Mizuno Neo Zen 2 Review: Fine-tuning the Bounce

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

The Mizuno Neo Zen first launched in January 2025 and immediately captured my heart with its soft, springy sensation. I logged easy miles, tempo runs and long-run workouts with goal-race-pace miles at the end, and the Neo Zen delivered every time. Unfortunately, it also delivered a cranky, irritating sensation to my left ankle, which has long been prone to bouts of tendinitis and doesn’t appreciate even the slightest hint of instability. Still, I loved the Neo Zen so much that I persevered, all in the name of bounciness.

Fast forward to the Neo Zen 2, and I think I can finally have my cake and eat it too — or, for lack of a better phrase, have my bouncy, springy shoes and keep my left ankle intact. Just how did Mizuno pull off the best of both worlds? Read on to find out.

My first run in the Mizuno Neo Zen 2 was an easy four-miler with strides as I tapered for my goal half-marathon race. Mizuno’s nitrogen-infused EVA midsole foam, dubbed ENERZY NXT foam, delivers a smooth, springy ride that felt as good during my easy paces as it did during my pickups. You may be wondering, what is a nitrogen-infused EVA midsole foam? This process utilizes nitrogen gas to create tiny nitrogen cells inside the material. Picture yourself running on millions of springy little air bubbles!

I was a little bit nervous to test them out, as I mentioned I’ve had issues with my left ankle and foot, and anything too soft seems to aggravate it. I’d heard from Mizuno that the Neo Zen 2 had been firmed up a bit to feel more stable, and thankfully, that was my experience.

Because of this adjustment, the Neo Zen 2 doesn’t feel quite as springy and bouncy as the previous iteration, but I think it’s a fair trade-off. It’s still significantly more responsive than other shoes in its category and now it can be enjoyed by runners who don’t have ankles of steel (like Max and I).

“After a decade-long era of various ankle sprains on both sides, I struggle in some of the super-soft trainers as my ankle kind of wobbles all over the place and has to work in overdrive to stay stable,” says Max. “The Neo Zen 2’s firmer midsole, plus the redesigned upper, mitigated this concern for me. Plus, the ENERZY NXT midsole still feels like a trampoline underfoot.”

“I tested the Neo Zen 2 for some easy recovery runs, as well as a moderate eight-mile workout with a lot of quick pickups,” says Kate, who’s currently training for a half marathon. “They are really comfortable and smooth to run in. For my first run, the sensation was so seamless, I forgot they were there. They felt comfortable and effortless. On my third run, I tested them for some speedwork with 12 x 45-second strides. They’re softer than the typical shoe I would pick for speedwork, but they still felt peppy and propulsive. I would want to wear shoes with a plate for my very toughest and longest workouts, but the Neo Zen is truly versatile and a great choice for easy, moderate and long runs.”

The outsole is covered with an abrasion-resistant X10 rubber, which offers excellent grip and traction on the road while preventing uneven wear on areas that take the most pounding, like the heel and forefoot.

The Neo Zen 2’s midsole isn’t the only update delivering more stable strides. A revamped upper adds additional security around the heel and ankle area to lock down the fit. The tongue and lacing system are slightly separated from each other, allowing you to cinch down or loosen up accordingly. An extra eyelet on either side of your ankle makes it possible to tie the marathon loop to prevent heel slippage. Plus, extra padding around the back of the heel delivers a snug, secure sensation.

“I don't usually like a one-piece upper, but this one is comfortable and works well for my feet,” Kate says. “It’s easy to get on and lace up without any hassle. The upper has just the right amount of stretch in the heel collar while remaining fixed and stable everywhere else.”

The original Neo Zen relied on a one-piece knit upper that didn’t leave much opportunity for any cinching down, so this feels like a big update for me. I have narrow heels and I really appreciate the opportunity to tie the marathon loop.

Max found the fit secure and true-to-size, but had some gripes about the materials. The heel and ankle collar feature a stretchy knit liner that did not agree with him.

“The excess fabric at the top of the ankle kind of bit at my skin and created a rubbing sensation. It wasn’t anything that created blisters, but it was noticeable — and could be a result of wearing thicker socks in the winter,” he says, as he’s braving negative temperatures in Chicago, “but I can’t make the switch to summer socks quite yet to find out.”

Living in South Florida, I never deal with negative temperatures here, so I wore my favorite Feetures Elite Ultra Light Quarter socks with the Neo Zen 2 and my feet felt great for the entire run.

The Neo Zen 2 isn’t available in wide sizing, only standard widths (B for women, D for men). However, because of its stretchy material, it can feel quite accommodating to those with wider or higher-volume feet.

Not sure about the width or volume of your feet? Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height. You can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there!

The Mizuno Neo Zen 2 is, in my opinion, a significant upgrade from the prior version in terms of comfort and support. While it’s not quite as bouncy as the original Neo Zen, it makes up for it by providing a smooth ride that keeps my left ankle feeling “zen.”

“I can confidently say the Neo Zen 2 is a tad firmer and more responsive, and the upper feels elevated thanks to the added plushness around the ankle and heel. It feels like an upgrade from the original, making it a more versatile daily trainer,” says Max.

If you enjoyed the previous version of the Neo Zen, chances are you’ll like the latest update — it keeps much of the same energy. And if the last version felt a little too wobbly for you, the added support here makes this one worth another look.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the Neo Zen 2 stacks up. Here’s what we found:

The Mizuno Neo Zen 2, ASICS Novablast 5 and adidas Evo SL Woven are all placed firmly in our “Springy” category, meaning they use highly resilient foams to deliver a peppy, bouncy feeling.

Mizuno uses their nitrogen-infused ENERZY NXT foam, the Novablast 5 uses ASICS’ FF BLAST MAX foam and the Evo SL Woven uses adidas’ record-breaking Lightstrike Pro foam (the same foam used in their top-tier racing shoes, worn during numerous World Record runs). The makeup of these materials is usually kept close to the vest, but I can say they all successfully deliver a springy ride.

“The Neo Zen is a stellar choice for runners who like a thick slab of peppy cushion. It’s a comfortable shoe for easy, moderate and long runs. It’s not my top choice for speedwork, but it could be your do-everything shoe,” says Kate.

I’ll continue to wear the Neo Zen 2 for my easy runs and long runs when I want to incorporate a bit of goal-race-pace work. It’s just peppy enough to help my legs turnover without giving me any extra advantage — I want to save that magic for race day when I’m in my carbon-plated supershoes!