The Mizuno Morelia Neo V looks very familiar if you already know the Morelia Neo IV, but the new generation brings several changes that are more important than they first appear.
After buying the new Morelia Neo V for our son and comparing it directly with his previous Neo IV, three differences stood out immediately: the fit is slightly longer, the last has changed, and the Pro version now feels more premium around the tongue and instep.
If you already wear the Neo IV and are thinking about moving to the Neo V, these are exactly the changes you need to know about.
Mizuno Morelia Neo V vs Neo IV: Main Differences
| Morelia Neo IV | Morelia Neo V | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Close, traditional Morelia Neo fit | New Engineered Fit Last NEO |
| Length | Shorter in our direct comparison | Roughly half a size longer in our direct comparison |
| Forefoot | Soft leather forefoot | Soft leather forefoot with updated overall construction |
| Tongue on Pro | Simpler construction | More premium construction, closer to Elite |
| Pro vs Elite gap | More noticeable | Smaller than before |
| Overall feel | Lightweight traditional leather speed boot | More refined and slightly more modern fit |
The Biggest Change: The Morelia Neo V Fits Longer
The most obvious change for us was the length.
We bought the Morelia Neo V in the same marked size as the Morelia Neo IV our son had been wearing.
When putting the two boots next to each other and comparing the fit on foot, the Neo V is clearly longer.
The difference is not massive, but it is enough to notice immediately.
For our son, the difference feels roughly equivalent to half a size.
This does not necessarily mean everybody should automatically go half a size down.
But if you wore the Neo IV with a very close performance fit, or if you were already between sizes, it is definitely worth trying the Neo V in both your usual size and half a size smaller.
Does the Morelia Neo V Run Big?
Based on our direct comparison, we would say that the Neo V runs slightly longer than the Neo IV.
That is different from simply saying the boot is wider or bigger everywhere.
The change feels primarily related to the length and overall shape of the new last.
If you like a close football-boot fit with very little space in front of the toes, the Neo V may feel roomier than expected if you simply order the same size you wore in the Neo IV.
The New Engineered Fit Last NEO
Mizuno has changed the last used for the Morelia Neo V.
A last is the three-dimensional shape around which a football boot is constructed. It influences the length, width, forefoot shape, heel fit and overall volume of the boot.
That means even if two generations look almost identical from the outside, a new last can make them feel very different on foot.
The Neo V uses Mizuno’s Engineered Fit Last NEO, and that change appears to be responsible for much of the difference we noticed in sizing and overall fit.
Should You Size Down in the Morelia Neo V?
If you are moving directly from the Neo IV to the Neo V, it is worth considering.
Our son’s usual size in the Neo IV produced a close fit, while the same size in the Neo V gave noticeably more room in front of the toes.
For that reason, players who prefer a very tight performance fit may prefer half a size smaller in the Neo V.
However, sizing should still depend on your own foot shape.
- If your toes already sit close to the end of the Neo IV, staying true to size may still be correct.
- If you had extra room in the Neo IV, you may prefer half a size down in the Neo V.
- If you have wider feet, do not size down purely to remove length if it creates pressure across the forefoot.
The safest approach is to judge both length and lockdown, not just the amount of space in front of the toes.
The Morelia Neo V Pro Gets a Better Tongue
One of the most interesting changes is found on the Morelia Neo V Pro.
On the previous Neo IV Pro, the tongue was one of the areas where the cheaper Pro version felt more obviously different from the Elite.
The construction was simpler, and the overall feel around the top of the foot was less refined.
With the Neo V Pro, Mizuno has changed that.
The new tongue is much more premium in feel and much closer to the higher-tier version than before.
This is not just a cosmetic change.
The tongue affects how the boot wraps over the instep, how evenly the laces distribute pressure and how secure the midfoot feels.
Why the Morelia Neo V Pro Is More Interesting Than Before
The previous Neo IV Pro was already a good football boot, but the step up to Elite was easier to feel.
With the Neo V, Mizuno has reduced some of that gap.
The Pro now benefits from:
- The new Engineered Fit Last NEO
- A more refined tongue construction
- A more premium feel over the instep
- A lightweight leather-based upper
- Much of the same overall fit philosophy as the higher-tier models
That makes the Neo V Pro particularly interesting because you are getting a much more premium-feeling boot without paying Elite or Made in Japan prices.
Does the Neo V Pro Have Better Leather?
The important point here is not that the Pro suddenly gained leather.
The Neo IV Pro already used genuine leather in the forefoot.
What has changed more noticeably is the overall construction around the foot, especially the last and tongue.
So the Neo V Pro feels more refined, not simply because of a different leather specification, but because several parts of the boot now work together more effectively.
Morelia Neo V Pro vs Elite
| Neo V Pro | Neo V Elite | |
|---|---|---|
| Forefoot material | Natural leather | More premium leather construction |
| Last | Engineered Fit Last NEO | Engineered Fit Last NEO |
| Tongue | Much more refined than previous Pro | Higher-tier premium construction |
| Overall feel | Very good value and much closer to Elite than before | Lighter and more premium overall |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Players wanting Morelia quality without Elite pricing | Players wanting maximum refinement and lower weight |
Is the Morelia Neo V Wider Than the Neo IV?
We would not simply describe the Neo V as wider.
The better description is that the shape has changed.
The new last changes the way the boot fits around the entire foot, and different players may experience that differently depending on forefoot width, instep height and toe shape.
For us, the biggest change was clearly length rather than width.
In the same size, the Neo V simply gave our son more space in front of the toes than the Neo IV.
Does the Morelia Neo V Work for Narrow Feet?
Yes, but narrow-footed players should pay particular attention to sizing.
The Morelia Neo has always offered a close, secure fit without feeling as aggressively tapered as some synthetic speed boots.
If you have narrow feet and already found the Neo IV slightly roomy, the extra length of the Neo V may make half a size down worth considering.
Good lockdown around the midfoot and heel becomes especially important for narrow-footed players.
Does the Morelia Neo V Work for Wide Feet?
The soft leather forefoot remains one of the reasons the Morelia Neo works for a relatively broad range of foot shapes.
Leather can adapt slightly to the shape of the forefoot and usually provides more forgiveness than a very rigid synthetic upper.
But players with genuinely wide feet should still choose the correct size rather than simply sizing up for extra width.
Extra length can create unwanted movement inside the boot.
Morelia Neo IV vs V: Which One Should You Buy?
If you already own the Neo IV and it fits perfectly, there is no urgent reason to replace it simply because the Neo V has arrived.
The Neo IV remains an excellent lightweight leather football boot.
But the Neo V is more than a visual refresh.
The new last changes the fit, the boot feels slightly longer, and the Pro version now feels noticeably more refined around the instep.
For buyers choosing between the two generations today, the Neo V is the more modern option.
And the Neo V Pro may actually be the most interesting model in the range, because the gap to the Elite feels smaller than before.
Our Experience With the Morelia Neo V
We bought the new Morelia Neo V for our son after he had already been using the previous Neo IV.
That allowed us to compare the two generations directly rather than relying only on product descriptions.
The first thing we noticed was the length.
In the same marked size, the Neo V is clearly longer.
For our son’s feet, we would estimate the difference at around half a size.
That is the main thing we would tell existing Neo IV owners to check before ordering the Neo V online.
The second notable difference is the Pro construction.
The improved tongue gives the Neo V Pro a much more premium feel over the instep and makes it feel closer to the Elite than the previous generation did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Mizuno Morelia Neo V run bigger than the Neo IV?
In our direct comparison, yes. The Neo V in the same marked size fits noticeably longer than the Neo IV. For our tester, the difference feels approximately equivalent to half a size.
Should I go half a size down in the Morelia Neo V?
If you wore the Neo IV with a close performance fit, it is worth trying half a size down in the Neo V. However, foot shape and width still matter, so do not size down if it creates pressure across the forefoot.
What changed on the Morelia Neo V Pro?
The Neo V Pro uses the new Engineered Fit Last NEO and gets a more refined tongue construction. The tongue is one of the biggest improvements because it makes the Pro feel much closer to the Elite around the instep.
Is the Morelia Neo V Pro better than the Neo IV Pro?
In our view, yes. The fit feels more refined, the tongue has improved and the overall gap to the Elite is smaller than before.
Does the Morelia Neo V Pro use real leather?
Yes. The Pro still uses natural leather in the forefoot. The previous Neo IV Pro also used real leather, so the important improvement is the overall construction rather than simply the presence of leather.
Is the Morelia Neo V Pro worth buying?
It is one of the most interesting models in the new range because it delivers much of the Morelia Neo feel and fit philosophy at a lower price than the Elite or Made in Japan versions.
Is the Morelia Neo V good for narrow feet?
Yes, but narrow-footed players should pay particular attention to the extra length. If the Neo IV already had some room, half a size down may improve lockdown.
Is the Morelia Neo V good for wide feet?
The leather forefoot gives the boot some adaptability, but genuinely wide-footed players should still judge the overall shape carefully rather than simply sizing up.
Does the Morelia Neo V stretch?
The leather forefoot can soften and adapt somewhat in width and volume with use. The boot will not meaningfully become longer.
Is the Morelia Neo V just a cosmetic update?
No. The new last changes the fit, the sizing feels different in our comparison, and the Pro version has received meaningful construction improvements such as the upgraded tongue.
Bottom Line
The Mizuno Morelia Neo V is more than a small visual update to the Neo IV.
The new last changes how the boot fits, and in our own same-size comparison the Neo V runs approximately half a size longer.
At the same time, the Neo V Pro has become more attractive because Mizuno has improved one of the areas where the cheaper version previously felt less premium: the tongue.
If you already wear the Neo IV, pay particular attention to sizing before ordering the Neo V.
And if you are deciding between the Neo V Pro and Elite, the Pro now gives away less than before — which makes it a very strong value option in the Morelia Neo range.
