THE INTRO
Watch out! Mizuno is back at Running Lab and better than ever before! Mizuno's first max cushion plated daily trainer and what a WIN! Keep reading to find out all about this win of a shoe...
THE SPECS
Support: Neutral
Weight: 9.1 oz / 258 g (men), 7.7 oz / 218 g (women)
Stack Height: 53 mm in the heel, 45 mm in the forefoot
Midsole Drop: 8 mm
Cushion Level: Maximal
ON THE RUN
Jacob: I was shocked when I first tried out the Mizuno Neo Vistas. I had never worn a pair of Mizunos, and was a little apprehensive before trying them. The first 400 meters of my 3 mile run settled any worries I had. The bounce and the snap of this shoe is incredible! For a plated shoe, the cushion is a very welcomed touch. I feel like a cheetah with blades on its feet, giving me the lightweight speed I look for in a plated daily trainer. I have had them for only a few weeks and they have already worked their way into my top plated trainer in my shoe closet!
THE FIT
Jacob: The shape of the shoe is a normal fit for a speed trainer like these. It has a slightly aggressive curve in the upper, but wider base. I would say it fits true to size as well. The entire upper is the best sock-fitted upper I have ever tried on. It fits like a glove. My biggest problem with a sock upper is that it usually always has a slight slip in the heel for me, but that problem is non-existent with the Neo Vistas. it is both tight around the ankle and looser in the toebox, fitting my foot perfectly. It feels like I'm popping on a brand new pair of socks right out of the dryer. Speaking of dryers, that leads me to my only complaint. The shoe can be a little toasty, but a lightweight sock or no socks can help cure this issue.
THE FEEL
Jacob: The cushion was one of the best parts of this shoe. When I am looking for a plated trainer, I am looking for lightweight, soft, and responsive foam. I think that the Neo Vistas check off every box. They use a foam called the ENERZY NXT foam, which is made to optimize both soft cushion and snappy responsive foam, and both work perfectly together. The wave plate in the shoe also does a great job stabilizing me and keeping it from getting too wobbly. Overall, the foam is really able to spring me into another gear on my runs.
THE NITTY GRITTY
Jacob: I would recommend this shoe for anybody who is looking for that speed trainer for any distance. Longer runs may be better for some people with that soft foam, but I was able to do a 400 Meter repeat workout on the track and felt like I was able to rip out some good times. I'm planning on using these for a half marathon to see how they hold up for a race, but so far I have no worries that they will not work out well. This compares well to the New Balance Supercomp Trainer, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, and Hoka Skyward X, all being a higher cushion plated shoe. But the joy of this shoe is because the plate isn't carbon, it'll last you for higher miles than some of the others in the same category.
THE RUNDOWN
Jacob: To summarize, this shoe is amazing in mostly every way. The cushion is perfect, the plate is made to last, and the snug sock upper all adapt to my foot in such a friendly matter and help me fly. Adding a little more ventilation into the shoe and it would be 10 out of 10, but since it is a hotter feel, I'd rate it a 9 out of 10.
MEET JACOB
Jacob is arguably one of the biggest sports fans you will ever meet and you can always count on him to make everything into a competition. Outside of running, Jacob also loves basketball, despite the Pistons breaking his heart every night.
All time favorite shoe: Nike Pegasus