I got the Mizuno Neo Zen for the purpose of testing and review from Mizuno Germany. However, they have no control over this review and I will try to give my honest opinion on the shoe.
Before I will write about the shoe a few facts about me, that are important for the review. I’m currently training for a marathon. Actually, I’m just two weeks out of the race. My current easy run pace is between 5.40 and 5.50 min/km, my longrun pace between 5.20 and 5.40 min/km, my tempo pace between 4.40 and 4.50 min/km and I run some faster 1 kilometer repeats at 4.10 min/k pace. So now you know at what paces I tested the shoe.
What does Mizuno say about this shoe
Discover serenity in motion with the Mizuno Neo Zen, merging the essence of Zen with advanced technology. Smooth Speed Assist technology allows for a smooth midfoot run, perfect for long jogs, while reveling in the bouncy sensation of a full length MIZUNO ENERZY NXT midsole. With a 1-piece stretchable breathable knit upper and seamless integrated tongue, find your Zen in every step, embracing comfort, responsiveness, and a harmonious running journey.
Let’s find out more about the Mizuno Neo Zen
Till today I ran more than 100 kilometers in the shoe. Before I write a shoe review, I normally do quite some runs in the shoes, from easy recovery runs up to tempo runs, intervals and one or two long runs. I used the Mizuno Neo Zen mostly on my easy and recovery runs. My longest run in the shoe was a 20 kilometer steady run and I also tested the shoe on a marathon pace interval session.
Fit of the shoe
The shoe runs a bit long but I would stick to my normal shoe size. No need to go down half a size. Just don’t use the thinnest socks you have and you should be good to go. The upper is made of a one piece knit upper, it hugs the foot nicely and there is no problem with the lockdown.
The toe box is has enough volume that the feel is comfortable. There is minimal padding around the heel but despite of that I had no issue with any heel slippage and had a decent lockdown from the first time I used the shoe. The tongue is part of the upper and on top there is a tab that prevents lace pressure on the top of your feet. All in all a decent lockdown.
It’s a comfortable shoe but those who have narrower feet could get a bit of a problem, since the upper would not hug the foot and provide enough lockdown. On the other hand I don’t know, how the shoe will fit those who have wider feet. The upper material is stretchable but I don’t know to what degree. Wouldn’t take this as a deal breaker but I would suggest to try out the shoe before buying.
Breathability of the upper is very good. I had no issue with overheating, not even when I was running at faster paces or for a longer period of time. And if you use thicker socks I think that the shoe will even be a good option at lower temperatures.
Performance of the shoe
First a bit about the midsole. For a lot of runner the most important part of a running shoe. The Midsole of the Mizuno Neo Zen is called MIZUNO ENERZY. According to Mizuno the foam is 17% softer and delivers 15% more energy return than previous Mizuno midsoles.
It works great straight out of the box. The foam itself is on the softer side of midsole foams used in daily trainers and on my 20 kilometer run I could feel that my legs where protected from the pounding all the way to the end of the run. There is no carbon plate in the midsole of this shoe. As such it is not considered a race shoe but a training shoe.
Despite the fact, that the midsole is on the softer side, you don’t sink into it while running. There is a nice transition from heel to toe and the shoe works with you when running. Mizuno calls this smooth speed assist and it works.
Every shoe has an intention. And 30 second repeats at 80-90% effort or 1k repeats at 5k pace or faster are not the sweet spot of this shoe. For such fast workouts I would go for another shoe from the Mizuno range. The sweet spot of this shoe are recovery runs, easy runs, longruns up to a moderate pace and even tempo runs around marathon effort, if you want to use a non plated shoe.
On the outsole there are two stripes of rubber, with a groove running through the middle of the outsole. The grip was good in all conditions. Just the last few days I used the shoe on wet roads and had no issue with grip, not even while I was running on some light trails. And after a bit more than 100 kilometers, there are no signs of wear on the outsole.
How will I use the shoe
To a certain degree I already answered this question. But to sum it up. This will be my go to shoe for most of my easy to moderate longruns, as well as for my easy runs, my recovery runs and maybe even some tempo runs around marathon effort. Basically most of the running I’m doing right now, while training for a marathon.
On the other hand, I will not use this shoe on track sessions and on 1k or 2k repeats with faster paces. For these type of runs there are better options out there on the market, even within the Mizuno running shoe lineup.
Would I recommend the Mizuno Neo Zen
It’s a modern running shoe in the daily trainer category. With a midsole foam, that provides enough cushioning even for longer runs and protects your feet from the pounding and it has no plate in the midsole. If you are looking for a long lasting and reliable running shoe, that you will use on a daily (or almost daily) basis, you can’t go wrong with the Mizuno Neo Zen.
In my opinion, the ride of the shoe will suite a lot of runners. But you need to be aware, that the heel is 400mm high, with no additional support. Therefore a safer option for neutral runners. But even if you are a heel striker, you will get benefits out of the smooth speed assist and the shoe will work nice with your stride.
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