Diadora Atomo Star review

The Diadora Atomo Star could be the next shoe for:

• Runners looking to break away from mainstream brands while still enjoying premium-quality materials and a head-turning design.
• Those who want a maximalist daily trainer with outstanding shock absorption and aren’t concerned about energy return.
• Anyone seeking a retro-inspired running shoe that’s equally at home on a demanding long run and stylish enough to pair with jeans.

We believe the Atomo Star’s most limiting factor is its narrow, snug-fitting upper, which we found in the lab to be among the tightest we’ve measured. Runners who enjoy a roomy fit will likely find it restrictive. Options like the Adidas Ultraboost 5 or the Topo Atmos deliver a more spacious, comfort-driven feel.

From our perspective, the premium price could be too steep for many. While the “Made in Italy” label adds prestige and quality, we think many runners will see better value in the ASICS Novablast 5, which offers similar max-stack comfort at a much lower price.

Lastly, we found the Atomo Star’s energy return underwhelming for its category, lacking the propulsive feel of premium foams. If responsiveness matters to you, the Adidas Adizero EVO SL delivers top energy return at a very good price.

A quick look at the Atomo Star makes it obvious that it’s an extremely cushioned shoe, but we went further and ran it through our ASTM F1976 testing to see exactly how it stacks up against the rest of the market.

This Italian-made beauty turned out to be a true mattress for your feet, delivering outstanding results with 149 SA in the heel and 125 SA in the forefoot. Both numbers rank among the top we’ve measured, ensuring excellent impact protection and consistent shock absorption from heel to toe.

The Atomo Star sits on the higher end of the price range, but its energy return doesn’t match that level. We measured just 53.9% in the heel and 57.4% in the forefoot, which feels underwhelming.

This isn’t surprising at all. As we explained in our guide about energy return, lab testing has shown that supercritical EVA foams like ANIMA N2 can be cloud-soft and lightweight, but they’ll never deliver the same bounce as PEBA or A-TPU foams like ZoomX or Nitro Elite.

It’s no secret that the Atomo Star is a maximalist running shoe, that’s clear at first glance. Diadora really aimed to create a competitive trainer in this modern high-stack category that emerged just a few years ago.

We measured 39.9 mm of stack height in the heel, comfortably above the average running shoe and just 0.1 mm shy of the World Athletics race-day limit. Nonetheless, this detail doesn’t really matter here, as it’s not built for racing. Instead, it’s a training-focused shoe that can handle the occasional workout when needed, but nothing beyond that.

The heel packs a serious amount of foam, measuring 32.1 mm in our digital calipers. This makes it ideal for forefoot and midfoot strikers seeking an ultra-cushioned shoe that provides lasting protection for runs beyond two hours... provided they’re not chasing top-tier energy return.

In our lab, we place high importance on accurate heel-to-toe drop measurements, as discrepancies from brands can confuse runners.

The Diadora Atomo Star is advertised with a 6 mm drop, but our precise measurements showed a slight difference, coming in at 7.8 mm. This minor 1.8 mm variation is nothing concerning and likely unnoticeable for most runners.

Those chasing a plush-and-cushioned ride will find it in the Atomo Star, as the EVA-based Anima N2 foam compresses easily at any pace, delivering a smooth feel whether jogging slowly or moving at a quicker rhythm.

We tested its softness with the Shore A durometer, recording 14.0 HA, which matches our on-foot impressions and confirms that it feels softer than the average daily trainer. This softness, combined with its excellent shock absorption, makes it a great choice for recovery runs the day after a tough workout.

The heel of the Atomo Star features a pronounced rocker that starts its curve early, helping smooth transitions for heel strikers and overcome the massive stack height. This geometry, paired with its substantial heel stack, encourages a rolling motion that reduces landing impact and promotes forward momentum.

In the forefoot, the rocker extends early, allowing for a fluid toe-off rather than a sharp push. The gradual upward curve works well for midfoot and even forefoot runners, supporting a natural gait.

The biggest deal-breaker of the Atomo Star is its fit, built on a classic European last that hardly resembles the natural shape of a human foot and is far from roomy.

Our initial measurement came in at just 89.4 mm, one of the lowest we’ve recorded in a long time. This makes the shoe a better match for runners with narrow feet (and possibly a dream for those who struggle to find snug-fitting options) but a definite no-go for everyone else.

The snug fit of the Atomo Star extends into the toebox, where we measured only 70.8 mm. Once again, this clearly isn’t a shoe for wide-footed runners.

When talking about running shoe fit, most people focus on width, but height matters just as much. That’s why we created the gel method to measure fit in three dimensions for a more complete picture.

In the Atomo Star, we measured an extremely low 22.5 mm, which will only suit runners who don’t mind some pressure on their toes. Adding to this, the retro-inspired design includes hard overlays across the toebox, further restricting vertical movement.

The outsole features Duratech 5000 rubber, a name that also packs a distinctly retro vibe. Performance-wise, it delivers impressively, scoring 0.50 in our wet concrete test.

This makes the Atomo Star a reliable choice for tackling all weather conditions year-round.

The Atomo Star’s outsole showcases expansive areas of exposed white foam, with sculpted channels dividing the Duratech 5000 rubber into segmented pods that improve flexibility. 

At the heel, we saw that black rubber forms two asymmetrical panels with curved edges and fine grooves, shaped like an angled horseshoe and extending slightly up the sides for a bit more of coverage. However, it’s evident that Diadora prioritised weight savings over rubber coverage with this shoe.

As a maximalist daily trainer, the Atomo Star was never designed for high flexibility given its massive slab of foam. Our lab test confirmed this, recording a 13.8N score—slightly below average yet still on the stiffer side for a plateless running shoe.

The Atomo Star isn’t a lightweight running shoe, but considering its substantial build, hitting 9.5 oz (268g) is impressive. Diadora achieved this by pairing an airy, nitrogen-infused foam with minimal rubber coverage on the outsole.

Breathability was one area that really concerned us when we unboxed the shoe and took a sneak peek at it, due to its lack of ventilation holes and thick upper. So we were eager to advance in our lab review to test it out.

When we plugged the smoke machine into the shoe and hit the button, we were relieved to find a 3/5 score. Sure, it’s not ideal and will run a bit hot on the warmest days, but it avoided a disaster.

Moving the upper over a powerful light revealed no clear spots for air to escape, much like most retro-styled running shoes. The upper design simply follows the shoe’s vintage aesthetic.

With the digital microscope, we got a closer look at the engineered mesh.

It seems Diadora focused on comfort and a plush, luxurious feel—and we can’t argue with that. They simply had different priorities than ventilation, and that’s fine.

The upper itself is extremely comfortable, among the best we’ve handled in the lab. It offers an exceptional step-in feel with abundant foam in the tongue and heel, and the mesh features a soft, smooth lining inside. Not ideal for airflow, but if that’s not a concern for you, it’s definitely premium.

The Atomo Star offers a stable ride thanks to its wide heel area and the lateral and medial reinforcements, yet it’s not ideal for runners needing real stability. In our opinion, its soft foam and max-stack design suit only neutral runners.

With nearly 40 mm of stack height, expecting this shoe to bend easily would be unrealistic.

Still, the minimal rubber coverage and strategic cutouts give it some flex, earning a 4/5 score. We think that this result is better than a rigid 5/5 for a comfort-focused running shoe like the Atomo Star.

The heel counter stiffness scored 4/5, which came as no surprise. We could barely flex it, making it a solid option for runners who need a bit of extra stability in the heel area.

The forefoot measures just 114.1 mm, which initially caught us off guard. However, there’s a clear reason: its narrow toebox design means it doesn’t require the extra width that roomier shoes use to provide stability in this area.

On the other hand, the heel is huge at 100.2 mm, matching what we see in many supertrainers.

For rearfoot strikers, it offers stability but also feels a bit clunky. Still, it’s a better trade-off than having a highly unstable ride.

Without ventilation holes, we expected the Atomo Star to perform well in upper durability, especially given its high price. Fortunately, our test confirmed this, landing at a 3/5 score, which is solid enough to pass our standards.

On the flip side, the heel padding revealed its comfort-first focus with a 1/5 score. This suggests that Diadora may have prioritised plushness a bit too much, as we would have preferred greater toughness in this area.

The Duratech 5000 outsole proved not only grippy but also exceptionally durable. After testing it with the Dremel, we found just 0.4 mm of wear: a minimal result that’s truly impressive.

The rubber measures 3.5 mm thick, likely because Diadora wanted to offset the limited coverage—especially at the Atomo Star’s premium price. Still, we believe trimming a millimeter could make it feel softer while maintaining solid durability.

The DDATTIVO insole is crafted from high-density foam, fully ventilated for superior moisture absorption, and boasts an impressive 7.5 mm thickness in the heel area.

The Anima N2 is an EVA-based foam, which comes with certain drawbacks. One of them is poor cold resistance—after spending 20 minutes in our freezer, it became 32% firmer.

The ultra-plush insole is removable, which is a definite plus. This lets you swap in a thinner one, creating extra space in the toebox, a real advantage in a shoe that doesn’t offer much room inside.

Diadora made its large logo reflective, and we applaud this design choice. As we found with shoes like the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14, we think this is the best way to add this detail with style and convenience. And on top of that, they added a two more reflective elements, which is quite impressive!

The tongue packs an impressive 11.0 mm of padding, reinforcing the Atomo Star’s mission to be a super-comfortable running shoe. And while some might feel slightly cramped with so much foam on the instep, let us tell you that the ultra-soft foam never felt oppressive during our runs.

As for the lacing system, it’s pretty standard, with tried-and-true punched eyelets. And yes, the laces proudly sport yet another “Made in Italy” tag, in case you somehow missed it.

The tongue is partially attached to the sides with a thin fabric, an ideal design choice for a premium daily trainer like the Atomo Star. We have zero complaints about this implementation.

This shoe isn’t exactly budget-friendly, especially outside Europe, for one key reason: Diadora manufactures the Atomo Star in Italy and proudly highlights it on the box. 

This brings two considerations: first, exporting beyond Europe makes it pricier, which is the opposite of what Europeans are used to with most brands. Second, crafting shoes in Italy costs significantly more than producing them in Vietnam, China, or Bangladesh. Still, for many runners, this level of local craftsmanship could be a highly positive factor that adds real value.

The heel doesn’t feature a pull tab but exudes comfort and a touch of luxury. And, again, the Italian flag is proudly displayed!