Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V Review
By Matthew Klein
Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore VPrice: $190 at Diadora
Weight (Measured): 11.3 oz, 320 g (men's size 10)
Stack Height: 39 mm heel / 28 mm forefoot
Drop: 11 mm
Shoe Purpose: Stability Daily Training Shoe
Pros: Responsive top layer, good medial heel/midfoot stability, good durability
Cons: Tapered toe box, clunky rearfoot, heavy for a "faster" stability shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V is a traditional stability shoe paired a newer top layer of supercritical Anima N2 (EVA) for a snappier twist. The bottom layer of Light EVA creates a medial post, combined with Blushield inside the shoe and a top layer of Anima N2 for a supportive heel/midfoot while maintaining some snappiness. An engineered mesh upper creates a highly secure, comfortable, traditional fit (slightly tapered toe box). The Duratech outsole provides a high level of durability, while the heel drop provides one of the highest heel drops left on the market. While not a light shoe, this design creates a little more pop underfoot compared to other stability shoes. While not a super stability shoe, it attempts to blend traditional with new tech, combining a medial post, high drop, higher stack height, with a traditional fit.
SIMILAR SHOES: Mizuno Inspire 22, Nike Structure Plus
PAST MODEL: Diadora Mythos Bluehsield Vigore 4
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V fits me mostly true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The shoe initially feels slightly short due to the tapered toe box, but this breaks in a little with some wear (and I got used to it). However, those with sensitivity to their toes being pushed inwards will not do well here. This opens into a normal-width forefoot. The upper is normal to slightly lower volume and in classic Diadora style, it does break into to your feet with use. This continues into a normal-width midfoot that required me to tighten the laces slightly to get a secure fit. The tongue sits between thin and moderately thick and is gusseted at the front half. I have not had any tongue sliding and it appears secure. The laces are thinner but did note create any excessive pressure on the top of my feet. The heel is normal to slightly wider. This width is offset by a little extra padding around the heel collar, but I did have to tighten the laces a bit more because of the slightly wider heel. There is a stiff heel counter that is noticeable in the back. There is some padding between the calcaneus (heel bone) but those with sensitive heels may not do well. Once the laces are tightened down, the security is fine. I have not had any problems with heel slippage or sliding even while turning. The inner liner is really comfortable except for a weirdly place tag on the medial side of midfoot that has caused blisters when I attempted sockless running. I'm not sure what the point of this, but if you can cut it out, sockless running might be fine. I preferred to use socks.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly Flexible
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: No
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: Yes, but Not Recommended
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: High
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V is a stability daily training shoe. It features a top responsive layer of Anima N2, a bottom layer of Light EVA and an outsole of Soft Rubber. The weight is traditional for a stability, sitting at 11.3 oz for my men's size 10, likely around mid-to-high 10 oz range for a men's size 9. The weight is noticeable and keeps it in the trainer category, although the top layer of Anima N2 helps offset this a little. It is not a lightweight shoe but the midsole has a little bounce to it. The midsole feels like it has a softer top layer but then you will hit a firmer layer underfoot with a harder footstrike. This creates a balanced ride that was a little firmer than I expected for some of the marketing of the top layer.
The heel drop is listed at 11mm, which is what this shoe feels like. There are not many shoes left on the market with over a 10mm drop, so those wanting this will find a unique option. The higher drop combined with the posterior heel flare and smaller/sharp bevel do make for a clunky heel transition. Those who land farther forward will not notice this but heel strikers will find a clunky rear. Fortunately, this transitions into a smoother forefoot. The plastic bottom of the Blushield piece adds noticeable stiffness to the midfoot but once you get into the forefoot, it improves.
The forefoot is mildly flexible, snappier and smooth. There is enough flexibility that those with toe mobility problems will not have enough stiffness. Those wanting a little flexibility will find this great and this is my favorite part of the shoe. The greater relative amount of Anima N2 compared to Light Eva makes this the smoothest, best cushioned and most responsive part of the shoe. The higher drop makes it difficult for me to get up on my forefoot in this shoe and this will likely be better for midfoot/more anterior heel strikers. However, the forefoot is what allows this shoe to handle uptempo efforts. I did a treadmill progression going from 7:30 min/mile down to 6:40 min/mile in this shoe over 7 miles early one cold morning before class and found this shoe to be solid during uptempo efforts. I have also done other workouts but found anything faster than uptempo or light fartleks feels clunky due to the weight and heel. The firmer EVA makes it a little less comfortable over longer miles, but for daily training and uptempo efforts, the Vigore V does well.
The thicker amount of Soft Rubber and Duratech 5000 make this a highly durable shoe. I have almost 40 miles on my pair and I have barely dented the outsole at all. The midsole has held its slightly responsive, softer top layer and firmer bottom layer without any change. Even with the outsole design I would expect me to rip off, the outsole and midsole have held up well. The traction is great on dry/wet ground and treadmills. I have not had any slipping issues even when corning on wet terrain. This shoe can handle light trail but should not be used on technical or rocky terrain as I did get a rock stuck in the exposed window in the outsole.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V is a moderate stability shoe. While it features newer methods like sidewalls, its most prominent feature is the medial post created by a medial elevation of the Light EVA in the heel/midfoot compared to the Anima N2. The sidewalls sit in the heel and midfoot on both the medial and lateral sides. The forefoot does not have sidewalls, is more neutral, but not in a negative way. The heel/midfoot sidewalls help create a more centered ride, but there is still more lateral bias due to the medial post and the outsole material on the medial but not lateral side. The medial post is noticeable but is well -integrated into the shoe. I notice it on the run but it is comfortable and supports my medial arch. It definitely creates a moderate level of medial stability in the heel and midfoot, remaining consistent through all my miles of testing.
Thoughts as a DPT: Different Experiences with Dual Midsole Designs
By Matthew Klein
Footwear companies use varying language around midsole foams. Often, claims are made about responsiveness, lightness, softness, and other sensations talking about these newer foams in isolated ways. This negates understanding the rest of the design of the shoe, especially when other types of midsole foams are present in the same shoe. The challenge with focusing on one foam when multiple are present is that you don't fully know how each person will respond to dual layers. Someone who lands harder (like me), will compress through a compliant, softer foam and hit the bottom firmer foam hard, potentially negating much of the "softness" feeling and instead creating an abrupt, firmer feeling. Someone who lands softer may mostly notice the softer foam, creating the feeling of a softer, more bouncy feeling. In the case of the Vigore V, the dual midsole design has a specific purpose in creating the medial post of Light EVA compared to the softer Anima N2. It does this effectively, compared to my experience with the underfoot feel being mostly dominated by the firmer Light EVA. That is unique to me as I land harder and that is something companies should keep in mind. Loading rates and amounts will contribute to different perceptions of rides, so marketing language should take that into account.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I have appreciated the miles in the Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V and Diadora's attempt with this shoe. There is no emphasis on uptempo or even speed within the stability category, as evident by the complete elimination of lighter and faster stability shoes. That said, the Vigore V suffers the exact same problem as the Nike Structure Plus. Despite both having some newer foam blends and using contrasting foams to create solid stability, they are both heavy and have clunky rearfoot transitions secondary to posterior flare or sharp, too abrupt heel bevels. This makes picking up the pace difficult in both, although it is still possible.
Therefore, my major suggestions (outside of not tapering the toe box so much but that seems to be standard to Diadora except in their wonderful track spike) are to increase the amount of Anima N2 in the midsole significantly and reduce the posterior flare. For $190, I expect far more of a newer foam blend than traditional EVA. Reducing the amount of Light EVA, except for the medial post, will allow for runners to experience the responsive ride Diadora advertises. Additionally, it will help drop the weight to make this an actual lighter shoe, which it currently is not. This will also help with the heel transition, as the firmer EVA prevents the heel foam from compressing, making the posterior flare even more pronounced. Reducing the posterior flare will help solve this. Ironically, stability shoes with posterior flares often feel less stable because the flare causes an early initial contact and accelerates pronation, working against other stability mechanisms in the shoe. So this will both smooth out the landing and allow the stability mechanisms to be more prominent.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Diadora Mythos Blushield Vigore V is a high drop, stability daily training shoe for those who want medial support and a little uptempo capacity. The Anima N2/Light EVA midsole combo creates great medial stability from the Light EVA medial post but a mixed midsole feel underfoot. Those who land hard will find the midsole firm with a clunky heel transition, while those who land farther forward or lighter will find a more responsive and slightly softer feel. The fit will work best for those who don't mind a tapered toe box and want a little more heel room. The stability will work best for those with mild to moderate medial stability needs in the heel and midfoot. While the Vigore V states it is the lighter faster stability shoe, it has uptempo capacity while still being a higher weight. 11.3 oz isn't light, but the Anima N2 foam at least gives a little reach into uptempo efforts.
What this shoe does best is provide a more traditional ride/stability design with a higher drop and a medial post while integrating a little better midsole foam up top. This combination is a great step for Diadora, but the price tag sets it up for something far better. At $190, I would expect the majority of the midsole to be Anima N2. Luckily, the durability seems to be good enough that some may find that price justified, but there are both lighter and cheaper options doing similar things to this shoe that are either on the market or on the way in 2026. I am excited to see Diadora pick up the pace as they continue to develop but as they transition out of the "newer to the US again" phase, that pace needs to pick up more to match their marketing.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Comfortable upper outside of tapered toe box and slightly wider heel. Able to lock down upper easily)
Performance: B+ (Responsive top layer, firmer bottom layer with clunky heel but smooth forefoot transition. Best for daily training and some uptempo efforts, but shoe is higher on the weight side)
Stability: A- [Moderate Stability] (Higher level of medial stability for the market right now)
Value: C+ ($190 for this shoe is far above other shoes in this category. Durability is really good, but the ride quality and stability do not set this shoe apart enough to justify being worth $20-40 above the competition)
Personal: B- (I appreciate this shoe but the clunky heel, higher weight, tapered toe box, and firmer than expected ride at this cost make it challenging to continue running in this shoe when I could choose a faster and cheaper stable neutral option )
Overall Design: B
SHOP | SUPPORT DORDiadora Mythos Blushield Vigore VPrice: $190 at Diadora
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FURTHER READING
Nike's stability trainer.
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