I think we’ve written more than a handful of posts recently about how the new frontier in running shoes isn’t necessarily maximum speed or the lightest possible race shoe. Those shoes still exist, of course, and there are plenty of them.
But I think what a lot of companies are really trying to home in on is the idea of an excellent $150-ish daily trainer — a shoe loaded with technology, relatively affordable (all things considered), and capable of handling daily mileage comfortably.
For Diadora, that shoe is the new Corsa.
See all our posts on Diadora
At $155, the Corsa sits in this spot in the Diadora lineup. It takes some of the technology and personality we’ve liked in the brand’s more expensive shoes and puts it into a considerably lighter, more versatile package.
Looks
The colorway on the Diadora website showcases a super cool white, blue and pink combination that looks like it came straight out of the 1990s. Our review pair came in a nice royal blue with white and a small amount of yellow accents. It may not be for everyone, but so kinda like it. It helps that our local high school is a royal blue.
It’s a relatively straightforward-looking shoe, but even this more basic colorway still looks pretty good. There’s nothing overly flashy about the Corsa, which honestly fits the shoe pretty well.
Construction & Fit
We’ve had a chance to run in several Diadora shoes at this point, and the Corsa feels like a good example of the brand taking what it does well and pushing it in a faster direction.
The Atomo Star is the more luxurious and cushioned option. Our Run Oregon review described it as plush without being mushy, with enough responsiveness for faster running but really finding its sweet spot on long runs and everyday cruising. The Corsa takes that general Diadora personality and turns the dial toward speed.
It’s significantly lighter, has a slightly lower forefoot, and uses an 8mm drop rather than the Atomo Star’s 6mm. Combined with the ANIMA N2 midsole, the geometry makes the Corsa easier to pick up the pace in without making it feel like a stiff, plated racing shoe.
The Cellula 2 sits closer to the traditional daily-trainer end of the spectrum. We found that shoe surprisingly energetic despite its roughly 10.7-ounce weight, with the ANIMA N2 forefoot insert providing some extra pop. The Corsa takes that same general idea and strips away a lot of the weight.
The result is a shoe with a pretty broad pace range and a smooth transition from heel to toe. You can cruise in it, but it also feels very comfortable when you start pushing the pace.
Specs
- Stack height: 39mm (heel) / 31mm (forefoot)
- Drop: 8mm
- Weight: ~8.1 oz (Mens 9)
Upper
The Corsa uses an engineered mesh upper with a secure, padded heel and a relatively accommodating fit. Despite a bit of a streamlined look, I found there to be more than enough room.
The upper, tongue (which I love – its stretchy and soft and does a great job at holding the top of the foot) and lacing system are all pretty simple, but that simplicity works. It’s comfortable, secure and doesn’t require much thought once you get the shoe on.
Diadora also built the Corsa on a new, wider last with a broader platform and more room in the toe box, which helps keep the shoe comfortable even as the pace picks up.
Midsole
This is really where the Corsa earns its place in the Diadora lineup.
The ANIMA N2 midsole uses supercritical-foamed EVA. EVA is durable, but not really the most advanced compound anymore. That being said it works fine here and there’s plenty of cushioning here for daily mileage. The combination of the rocker and supercritical foam gives the shoe a firmer, responsive feel when you want to run faster.
And there’s no plate. That gives the Corsa a more natural transition than some of the increasingly common plated trainers while still providing enough energy return to make faster running fun.
It’s a nice middle ground: cushioned enough for everyday miles, but light and responsive enough that you don’t feel like you need to switch shoes when the workout changes.
Outsole
The Corsa uses full-coverage Special D2500/Duratech rubber across the outsole.
That provides a solid amount of road traction while also giving the shoe the durability you want from something intended to handle daily mileage. It doesn’t feel like Diadora sacrificed outsole durability simply to get the weight down.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, while we have really enjoyed — and downright loved in some instances — the Diadora running shoe lineup, the Corsa might be the most financially accessible shoe in the current lineup.
The Atomo Star sits at $245. The Cellula 2 is $185. And then you have the Corsa at $155.
That’s a pretty meaningful difference, especially when the Corsa doesn’t feel like a budget version of those shoes. Instead, it feels like Diadora took some of the technology and personality that we’ve enjoyed in its higher-end models and built something lighter, faster and more versatile around it.
I think this shoe makes sense for a lot of runners – especially those who may have balked at the prices of some other Diadora shoes. The Corsa is a lightweight daily trainer that can handle easy miles, longer runs and workouts without feeling out of place in any of them. And at $155, that makes the Corsa a pretty compelling shoe to consider if you want one pair that can do a little bit of everything.
