MIZUNO NEO ZEN: all NXT, no plate!

[@wenkrush]

This shoe is really calling out to me. It's on my short list of potential next pair. There are just so many good shoes out there now. Mizuno really seems to be bringing their A-game now.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@wenkrush I agree about Mizuno brining their A-game in 2025 and also were spoiled for choice with quality running shoes nowadays. What other shoes are you considering?

[@wenkrush]

@its_Matt_B_ Deviate Nitro 3, Hyperion Max 2, and Evo SL(if I can get it) are the other three that are particularly calling to me.

[@iCuteJP]

I love the Enerzy NXT foam in the Wave Sky 8. I’m looking forward to Mizuno incorporating this new TPU Enerzy NXT foam into the Wave Sky 9 (Mystery Shoes 004?). I love the Wave Sky series because it features dual foam-soft and bouncy foam on top, with a firmer foam at the bottom to provide extra stability.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@iCuteJP I’m sure we’ll be seeing NXT in upcoming shoes for a while! It’s such a good foam and makes shoes like the WS8 so much better than they’ve ever been.

[@MiracleWarriors]

I got the Wave Sky 8 and did my long and first run with the Neo Zen last Sunday. The bounce of both Enerzy NXT foams is amazing in both. But the bounce in the Neo Zen was more " stable" I would say. The bounce from my Sky 8 was hard ri tame and took me around 2 or 3 runs. That version of the NXT reminded me a lot the vibration I had in the Invincible 3 for the first runs. The Neo Zen is an excellent running shoes out of the box from the foam , stability and outsole VS. Wave Sky 8. But I wish to have a Neo Zen with the Wave Sky 8 upper.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@ good to hear you liked the Neo Zen so much. The WS8 has a dual density midsole, so it rides quite a bit firmer than the Neo Zen with only Enerzy NXT foam.

[@colinking5742]

I'm disappointed I can't find one in the mystery camo! I loved that design haha. I see it in the back and couldn't get myself to pull the trigger on this fade.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@colinking5742 It looks like Running Warehouse has that color-way available. Better move quick! 😆

[@colinking5742]

@ not in my size :(

[@its_Matt_B_]

@ Ugh!

[@jimoconnor8597]

Really trying to decide between this or the Evo SL. Same price, same purpose.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@jimoconnor8597 I’ve made a comparison video between this and the Evo SL. It will probably be out next week.

[@jimoconnor8597]

@@its_Matt_B_ I'll definitely be waiting for it to drop. Not like I can buy the Evo SL anyway... 😡

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

Was the Neo Zen the Mystery Shoe #1?

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@MyFatAdaptedLife Yes! The first mystery has been revealed!

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

@its_Matt_B_ One can make a reasonable assumption that they'll be rolling out the next mystery shoes throughout the year.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@ Sounds like a good bet to me.

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

@its_Matt_B_ 👍

[@garethmorgan7474]

These any good for heavy runner

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@garethmorgan7474 “Heavy” doesn’t tell me much, but I can say that they will definitely be comfortable for runners quite a bit heavier than me (185 lbs).

[@karls8989]

well they are different foams. the neo zen is TPU. Neo vista is supercritical EVA

[@its_Matt_B_]

@@karls8989 Thanks for the comment. You’re right. Although I challenge anyone to notice the difference under foot. I suppose the change was made because TPU will last longer.

[@nicklas6973]

neo zen is nitrogen infused super critical l. Vista is just super critical

[@thecaptainchas2820]

@@its_Matt_B_I don’t know about temperatures in Florida, but in colder, sub-freezing temps, the two foams feel very different. The Supercritical TPU in the Zen is not temperature dependent, so it has the same bouncy softness in the cold. The Vista is still soft, but not as soft in the cold.

[@its_Matt_B_]

@ Ahh, interesting. I didn’t test either of these shoes in cold temps, so that’s probably why they always felt so similar to me.