Tag: gear

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review
Gear Review, Running

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review

Hollie

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review

Diadora is a newer brand in the running world. Diadora is an Italian brand, with its headquarters in Philadelphia.

Diadora is best known for both lifestyle, tennis, and soccer shoes, but the quality of any Diadora running shoe is every bit as good as other brands.  I’ve reviewed a couple of Diadora shoes, including the Diadora Mythos Elite TRX and Diadora Fly Shoe Review.

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Quick Facts:

Weight: 9 oz

Heel to Toe Drop: 10 mm

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Fit:

The Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 has a two-tone engineered air mesh upper.  It’s made of nylon and also has transparent transfer.  One thing I appreciate is how the upper of the Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 is made with iridescent details to make it more visible at night. Many of Diadora models now have that feature.

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review

As a brand, Diadora has a slightly wider last than many other brands. I typically wear between a 10-11 wide. I find the Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 size 10.5 to be great.

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Ride:

Diadora is like a giant, soft, marshmallow under your foot. I appreciate all of the cushion and how my foot just sinks in.  Not just with the Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5, but all of the shoes are soft.

Diadora uses “BlueShield technology” in their shoes. Each brand uses a different type of technology they deem the best. For example, Asics uses gel, adidas uses boost, etc.

What is Blushield Technology?

Blushield is soft and durable. Diadora Blushield combines reactivity and cushioning.

The morpho base is carved following the shape of the foot.  This allows the foot to maintain its natural anatomy when rolling through the gait cycle.

Together with the Blushield cushioning and Morpho base, Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 minimizes imbalances in the foot. This is helpful if your feet are doing slightly different things and don’t want to overcorrect one problem. For instance, if one foot pronates.

The sole of the Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 uses “Duratec 5000”.  Duratec 5000 is a durable compound in the heel area that helps with traction and durability.  I’ve found the Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 to be great for miserable weather days. We haven’t had too many icy days this winter, but I appreciate the traction when we do.

I’ve done a few different runs in the Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5 and have found it to be best for easy and recovery days. My favorite days to use it are either recovery run days, easy runs on the treadmill or treadmill days. Much like the Hoka Bondi 6, I appreciate how my foot sinks into the shoe and my body doesn’t feel as banged up.

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Shoe Review

Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 Conclusion:

I like the Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5 and I find it makes a great recovery shoe, if not one of my favorite of the year. I appreciate how soft and cushioned it is. If you are looking for an easy run shoe, the Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5 is a great option.

Finally, The Diadora Mythos Blushield Hip 5 is exclusively available in run specialty. If you are local, RunningCo. of Haddonfield, Philly Runner, North Wales Running Company, and Runners High carry the Diadora Mythos Mythos Blushield Hip 5.

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, New Balance 1080 v10, Diadora Mythos Blushield Blushield Hip 5, Hoka Bondi 6, Asics Cumulus 21

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2

Long Runs: Brooks Ricochet 2 Shoe Review, New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Altra Escalante 2.0, Hoka Cavu 2

Races: New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%,  Reebok Run fast Pro 

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport.

Questions for you:

Have you tried Diadora before?

What is your current favorite shoe? 

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Do you REALLY Need Insoles or Custom Orthotics for Running?
Gear Review, Running, Running Reads

Do you REALLY Need Insoles or Custom Orthotics for Running?

Hollie

One of the major questions people ask me is:

Do I need custom insoles or custom orthotics for running?

If you are running well and injury-free, the answer is probably not. Continue reading “Do you REALLY Need Insoles or Custom Orthotics for Running?” →

Hoka one one carbon rocket
Gear Review, Running

Hoka One One Carbon Rocket Shoe Review

Hollie

I’ve wanted to try the Hoka One One Carbon Rocket for quite some time, but it seems always to be sold out on Hoka’s website.  I guess that’s because Hoka doesn’t make many true racing flats and it’s popular.  Hoka is known as a maximalist shoe brand, so racing flats go against the grain.

Before this year, if you were looking for a racing flat, the Tracer was the best option. I also argue the lightweight Hoka One One Cavu is another excellent racing option for Hoka (it’s my all-time favorite shoe for fast runs). Now Hoka also has the Carbon X, which I recently reviewed as well.

Weight: 7.3 ounces
Heel-to-toe drop: 1mm

Hoka one one carbon rocket

So where does the Carbon Rocket Fall into place? Why is it always sold out?

The Carbon Rocket is a lighter, more responsive version of the Tracer. For many, (including myself), the Tracer is still too much shoe for a short race like the 5-10k.

Hoka one one carbon rocket

Fit:

The mesh upper of the Hoka Carbon Rocket is lightweight and breathable. It’s a relatively simple design which I appreciate. There are minimal seams so it won’t rub on bunions. Theoretically, you could probably wear them without socks, but I choose to wear socks.

The shoe is unisex, and a size 9 (which is about women’s 10.5) fits well.  I am a size 9 in almost any racing flat I use. It’s true to size, something Hoka shoes have done well with.

Hoka one one carbon rocket

Ride:

To make the Carbon Rocket as light and responsive as possible, it uses Hoka’s “ProFly” technology. ProFly is softer in the heel but much firmer in the forefront. The heel is soft for cushion while the forefront is firm for propulsion. There is also a carbon fiber plate sandwiched between to minimize energy loss.

Another thing I appreciate is the rubberized foam outsole on the bottom of the shoe. Many flats this year have gone away from the rubber, but there is plenty of traction.

I’ve done a few different types of runs in the shoes, including runs at slower paces, as well as faster runs and workouts.

For me, I think it fits best as a long/fast run or on workout days. I am still in the process of figuring out my marathon shoe, and right now, this is a contender. With the carbon fiber plate, I do feel fast. If you are using any model of Hoka and want a fast 5k-10k shoe, this is a good option.

One final thing to add is that it does have a 1mm drop. I don’t know of another shoe that does, plenty of 0mm and 2mm drops.

Hoka one one carbon rocket

Conclusion:

The Hoka Carbon Rocket is the best true racing flat out there for shorter distances. If you are running a marathon or above, I think the Hoka One One Carbon X is better. For below a marathon, I would prefer the Carbon Rocket. I believe either is probably suitable for the marathon, along with the Cavu but I’m still in the process of figuring that out. (You’ll be much more injury-prone in the Cavu). I do appreciate this is a much more cushioned shoe and racing flat.

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka Bondi 6,  Hoka Mach 2,

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike Streak Lt,

Long Runs: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Mizuno R2, Hoka Cavu 2

Races:  Reebok Run fast Pro

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. This week is all about race day nerves! 

Questions for you:

Which shoe do you use for the 5-10k?

What is your favorite racing shoe? 

Altra Escalante Shoe Review
Gear Review, Running

Altra Escalante 1.5 Shoe Review

Hollie

One of the most popular shoes from Altra has become the Altra Escalante. If you are looking to try Altra and don’t know where to start, the Escalante is usually a good first step.

Altra is well known for their zero drop shoes as well as a footshape toe box. Altra wants you to bend and move naturally when you run. I wrote about zero drop in the newsletter a few weeks ago. Zero drop isn’t for everyone but can allow for better foot positioning.

Altra Escalante Shoe Review

Upper:

The Altra Escalante 1.5 has a very breathable upper. Altra is well known for a footshape toe box, and there is plenty of space if you have bunions or a wider forefront. Altra mentions their shoes are “foot shaped,” but they aren’t wide.  I met the founder, Golden, at the Runners World Festival a few years ago, and Altra is adamant about their shoes being “foot shaped” and not wide.

One thing to make note is while any Altra shoe has a wider toe box, many brands come in wide, and other brands create a wider shoe. So yes, the regular width of Altra is relatively wide, it’s not the widest thing out there (and doesn’t come in wide). I wear anywhere from 10-11 wide and found the men’s size 9 to be the best fit for my feet.  Hopefully that makes sense: basically, Altra has a wider toe box than many brands, but it isn’t the widest shoe out there.

The upper is entirely knit and completely seamless, and as such, it feels more like a thick sock than a shoe.  The knitted upper is breathable and there isn’t much structure to the shoe.

Altra Escalante Shoe Review

Ride:

If you like to feel the ground when you run, the Altra Escalante is a great option. It’s light, but responsive. The Altra Escalante is designed as a high performance running shoe. For me, it has a place as a workout or “faster” shoe. I wouldn’t personally do higher mileage or easy runs in it.

If you’ve never run in an Altra shoe, it will take time to adjust to. With a zero drop, you’ll have the same amount of cushion in the front and back. This means the forefront is the same distance from the ground as the heel. There is “zero drop” from the heel and forefoot. Like transitioning into racing flats, your calves might be sore.

Altra Escalante 1.5 Conclusion:

I like the Altra Escalante 1.5 for shorter and speed workouts. It’s too lightweight for me to get away for training. I like how seamless the knit upper is and the amount of extra room my foot has. In all, I will keep using the shoe for workouts and speed work. If you are looking to try a zero drop shoe and don’t know where to start the Altra Escalante 1.5 is a good option.

Altra Escalante Shoe Review

Current Shoe Rotation:

Easy Runs: Brooks Glycerin 17, New Balance 1080, Hoka Mach 2

Speed Work: Reebok Float ride Runfast Pro, Nike Fly

Long Runs: Hoka Cavu 2

Races: Nike Fly, Reebok Floatride

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Questions for you:

Have you ever tried a zero drop shoe?

What is your current favorite shoe?