Diadora Gara Carbon 2 Review
By Matt Klein and Andrea Myers
Diadora Gara Carbon 2Price: $300 at Diadora
Weight: 8.1oz, 230g (men's size 10/women's size 11.5)
Stack Height: 39 mm heel / 34 mm forefoot
Drop: 5 mm
Shoe Purpose: Road Racing Super Shoe
Pros: Comfortable Cushioning, Secure Upper, Balanced Ride
Cons: Subpar Outsole Durability, Overpriced for Midtier Racer, Not Stable,
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Diadora Gara Carbon is a carbon plated super shoe with a PEBA midsole. It is designed for road racing and could easily be used for distances from 5k to marathon. With an early forefoot rocker and moderate toe spring, the Gara Carbon has a ride that is more rolling than propulsive, which may work better for those who are susceptible to hamstring or hip flexor issues in more propulsive super shoes. Its most unique feature is its wider and higher volume toe box, which may make it an attractive option for runners with a wider or higher volume forefoot.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Endorphin Speed v1
PAST MODEL: Gara Carbon
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 fits me true to size in my
normal men' US size 10. The fit is slightly snug throughout with a
slightly higher volume. The carbon fiber mesh matryx is surprisingly
secure, thin and sits comfortably against the foot. The forefoot is
normal in width to slightly snug. This transitions into a normal width
midfoot with a thin ungusseted tongue. Although there are some
reinforcements in the midfoot, I had to really tighten down the laces
for a secure fit. I could not tie them too tight as the thin tongue
provides no protection for the top of the foot. So I have to really
finesse the laces. Once I figured out the fit, the security was decent
but additional lockdown was needed at the midfoot. For those used to
lace locking their shoes, there is no final lace. This transitions into a
light to moderately padded heel with a flexible counter. The counter
did not bother me at all and only those most sensitive should have
issues. While I was able to lock down the upper, the security is only
really good running forward. There is some mild translation while
turning, but locking things down mostly solves this. The thinner upper
is scratchy on the inside, so wearing socks is a must with this racer.
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
Andrea: The Diadora Gara Carbon fits true to size in a unisex M8/W9.5. This is one of the most comfortable fitting super shoes I have ever tested. The fit feels more like a daily trainer as compared to a racing shoe, specifically because of the additional width and volume in the toe box and the relatively plush heel collar. The toe box fit was enough to make the toe box pleasantly comfortable, but not so much that I experienced any foot translation in the shoe. It was easy to lock the shoe down with the serrated laces, which hold the non-gusseted tongue securely in place via a lace loop. The tongue is thin, flexible, and conformed well to the dorsum of my foot without creating any pressure points. The width of the midfoot and rearfoot are normal to slightly wide and also fit comfortably for me. The upper is Diadora's Matryx mesh material, and it has enough structure from medial and lateral midfoot overlays that it hugs the foot without requiring much tightening of the laces. There is a small, semi-rigid heel counter and a high amount of internal padding that extends around the heel all the way to the midfoot. I found this level of padding comfortable, but it is definitely more reminiscent of a trainer as compared to a racing shoe. If Diadora wanted to shave some weight off this shoe, the heel design is the first place I would start.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: New Balance Beacon v3, Brooks Hyperion Max, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, Altra Via Olympus 2
Shoes that have fit snug: Saucony Kinvara 14 (length and toe box width), Altra FWD Experience (length and width), Hoka Cielo Road (toe box width), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-3 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Minimal
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: No
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is a middle-to-lower tier super
distance racing shoe. The Anima PBX midsole provides a soft, bouncy but
less aggressive ride reminiscent of shoe midsoles like the New Balance
RC Elite 2 / 3. It is not the most responsive or aggressive super foam,
instead functioning better at a variety of paces. Despite the stiff
carbon plate, the Gara Carbon 2 does surprisingly well during
warm-ups/cool-downs and easier runs. It can handle faster workouts but
does best during uptempo and tempo efforts. I struggled to get this shoe
to go under 5k to 10k pace and found it much better for half marathon
to marathon type paces and above. For these reasons, this shoe is a
borderline super trainer / racer and will work well for those who do not
do well with aggressive super racing shoes. The weight is a fairly
normal to slightly above where most super shoes are. The shoe feels
nimble thanks to the slightly snug fit but does not feel the lightest.
There is a 5mm heel drop that feels slightly higher due to the large
posterior flared heel. This does cause a slightly early initial contact
that is a little clunky. This transitions into a well cushioned, soft
heel and midfoot. There is a slightly late forefoot rocker, which brings
the forefoot stiffness back and does make for a snappy ride up
front. It feels far better to land a little farther forward in this
shoe.
Traction-wise, the duratech 5000 is fairly average. Although most
of the outsole has held up decently, I quickly began ripping off the
lateral heel piece after 40 miles. With greater exposure of the midsole,
I have now begun to quickly rip through the Anima PBX. This makes the
durability below average even for a super shoe, which is disappointing
for one of the most expensive super shoes (besides the Adidas Adizero
Evo Pro 1 and the On Cloudboom Strike LS).
Andrea: I have tested the Diadora Gara Carbon 2 in several workouts and a couple of medium long runs. The feature that has stood out the most to me is how comfortably it fits for a super shoe due to its wider and higher volume toe box and padded heel collar. This is not a racing shoe with a pared down upper to save every possible gram, so its use in my mind may be limited to those for who need these fit features, because the performance of the shoe from a midsole and geometry standpoint is a bit underwhelming. The ride of the shoe reminds me of the original version of the Saucony Endorphin Speed or a slightly firmer version of the New Balance SC Elite v3. There is a moderate amount of softness at initial contact, but the stiff platform combined with an early forefoot rocker and moderate toe spring contribute to a fast, but smooth transition. The shoe does not feel highly propulsive, but there is a strong feeling of guidance to push off.
I have tested the shoe at paces ranging from easy to 5k pace, and found the shoe to respond reasonably well to anything I threw at it. I also tested it on a couple of 10-11 mile easy runs, and found myself running about 10" per mile faster than I would in regular trainers. It was comfortable for these longer easy runs, unlike many other super shoes that feel unnatural at easy paces. The shoe feels lighter than its stated weight of 8.1oz for a men's 10, but also doesn't feel as light on foot as I would like a racing shoe to be. The shoe has a decent sized posterior sole flare, which does make the shoe feel like a higher drop than its stated 5mm drop. This didn't bother me significantly, but for my midfoot landing pattern I would prefer minimal posterior flare and a better designed heel bevel. The platform is extremely stiff and the moderate toe spring will make this shoe a poor choice for those with limited 1st MTP mobility.
The outsole features a high amount of rubber coverage in the forefoot and smaller patches of rubber in the rearfoot, with exposed midsole in the midfoot. Despite the areas lacking rubber coverage, I had no traction issues on multiple runs on wet roads. I have 30 miles on my pair and the area of exposed midsole in the midfoot shows a small amount of wear, with no wear on the rubber in the forefoot. I would expect average durability from the outsole, but the likely limiting factor will be how long the PEBA midsole retains its performance properties.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is a neutral shoe. There are
no traditional or new age elements of stability. There are no sidewalls
at all, so those sensitive to those will do great. The midsole is
narrower like the fit of the shoe, especially in the midfoot. The foam
is quite soft, compressing quite a bit without much structure. The
posterior heel flare also accelerates any motion into pronation during
landing for heel strikers. This makes the Diadora Gara Carbon 2 a highly
neutral shoe that I could only use for short to moderate distances
before I began to fatigue. This is not a shoe for those with stability
needs and is best for those who want a completely neutral shoe.
Andrea: The Diadora Gara Carbon is a neutral super shoe that has a few features that contribute to a centered ride. While the rearfoot and midfoot platform is on the narrow side, the forefoot platform is wider and features a small amount of sole flare that is more prominent at the lateral aspect, which will work well for those who tend to land too far laterally, like myself. There is minimal sole flare in the midfoot and rearfoot, which may make the shoe less stable for those who land further back. The early forefoot rocker, moderate toe spring, and high longitudinal bending stiffness also encourage forward motion and a smooth transition. The posterior sole flare may result in early initial contact for rearfoot strikers, which may put increased stress on the tibialis anterior and potentially cause shin pain.
Thoughts as a DPT: Fit as a Priority in Racing Shoes
By Andrea Myers
The most prominent feature of the Diadora Gara Carbon for me is its exceptionally comfortable toe box. Many racing shoes have a narrow, rounded, and/or low volume toe box that inevitably cause me pain on the outer edges of my 1st or 5th MTPs or discomfort on the dorsum of my toes. While it is important for a racing shoe to fit securely, they should not be so tight that they restrict joint movement or cause skin irritation. I really like the fit of the Gara Carbon because it has a wider toe box that is squared off at the end, which gives both the widest part of my forefoot and my toes sufficient room, without allowing foot translation. The toe box volume is also higher than average, which is particularly important because the Gara Carbon has a moderate amount of toe spring. Toe spring positions the toes in extension (pointing up towards the shin) and if the upper does not have sufficient volume for the toes to extend, a runner is at risk for black toe nails or blisters on the top of the toes. This was a problem I experienced in the ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ a couple of years ago. While I loved the ride of the shoe, the toenail pain I experienced in it was a dealbreaker for it to be my marathon racer.
Depending on the race distance and each person's level of sensitivity, comfort may supersede performance when it comes to selecting a racing shoe. For me, while the Gara Carbon is one of the most comfortable racing shoes I've worn, it doesn't have the propulsive ride that I appreciate in other racing shoes that also have a sufficiently wide toe box, like the Nike Vaporfly 3 or On Cloudboom Echo 3. However, for those who are primarily concerned about getting through a race, particularly a longer one, without any forefoot discomfort, the Gara Carbon may very well be a top choice. It is important to note that while the Gara Carbon is an excellent choice for those with a wider forefoot, it is not a good choice for those with limited great toe extension due to its moderate toe spring.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: My
feedback on this shoe is based on the price tag and the marketing
terminology used for this shoe. This is a comfortable shoe that will
work great for those who are light on their feet and looking for either a
longer distance racing shoe or a less aggressive super shoe. It is
absolutely not the "ultimate race day tool" and the durability is not
good for $300. 80% midsole energy return is actually quite low and would
only be slightly competitive with super foams from 4-5 years ago. My
major recommendations therefore are to really improve the midsole
resiliency, use full length outsole pieces for durability and of course
get rid of the posterior heel flare. There are plenty of midsole
materials and technologies out there to get the energy return to at
least 90%, which is the lowest it should be before claiming this is the
ultimate racing shoe. The durability could be drastically improve with
full length outsole strips. It is quite obvious that partial-length
pieces get ripped off by many heel strikers and the midsole clearly gets
chewed away quickly without it. My last suggestion is to get rid of the
posterior heel flare. This adds unnecessary weight, often accelerates
people outside of the sagittal plane and while it may reduce peak
loading forces, it increases forces elsewhere. There is some potential
here, but it currently does not match its price tag.
Andrea: The Diadora Gara Carbon is a nice first effort at a super shoe from the brand and I have greatly enjoyed testing such a comfortable super shoe. However, its high price, less propulsive ride, and somewhat higher weight keep it on the second tier of super shoes for me. There is a lot of competition in the super shoe category and having one of the most expensive models coming in over 8 oz for a men's 10 will be a dealbreaker for a lot of runners. Fortunately, there are obvious ways to shave weight off this shoe, including slimming down the heel collar padding, reducing the posterior sole flare, and improving the design of the heel bevel. This may also help improve the ride of the shoe by promoting a more forward landing (by reducing the posterior flare and improving the heel bevel).
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is a super racer / trainer for
those who want a neutral softer, bouncy, less aggressive super shoe that
is almost a super trainer. The fit will work best for those with normal
to narrow width feet that need a little extra volume. The ride will
work best for those who want a softer super racing shoe that isn't
extremely aggressive or stable for longer distance races and workouts.
While the shoe is quite comfortable overall given its surprising
versatility into easy paces, I am disappointed both at the lack of a
major update in version two and the insanely high price tag for the
level of this shoe. I completely understand this is an Italian company
and as mentioned the shoe is quite comfortable. That comfort level will
make it work better for recreational runners who have money to burn for a
comfortable super racer trainer. Just be careful of that outsole.
Andrea: The Diadora Gara Carbon has an exceptionally comfortable fit and a rolling ride, which performed well for me from easy pace all the way down to 5k pace. I think runners who choose to pay the hefty $300 price for the shoe will choose it for its comfortable toe box fit. There are too many other super shoes on the market that are lighter, have a more energetic ride, and are $50 less than the Gara Carbon if people are not looking for the roomiest toe box in a super shoe. However, for those who find most other super shoes too constrictive in the toe box, the Gara Carbon may be an ideal and versatile racing shoe from 5k to the marathon.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Normal to snug fit with comfortable upper. Slight lace bite from thinner tongue)
Performance: B (Comfortable
ride that may work better for the recreational runner. Clunky heel and
softer ride limits the speed to half/full marathon paces and above. )
Stability: C+ [Neutral] (Neutral ride with no sidewalls, narrow shape especially in the midfoot and softer ride)
Value: D (One of the most expensive super shoes that is not aggressive and has poor outsole durability)
Personal: C+ (This shoe is comfortable, but is too neutral, not aggressive enough and is not durable enough for me to use)
Overall Design: C+
Andrea
Fit: A (Possibly the most comfortable super shoe I've tested due to wider and higher volume toe box. Fits TTS, easy to lock down laces, zero fit issues.)
Performance: B (Performance was decent at paces ranging from 5k to easy, but did not have the propulsive ride one would expect from a super shoe. Higher weight and somewhat clunky heel also make the shoe feel less like a true racing shoe.)
Stability: [neutral] B- (Nice use of forefoot sole flare and wider forefoot base to provide some centering, but midfoot and rearfoot are narrow and posterior sole flare may contribute to early heel striking.)
Value: C (This shoe is not worth $300 for me due to its higher weight and muted performance. The highest value feature in this shoe is its more generous toe box, which may be worth $300 for some runners.)
Personal: B-/B (While I enjoyed the fit of the shoe, the ride was nothing special for me. This is not a shoe I would purchase on my own.)
Overall Design: B
SHOP | SUPPORT DORDiadora Gara Carbon 2Price: $300 at Diadora
Shop Men | Shop Women
*Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
Check out Gear We Love
Naked Belt The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist.
Saysky Running Gear: We were really taken aback by this Scandinavian company's ultra-thin, durable performance clothing
Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor: Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup
goodr Sunglases: Run in style with goodr's super fun sunglasses.
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Water Bottle: Perfect for long runs when you need hydration in the summer
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Ciele Hat: Our team's favorite running hat of choice!
Fractel Hats: Our team's wider fitting running hat of choice!
FURTHER READING
A PEBA performance trainer from Nike.
A high stack new update from Mizuno.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW DOCTORS OF RUNNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: Doctors of Running
Youtube Channel: Doctors of Running
Instagram: @doctorsofrunning
LinkedIn: Doctors of Running
Strava: Doctors of Running
Podcast: Virtual Roundtable
Pinterest: Doctors of Running
PODCAST
Check out the Doctors of Running Podcast to find more reviews, interviews, and running features from the team.
Visit our Podcast Page
Find us on Apple
Find us on Spotify
Contact us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com
NEXT: Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3
