.

CHAD: After my first four-mile run in the Neo Vista 2, I remarked to my fellow reviewers that I believe it will definitely be in the running for Shoe of the Year, and I stand by that. This is up there for me with shoes like the Superblast 2 and Glycerin Max for being an incredible long-run cruiser, which is how I will likely deploy it during my Chicago Marathon build that starts soon. Can’t wait!

You can pick up the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 for $200 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.