Diadora Gara Carbon Review
By Andrea Myers
Diadora Gara CarbonPrice: $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: wide toe box and high volume upper makes a more comfortable fitting racing shoe, good traction on wet roads
Cons: expensive, ride is less propulsive as compared to most other super shoes, not the lightest super shoe
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: N/A
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
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
Andrea: I have tested the Diadora Gara Carbon 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)
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
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?
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
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 CarbonPrice: $300 at Diadora
Shop Men | Shop Women
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FURTHER READING
A PEBA performance trainer from Nike.
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