Price varies. Heartland outlets charges this at $7.80, some others I saw $8.60.
As a coffee addict, I gave it a try. Not bad ah. Good to drink before / after harder workouts.
TLDR: I am so, so disappointed with the Neo Zen 2, especially when the Neo Zen 1 was my absolute favourite and best for recovery and general aerobic runs up to 16km (10 miles), and I had at least 800km (~500 miles) across 3 Neo Zen 1s.
161 cm, 67kg/147lbs 30+ M who typically runs 5-6 days a week in a tropical climate country in Asia. Typically strikes Midfoot to Forefoot.
I just finished a marathon 3 weeks ago and am following a 5-week Pfitzinger Marathon Recovery plan right now. While travelling in Japan, I stopped by the official Mizuno Store in Tokyo and wanted to snag myself the new Neo Zen 2. I had pre-read some of the posts on here about how people were disappointed with the Neo Zen 2, but I was generally curious so I decided to just get 1 pair for myself. After 2 runs with them, I felt so disappointed yet happy that I did not buy more than 1. I really didn't want to write this because I really didn't enjoy this shoe, but I know many of us love the Neo Zen 1 as an underrated shoe, so if you are curious about the Neo Zen 2, read on.
I'm following the same format as the redditor who wrote their review here: https://www.reddit.com/r/RunningShoeGeeks/comments/1se4kgs/mizuno_neo_zen_2_first_run_impressionsreview/
Upper / Fit: They redid the upper with the V2. The midfoot is now super snug, like really compressing. In the Neo Zen 1, I was US8.5, so when I tried a US8.5 on the V2, it was compressing, but I had generous toe box space (like the Neo Zen 1). I tried on US9.0 (my actual TTS) and while the midfoot was less compressing, it was still tight all around. The Mizuno store staff did tell me that the upper was much more snug, but I did not expect that snugness to lead to such a pressurised feeling. Also, US 9 was just too big for me as usual; I felt like my lockdown at the front of the shoe wasn't as secure. So overall, I still went for US8.5, same as the Neo Zen 1.
For the heel and ankle, I feel it's about the same as the Neo Zen 1, but now with the added pressure from the midfoot lockdown.
Midsole & Ride: It still bounces but the energy return is not as fun as the Neo Zen 1. In fact, I kept questioning every step I took in the Neo Zen 2. Is there any energy return to begin with, like the Neo Zen 1? I kept wondering what Mizuno did to that amazing foam and midsole ride in the Neo Zen 1. I really felt like I had to put in a lot of work in this shoe even for easier efforts. I questioned whether it was because I was just running slowly again 3 weeks after a marathon, but this was already debunked when I ran in other shoes (Asics Superblast 3, Dynafish Xiaonian, and my own Neo Zen 1s) and could do faster paces in them. The Neo Zen 2 really didn't make me want to go faster. This shoe felt so dead to me that I really wanted to take them off just 3km (~2 miles) in when I was doing a 10km (6.2 miles) Pfitz recovery run.
Overall, with just 2 runs (8km + 10km) [5 miles + 6.2 miles], I have no intention of using these shoes anymore. I did not enjoy the ride and the lack of energy return as opposed to the Neo Zen 1.
Stability: Definitely much more stable than the Neo Zen 1, but I liked less stable shoes better, so the V1's stability was much better for me. I like the wildness of the Neo Zen 1.
Grip & Durability: It's fine, like the Neo Zen 1. Durability should be the same as the Neo Zen 1...I had no complaints, and my first Neo Zen 1 at 410km (210 miles) is still bouncy, strong and holding up well.
Comparisons:
Overall thoughts: For those who loved the wild bouncy ride of the Neo Zen 1: I'm sorry, folks. I don't recommend this at all.
It's a different shoe already; it no longer carries the essence of the Neo Zen 1. Luckily for me, I stocked up on some Neo Zen 1s, so I will use them, but I will move on from Mizuno once they're dead too, which will take some time. But regardless, if you loved the Neo Zen 1, I think you should stock up, really.
For those who are still curious, please go ahead and try 1 pair. I think for the price it's okay, but please do give it a try if you can before you decide to buy/keep it.
I'm just shocked that Mizuno had a winning daily, do-it-all shoe for 2025 with the Neo Zen 1, then they decided to go this route. When Asics did the Superblast 1 to 2 to 3, the changes weren't that bad; to me it became a good shoe. Same goes for when Adidas changed my favourite long run shoe — the Prime X Strung series — V1 was good, V2 people hated but I still enjoyed, and V3 was a good fix. But this Neo Zen 1 to Neo Zen 2 change is...just not good at all.
The shoe is in the middle of the picture, accompanied by my favourite 2 Neo Zen 1s that are well-used. Happy to answer questions, especially those who love the Neo Zen 1s like I do!