Article by Matt Kolat
Diadora Nucleo 2 GR (£135/ $165)
Pros:
11/10 on style
Very stable
Grippy but not obtrusive on pavements
Comfortable
Wear and tear resistance - tank level
Competitively priced
Cons:
Too much volume in upper
Unnecessary material in the bottom of the tongue
Slightly warm
Slightly on the heavier end
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 11.3 oz / 320g US9
Sample Weights: men’s 12.4 oz / 353g US 12 US
Drop: 5mm
Platform Width: 84 mm heel / 80mm midfoot / 119 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
When I first got the shoes my initial thought was ‘Whoa, I am not going to review a better looking pair of shoes this year!’. I mean look at them not only are they very stylish in terms of shape but also the colour scheme is something you’d expect on a sneaker. Not only does that make the shoe look exceptional it also creates added value for the customer as Nucleo 2 GR easily doubles up as a casual shoe you can wear around town or to the pub on a Friday night.
In terms of the fit I would recommend sizing down a half size and if you prefer your shoes to be on the closer fitting end then a full size is recommended. There is ample space inside the shoe both width wise as well as vertically. This was even the case for me and I am someone who has slightly wider feet than average. Unfortunately this translated to a small problem with fit. I had to really tighten the shoe, pull the laces as tight as I could to achieve a secure fit.
The upper is made from a plasticy, albeit comfortable, film like material. I would describe it as relatively stiff which translates to a great hold of the foot and will increase the lifespan of the upper significantly. The offset of that is that the shoe feels slightly warm on hot days, however it is mainly cold days ahead of us so it should not matter all that much. The tongue and the heel collar is plush and padded. The heel counter is stiff and structured which translates to an excellent foothold and high levels of stability and support.
The only problem I had with the upper is underneath the area highlighted below.
Essentially where the bottom of the tongue is attached to the main body of the upper. Diadora has decided to keep a large, thick piece of material in that spot which unfortunately I could ‘feel’ on my runs. This is however only a very minor inconvenience as it did not translate to any rubbing or blisters.
Midsole & Platform
The midsole platform width at 84 mm heel / 80mm midfoot / 119 mm forefoot is quite accommodating in particular because the midfoot does not taper all that much from the heel and as we have a 5mm drop. This is always a good sign in my book as it contributes to the stability of the shoe and allows for a broader range of runners to enjoy it.
The midsole itself is a modern EVA called Anima, which is 20% lighter than traditional EVA and 30% more responsive. Anima itself is quite soft but because of a full rubber coverage it feels more medium - firm on the run. For a more detailed description of how that translates onto the running experience please navigate to the ‘Ride’ section of the review.
Outsole
The outsole wear and tear brings excellent value for money to the table. I’ve done about 60km in the Nucelos at the point of writing this review and there is no wear to report. Important to mention that I’ve done the majority of those runs on pavements which is more abrasive for a door to trail shoe and I was expecting much more wear. I should also mention that I am on the heavier side of an average runner at 80kg / 12.6 st / 176 lbs. This is all due to a special compound called Duratech 5000 which is meant to significantly reduce tear on pavement and gravel alike, this is certainly the case here.
The lugs are very shallow but that is expected from a door to trail shoe. I would not take those shoes up a rocky mountain but they are perfect for compact trails and park paths where a little bit of an extra grip compared to a road shoe is required.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
The ride of the shoe was quite interesting. Most of the shoes which I test come with some form of grooves or decoupling and there is a distinct feeling which separates the heel part of the midsole (I am a heel striker) during landings and the forefoot during take offs. Because there are hardly any grooves and no decoupling the entire midsole works as one unit. The closest feeling I would compare this too is landing on a relatively, medium firm pillow.
There is very little rebound and the midsole feels closer to traditional EVA than a modern one, despite this being a modern midsole. There are two reasons which I believe contribute to this feeling. First of all there is full Duratech 5000 rubber coverage with lugs. This certainly adds to the firmness factor. Secondly the drop is only 5mm which for a runner like myself helps force a better form and more of a midfoot strike. All in all the ride is very pleasant, very stable but if you are looking for a huge rebound, you will not find it here.
When it comes to the application of the Nucelo 2 GR, it is not intended for technical trails as there is no rock plate or deep lugs capable of handling mud. However if you are dabbling into trail running but don’t want to commit to a full blown trial shoe, this is a great option. In terms of distances covered, I would see it as a middle distance shoe. And of course due to its amazing design and standing on feet stablity, it is absolutely perfect as an everyday sneaker which only increases its already high value for money.
In terms of recommendations and changes this is pretty much an ideal door to trail shoe minus the one issue with the extra material in the bottom of the tongue, which I have described in more detail at the start of the review. It’s not much of an issue and it fades away the more you run in the shoe but during the first few runs it may feel like a little bit of a nuisance.
Matt’s Score: 8.8 /10 (for intended door to light trails uses)
Ride (30%): 9/10 Fit (30%): 8/10 Value (10%): 10/10 Style (5%) 10/10 Traction (15%): 10/10 Rock Protection (10%): 7/10
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Comparisons
I have not reviewed any door to trail shoes in recent memory so I am taking the comparisons this time in a slightly different direction.
Diadora Nucelo 2 (RTR Review)
If you’ve read this review and you are still not convinced that Nucelo 2 GR is the right option for you, because perhaps you hardly ever run trails, then the Diadora Nucleo 2, standard edition, could be for you. Compared to the GR version it is softer, more bouncy, more cushioned and yet more stable. It is an excellent daily trainer shoe with a bit of a pop that makes a great companion on daily training runs and even on faster efforts.
Tester Profile
Maciej 'Matt' Kolat - 40 years old, hailing from Poland but pounding Scottish roads and trails since 2007. Mainly runs shorter distances on pavement 5-10 km and reserves longer runs for beautiful Scottish Glens. Matt’s opinion sometimes may differ from other RTR testers as he is the slowest of the bunch (5k at 25:38). Matt also uses running as a way to stay healthy having shed 106 lbs so far (and counting).
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
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