Diadora Gara Carbon 2 Performance Review

The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is Diadora’s entry into marathon-focused, race-day running shoes. It packs technology similar to that of the larger brands and represents a good look at what Diadora can do at the top end of the running shoe spectrum.

What is the Diadora Gara Carbon 2?

Diadora describes the Gara Carbon 2 like this:

“Use your energy where it matters most—breaking records, hitting top speeds, and redefining your limits. Gara Carbon 2 is the ultimate race-day tool, combining unparalleled responsiveness, stability, and comfort.”

That’s pretty standard marketing language with the whole first sentence selling the dream of easier marathon PRs. But the focus on responsiveness, stability, and comfort in the second line is nice to see. As for whether or not it’s “unparalleled”, let’s get into the review.

Cushion

I found the Diadora Gara Carbon 2’s Anima PBX midsole to feel a lot like the New Balance SC Elite v3…squishy, lightweight, and smooth. The bounce isn’t top-of-the-line for marathon racing shoes, but it’s close.

The only negative I found with the midsole is that as I landed more on my heel towards the end of a brutal workout, I felt the heel cushion compressing way more than the forefoot and making the shoe feel almost like a negative drop…and my Achilles tendon wasn’t happy. I’d recommend heavy heel strikers avoid this particular shoe. As an aside, this is not a problem unique to Diadora…I find this from time to time with various super-soft shoes, whether they’re focused on racing or daily running.

Up front, the scooped carbon fiber plate combined with the PEBAX midsole creates a powerful toe-off. It’s not poppy to the point that it feels like my foot isn’t doing work, but digging my big toe into the ground gives back both the energy I put in and some extra. It’s a feeling that puts the Gara Carbon 2 firmly on the side of race-day shoes that provide a mental edge.

This is a midsole that competes well with the race-day shoes from the big brands.

Support

The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 delivers reliable stability for a race shoe. The heel counter, elongated heel shape, strong Matryx upper, and the forefoot’s wide base keep the Gara Carbon 2 on the upper end of race-day support. It’s still not nearly as stable as Diadora’s other running shoes, but it’s more than enough for a race shoe. You can take corners fast and not be worried about falling off the footbed.

Traction

While I didn’t find the Duratech 5000 outsole on the Diadora Gara Carbon 2 to be the most durable as there’s obvious wear in the forefoot after my testing period, I found the placement and thickness of the rubber to be appropriate for a race-day model. Even though the forefoot is wearing down a bit, the rubber is thick enough that it will last the typical 250+ miles for a racer.

As for traction, I didn’t have any issues with the Gara Carbon 2. It handled dust, dirt, and gravel without slippage. Unfortunately, I only got to try it in a few wet spots (where it performed well) so I’m not sure how it will handle rain and/or snow.

Upper

The Matryx upper, which includes carbon fibers through the lateral and medial midfoot, is strong but comfortable. It’s thin and lightweight, as expected for a race-day upper, but not plasticky. It’s got an engineered mesh feel with a tight but breathable knit pattern. The synthetic suede on the collar and eyestays is a nice touch as are the barbed laces and lace passthrough on the tongue that keeps the tongue in the right place despite not being gusseted.

The heel collar padding is neither minimal nor obtrusive. Those who don’t like race shoes without heel padding will find the Gara Carbon 2 a nice change of pace. [Editor’s Note: I see what you did there.]

Is the Diadora Gara Carbon 2 wide foot friendly?

There’s nice toebox width in the Diadora Gara Carbon 2, but the shoe fits like a race-day shoe. Many wide-footers will need to go a half size up to feel comfortable.

As for sizing lengthwise, I recommend going with your Euro size. For example, my Euro size in most brands is a 46. That’s where my foot tends to be most comfortable. That typically translates to a 12 in US men’s. But Diadora’s US size 12 is a Euro 45.5. So I need to size up to a 12.5 to get a Euro 46.

In smaller sizes, true-to-size will work and lines up nicely with your Euro size…but at some point the sizing conversion goes off-kilter. So, choose your favorite Euro size (which you’ll find on the tag of all running shoes you own, though sometimes it’s named the UK or FR size), and you’ll enjoy the fit of the Gara Carbon 2.

Is the Diadora Gara Carbon 2 worth $300?

The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 has great build quality, but the technology used and performance is equivalent to other racing shoes priced at $250-$275. Diadora is a smaller company in running shoes so doesn’t have the scale to hit those price points. While $300 feels steep, you’re not paying a huge multinational conglomerate, instead a medium-sized company headquartered in the Italian countryside. Whether that’s worth it…I’ll let you decide.

How to use the Diadora Gara Carbon 2

The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is best used for road-racing distances from the 5K to the marathon along with the long tempo sessions and track workouts needed to properly prepare for those races.

Diadora Gara Carbon 2 Summary

The Diadora Gara Carbon 2 is a legit marathon racing shoe that’s plush, smooth, feels lightweight, and brings a lot of comfort to the table. It competes well with the race-day shoes from other brands but does come at a price premium. It shows that Diadora has the ability to create dependable products at the top end of the running shoe spectrum and is going to be a brand to watch as it continues to create more.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Diadora did provide a pair of the Gara Carbon 2 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.