The colors on the Mizuno Neo Vista 3 definitely pop and make you think of running fast. But does the ride match the looks? Here’s what our team thought after putting this highly anticipated super trainer to the test.
There has been a lot of excitement surrounding the Mizuno Neo Vista 3. When we met with the Mizuno team at TRE back in the winter, this was one of the shoes they couldn’t stop talking about. But it’s not just the Mizuno team, a lot of runners will tell you that the Neo Vista has been a highly underated shoe.
We think that’s probably true of a lot of Mizuno shoes in the last few years.
One look tells you this is a max cushion shoe, the rocker geometry is visible and so all that’s left is to find out where it lands on the scale of everyday to race day shoe.
Who is it Good For?
- Wide Feet: Maybe. The sock like fit does provide some stretch, but it’s also snug and harder to get on.
- Heavier runners: There’s just the right amount of cushion underfoot for support, and there’s not even a question about durability here. It’s going to last.
- Long Runs: Easy miles, recovery miles, faster paces. This shoe is designed to help you feel comfortable in all efforts.
- Front of the pack: It’ll be good for workouts, but maybe not the return you’ll want from a race-day shoe.
The Neo Vista 3 super trainer promises plenty of cushion, smooth transitions, and bounce at every pace. It’s designed to be a shoe that will keep your legs feeling good on those mid to long distance runs. Our testing and a lot of what we’re seeing from others is the design seems to work best for those in front of the middle of the pack.
Mizuno Neo Vista 3 Overview
The original Neo Vista wasn’t exactly a slam dunk. The Neo Vista 2 made some noticeable changes and earned a lot of fans thanks to the midsole, though some runners still felt there was room for improvement when it came to fit and overall comfort.
With the Neo Vista 3, Mizuno set out to refine around those fit complaints and create a shoe that feels great from the moment you put it on.
Some of the biggest updates came to the upper and outsole. The brand added more padding around the heel, fine-tuned the cushioning setup, redesigned the 3D Wave Plate, and updated the outsole to improve long-term durability. 
While the foam remains the same from the V2, the feeling under foot has changed. They increased the EVA Nitro Midsole by 5mm and by adjusting the design of the wave plate they created way more stability in the rear foot (yay) and you feel the forefoot cushion a little better.
At 45mm there is no question this is a max stack shoe!
The goal was simple: create a shoe that can handle a little bit of everything, from daily training miles to longer runs and faster workouts.
Coach Amanda: Both Stacey and I put this shoe through a variety of workouts to see which paces really felt best in the shoe. It’s an interesting one because the rocker absolutely helps with that forward momentum, but isn’t overly done. The shoe has a lot of cushion, but it also feels a little blunted by the wave plate unlike other bouncy race day shoes.
I think that slightly firmer feel is going to be a benefit for a lot of runners who will find this shoe really stable, it won’t overwork the ankles and won’t lose energy by sinking in to the foam.
The Neo Vista 3 is a super trainer, and if you’re unsure how that differs from a plated race-day shoe, we’ve broken it down for you and explained what a super trainer actually is and who actually needs one.
Mizuno Neo Vista 3 Specs
- Brand: Mizuno
- Usage: Super Trainer
- Previous Model: Mizuno Neo Vista 2
- Weight: 7.8 oz Women’s, 9.4 oz Men’s
- Stack Height: 45.4mm
- Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm
- Available in 3 colorways
- Not available in wide
- Available from Usa.mizuno.com for $200
Quick Take
Pros
- Sleek, sophisticated design
- More durable than many super trainers
- Extremely stable super trainer
Cons
- Blisters on the heel are more likely to happen with the taller back
- Not available in wide
- Firmer than other super trainers (could be a pro)
Mizuno Neo Vista 3 Feel
There’s a lot going on underfoot in the Neo Vista 3, but even with the max cushion set up and plate, the shoe never ever felt heavy
The foam underfoot is a combination of Smooth Speed Assist, a Nitrogen-infused ENERZY NXT (TPU Version), with ENERZY NXT (EVA Version) to deliver a soft and smooth ride.
Unfortunately, the few runs I took in the Neo Vista 3 out for never felt particularly energetic underfoot. I honestly found the ride a little flat compared to other super trainers that regularly make their way into my rotation.
Instead of feeling like the shoe was helping me roll into faster paces, it felt like I was working harder to create that speed on my own.
What’s interesting is that many other runners describe this shoe as bouncy and highly responsive. For whatever reason, that just wasn’t my experience.
Sometimes a shoe simply doesn’t click with your stride, and I think that’s what happened here.
One of the biggest updates to this model is the redesigned 3D glass-fiber Wave Plate. Mizuno changed the plate to a more curved shape to help create a smoother transition and add a little extra pop with each step.
Personally, I can’t say I noticed much of the extra pop feeling. That could be because I naturally run more on the ball of my foot, but the Hoka Mach X3 has a similar setup, and I can totally feel it there.
The jury is still out on this one, but for now, my experience was that the Neo Vista 3 gave more of a “womp womp” than a “ka chow” feeling.
Coach Amanda: I think Stacey is right, this a shoe for a particular kind of runner. If you don’t love the big bounce of a super foam, and you know that a little more firmness actually helps you push off to get speed this is a win. I think it will appeal to runners hitting those 8+ minute paces on easy days.
It will give them a nice cushion to help with recovery and allow them to throw in some pick ups without issue.
Certainly I took it out for 10 minute miles and intervals, but I think on the easy end of the spectrum I just wasn’t as in love with it as some other shoes. Am I crazy to say I think I’d actually like the shoe better without the plate?
Mizuno Neo Vista 3 Fit
This isn’t the kind of shoe where you can leave the laces tied and easily slip it on and off.
The sock-like upper does a great job creating a secure, locked-in fit, but it takes a little effort (and maybe some sweat) to get your foot into the shoe.
I’m sure it’ll loosen up some with wear, but even then, I don’t see this becoming a quick on-and-off option.
One thing you’ll notice right away is the aggressively flared heel collar. It definitely helps when pulling the shoe on, but once I started running, I wasn’t the biggest fan.
The flare tended to rub against the back of my heel and ankle, leaving me a little concerned about some blisters, especially on longer runs.
There’s a small padded section inside the heel collar, which helps a bit, but not enough to completely offset the rubbing from the flare.
And considering this colorway is a very clean, bright white, I’d rather not go around with bloodstains on the backs of my shoes.
Outside of the heel collar, the fit felt really good. The shoe wasn’t too tight or too roomy, and it felt secure whether I was running or walking around.
There are also extra eyelets if you prefer using a runner’s knot for additional lockdown. Just keep in mind they’re positioned pretty low, so for some runners that might make the fit feel a little too snug across the top of the foot.
Coach Amanda: This sucker is like trying to get on my On Lightspray! A little bit of a workout for those of us with larger feet, but then a really nice fit. I love the one piece upper and how locked in I feel in the shoe.
The heel tab just makes no sense to me. Why must it be so high? Occasionally while running it would tag the back of my ankle and this is a pet peeve of mine in shoes.
A great shoe for faster runners who want a super trainer as part of their rotation. It’s going to provide durability and cushion that saves the legs on those long run days without weighing them down. It’s not quite an every person shoe which lowers our rating, but it’s going to keep winning more fans with these updates.Our Verdict
Similar Shoes to the Mizuno Neo Vista 3
We’ve tested a few super trainer shoes that feel similar but differ based on the brand’s fit.
- Hoka Skwyward X2- Similar max stack with a plate that isn’t really about the plate, but softer, we love it for our heavier athletes
- On Cloudboom Max – Similar max stack, great stability and firm feel, not as bouncy
- Puma Deviate Nitro 4 – Only 38mm compared to this 45, but a similar stable ride and great durability for a super trainer
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The post Mizuno Neo Vista 3 Review | Stability and Durability Shine, But This One Is for the Faster Crowd appeared first on RunToTheFinish.
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