Mizuno Neo Vista 2 Reviews

Kind to bunions and amazingly cushioned for recovery, easy and long runs.

A runner finds the Neo Vista 2 a comfortable, protective long-run shoe, sizing down half.

Two testers, one with about 40 miles on their pair; the other gave no mileage. The bouncy, stable cushioning suits long, easy and recovery runs but not speed work, and one tester kept reaching for it. The upper split them: one found it baggy, buckling and about half a size too roomy, while the wider-footed tester liked the space. One found the outsole smooth when cornering on wood decking and brick, while the other had no grip issues.

About 100 km across two pairs. The bouncy top layer and plate give a smooth, stable ride that stretches to tempo and marathon pace, though easy, recovery and long runs are its strength. It fits long, so a half size down is needed; the heel winglets pressed on the outside edge for this hard supinator, and the last eyelet's lace can turn over and rub the ankle, which others have reported causing blisters.

Overwhelming cushion and a fun bounce, best between marathon pace and half pace, where running felt light and easy. A bit heavy (265 g) for fast running, and the upper is stiff and roomy. Good for long runs, LT runs, jogs and sub-3 to sub-4 marathons.

One tester gave it a C. Another tester (A-) really enjoyed it for easy runs and tired-leg days. One tester (C) found the heel far too soft: the forefoot guidance is great, but it can't offset the mushy heel. Within 100 miles the midsole settled down and compressed.

Rare durability: at 800 km the outsole looks the same as at 400 km and still grips in the wet, and the cushioning and forefoot propulsion are intact, with no holes in the mesh. The upper loosened (a wash fixed it). From ~700 km the heel started sagging inward, which is sometimes bothersome.