Mizuno Neo Zen Review
By Andrea Myers and Matthew Klein
Mizuno Neo ZenPrice: $149.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.5 oz, 240 g (men's size 9), 7.1 oz, 201 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 40 mm heel / 34 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Lightweight / Performance Trainer
Pros: bouncy supercritical TPU midsole performs just as well in subfreezing temps, one piece upper fits mostly comfortably and securely, feels like a lower stack, more resilient version of Neo Vista
Cons: medial forefoot overlay may cause irritation of 1st MTP or great toe in some runners
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Mizuno Neo Zen is a lightweight highly cushioned daily trainer for those who like softer midsoles and knit uppers. Full length ENERZY NXT sits in the midsole, providing a soft ride that is protective for easy and longer efforts. The upper features a full length, one piece eco-friendly knit that provides a slightly higher volume and adaptive fit.
SIMILAR SHOES: New Balance Fresh Foam Balos v1, On Cloudmonster Hyper
PAST MODEL: New model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Mizuno Neo Zen fits me mostly true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The upper features a sock-like knit material that provides a higher volume. The toe box is initially tapered and almost made this shoe feel short. After two runs in broke in and widened. The forefoot is normal width with decent but secure stretch to the upper. The midfoot features a one piece upper with a connected tongue. I did have to tighten the laces to get a secure fit, which caused mild bunching of the upper at the tongue. The heel fits normal to slightly wide with a contoured shape and no heel counter. There is some internal reinforcement to provide structure but those sensitive to heel counters will do well, while those who want a stiff counter may struggle.
While the internal mesh is somewhat comfortable against bare skin, like the Neo Vista the heel tab features stitching that will rip skin off if you are not wearing tall socks. I made this mistake on my first run, foolishly forgetting my experience in the Neo Vista. After a quarter mile, I turned around to get tall socks. So I would advise not only the need for socks with this shoe but the need for at least quarter socks. One last odd note is that the insole did not seem to full fit in my pair. When I got my foot in the shoe they sat mostly fine but when I took them off, they stayed elevated. I did notice some slight slippage during longer runs, so I again would encourage socks to protect against any chaffing from this.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Andrea: The Mizuno Neo Zen fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. This is in contrast to the Neo Vista, Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3, and Wave Rebellion Flash 2, all of which I need to go up 1/2 size for length. The one piece, sock-like upper fits securely thanks to the large overlays situated at the lateral midfoot and medial midfoot and forefoot. There are also two circular panels on the medial and lateral aspect of the heel that act as a minimal heel counter, although the heel overall is very flexible. The upper has enough structure that I did not need to tighten the laces much at all to get a secure fit. The toe box width is normal to slightly wide and I did not experience any irritation at my 1st or 5th MTP joints. The midfoot width and volume is on the higher side, but this did not result in any foot translation in the shoe. The rearfoot is normal width and the circular rearfoot panels feel like they grab my heel when donning the shoe.
I am often concerned with sock-like uppers that there will not be enough structure to provide sufficient foot lockdown, but I had no issues in the Neo Zen. The only fit note I would make is that the medial forefoot overlay wraps onto the dorsum of the 1st MTP joint and big toe. I did experience some irritation on the dorsum of my big toe for the first mile that I ran in the shoe, and then the feeling went completely away. I think this overlay has the potential to cause great toe irritation in some runners, so just a note of caution. Otherwise, I was perfectly happy with the fit of Neo Zen for my feet.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Minimal
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Mizuno Neo Zen is a lightweight cushioned trainer. The full length ENERZY NXT midsole is bouncy and extremely soft no matter where you land and the lighter weight is noticeable. The amount of cushioning makes the stack height feels lower than the listed 40 mm / 34 mm and the heel drop feels even lower than the stated 6mm as the foam compresses so much. The geometry of the foam is rockered but not aggressively so. The small heel bevel still provided a smooth transition because the foam compresses so easily. This transitions into a smooth midfoot and an early forefoot rocker. Although the midsole is bouncy, the less aggressive geometry and mild flexibility made this shoe feel best for daily and longer runs. I have done a fartlek workout in this shoe and while many could certainly use it as a workout or marathon shoe, I found the foam did not respond fast enough for me to use at higher speeds. It feels more like it is a protective, light trainer that can pick up the pace a little but is really meant for easy rolling.
There is still some flexibility to the sole and while the midsole is mostly stiff due to the large amount of material, those with toe mobility issues may not have enough stiffness here to work for them. Traction wise I have found this shoe to be fine on most smooth surfaces. On wet pavement (a common test since I live in the PNW) it was a little slippery but not terrible. I would still keep this to smoother, dry surfaces though. The durability has been excellent with the extensive outsole coverage. I have 30 miles on my pair and there is not even a dent in the outsole, so I expect this shoe to last a long time particularly with how well the midsole is retaining its feel.
Andrea: I have enjoyed testing the Mizuno Neo Zen on a variety of runs over the past few weeks. I have used it for several easy runs, including a 10 miler, strides, and pickups. For me, Neo Zen is more of a lightweight daily trainer than is comfortable for strides and pickups, as opposed to a performance trainer that I will use for workouts. The Mizuno ENERZY NXT midsole felt bouncier on each subsequent run, and its light weight felt great when my legs were tired and on longer runs. The midsole feels lower than its stated 40mm/34mm stack height and I felt reasonably connected to the ground, while still enjoying the resilience of the supercritical TPU midsole. One of the benefits of TPU over EVA is that TPU has more consistent performance at lower temperatures, and several of my runs were done in 15-25F temps. The midsole felt just as responsive at 15F as it did at 40F. The shoe feels like its stated 6mm drop and midfoot landings are quite comfortable thanks to the well designed heel bevel and wider base. At easy paces, the shoe felt both protective and responsive and it was easy to tick the miles away without thinking too much about the shoe.
During strides and pickups, the ENERZY NXT responds proportionally to the force I put into it, providing some extra bounce at faster paces. This shoe certainly could be a performance trainer for some, but I just feel like I have so many better (and lighter) shoes for intervals than the Neo Zen. For me, the Neo Zen is an ideal easy run shoe that can handle strides or pickups, which I do several times a week as part of my easy runs. The later forefoot rocker does not feel particularly aggressive and I would say the ride is more characterized by the bounce of the midsole, as opposed to a rolling or propulsive sensation from the forefoot rocker. The overall platform is quite stiff, which also contributes to quicker transitions.
Traction is excellent in the shoe, thanks to the near full rubber outsole in classic Mizuno fashion. Almost all of my runs have been on wet, sand and salt covered roads, and I have had no issues with slipping. I have 30 miles on my pair and there is no visible wear on the outsole, so I would expect higher than average outsole durability. I think the durability of Neo Zen will likely come down to midsole durability as opposed to the rubber outsole wearing down quickly.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Mizuno Neo Zen is a neutral shoe. There are some mild guidance features but the soft midsole makes this shoe mostly neutral. Those with mild foot guidance needs may do fine but those with stability needs up especially at the hip (deep hip rotator stabilizers) may struggle. The platform is on the wider side with a decent amount of sole flare medially and laterally especially in the heel and forefoot. There is a central groove/guidance line that travels from the heel to the lateral forefoot. This provides mild lateral guidance at the forefoot, so those that like that will do well here. Overall though the ride is neutral throughout the length of the shoe thanks to how soft the midsole is.
Andrea: Mizuno Neo Zen is a neutral shoe that has some mild guidance features. The long central groove, which become laterally biased as it extends to the forefoot, provides mild guidance from initial contact to push off, and the lateral bias in the forefoot may slightly resist medial forefoot motion, although I was not aware of this while running in the shoe. The wide base helps to stabilize a relatively tall stack of midsole, although in 2025 40mm/34mm doesn't seem particularly high compared to the true maximalist shoes we have been testing. The shoe is just fine without a plate as a stiffening agent because the platform is very stiff even without one, thanks to the extensive outsole rubber coverage and the shallow central groove, as opposed to the deep midsole cutout in Neo Vista. The forefoot features later toe spring and a less aggressive forefoot rocker, both of which do not feel particularly prominent in the shoe's ride. Neo Zen will be best for those who do not need much in the way of guidance, but prefer a stiff platform and a less aggressive forefoot rocker.
Thoughts as a DPT: Shoe Specs and Expectations in 2025
By Andrea Myers
Not too long ago, we would have used words like tall and beefy to describe a shoe like the Mizuno Neo Zen with a 40mm heel/34mm forefoot stack height. Now, at the beginning of 2025, after testing so many shoes with heel stack heights close to 50mm, the Neo Zen feels like a moderate stack, relatively grounded shoe to run in. With a similar stack height as the ASICS Novablast 5 (41.5mm/33.5mm) and a taller stack than the Brooks Hyperion Max 2 (36.25mm/30.25mm) the Neo Zen manages to provide more ground feel than either of these shoes but also a more resilient ride. I think the key features in the Neo Zen that accomplish this are the full length ENERZY NXT midsole, which is a supercritical TPU foam, the lack of a plate, and the muted rocker profile. Mizuno surprised Matt and I last year when we learned that the version of ENERZY NXT in Neo Vista was an EVA foam, and Mizuno has once again impressed me with the high resilience and just-right compliance of this TPU version of ENERZY NXT. The combination of the stiff platform (due mostly to the full coverage rubber outsole) and muted rocker profile make the shoe feel less propulsive and provide better underfoot awareness as compared to a more compliant shoe with a similar stack height (like the Novablast 5).
The Neo Zen is yet another example of how the superficial specs of a shoe (stack height, heel drop, midsole material) do not tell anywhere near the full story of how a shoe will perform. This underscores the importance of runners not choosing shoes simply by these superficial specs, and the importance of high quality, unbiased reviews that detail how a shoe performs in the real world (like your friends here at Doctors of Running.)
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Mizuno Neo Zen is another shoe that demonstrates Mizuno's strong movement forward in their line development. The ride is light and highly cushioned with a midsole that will appeal to a variety of runners for easy paces. My first suggestion is similar to that of the Neo Vista in that that heel tab needs to be cleaned up to not take skin off. My second suggestion is to consider increasing the resilience of the foam. Right now the foam feels really soft and decent for easy runs but is too soft to pick up the pace well. Adding a bit more responsiveness may help guide the ride forward and take more advantage of the lower weight.
Andrea: Mizuno Neo Zen is another exciting new shoe from the brand and I have to say I enjoy running in it even more than Neo Vista, which I really enjoyed testing in the spring of 2024. I like the stiffer and lower stack platform and the updated ENERZY NXT midsole material, which feels very resilient with just the right amount of compliance. My only recommendation would be to clean up the medial forefoot overlay, which I suspect is going to create fit issues for some runners. It could be improved by increasing the volume of the toe box slightly so the overlay does not create a pinch point on the dorsum of the 1st MTP or great toe.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Mizuno Neo Zen is a soft, bouncy, neutral lightweight trainer for those that want a sock-like upper and a lighter, well cushioned ride for easy and longer miles. The full length ENERZY NXT midsole provides a bouncy ride that still feels protective without feeling as tall as the listed stack height. The upper is sock like similar to the Neo Vista and requires both socks and some break in time to mold to your feet. At $150, this is a great deal for a shoe that provides a highly durable ride with a ton of cushioning. I am so excited to see Mizuno trying new things after being consistent but somewhat boring for years. There is nothing wrong with the Rider/Inspire etc models but to see them really go all out with crazy designs like the Rebellion Pro series, dropping mystery shoes with crazy bouncy midsoles and keeping us on our toes for what is next is exciting. From one of the more boring companies to know the one putting out crazy stuff, I have to admit I am excited to see what comes next.
Andrea: Mizuno Neo Zen is a neutral, lightweight trainer that features a resilient supercritical TPU midsole material (ENERZY NXT) and a sock-like upper. This shoe will be best for runners who like a lower drop shoe that is not overly soft and has a muted forefoot rocker. Despite its relatively high stack height and bouncy midsole, the shoe feels quite natural to run in and I suspect I will be putting a lot of miles on it over the next year. If you found the Mizuno Neo Vista too soft or felt like the deep central groove made the shoe too unstable for you, you may find a lot to like in Neo Zen. However, if you like those features of Neo Vista, Neo Zen may have too stiff of a platform and not enough compliance for your liking. For me, while I enjoyed running in Neo Vista last year, I definitely prefer the ride of Neo Zen due to its lower compliance, but high resilience. At $150, if the midsole is as durable as the outsole likely will be, this will be a high value shoe that can eat up a lot of easy and uptempo miles for the right runner.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B (Tapered toe box but higher volume, wider heel/midfoot. Comfortable knit but heel tab cuts into skin so make sure to wear socks)
Performance: B+ (Bouncy soft lightweight ride that is comfortable for easier and longer efforts. More compliant than resilient foam)
Stability: B [Neutral] (Wider base with guidance line that provides mild lateral guidance at the forefoot. Soft midsole makes shoe highly neutral especially for those with hip instabilities)
Value: A- ($150 is a great price for how light, cushioned and durable this shoe is. Easily competes with shoes that cost $50 more)
Personal: B+ (Too soft for my tastes and the heel tab is a little irritating but I can still appreciate this shoe)
Overall Design: B+
Andrea
Fit: A- (Fits TTS unlike several other Mizuno shoes I have tested, very comfortable and secure fit with no complaints from me. I took 1/2 grade off because I think the overlay over the great toe is going to be a problem for some runners.)
Performance: A (I love running in this shoe and it feels better every time I run in it. TPU is a great material for winter running due to its more consistent performance characteristics in sub freezing temps. I think this will be one of my top easy run shoes for 2025.)
Stability: [neutral] B (Wide base and stiff platform take the place of a plate as a stiffening agent for a relatively high stack shoe. All guidance features are muted and do not provide any noticeable guidance. Those with more significant stability needs may need to look elsewhere.)
Value: A- ($150 is a great price for a shoe with these performance characteristics, as long as the midsole holds up over 250+ miles. TBD.)
Personal: A (An early 2025 favorite. Will definitely stay in my rotation now that I'm done with test miles.)
Overall Design: A-/A
SHOP | SUPPORT DORMizuno Neo ZenPrice: $149.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
The trainer provides a comfortable ride for a variety of efforts.
The Asics trainer gets a mildly softer update.
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