By Chief Founder Matthew Klein
Diadora has been a company I've been interested in for some time. Always a shoe geek for racing flats and stability shoes, I had been eyeing the Diadora Mythos Bluhshield series and Equipe Corsa for a long time. Being an avid eBay hunter, I happened upon a pair just as I was about to finish destroying a previous pair of stability shoes (which is really the best way to describe what happens to shoes when I run in them). I generally associate anything Italian with being premium and found the quality to line up with that. What was more interesting is that the Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 is a meshing of current and prior ideas in footwear which makes for a unique shoe.
Diadora Mythos Blushield 6Price: $145 at Fleet Feet
Weight: 11.6 oz, 330 g (men's size 9), 8.5 oz, 241 g (women's size 5.5)
Stack Height: Not Provided
Drop: 10 mm
Classification: Moderate/High Stability Daily Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 is a highly cushioned stability shoe for those who want a softer ride and a warmer upper. Full-length Blushield technology provides a soft and cushioned ride throughout the length of the shoe. A CCB medial stabilizer provides a moderate to high level of support in the heel and midfoot. A warm and plush upper sits up top, featuring a more traditional fit going from slightly wide in the heel to tapered in the forefoot. Those looking for a high mileage plush stability shoe may enjoy the Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 for easy, long and recovery runs.
FIT
The Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 fits me long in my normal men's US size 10. However, I would go true to size unless you have narrow feet as the toebox tapers aggressively. This taper makes the shoe fit true to size once you get used to it. The fit is odd as there is a wider heel that transitions to a narrower forefoot. I initially had some heel slippage, but this was easily fixed by lace locking the shoe (Note: I am also testing my first ever pair of lock laces on this shoe and am able to lock the shoe down well).
The upper is thick and warm. This is evident most at the heel collar where the is an extremely thick amount of cushioning that mutes the heel counter. There is a stiff heel counter that I did not notice at all while running. It is slightly flexible, so caution is needed when putting the shoe on as it is easy to accidentally bend it. The thickness of the upper is evident throughout the length of the shoe (although most significantly in the heel) which retains heat quickly. I found my feet getting incredibly warm during hotter Southern California days, which caused some mild hotspots on the bottom of my feet on longer runs. The tongue is gusseted and while thick, does stay secure. The toebox has decent room and length, but a toe guard and thick overlays cause this to taper excessively. The toe guard is noticeable, which is why I would suggest using socks with this shoe. Overall, the Diadora Mythos Blushield has a normal to slightly wider fit with a thicker upper and a taper up front.
PERFORMANCE
The Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 is a daily trainer that runs lighter than its listed weight. The Blushield midsole provides a softer and bouncy ride throughout the length of the shoe. This combined with a lateral heel bevel creates a stable and smooth transition at the rearfoot. There are deeper flex grooves upfront, which provide a surprising amount of flexibility for the stack height and cushioning underfoot. There is a 10m drop that is noticeable. For those that need to unload their calves with a higher drop, this will be a great choice. The outsole is incredibly durable with full length Duratech 5000 rubber. I have almost 60 miles on my pair and there is almost no wear on the outsole. The midsole has continued to break in and soften, but still remains bouncy. The weight makes going fast difficult in this shoe, but the bounciness makes the Diadora Mythos Blushield excellent as a easy, recovery and long run shoe.
STABILITY
The Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 is a moderate stability shoe for those wanting help with extra medial motion. The medial support is noticeable right away and may take some time to break in. This comes from multiple components, including a straighter last, a medial sidewall, internal medial stabilizer, and a CCB torsion system. It is not clear to me if the CCB extends beyond being a small stabilizer in the midfoot, as Diadora states it is a medial stabilizer. The resistance on the medial side is quite noticeable. There is no observable medial post, but the shoe provides a large amount of push back against medial motion. The medial sidewall that runs from the heel into the midfoot is visible and does provide additional medial resistance. Even for someone that needs stability, it took me a few runs to get used to this/break the shoe in. The midsole is softer, but seems to make this stability even more noticeable for the foot/ankle. For those who want a softer and higher-level stability shoe on pair with the Kayano or Adrenaline, the Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 may be worth a look.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Creating a soft stability shoe is a challenge. Softer soles are inherently less stable, given that the extra compression may exacerbate any movement issues or patterns that the individual wearer may have. Previous attempts at creating soft stability shoes often backfired. Posting, which involves having a firmer medial amount of midsole foam compared to the lateral one, is often rendered almost useless when the overall sole is soft as even the contrasting foam is too soft. Newer methods, including sidewalls, may do a slightly better job given that they do not have to firm up the midsole. Diadora takes this further with a straighter last (the midfoot does not narrow that much and is filled in more medially), appropriate flexibility in the forefoot to facilitate forward motion and a well-placed lateral heel bevel. There is some comments about a medial stabilizer (CCB) and the medial stability feels significant. However, Diadora isn't clear on what they are using and it is not evident from looking at the outside. The lesson that this shoe emphasizes that if you want a soft shoe, you are going to have to use several methods of stability to counter the instability that comes with softer foams. One is not enough and if you overdo one, it tends to be overbearing/uncomfortable. Diadora did a great job with this balance in the Mythos Blushield 6, but it also is not immune to this balance. The level of stability is quite high, but it breaks in/reduces as the sole breaks in and softens further. It retains the medial resistance, but the sole softening seems to reduce it to a moderate level. This is normal in any shoe as the character of the ride/fit changes with wear. Overall, if you are looking to create a stability shoe, having multiple methods working together is far better than overdoing it with one (unless your goal is to do that).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Despite the heavier ride, I have really enjoyed the sole of the Diadora Mythos Blushield 6. The upper however needs some major work. It is far too thick which adds weight and makes it too warm. The fit is also a little odd with a slightly wider heel and tapered forefoot. The tapered forefoot works because the shoe fits long, but this comes from overlays that are far thicker than necessary. I would encourage Diadora to refine this upper. If they can slim it down and make it more efficient, this may allow for a significant weight drop. Getting this shoe down to mid to low 10 oz range (around 300g or below) would let the bouncy ride fly a little more.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 is a soft, moderate stability daily training shoe for easy, recovery and longer miles. The full-length Blushield midsole provides a softer and surprisingly bouncing ride that makes the shoe feel lighter than the 11.6 oz listed weight. The thick upper fits a little strange, with a wider heel and tapered forefoot. However, it is extremely plush, so those wanting a thick and warm upper will like it. Best for those who want a higher drop and underfoot protection for mileage, the Diadora Mythos Blushield 6 will have you covered for many miles ahead.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B (Comfortable thicker upper but runs warm and has strong taper in toebox. Needed to lace lock for heel security but midfoot and forefoot secure.)
Performance: B+ (Higher drop, soft and moderately boncy ride. Heavier weight, so best for easy/long/recovery runs, although feels lighter)
Stability: A-/B+ [Moderate Stability] (Several methods of medial stability provide higher of support to those who may need more medial control. Stability noticeable, but does break in with time)
DPT/Footwear Science: B/B+ (Excellent mod/higher stability design without use of post. However, upper fit is subpar and non-anatomical. Design leads to heel sliding and potential for hot spots due to heat. Sole is great, but upper needs work)
Personal: B (I have enjoyed the sole, but the thick/hot upper does not fit me well and led to some mild hotspots. The Mythos Blushield is also far heavier than it needs to be, although this is offset by the bounciness of the midsole)
Overall: B/B+ (Solid medial stability for those who want a higher drop, soft, bouncy ride with a thick/warm upper)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Price: $145 at Fleet Feet
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Find more stability shoes through our Guide to Stability.
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Matthew Klein, PT DPT PhD(c) OCS FAAOMPT
Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
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