Mizuno Neo Vista - Women's Review

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.

Side View Cut in Half

Cushioning

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.

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. I never had real issues with this during my 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 I've ever tested.

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. I 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.

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. I consistently felt like I couldn't get to top speeds because the thickness of the stack and rocker apex location stunted my 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.

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.

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.

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.

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