NewMizuno2026 Review
Mizuno Neo Jump
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Buy at Forum Sport · €121.99 (opens in a new tab)Compare 3 shops · Prices updated on 6 November
The pinnacle of Mizuno indoor. ENERZY XP + XG Rubber for the most explosive jump on the market.
Fit
Who is it for?
- Position
- GoalkeeperPivotCentre back
- Player weight
- 90 – 110 kg · > 110 kg
- Level
- Advanced, Professional
We recommend it if…
- Advanced and professional goalkeepers with a heavy training load
- Pivots who prioritise joint protection on jumps and landings
- Players with a history of knee or ankle injuries
- Those looking for the best Mizuno cushioning with no price limit
Pick another if…
- Wings, backs or any speed position
- Players on a tight budget
- Those looking for a handball-specific shoe with lateral reinforcements
- Beginners and entry level
Our test
The good and the bad
Pros
- The best cushioning in the entire Mizuno range: ENERZY XP
- XG Rubber: top-tier grip on indoor courts
- Dyna-Eyelet: wrap-around, precise fit
- Exceptional energy return on jumps and landings
Cons
- Very high price: ultra-premium range
- Heavy (395 g): not suitable for speed positions
- Designed for volleyball — no handball-specific lateral reinforcements
- Availability limited to official Mizuno shops
Before you order
Sizes and fit
- Fit
- Regular
- Weight
- 395 g
- Drop
- 6 mm
Where to buy
Price at each shop
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Forum Sport
Lowest price
WePlay Handball
We Play Handball
Basket-Center
Out of stock
€130.00
How we score it
Score by category
- Grip
- 8.7
- Cushioning
- 9.5
- Stability
- 8.3
- Durability
- 8.7
- Value for money
- 7.2
Gorka Cabañas' opinion
Journalist. Former handball player and coach. Co-founder of Liftados
The Mizuno Neo Jump is a shoe that gives me mixed feelings, and for me that's always a sign there's something genuinely interesting about the product.
First off, ENERZY XP is technically the most advanced thing I've reviewed in the Mizuno catalogue. I've been assessing cushioning foams for years and, according to Mizuno, ENERZY XP's rebound rate beats Adidas BOOST at the impact frequencies typical of an indoor sport, putting it in the same league as Nike's ZoomX. For a handball goalkeeper who absorbs hundreds of high-load impacts per session, this level of cushioning translates directly into long-term joint health.
Price is the big debate. Is it justified? Technically, yes: you're paying for the most advanced cushioning technology on the indoor market and an ultra-premium XG Rubber outsole. Financially, the question is whether the qualitative leap over an Asics MetaRise 2 (which already scores 9.5 for cushioning) justifies its ultra-premium price. In my testing, the Neo Jump's landing feel is noticeably better, but in objective performance data the difference is smaller than the price suggests.
My practical advice: if you play more than 4 days a week and have a history of knee injuries, it's a smart investment. If you train twice a week at a recreational level, there are options with 90% of the performance at a mid-range price. Premium sports footwear is rarely an expense: it's an injury-prevention tool.
Published on 30 May 2026 · Liftados.com
On-court review
Full review
Grip and traction
The XG Rubber (Extra Grade) outsole on the Mizuno Neo Jump is the highest-friction compound Mizuno makes for indoor shoes. Originally designed for the landings of volleyball attackers, who hit the floor with forces of up to 5 times their body weight, XG Rubber has a softer, grippier formula than the GUM8 on the Stealth line, optimising traction during the impact-absorption phase. In handball, this translates into outstanding grip for goalkeepers' lateral movements and pivots' loaded footing. With 8.7/10 for grip, it falls below the GUM8+ on the Wave Stealth Neo 2 (9.4) on explosive multi-angle movements, but beats many handball-specific outsoles on loaded footing and vertical landings.
Cushioning and energy return
ENERZY XP is the most advanced cushioning technology Mizuno has developed to date, and having it in both the full-length midsole and the insole at the same time is unprecedented in the range. ENERZY XP foam combines an extremely fine cell density with a rebound rate higher than Adidas BOOST, according to Mizuno. The practical result: it absorbs landing impacts more completely than any other shoe in the Liftados catalogue (9.5/10), and returns that energy on the next take-off with a responsiveness you have to feel to believe. For a goalkeeper who blocks, rebounds, dives to the post and gets back into position 200 times a match, this level of joint protection has real therapeutic value.
Stability and support
Stability is where the Neo Jump most clearly shows its volleyball origins. The Dyna-Eyelet Wrapping system wraps the foot with precise, comfortable lockdown, and the transparent mesh upper with synthetic reinforcements offers functional lateral support. But with 8.3/10 for stability, it doesn't reach the level of a specialist handball area shoe such as the Asics MetaRise 2 (9.4) or the Hummel HB Powerstrike Pro (9.5). This is especially noticeable on fast lateral movements with load on the outside of the foot, which aren't as well covered. For goalkeepers who hold a static defensive position and move mainly forwards and vertically, the stability is more than enough.
Who this shoe is for
The Mizuno Neo Jump is for the advanced-to-professional handball goalkeeper or pivot who prioritises joint protection and energy return on jumps above everything else. It's an ultra-premium-priced indoor shoe and it knows it: it doesn't compete on price but on absolute cushioning performance. The 395 g weight rules it out completely for speed positions. If you're a goalkeeper or pivot who puts in a lot of training hours and you've noticed your knees and ankles suffering under the load, investing in a Neo Jump may be more cost-effective in the long run than saving money on a less advanced shoe.
Liftados verdict · 8.6/10
The Mizuno Neo Jump has the best cushioning in the entire Liftados catalogue (9.5/10), and that's no coincidence: ENERZY XP in the full-length midsole + insole is the most advanced joint-protection package on the indoor market. Price is the main obstacle, and the 395 g weight rules it out for speed positions. But for a handball goalkeeper who trains daily and wants the ceiling of Mizuno cushioning, there's nothing more complete on the market.
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Comparisons
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What you ask us about the Mizuno Neo Jump
Is the Mizuno Neo Jump good for handball if it's designed for volleyball?
What is Mizuno ENERZY XP?
How much does the Mizuno Neo Jump weigh?
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