Mizuno Neo Zen

 

Stack - 39.5 – 33.5

Pitch - 6mm

Weight - 235 (M) 201 (W)

Foot Type - Neutral

Use – Up tempo and Daily Road Running

 

It's been a long time since I have worn a Mizuno shoe. A traditional running brand that has been slow to react in a market that requires innovation and speed of innovation. It seems Mizuno has been trying to get things just right in an attempt to avoid a "dud".

 

In the Podcast this week, I was reluctant to say I was "surprised" as it might come across as a little mean. But in all honesty, I am surprised. This shoe snuck up on us; with much hype around the Neo Vista, the Neo Zen fell slightly under the radar.

 

I would put the Neo Zen in the same Category as the Asics Novablast, New Balance Fuelcell Rebel 4 and even the Saucony Speed 4.

 

The midsole is an enhanced EVA/TPU blend and one of the most comfortable I have ever run in. I described it to the guys as it felt like the midsole pushed back faster than I could compress it, making a springy and efficient effort. I never feel like it bottoms out or is so soft that I get nothing back. It is also plateless, which l like for daily training. Increasing the forefoot flexibility with the bouncy foam means my foot feels in control right through my gait.

 

The ride feels like you could run up-tempo and daily training. I think it would be a good mix for people who like to pick up the pace towards the end of a long run but still like the maximum cushion feel that isn't too mushy.

 

The midsole is a wide platform with a nice midfoot shape. Giving the feeling of stability without having anything up and rubbing in your arch. While this is a neutral option, I feel it is more stable than the Novablast 5 and Rebel 4.

 

Mizuno has nailed the rock point of the shoe for my midfoot strike, and even though it measures up at a 6mm pitch, I always feel like I am travelling forward. On the other hand, I have some lower-pitched shoes, and I think I have to work over the top of them.

 

 

Using a rubberized EVA outsole gives the shoe a nice road feel and flows nicely. It doesn't slap and has a decent enough grip on most road surfaces. I've put 300km into my pair, and the outsole isn't showing too much wear yet. For a shoe that I think will be good for 500-600km, I am happy with it.

 

 

 

The heel counter doesn't have much padding, which I am okay with; using overlays internally gives a good lockdown, and the attachment to the top lace hole means I get no slip or rotation. While the upper is a sock, it is easy to get into. My only real knock on this shoe is the placement of the logo on the medial side, which created a pinch point around my big toe joint. It's just because the logo is a heat transfer, and the upper is so soft. While I don't notice it, some people might, but it may also affect the wear of the upper in that area. That and how the laces tie down into the top of the upper may cause sensitive people a problem without a thicker sock.

 

Overall, I am happy to say this is one of the nicest shoes I have ever run in. In this week's podcast episode, I said that we don't need our training shoes to be dumbed-down versions of our racing shoes; we need the shoe category to excel at being training shoes. The complexity should be in the mix of raw materials in the midsole, and careful geometry should be used to enhance human movement and protection from the road. Apart from a few minor changes I would make with the upper Mizuno, I have nailed this.