Neo Vista 1 vs Pegasus Premium 1

The Mizuno Neo Vista is a plated super trainer, a big-cushion running shoe with a plate inside that wants to do a bit of everything. It is Mizuno's answer to the do-it-all trainer that can handle easy miles on Monday and a tempo session on Thursday without you swapping shoes. At 265g it is not the lightest in the class, and the 8mm drop keeps it grounded and stable rather than tippy. What you get is a smooth, rolling ride with plenty of foam underfoot and just enough pop from the plate to make faster running feel worthwhile. It is not a carbon marathon racer and it does not pretend to be. Think of it as one shoe for a busy training week: comfortable enough for long runs, lively enough for strides and progression efforts. At an RRP of 180 pounds it sits at the premium end, so we rate it best for runners who want a single versatile trainer rather than a quiver. In our view it is one of Mizuno's most likeable road shoes in years.

Nike built the Pegasus Premium around bounce, and on that one point reviewers agree it delivers. The full-length Air Zoom unit in its triple-layer midsole gives a springy, trampoline-like ride that most testers enjoyed. The trouble is everything around it. At 308g it's heavy for a super trainer, the fit is narrow, and several reviewers found the tall platform unstable. RunRepeat rated it great and another tester would tell you to try it, but Doctors of Running were far harsher, and one of their testers couldn't run in it at all because the tapered toe box pressed on the big toe.

At £190 RRP that is a lot of compromise. We see it as a fun shoe for easy and steady runs if you're a neutral runner with narrow to medium feet, not a versatile super trainer. If you want Nike bounce in a lighter package, the Zoom Fly 6 is easier to live with, and the Vomero 18 makes more sense for plain easy mileage.