Mizuno Neo Vista vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: Two Super Trainers, Two Very Different Feels

Introduction

The Mizuno Neo Vista and Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 both sit in the super trainer category: versatile, nylon-plated shoes designed to handle a wide range of training. Despite the shared brief, they are near opposites in feel. One is a cushioned, bouncy shoe that happens to be fast. The other is a speed shoe that happens to be comfortable enough for easy runs. Both are genuinely excellent all-rounders, so the choice comes down to which end of that spectrum suits your running.

On paper they are close. Both have an 8mm drop and similar weight, with the Endorphin Speed 4 at 255g (9 oz) in a UK 9 and the Neo Vista at 259g (9.1 oz) in a UK 8.5. The big difference is stack height: the Neo Vista runs 44.5mm at the heel down to 36.5mm at the forefoot, while the Speed 4 is 36mm at the heel and 28mm at the forefoot.

Mizuno Neo Vista: Cushion First, Speed Second

The Neo Vista is built around Mizuno’s MIZUNO ENERZY NXT foam, an EVA-based midsole foam that sits firmly in the super foam category with a very bouncy, soft feel. A full-length nylon plate runs through the shoe, visible through a very large cutout in the outsole, and a smooth speed assist rocker with a shallower 5% angle gives the shoe a mellow, relaxed turnover that works nicely even at slow paces.

The upper is a one-piece knit bootie with a fairly high heel collar but little structural support at the back, giving a loose, flexible feel around the ankle. Rubber coverage is good across the full length of the shoe on both sides and on the forefoot, apart from that large midfoot cutout, which does have a habit of picking up small rocks.

If your week is dominated by easy miles and comfortable longer runs, this is the easier shoe to love. It feels welcoming the moment you step into it, and it keeps enough bounce in reserve that picking up the pace never feels like a fight.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 4: Built for Faster Work

The Speed 4 is the fourth generation of a well-established shoe. It uses two layers of PWRRUN PB foam, a PEBA-based midsole, with a now-winged nylon plate between them for extra stability. The Speedroll rocker geometry has been a fixture of the Endorphin line since it launched, and it gives the shoe a firmer, faster-rolling feel underfoot with noticeably more ground contact at the forefoot.

The upper is a fairly typical performance mesh with good padding around the tongue and collar, plus a more substantial internal heel counter than the Neo Vista. The lattice outsole offers solid rubber coverage across the forefoot and two strips at the rear, with a smaller cutout showing off the plate.

That firmer forefoot and more aggressive rocker make the Speed 4 the better tool for hard hours, intervals and tempo work. It rolls through more efficiently and gives a better feel for speed, though some runners may notice forefoot discomfort when pushing hard for long periods, something the extra stack of the Neo Vista absorbs entirely.

Fit and Sizing

The Endorphin Speed 4 fits true to size for most testers and fixes the roomier upper of the Speed 3, returning closer to the snugger fit of earlier versions. Narrow-footed runners still found themselves pulling the laces tight through the midfoot, but the heel rub reported with the Speed 3 did not appear here.

The Neo Vista has a bit of extra space in the toe box. If you sit between two sizes, going down half a size is a sensible option, particularly since the bootie construction rewards a slightly snugger fit. Stick with your normal size if your fit is already generous, but many testers preferred the half size down.

Price and Value

Pricing is where things get interesting, because it flips depending on where you shop. In the UK the Neo Vista costs £150 against the Speed 4’s £180, a £30 saving that makes the Mizuno an easy recommendation for value alone. In the US the picture reverses, with the Neo Vista at $180 and the Speed 4 at $170, so the two are effectively equal.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one shoe to do everything and your running leans towards comfortable, longer miles, the Neo Vista is the stronger pick. It is one of the best super trainers currently available, remarkably comfortable at easy paces, and it still turns over well enough to handle faster reps without feeling mushy. For newer runners after an accommodating all-rounder, it is also less intimidating than its tall silhouette suggests, and it does not feel unstable.

If you are training for a half marathon or marathon and plan to race in your daily trainer, the Speed 4 is the better choice. It has the sharper top end, the more effective rocker for speed, and it is the shoe most likely to help you hold a hard effort for an hour. It also works well as part of a two-shoe rotation alongside a more cushioned daily trainer.

View more details for Saucony Endorphin Speed 4

Conclusion

Both of these are top-tier versatile trainers right now, and you would be well served by either. The Neo Vista is the more comfortable, bouncier shoe that rewards easy running while keeping speed in reserve, and it is the better value in the UK. The Speed 4 is the faster, firmer option with the edge for tempo work and racing. If you can only buy one and want maximum comfort, go Neo Vista. If you want maximum speed from your daily trainer, go Endorphin Speed 4. Better still, they complement each other beautifully as a two-shoe rotation.