Superblast 2 vs Neo Vista 2

Two years on, the Superblast 2 is still the shoe other super trainers get measured against. Asics has since released the Superblast 3, but reviewers were close to unanimous on this one, and with the newer model out, the v2 is the one more likely to turn up discounted. It's a big, plate-free running shoe with a 45.5mm heel and a weight of 249g, and it copes with almost any pace: slow marathon-block long runs at one end, races from 10K upwards at the other, for runners who'd rather not wear a carbon racing shoe. Ben Parkes kept reaching for it for months after launch and ranks it among the best shoes they have run in, and Believe in the Run gave its performance their top grade. The catches are a ride that's firmer than it looks and a £200 RRP. If you want one shoe for most of your week and you run long, this is the one we'd pick. If most of your running is easy and short, the cheaper Novablast 5 gets you most of the way there.

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.