Sonicblast 2 vs Neo Vista 2

The Sonicblast 2 is ASICS building a super trainer for runners who want a bit of race-day energy on an ordinary Tuesday. It pairs FF Turbo Squared foam with an FF Blast Max base and a forked Pebax plate, so you get a bouncy, propulsive running shoe that still carries enough foam for long runs. With a 46mm heel and an 8mm drop it is a lot of shoe, yet at 242g it is light for that much stack. We see it as a do-it-all training partner: tempo sessions, long runs with marathon-pace blocks, and plenty of steady miles in between. The plate is Pebax, not carbon, which keeps the snap more forgiving than a race shoe and makes it easier to live with day to day. If you mostly run easy and want something simpler and cheaper, the Novablast 6 makes more sense. At £170 RRP it isn't cheap, so check the UK prices we track below before you buy.

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.