Mach X 2 vs Neo Vista 2

The Mach X 2 is Hoka's do-it-all super trainer: a carbon-plated running shoe that is light enough to race a half in but cushioned enough to soak up your midweek miles. It sits a rung above the simpler Hoka Mach 7, adding a snappy plate and a bouncier foam so it can push into tempo and race territory. At 260g with a low 5mm drop, it wants you to run through the whole foot and roll off the toes. That plate gives you real pop when you lift the pace, yet the ride stays forgiving enough for a two-hour long run. In our view this is one of the more versatile daily-and-fast trainers going, and the sort of shoe that quietly becomes the one you reach for most. It is not cheap at £180, but as a single shoe that covers easy days, workouts and shorter races, it earns the spot.

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.