Diadora Blushield Mythos Volo 5 Introduction
Diadora’s Blushield Mythos Volo 5, aside from being a mouthful, is a daily light stability trainer from the resurgent Italian brand. A lightweight upper is combined with their ANIMA foam and the Blushield which adds some gentle stability. It is a far cry away from their fast and furious Gara and ultra soft and flexible Frequenza.
Is this another review which will conclude with, “the stability features work very well which is why I really don’t like it”? Let’s find out
The Mythos Volo 5 has a light, comfortable and easy upper
Andy: A thin, semi translucent skin of air mesh, microfibre nylon makes up the upper. There is a rather fleecy feel to the inside of the well shaped toe box. The material itself doesn’t have a great deal of structure to it. However, a large Diadora logo overlay firms things up on the lateral side. Another pair of overlays cover either side of the heel cup. The lace chain is also reinforced with overlays. Aside from this, it is a fairly simple design of closure with laces which do the job adequately.
On the subject of the heel cup, it is stout but unobtrusive. The collar of padding assists with the lockdown while adding some comfort to the fit. As the foot slides in, it is wrapped by a gusseted tongue. While this tongue doesn’t offer much padding, it does protect the metatarsals from lace bite.
Step in comfort is aided by Diadora’s DDATTIVO midsole. This is one of the most impressive midsoles I have seen as stock on a running shoe. The insole itself is about 4mm thick and the heel receives an extra 3 or 4mm in the form of a red, foam circle. Furthermore, there is added arch support. For both walking and running, these insoles really add value and comfort to Diadora’s shoes.
On the run, the upper is comfortable and has given me no cause for complaint with hotspots or rubbing. Breathability is also no issue. I have used these on the warmer days we have been blessed with recently and my feet have remained fine. As far as fit goes, I received these half a size down and the fit is fine. If your feet are of the wide persuasion or you have a high volume foot, I wouldn’t recommend going down as the fit is snug.
On the whole, the Mythos Volo 5 has a very good upper for a daily shoe. It achieves good lockdown, offers breathability and comfort. It is unfussy and very easy to just lace up and run.
Ivan: The Diadora Blushield Mythos Volo 5 is a shoe I was genuinely eager to try. A good running buddy of mine raved about one of their earlier Blushield models which helped my enthusiasm. I helped him track it down since it wasn’t widely available, and he loved it for both its fit and the mild guidance it provided.
When it comes to the upper and fit, I completely understand what my buddy meant by “great fit.” Diadora seems to consistently nail this aspect in all their running shoes, as I’ve experienced myself with previous models. Maybe it’s my half-Italian heritage that aligns with the foot shape Diadora caters to, but whatever the reason, the fit is spot on.
The upper is simple but works incredibly well – thin and light, yet never sloppy. The fit feels secure, though it’s definitely not a wide shoe if that’s a priority for you. The heel counter is firm with medium padding, and despite the tongue being super thin, the midfoot wrap still provides excellent security.
That said, I did run into a minor issue with the thin tongue, as it didn’t provide enough protection against the laces, which dug into my instep. I had to loosen the laces slightly to remedy this. As for sizing, the shoe runs true to size, although it feels just a touch long for my preference. Overall, though, it’s a well-balanced upper and fit – light, breathable, and structured just enough to feel supportive without overcomplicating things.
A gentle guiding touch to keep you rolling
Andy: Diadora’s ANIMA foam provides the midsole. It is an EVA foam which Diadora claim offers 30% greater responsiveness than other EVA compounds. Whilst I can’t prove this with science, I can attest that it is an enjoyable foam. It offers good shock absorption along with a pleasant feeling of energy return. It has a similar feel to the foam in the HOKA Clifton.
Soft enough for recovery runs but with enough density to push when you want to pick up the pace a little. A generous 36mm of foam in the heel and a 10mm drop help the foot roll through the gait cycle. Then we come to the Blushield. Usually, this is where I would talk about the shoe forcing the foot to land and roll in a specific way which then causes me some aches, pains or suchlike.
However, in this case, the stability is of a very mild nature. This is due to the design of the Blushield insert. It is built with a range of rubber cones which vary in height from heel to toe. Those at the back offer more height and therefore cushion while those at the front are shorter and offer more control. It is a system designed to adapt to each footstrike and it seems to work for me.
Instead of a proscriptive hand eliminating pronation, we find a gentle guide. More of a suggestion than a rule. Whether this makes it a good stability shoe or not, I am probably not best to assess. However, as someone who runs in neutral shoes, it is not an unpleasant feeling. On days when the legs are tired and the gait is sloppy, the Blushield gives a gentle nudge rather than a firm grip. Perhaps some folk who need the stability element can chime in and let us know in the comments how it works for them.
Ivan: I’m one of those runners who typically needs a bit of stability or guidance due to my mild overpronation. However, I’ve grown accustomed to neutral shoes that don’t interfere with my natural biomechanics. More often than not, I find stability shoes actually cause more problems for me, so I try to avoid them when possible. That said, there are days when some light support is beneficial for me – especially on those super fatigued leg days when I appreciate a bit of extra help in both my everyday walking shoes and during easy runs.
One shoe I recently appreciated for its mild guidance was the Mount to Coast S1, which reminds me of the Diadora Blushield Mythos Volo 5. Both shoes appear simple on the surface, but they have hidden gems in their construction. As Andy mentioned, the Blushield element (or torsion system) is exactly what I need to slightly correct and guide my lower extremities when I’m feeling sluggish from fatigue.
The EVA-based midsole isn’t groundbreaking or exciting, but it provides decent cushioning and protection thanks to a relatively high-density stack of foam and the ultra-soft insole. While the ultra thick and soft DDATTIVO insole can sometimes feel a bit too much in other Diadora models, it strikes the right balance here, complementing the foam’s density just right for my preference. The rocker is subtle, but honestly, for easy jogging, I don’t mind a flatter platform, especially since I tend to land a bit more sluggishly in the front on those types of runs.
The Mythos Volo 5 has a secure and durable outsole
Andy: The outsole sees two compounds combine. For those who heel strike, they will be greeting the ground with DURATECH 5000 rubber. This is Diadora’s stock rubber which is found on most of their running shoes. It has proven durability and offers good grip in a range of conditions.
For the more forefoot minded amongst us, we will be pounding the pavement with FLEXOFT blown rubber. This is a much softer compound which helps soften the landing along with gripping the ground. I have found no issues with either grip or durability so far. As a bonus, it also makes my landings very stealthy and quiet.
Wherever you land, there is a good 2 – 3mm of rubber depth available and it should last a long time. Good job, Diadora.
Ivan: Diadora has been very generous with the amount of rubber on the Blushield Mythos Volo 5, and I don’t see it wearing out anytime soon. As Andy mentioned, the grip is excellent, and it’s pleasantly quiet during runs. I really wish more manufacturers could manage to make their outsoles less noisy. How hard – or rather, soft – can it be?
A good daily trainer which gives the right amount of assistance
Andy: Is the Mythos Volo 5 a good shoe? For me, yes. It is a simple feeling daily trainer which can take me through the less glamorous miles well. It offers some versatility of pace and delivers comfort on the move. On the other hand, is the Mythos Volo 5 a good stability shoe? If I enjoy the ride, it probably doesn’t offer the most potent stability features on the market. Keep this in mind if stability is your biggest concern.
Overall, Diadora have created a good daily trainer. This will work for the majority of runners who are looking for something to log their daily distance in comfort. The mild stability will help keep things tight. Furthermore, the foam will save the legs for those days when pace is the priority. Meanwhile, the price puts it at a fairly midmarket point with shoes like the Clifton 10 and the Nike Vomero 18 as competitors.
Ivan: Sometimes, less is more. The Diadora Blushield Mythos Volo 5 is one of the few mild stability shoes on the market that successfully combines simplicity with adequate comfort and protection for mild overpronators. With a light yet well-structured upper and a damping midsole that offers a touch of guidance, it’s a solid choice, even if it’s not the most exciting option out there.
Personally, I prefer this type of shoe for easy days or when I’m feeling fatigued and need a bit of support. For others, though, it could serve as a fine all-rounder that handles a variety of runs with ease.
