Cyclists with a "Running" Problem

[b-rad]

Has anyone tried the Diadora Gara carbon race shoe? New into the carbon race shoe scene but seems they nailed it. Some really solid reviews. Was in a running store recently in Italy. The owner quietly told me he thinks it’s a brilliant shoe. Better than the other carbon racers out there (and he was stocking all the big brands). Maybe some Italian bias going on there though 😅

Shoe is on a solid special on the Diadora SA site at the moment.

[Zama7]

2 hours ago, b-rad said:

Has anyone tried the Diadora Gara carbon race shoe? New into the carbon race shoe scene but seems they nailed it. Some really solid reviews. Was in a running store recently in Italy. The owner quietly told me he thinks it’s a brilliant shoe. Better than the other carbon racers out there (and he was stocking all the big brands). Maybe some Italian bias going on there though 😅

Shoe is on a solid special on the Diadora SA site at the moment.

Not familiar with the brand and paying R3k for seems expesnive although cheap compared to copetators. I am looking for Magix Speed 3 on sale somwehere but might give this a go if I have no luck

[b-rad]

21 hours ago, Zama7 said:

Not familiar with the brand and paying R3k for seems expesnive although cheap compared to copetators. I am looking for Magix Speed 3 on sale somwehere but might give this a go if I have no luck

Quite different shoes the Diadora Gara and Magic Speed. The Diadora Gara is basically in the same category as a Nike Vaporfly or Alphalfy Next %, or Adidas Adizero Adios Pro, or Saucony Endorphin Pro, or ASICS Metaspeed. Super shoe category. Shoes not worth wearing for random runs or just casual runs to be honest. There is no point running day to day runs and especially slower runs in such a shoe. I shed a little tear seeing people jogging in a super shoe. 
Only reason I mentioned the Diadora is because at R2999 vs R5999 it’s quite a discount. In Euro terms it’s about €155 vs a price of €310. In Europe the Gara are about €290. So at €155 that’s not too bad a price (scary thought because actually shoes are rather epensive 😫). 
At €290 though the shoe is premium and the other brands are going to be a more popular choice for similar pricing.

The ASICS Magic speed 3 is a good shoe for tempo runs, workouts and shorter races. I wouldn’t really use it for a very long run or even a long race myself but I know some who have. The Magic Speed 4 is more cushioned and probably more suited to a long run. 
the Magic Speed 3 is a great shoe (I have a pair). Very versatile and probably more useful than a carbon shoe that one only uses a couple times.  It’s just not in the same category as the out and out ‘racing’ shoes mentioned above though. 

Edited 21 hours ago by b-rad

[Zama7]

1 minute ago, b-rad said:

Quite different shoes the Diadora Gara and Magic Speed. The Diadora Gara is basically in the same category as a Nike Vaporfly or Alphalfy Next %, or Adidas Adizero Adios Pro, or Saucony Endorphin Pro, or ASICS Metaspeed. Super shoe category. Shoes not worth wearing for random runs or just casual runs to be honest. There is no point running day to day runs and especially slower runs in such a shoe. I shed a little tear seeing people jogging in a super shoe. 
Only reason I mentioned the Diadora is because at R2999 vs R5999 it’s quite a discount. In Euro terms it’s about €155 vs a price of €310. In Europe the Gara are about €290. So at €155 that’s not too bad a price (scary thought because actually shoes are rather epensive 😫). 
At €290 though the shoe is premium and the other brands are going to be a more popular choice for similar pricing.

The ASICS Magic speed 3 is a good shoe for tempo runs, workouts and shorter races. I wouldn’t really use it for a very long run or even a long race myself but I know some who have. The Magic Speed 4 is more cushioned and probably more suited to a long run. 
the Magic Speed 3 is a great shoe (I have a pair). Very versatile and probably more useful than a carbon shoe that one only uses a couple times.  It’s just not in the same category as the out and out ‘racing’ shoes mentioned above though. 

 

Guess the price is great but I want to try on a shoe before droping a few grand without any idea of how it fits.

 

I have a pair of NovaBlast 5's and Gel Nimbus 26 I use for base and long runs but looking for a tempo / 5-21km race shoe. Really want the superblast but man its expensive. 

[Stretch]

On 2/6/2025 at 9:37 AM, b-rad said:

Has anyone tried the Diadora Gara carbon race shoe? New into the carbon race shoe scene but seems they nailed it. Some really solid reviews. Was in a running store recently in Italy. The owner quietly told me he thinks it’s a brilliant shoe. Better than the other carbon racers out there (and he was stocking all the big brands). Maybe some Italian bias going on there though 😅

Shoe is on a solid special on the Diadora SA site at the moment.

i would say some Italian bias! I reckon they are all much of a muchness nowadays. Some are more aggressive than others. I use Saucony pro's because they are not as aggressive but still give you the carbon benefit-. Cost wise, you going to get at least 2 years out of a pair of carbons (depending on how many races you do) so i would rather buy in line with my daily runner brand

[McD23]

20 minutes ago, Stretch said:

i would say some Italian bias! I reckon they are all much of a muchness nowadays. Some are more aggressive than others. I use Saucony pro's because they are not as aggressive but still give you the carbon benefit-. Cost wise, you going to get at least 2 years out of a pair of carbons (depending on how many races you do) so i would rather buy in line with my daily runner brand

2 years would be very dependent on how often used. I just got the nike zoom fly 5, a carbon plated trainer/racer shoe. Noticeably more rubber on the outsole than all other carbon plated shoes. I've broken every single PB abibe 1km of mine in them recently. For me they have been a revelation. And I'm a shoe whore with a bad affliction for trying multiple brands concurrently 🤐 so have tried it against many equivalent models. 

[milky4130]

478km on my Endorphin pro 3's less than 2 years, I did all my races in them, from 5km to Comrades. But must say disappointed with the sole wearing thin already. Then again I shouldn't be surprised as I did lots of walking in them in the last 20kms of Comrades Up run.

[Stretch]

2 minutes ago, milky4130 said:

478km on my Endorphin pro 3's less than 2 years, I did all my races in them, from 5km to Comrades. But must say disappointed with the sole wearing thin already. Then again I shouldn't be surprised as I did lots of walking in them in the last 20kms of Comrades Up run.

i have done 150 miles in mine in a year, so i am kind of hoping they will be fine for the rest of the year. Might get a new pair for my October marathon though. I am pretty light on my soles though.