REASONS TO BUY
Great for heel strikers
Fun bounce
Sockliner upper is surprisingly comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Bounce doesn't translate to speed
Differential feels steep
Mizuno Neo Vista - Women's Review
With its towering stack and ample cushioning, this bouncy shoe delivers a cushy ride for heel-strikers at moderate paces but doesn't support more ambitious speed goals
With the huge stack, the Neo Vista is ultra comfy, but not the most propulsive.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
By Ally Arcuri ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 3, 2024
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
Bulky and bouncy, the new Mizuno Neo Vista is a thickly padded runner made for heel strikers and daily runs. Its rear foot hosts an impressive 44 mm of cushion in the heel, providing a much-needed cushion for runners who land heel first. The rocker and propulsion are more bouncy than they are responsive, effectively striking the Neo Vista from race day contention. Its bootie-style knit upper is more comfortable than expected, pairing nicely with its trampoline-esque Energy Nxt midsole. Though not our favorite all-around shoe, the 7 mm drop Neo Vista offers a fun ride, well-rounded comfort, and a full-length plastic plate.
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 This Product
Mizuno Neo Vista - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall |  |  Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness | Most Versatile | |
| Price | $180 List $166.42 at Amazon | $150.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $94.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $149.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | With plenty of cushion, this shoe is great for fun and bounce but lacks the tech needed for serious pace pushing | Even with a few minor updates, this shoe shines as one for runners seeking a do-it-all road running companion | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | Though it lacks the lightweight tech of super shoes, the balance between its responsive midsole and lateral stability makes this a powerful everyday trainer | For epic versatility in a single shoe, we recommend this lightweight superstar |
| Rating Categories | Mizuno Neo Vista -... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Mizuno Neo Vista -... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Sizes Available | 6.5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US regular, wide |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 11 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Max-Cushion | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Max-Cushion | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 44 mm | 40 mm | 27 mm | 35 mm | 33 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 7 mm | 9 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm |
| Plate Type | Mizuno Wave TPU | None | None | Full length plastic | None |
| Rocker Angle | 25.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 24.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 72.4% | 61.9% | 64.7% | 65.0% | 65.4% |
| Measured Weight | 7.27 oz | 7.30 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.17 oz | 6.27 oz |
| Upper | Knit | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Creel jaqquard |
| Midsole | MIZUNO ENERZY NXT | FF BLAST MAX | PWRRUN | DNA Flash v2 | Supercritical EVA |
| Outsole | Rubber | AHAR LO | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | None | Extended pull tab | Extended heel pull |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The 44 mm heel stack of the Mizuno Neo Vista is serious. With its forefoot sitting at 37 mm above the ground, this shoe is loaded with midsole fluff for serious rebound. It isn't as responsive as expected, but heel strikers will love the spring and joining protection that this (relatively) lightweight shoe offers.
Performance Comparision
For the ultimate bounce during your runs, the 44 mm high Neo Vista offers fun and function.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Landing Comfort
This shoe takes landing comfort and cushioning to an entirely new level. The Neo Vista sits almost directly opposite the trend on this scale thanks to its plentiful stack and soft countenance. If joint protection and a dampened impact are what your heart desires, this bouncy daily miler will probably fit the bill. Its midsole, made of Mizuno Energy Nxt, is bouncy and offers solid rebound, perfect for comfortable daily running. 44 mm of cushion in the heel is a lot, so adapting to this cushy height does take some getting used to, but once you do, your joints will thank you.
The stack of the Neo Vista is seriously high, which makes for a joyful running experience that also protects your joints.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Responsiveness
Many of the online reviews of the Neo Vista claim that it is a soft and bouncy ride, while Mizuno markets it as a “fun” and responsive shoe for “long jogs.” Running shoe jargon aside, all of this is largely true when it comes to this shoe. It is fun, comfortable for long runs, and bouncy — but the bounce doesn't exactly translate into energy return. Let us explain…
The high stack and steep-feeling 7 mm drop provide solid underfoot cushion, but they also force feet toward the front of the shoes. The rocker apex is 72.4% forward from the heel (in the center), which is similar to shoes built for slower, longer efforts. These two elements combine to feel a bit off-kilter in terms of responsiveness. We consistently felt like we couldn't get to top speeds because the thickness of the stack and rocker apex location stunted our natural stride lengths. Over time, this seems like it could impede a runner's strides, which are important when it comes to fast running and overall running longevity. The Neo Vista features a full-length plastic plate that is nearly imperceptible. This helps give runners a bit of a launchpad amid all of the springy fluff. Runners seeking an underfoot bounce but not flat-out responsiveness will find success in the Mizuna Neo Vista.
All of the features of the Neo Vista come together to make it more bouncy than propulsive, but the fun this shoe offers is well above average.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
For a shoe with a sockliner upper, the Neo Vista is pretty stable. It doesn't have any structural elements for lateral stability, but its snug knit upper and high heel cup provide some security. The platform of this shoe is wide enough to create stability. Its hollowed-out outsole gives the midsole foam a bit of space to expand with each footfall, providing a forgiving dose of stability despite its sky-high stack. We don't tend to think of high-stack shoes as ones that offer stability, but the Neo Vista flipped the script on this one. While not suitable for runners in need of gait corrective structures, but for combined underfoot cushion and stability, the Neo Vista is a solid shoe.
Sockliner uppers aren't always the easiest to get on, but the Neo Vista's is relatively seamless.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Upper Comfort
Sockiner uppers are notoriously difficult to put on, and the Neo Vista falls into that category. Where this shoe differs, however, is that its sockliner upper fits intuitively and is actually comfortable. The heel collar is well-tapered and high, which is comfortable in the back and only slightly too tall in the front. A small rubber piece protects your ankles from where the laces would cut in, a thoughtful detail that upped the Neo Vista's comfort score by a lot. The overall shoe is plenty wide, but the lateral edge of the toe box cuts in a bit. We never had real issues with this during our runs, but it is worth noting if you prefer a spacious-feeling toe box. The knit upper of the Neo Vista is just soft enough to be comfortable without going overboard, making it one of the most comfortable bootie-style shoes we've ever tested.
Sockliner uppers are hit or miss for us, but the one on the Neo Vista totally hits, thanks to its comfortable knit and heel collar.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
For the amount of cushion the Neo Vista has stuffed into its outsole, it is really light. That said, the weight for each shoe in a women's size 6.5 is 7.27 ounces, which isn't about average overall. In some cases, a shoe's weight doesn't match its numerical score, and this is one of those cases. With ample cushioning, an impressively balanced distribution of weight, and well-rounded comfort, the Neo Vista is a great shoe for runners who want cushion without the bulk.
The sockliner upper helps keep the Neo Vista's weight on the spectrum's lower side.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
The outsole's shallow and wavy traction pattern provides some grip on loose gravel. The hollowed center of the outsole provides a bit more control than most high-stack shoes, helping provide additional security. The Neo Vista isn't the most well-tractioned shoe on the road, especially on wet days, but it offers enough for safe running in moderate conditions.
The hollowed-out center of the Neo Vista's outsole helps provide some lateral stability and control on tight, loose corners.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Mizuno Neo Vista?
For some runners, the Mizuno Neo Vista is going to be the perfect shoe thanks to its bouncy cushion, high stack, and more standard 7 mm drop. Its bootie-style upper is more comfortable than expected, adding a fun twist to this trampoline-inspired shoe. If you are a runner who wants fun, bounce, and joint protection, the Neo Vista is a great choice. Runners who want PRs and a truly propulsive shoe will find the added fluff of the Neo Vista to be cumbersome.
A heel striker's dream, the bounce, cushion, and comfort of the Neo Vista make it a strong contender for runners who want moderate paces with a side of fun.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The Asics Novablast 5 is an all-around high scorer that boasts serious landing comfort, though it isn't as springy as the Neo Vista. The Hoka Skyward X is similar in that it is a high-stack, highly supportive shoe, though it also lacks the kangaroo bounce effect of the Neo Vista. While not a high scorer overall, the Asics Gel Nimbus 26 is bouncy with great underfoot comfort that is perfect for recovery runs.
—Ally Arcuri
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