ON THE RUN
Sidney: I’ll be honest—I wasn’t a fan of the first Neo Vista. Something about it felt unsure of itself, like it didn’t know if it wanted to be a cruiser or a speedy shoe. It just didn’t click for me. So when version two dropped, I didn’t exactly run to try it.
But here I am, lacing up the Neo Vista 2 for yet another time this week. And yeah—I’m eating my words.
This version is a different beast. The updates smoothed out the weird in-between feel of the first one and delivered something that’s confident, consistent, and straight-up enjoyable. These shoes have become my go-to for those after-work miles—soft enough to forget the pavement, steady enough to take on the random off-road trail I find in town.
Keith: From dreamy smooth cruises to spontaneous speed bursts, the Neo Vista 2 is full of comfort, but also pent up energy. I love the fact that I can saunter along on a no pressure social run with friends, where pace doesn’t mean a thing, and I can forget that I have a super trainer on my feet. I also love that when my friend is taking a bathroom break, I can bust out some sprint intervals just for the heck of it! That is how my first run in this shoe went. I was on vacation in Grand Rapids, running along the Grand River just enjoying the change of scenery with my fiance. I had no goals and was just enjoying good company and the superior softness under my feet. But, as soon as I was left alone it was like I was left with the keys to a Bentley and I just had to see what was under the hood! I stepped on it and watched my Garmin as the pace plummeted with relative ease. The effort level to reward ratio in the Neo Vista 2 is top notch, and it lasts mile after mile.
WHAT'S GOOD
Sidney: Since we're being honest here, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this shoe. But from the first run, it just felt right. Soft underfoot but with a surprising bit of bounce, it made both easy miles and quicker efforts feel smooth and natural. The base feels more stable than before, especially when I’m tired or hitting uneven ground. There’s a nice forward roll to the stride that makes you want to keep moving, and the fit is snug without being tight—just easy and comfortable. It’s the kind of shoe you forget about in the best way, and by the time the run’s over, you realize how much it helped you along.
Keith: The cushion is the crown jewel of the Neo Vista 2. The all-new EnerzyNXT midsole, made from nitrogen-infused TPU, brings a serious upgrade in both comfort and performance. It's plusher underfoot, with a noticeably more responsive bounce that injects life into your stride. Whether you're picking up the pace or just cruising, this midsole delivers a ride that feels both lively and luxurious.
One of the smartest updates is how Mizuno reinforced the gaping channel that split the original Neo Vista into a virtual pontoon boat. The large cutout through the center of the shoe gave a sensation of instability, especially on uneven terrain or during quick transitions and it could feel like it was bottoming out on my longest runs. Mizuno addressed that by simply adding a small bridge of foam in the center of that channel, creating a more continuous platform that adds a layer of stability without making the shoe feel stiff. You still get that natural roll forward, just with more confidence underfoot.
And let’s talk about that glass fiber-reinforced nylon Wave Plate. It’s still here and still doing its job beautifully. It works in tandem with the updated midsole to provide a snappy, propulsive feel without being too aggressive, making this a versatile choice for everything from tempo runs to long days on your feet.
Down below, the outsole gets a major traction boost. New horizontal grooves provide extra grip and a touch more flexibility, while full-length rubber coverage means durability is no concern—every high-impact zone is protected. No matter the pace, no matter the mileage, the Neo Vista 2 is built to hold up and keep you moving strong.
WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD
Sidney: If I had to call out a downside with the Neo Vista 2, it’s still the knit upper. To be fair, I’ve never been a fan of knit in any shoe—most of the time, it feels like it’s trying too hard and ends up choking the top of my foot. The updated version is a noticeable improvement—it’s more pliable, more forgiving, and reminds me a lot of the upper on the Neo Zen, which was the first time I thought, maybe I could live with this. While I can appreciate the progress Mizuno made with the material and fit, knit uppers just don’t do it for me.
Keith: There’s hardly a single part of the Neo Vista 2 that doesn’t match,or even outshine, the original. Big props to Mizuno for leveling up their product here in round 2! That said, there are a couple of areas where the magic didn’t quite touch.
First, the sock-like knit upper still feels a bit loose in the heel. To get a secure fit, I end up cranking the laces tight enough that the stretchy upper folds over on itself. It doesn’t impact the performance, but it does throw off the sleek look, and honestly, it feels like a fixable issue.
Second, for a shoe with such plush cushioning underfoot, the heel cup feels surprisingly harsh. It’s a little too firm and lacking the cozy padding that would make this shoe an absolute grand slam! This midsole screams “premium,” but the upper doesn’t quite match the vibe. Here’s hoping the next version adds a gusseted tongue and a touch of extra padding where it counts.
THE RUNDOWN
Keith: The Neo Vista 2 is a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars for me. It’s a nice step forward for a shoe that broke the mold for Mizuno and has them back in the spotlight as one of the innovative shoe brands for 2025. It is versatile in that it will perform exceptionally as a trainer, especially on the longest of the long runs, but it’s also springy and fast enough for a race day effort. If your number one priority is comfort, but performance is a close second, the Neo Vista 2 will fit well in your collection.
Sidney: I actually really like this shoe—it’s smooth, reliable, and has enough bounce to keep things fun on both long runs and harder efforts. Mizuno’s definitely doing something different here, and I’m into it. That said, the knit upper isn’t my favorite—it just doesn’t work as well for me as other materials. Still, the rest of the shoe more than makes up for it. I’ll be over here patiently waiting for Mizuno to pair that midsole with the right upper—because when they do, it’s going to be something special.
