Mizuno Neo Zen Review: Running Nirvana, In Utero

Introduction to the Mizuno Neo Zen

ROBBE: For years, it seemed like we put the ‘no’ into every Mizuno review. Anytime a shoe showed up, we drew straws to see who would get a week of running with a wave plate. It wasn’t always like this, however. A longtime legend within the running footwear industry, Mizuno was really one of the first to do plates in any capacity and maybe the first to do it really well, especially in a daily trainer. At the time, it was revolutionary.

And then nothing. 

Going the way of the one-trick pony, Mizuno ate on that wave plate for a whole two decades until the riptide exposed it as a shoe that was fine, but had fallen behind thanks to a lack of vision and innovation. Suddenly, nobody cared about Mizuno. At least in the United States, anyway. Sure, there were the people who bought all 27 versions of the Wave Rider, the runner’s version of Doug Funnie’s green vest or Steve Jobs’ black turtleneck. But for the most part, people had moved on to bigger and better things.

Mizuno Wave Rider 1-26

Their Japanese competition in Asics were also in the same spot, squeezing every last bit of juice from the Gel technology, oozing it out and serving it up long past its own expiration date. As you probably know, Asics overhauled pretty much everything and did a complete 180-degree-turn back into relevance with shoes like the Novablast, Superblast, and Metaspeed line. And still, Mizuno languished.

Until 2023. We finally saw a break in the clouds with the Rebellion Pro, a hugely rockered race day shoe with a midsole that went upwards of 50 mm in the parts not measured by World Athletics. It was weird and fun and cool, even if it was a bit overly aggressive. Then, this past summer saw the release of the Neo Vista, a super trainer with a great fitting knit bootie upper, a big bed of Enerzy NXT foam and a Wave Plate that actually should be there. It was a soft shoe, but it was comfortable and could handle distances of all kinds.

And now we have the Neo Zen, an all-new daily trainer from Mizuno. At first glance, the shoe looks a lot like the Neo Vista. Probably because it’s very similar to that shoe in some ways. Both have a knit upper, both use an Enerzy NXT midsole foam, and both have a similar design, including a wide base with a midfoot channel/cutout. But instead of a plate, the Neo Zen is midsole only, with a stack height of 39.5 in the heel and 33.5 in the forefoot (as opposed to the 44.5 stack height in the Neo Vista). It weighs a very light 9 ounces for a US M10, a half-ounce less than the Neo Vista.

There are some similarities in performance, for sure. But there’s a reason this one shines more than any other Mizuno shoe right now. Let’s see why.

THOMAS: In 2007, I ran my first marathon in Mizuno Wave Riders. Eight years later, in the 2015 Charleston Marathon, I laced up a pair of Hitogami 2. After that, other brands outpaced Mizuno with innovation, though the company seemed unbothered. Retailers continued to push their stale products, and for a time, it worked. But things changed. Consumers started doing their own research, no longer content to accept what local stores had on the shelf.

Mizuno’s running division also underwent a series of notable shifts. At one point, even the head of their golf division took over the running category. Their marketing fell flat, and they seemed disconnected from the evolving nature of running itself. The signs were clear: it showed in the product. Interesting new models would be introduced, only to revert to the familiar, safe designs of their flagship lines. This lack of experimentation, driven in part by conservative running retailers, led to a return to the same old shoes.

I remember sitting in a meeting a little over a year ago when Mizuno presented their new direction. Store owners were more intrigued by the Wave Rider than by the prototypes of the Neo Vista and Neo Zen. Robbe and I left that presentation scratching our heads. On one hand, it seemed that Mizuno was trying to branch out; on the other, it seemed that Mizuno was still in the grip of the old-school Wave Rider consumer who would keep coming back for the next iteration, no questions asked. 

But here’s the good news: since then, things have shaken out a little bit, and there are clear signs that Mizuno is getting back on track. Fingers crossed.

The first hopeful sign came with the Rebellion Pro, followed by the Neo Vista. Both shoes felt fresh—innovative designs, exciting new materials—and most importantly, they were fun to run in. The entire team enjoyed the Neo Vista, which, in essence, was the Neo Zen with a plate. So, naturally, my expectations for the Neo Zen were high.

MEAGHAN: The guys covered Mizuno’s history pretty well, so I’ll leave it at that. What they didn’t mention is that Mizuno has been on some weird mystery kick, literally naming their shoes Mystery Shoe #1, #2, #3, etc., until the shoe is released, along with its official name. All that to say the Neo Zen started out as Mystery Shoe #1, and hopefully the remaining mystery shoes turn out as great as this one. But, let’s get into specifics.

What we like about the Mizuno Neo Zen

ROBBE: Before I wore the Neo Vista this past summer, I’ll be honest– I prejudged it. I was fully expecting to hate the shoe and its upper and its ride. I didn’t like the design of it or the colors. That part hasn’t changed. But after running in the shoe, I realized I had made a mistake. It was a great shoe. Soft, yes. But the upper fit great, it was surprisingly stable, it was very comfortable, and it didn’t feel clunky despite its size. It was definitely the surprise of the year for me.

You’d think I’d learn my lesson and that I would’ve shown some sort of enthusiasm when I found out the Neo Zen was on the way. Turns out, it was probably an even bigger surprise than the Neo Vista. Because it’s a really great shoe and a really great price point.

Let me tell you why. For starters, it looks pretty fantastic, especially in the debut Mystery Camo colorway. Like, I would be proud to wear this on a run during daylight hours. The knit upper, much like the Neo Vista, fits really well. It’s not perfect– there was a tiny bit of folding in the tongue area when cinched down– but it didn’t spell out discomfort or hot spots on the run. Otherwise there’s no heel slippage and it’s generally a good lockdown. You will probably want to go a half size down, which I think all of us here had to do.

Upon first step-in, you will immediately feel the bounce and buoyancy of the Energy NXT midsole. Immediate feedback is that you know you’re probably in for a fun ride, and it’s not wrong. On the run, the nitrogen-infused TPU foam is soft, ultra bouncy, and light underfoot. I mean, it’s really soft, I’m not gonna pretend otherwise. Usually I would hate this, but the bounce is so excellent that it doesn’t bother me.

Now, I wouldn’t consider the Neo Zen to be an uptempo shoe, even though I think it can do that if called upon in a pinch. It’s certainly light enough to do so. Instead, I think it firmly sits in the daily trainer range, which can be a little bit confusing when choosing between the Neo Vista and this. As with the Neo Vista, the underfoot channel cutout seems to help with the compression and release of the foam, though I’m not a foam scientist so I can’t say for sure. 

But really, it feels like one of the better/best rides out there, of any daily trainer in the $150 price range. It really is remarkable how fun it feels underfoot. Combined with the Speed Assist geometry, it really just rolls effortlessly, mile after mile. Obviously there’s plenty of comfort with the almost 40 mm of stack height, so the legs will feel good at any distance. 

I did wear this shoe during a pretty harsh cold snap for Maryland, where the temps got down to 15F (I even took it on snowy gravel trails, not recommended), and the midsole stayed soft for an 8-mile run that was one of the best runs I’ve had over the past month or so. I also can’t attest to the breathability of the upper since it was so cold out, but I suspect it may be a little warm come summertime. 

At $150, I have to be real– you may be hard pressed to find a better shoe for the money.

THOMAS: I had to go down half a size, but once I did, the upper of the Neo Zen fit like a glove. The knit material is a pleasure—supportive where it counts and stretchy where it needs to be. The higher collar also works well for me, providing just the right amount of comfort without feeling constricting.

But the real highlight here is the bouncy Enerzy NXT foam. Foams, it seems, just keep improving, and each one has its own personality. The Enerzy NXT in the Neo Zen is soft on impact but rebounds quickly, giving the midsole a responsive feel without becoming too mushy. In fact, this is one of the squishier shoes we’ve reviewed recently. The Asics Novablast 5 and Adidas Evo SL come close in comparison, but the Neo Zen is noticeably softer.

The almost full-coverage outsole adds to the shoe’s stability. It helps maintain the structure of the foam and delivers solid traction, even on varied surfaces.

I was surprised to learn the Neo Zen retails for $150, because it feels more premium than that price would suggest. My size 10 US weighs in at just 9 oz. (250 grams), which is impressive given the generous cushioning underneath.

MEAGHAN: Similar to Robbe, I didn’t have high hopes for the Neo Zen. I try really hard to go into shoe reviews with an open mind, but as the guys revealed, Mizuno hasn’t exactly been on the up and up (until now!). But, from the step-in alone, I knew the Neo Zen was going to be a fast favorite. 

Knit uppers are either really great or really not, and luckily this one is a home run. It’s breathable, stretchy and soft but also feels structured and supportive. The seamless integrated tongue provides just enough padding that you can cinch down the laces without any irritation on the top of your foot. The guys both went a half size down, but I kept my original W7.5. I prefer a roomier toe box so this worked fine for me. 

The Enerzy NXT foam is soft and bouncy and perfect for cruising. I laced this shoe up for several 6, 8 and 10 mile runs and it felt great throughout. The foam continued to feel soft but lively for all my runs, and at $150, I can’t think of a better value. Did I mention the weight? My W7.5 came in 6.7oz (198 grams). That’s pretty amazing for a highly cushioned daily trainer. 

What we don’t like about the Mizuno Neo Zen

ROBBE: Despite a slew of near-perfect elements in the shoe, it’s not a slam dunk. The midsole is soft, and though the wide base makes it fairly stable, it’s not exactly a nimble shoe. It’s more nimble than the Neo Vista, for sure, and while it can go faster, it fits more comfortably in the “set it and forget it” zone. If you don’t like a ton of soft cushion underfoot (say, hardcore fans of the New Balance Rebel v4, Adidas Boston 12, or Brooks Hyperion/Hyperion Max), then you should stay away. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if a knit upper misses, it really misses. Luckily, that’s not the case here, because I think the upper fits better than most, knit or otherwise. However, despite going down a half size, I still felt that there was a bit of extra material or just space in general from medial to lateral. On the run I wasn’t totally locked down, with a little bit of movement from side to side. It was minimal, but noticeable. So while I don’t think it affected the overall performance, it was just something that was there. 

The biggest bad about this shoe is that it’s so close to the Neo Vista. I’d pick this one every time since it’s $30 less and does almost the same exact thing and feels pretty close underfoot. I mean, the case could be made that the Neo Vista is in the New Balance SC Trainer range, which is a shoe with performance parts meant for comfort over longer distances, and that the Neo Zen is a daily trainer that can pick up the pace, much like the Asics Novablast, especially if you consider the plate and weight differences.

But the problem is that the foam density in both shoes is pretty much identical, and the stack height is over 40 mm on both and the weight gap isn’t so huge that it’s immediately noticeable. Inevitably, the overall ride is fairly similar. I’d like to see something separate these two models a bit in future versions, but I also love both, so it’s hard to kill off one of my darlings. To the guillotine, you go, Neo Vista.

THOMAS: As I mentioned, I had to size down. I usually float between a US 10 and 10.5, with the 10.5 generally fitting best. But in the Neo Zen, the 10.5 felt too roomy. I passed it on to my teammate Karl, who typically wears a 10.5 or 11, and it worked well for him.

One tweak I’d recommend is swapping out the ribbon-like laces for a saw-toothed variety, and maybe adding an extra inch to the length. The flat laces just aren’t my personal preference.

Lastly, on one of my longer runs, the squish of the midsole caused some foot irritation. My foot seemed to spread more on impact, which could have been a fluke. The next day, I ran in a firmer shoe, and the issue was gone. So, this was probably just an isolated experience.

MEAGHAN: While the knit upper is one of my favorites out there, I did find myself always wearing a crew sock with these shoes. The heel counter is soft, but I found the knit could sometimes rub against my ankles causing some irritation. As I mentioned, a higher sock fixed any issues, but something to note. 

The other thing to note, and I don’t know if this is so much of a negative as an observation, but despite being a really light shoe, it didn’t feel fast. The wide base and softer midsole was amazing for easy days, but not my favorite if I had to pick up the pace.

Final thoughts on the Mizuno Neo Zen

ROBBE: For sure, this has been one of the biggest surprises of 2024, or the first big surprise for 2025, depending on how you look at it. I guess we’d technically consider this a 2025 shoe since it missed our year end Best in Gear Awards and the standard colorways and wide release of the shoe comes in January. I’m not sure if it’ll have the gas to make it a full calendar year as a “best shoe,” but it has strong potential to land among the stars of 2025 before its fire burns out. If nothing else, I’d be surprised if you didn’t enjoy this shoe, especially at its price point. It’s an excellent daily trainer that provides a fantastic bounce underfoot, enough to put a smile on your face for any distance. 

All that to say, I’m ready to put the ‘yes’ back in Mizuno.

THOMAS: This is a solid trainer, but it belongs firmly in the daily trainer category. I wouldn’t reach for it on speed days or race day. What sets this shoe apart, though, is its price. At $150, it competes head-to-head with the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, New Balance Rebel v4, and Asics Novablast 5—all priced in the same range.

I’m pleased to see Mizuno making a comeback. They’re bringing a fresh, unique approach to their products, and that’s good for the industry as a whole.

My score in the video and here (11 out of 15) doesn’t quite capture how much I enjoy this shoe—it’s a bit more nuanced than that.

MEAGHAN: I’m still very unsure about Mizuno’s mystery shoe marketing strategy, but I am positive the brand is heading in the right direction with shoe design. The Neo Zen is comfortable, lightweight, and a great option for daily training, especially when you add that $150 price tag.

You can pick up the Mizuno Neo Zen for $150 by using the button below.