Mizuno Neo Zen 2 Review: A Tuned-Up Daily Trainer Worth a Look

Introduction

Last year’s Mizuno Neo Zen was a quiet surprise, landing alongside a handful of shoes that nailed the $150 daily trainer price point. For the sequel, Mizuno has kept the same silhouette and the same NRZ NXT nitrogen-infused foam, but changed the upper, thickened the heel padding, and nudged the price up to $160. The result is a shoe that feels like the original, just tuned up in all the right places, with one notable step backward in grip.

Upper and Fit: A Shift from Knit to Engineered Mesh

The full stretchy knit upper of the original is gone, replaced by an engineered mesh construction Mizuno calls Booty Knit Fusion. The mesh feels less stretchy and slightly narrower through the midfoot, likely because the knit used to flex and give. In practice, both testers found the fit true to size in a men’s US 10.5, with the toe in the right spot and no extra room up front.

The heel area is where things changed most. The original had little padding at the heel counter; this version adds a thick cushioned heel that locks the foot in well. There is still a large, somewhat impractical winged collar at the back, which seems to exist mostly to keep the Neo Zen looking like the Neo Zen, but the added padding underneath should benefit someone even if neither tester noticed a dramatic difference. The stitched-in stretchy tongue holds its position well without being a full gusset.

Midsole: Bouncy Foam with Better Stability

The midsole carries over the same NRZ NXT nitrogen-infused foam and the same name as last year, and it feels largely the same: soft, bouncy, and fun without being gooey. The bigger story is the tuning. The original Neo Zen could feel sloppy laterally on longer runs, with testers noticing knee and hip discomfort in double-digit miles and feet wandering side to side through corners. This version is noticeably more stable under pressure, rebounding crisply instead of feeling squirrely.

In testing, easy paces felt nicely cushioned, and the shoe held up when the pace was ratcheted up for strides, never feeling like running through sand. One tester logged two 10-mile runs comfortably and felt there was more left in the tank, something the original did not allow. The stack stays at 40.5mm in the heel and 34.5mm in the forefoot, a 6mm drop, unchanged from last year. Weight comes in at 9.2 oz (262g) in a men’s US 10.5, up from roughly 8.9 oz, a modest gain attributable to the heel padding and mesh construction.

Outsole: The One Real Complaint

The outsole is where the Neo Zen 2 stumbles. It already had a waxy rather than tacky rubber feel last year, and this version actually reduces the rubber coverage, opening up the design further. On a run over lightly frosted ground, the shoe slid noticeably where other shoes held firm.

That said, the durable rubber should hold up well over many miles, and the reduced coverage is unlikely to trouble runners in dry conditions. It is a real knock, but not a dealbreaker for most daily training.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price has moved from $150 to $160, making this one of the first updated shoes in its class to go up. It sits in an increasingly competitive range where $160 to $180 buys a lot of shoe, and the lack of standout tech beyond foam and upper means there is no wow factor, though that restraint arguably suits the shoe. The oversized rear collar is also a design choice that splits opinion.

Buying Advice

If you liked the original Neo Zen’s ride but found it unstable at longer distances, this update corrects exactly that without losing the bouncy character. It works for easy runs, can carry a pickup in pace, and comfortably handles double-digit mileage.

Just temper expectations on wet or frosty surfaces, and consider whether the $160 price still fits your budget against stiff competition at $150.

Conclusion

The Mizuno Neo Zen 2 earns a solid B overall: the ride deserves an A for fixing last year’s stability issues while keeping the fun factor, but the price bump and reduced grip hold it back. It remains a very good daily trainer with real range, and could rise further in the rankings depending on how the rest of this year’s updated competitors land.