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Neo Vista 3
Max-cushion bouncy trainer for daily miles and long runs.
Today's tracked prices
- 01Direct RunningLIVE£110.24£150.00−27%
- 02365RiderLIVE£122.20£150.00−19%
- 03HardloopLIVE£125.90£150.00−16%
- 04GreavesLIVE£150.00
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Price history
Our verdict
Mizuno trimmed the Neo Vista this year instead of making it bigger. Our spec sheet has the 3 a little lower than the Neo Vista 2 at heel and forefoot, at much the same 266g, and the RRP comes down to £150. The change reviewers noticed first is the fit: the heel now holds your foot properly, and the length complaints about the last version have gone. Underfoot it's still a big, soft max-cushion super trainer with no carbon plate, and most testers liked it more than the 2. Where they part ways is pace. Some found real spring for uptempo finishes, while one lab measured only modest energy return and called it bulky once you push. Doctors of Running graded the performance highly but marked the fit down hard, mostly for thick heel padding that bothered a tester's Achilles. We'd buy it as a long-run and recovery running shoe and leave the intervals to something lighter.
Key features
- Max-stack cushioningPuts a lot of soft foam between you and the road, so long runs and tired-leg days feel protected rather than punishing
- Reworked heelLocks your heel in far better than the Neo Vista 2, which makes the tall stack feel less wobbly
- Knit bootie upperStretches to your foot like a sock, though it starts snug in the forefoot
- 8.5mm dropSits in the middle of the range, a comfortable setup if you land on your heel
- Hard-wearing outsoleShowed very little wear in early lab and mileage testing, so it should last well
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Long-run runners who want as much protection underfoot as they can get
- Heel strikers, since reviewers single out the heel cushioning
- Neo Vista 2 owners whose heel slipped or whose size felt off
- Runners who roll in slightly and like a little guidance without a stability shoe
Who should not buy it
- You have wide feet, as the forefoot is tapered and snug
- You have a sensitive Achilles or Haglund's, because of the thick heel padding
- You want one shoe for intervals and tempo, as it feels bulky at speed
- You run gravel paths, since stones lodge in the deep grooves
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
Most reviews had it true to size, and two said the length problem some runners had with the Neo Vista 2 is fixed. RunRepeat was the outlier, measuring it slightly long with a tall toe box. Another lab found the toe box a little low, so how roomy it feels depends on whose foot is in it. Width is where they agree. The forefoot tapers and the knit is snug at first, easing a little with miles, so if your feet are wide, try a pair on before you buy. Heel hold is much better than before, though the padding back there is thick. One tester got pain right where it sits, which makes a touchy Achilles or Haglund's a real reason to look elsewhere. One reviewer also found the arch a touch high.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
Soft first, then some spring. At easy and steady paces reviewers describe a smooth roll forward and a bouncier feel than the 2. Push harder and opinion splits. Some testers were happy finishing long runs at uptempo pace in it, while others, and the lab numbers, found the rebound modest and the shoe cumbersome. It's heavy on our spec sheet, and you'll feel that at 5K or 10K effort.
Cushioning
This is why you'd buy it. Lab testing rated the foam very soft and among the most shock-absorbing it has measured, and another lab singled out the heel cushioning for heel strikers. The trade-off is return: the softness that protects you gives back less than the bounciest foams in this class. If you want softer still, one lab found the Vomero Premium plusher, though bulkier.
Stability
Neutral, but steadier than the height suggests. One detailed review found the outer sidewall compresses more than the inner, which nudges you towards the middle of the shoe. That helps if you roll in slightly and does little if you tend to roll outwards. Others called it planted thanks to a wide base, though the soft heel foam gives a bit. On corners one tester wanted more side-to-side hold from the knit.
Upper & comfort
Most testers rate the new knit bootie. It stretches and wraps the foot, with pull tabs to help you in. Breathability divides the reviews: one lab measured it as breathable and quick to dry, while another reviewer found the knit thicker than before and warmer for summer. Lab testing also scored the heel lining poorly for wear.
Reviews
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FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Super Trainer |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 8.5mm |
| Heel Stack | 43.5mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 35mm |
| Weight | 266g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |