Mizuno Neo Vista

“Very cool. The Neo Vista is one of my two favorite new shoes of this year along with the SB2. With these two shoes, I feel like I can cover like 95% of my runs. They are both extremely versatile although the SB2 is geared a more towards speed and long runs and the NV seems better suited for easy/daily miles. But, as you say, the underfoot feel of the NV is deceiving. At first, it's like, "Ah, this is a nice, soft, and bouncy easy run shoe." Then, I pick up the pace and the shoe just seems to change character all of a sudden and becomes a fast and propulsive tempo super trainer in the vein of Boston 12, Mach X 2, and SB2. Of course, the NV still feels bouncier, softer, and more forgiving and "fun" than those shoes, but it can definitely handle the pickup in the pace. I wasn't crazy about the navy blue colorway either and it's the only one available for men in the US, so I decided why not. After being thoroughly impressed after several long runs and 50+ miles, I ordered the women's white colorway full-size-and-half up and it fits my feet even better than the men's at TTS. The men's TTS fits fine but I find it a little too roomy in the toe box. The women's at full-size-and-half up feels more snug with a better lockdown. The black looks good. I normally get white (just a sucker for clean white colorways) and get something darker (normally black)for the shoes I really love so I can use them during the rainy season. If the black was available here, I would have gotten that over the blue, but the blue will be fine. The booty upper is very comfortable and the lockdown is surprisingly secure. I know it isn't for everyone, but this type of upper has always worked fine for me. Ultimately, though, it's the midsole and the ride it provides that makes this shoe something special. It's a very unique ride. I can't think of another shoe that feels and rides like the Neo Vista. It feels so good at all types of runs and various paces. It's certainly better at easy paces than SB2; it's why I think the combination of the two can pretty much handle anything on the road. It also feels and rides so smoothly at fast interval paces (for me, 5:30\~6:30/mile or 3:53\~4:03/km) and so pleasant and comfortable at easy-to-recovery paces (for me, 9:00\~10:00/mile or 5:35\~6:13/km), but I like it best at around 8:00/mile or 4:58/km. Feels and rides so effortlessly. Quite stable too for its stack height and softness of the midsole. I have my share of "soft" feeling shoes (1080v13, More v5, Cloudsurfer, Glycerin Max, SC Trainer v2) and this one is by far the most versatile and the best riding shoe.”