Sonicblast 2 vs Neo Vista 2

Fordy Runs calls it a big step up from the first version, and the spec sheet backs that up. The Sonicblast 2 keeps the layout of the first version (FF Turbo Squared on top, FF Blast Max underneath, a Pebax plate between them) but the plate is now forked, and reviewers say it's noticeably lighter and bouncier than before. It's a plated super trainer for tempo sessions, marathon-pace long runs and the odd race, not a soft shoe for recovery days.

Doctors of Running graded it A-, and another review's three testers liked the ride too, though all of them found it firm at easy pace. The catch is price. At £170 RRP it sits right beside the Superblast 3, which is still the better choice if you want one shoe for easy days as well as fast ones. If most of your running is at tempo or marathon pace, the Sonicblast is the sharper of the two, and it gets easier to recommend once it drops below full price in the table.

The Neo Vista 2 is Mizuno's big, soft super trainer, a max-stack running shoe built to soak up mileage rather than chase a personal best. Its Enerzy NXT foam posted the highest shock absorption RUNSHOEINDEX has seen tested in 2026, and you feel that the moment you land: deep, protective, easy on tired legs. This is a shoe for the bulk of your week, the long runs and steady miles where comfort matters more than snap. It is not a racer and it does not pretend to be. At 264g it carries some weight, and without a firm plate it stays smooth and cushioned instead of aggressive. If you liked the plush, rolling feel of the first Neo Vista, version 2 keeps the recipe and dials up the softness. In a category led by the Asics Superblast 3, the Neo Vista 2 makes its case on pure cushioning.