Diadora Mezzofondo Review: Like a Lambo for Your Feet

Introduction to the Diadora Mezzofondo

KALEB: I’m no car expert, but if I had to make a comparison, I’d say Diadora has turned itself into the Lamborghini of running shoes over the past few years. A bit pricey, a bit extravagant, and maybe not even the most reliable in every circumstance… but dang, don’t you still want to take one out for a spin? Feel the power? Go flying down some stretch at some less-than-responsible speeds, just to live a little? The Italian brand might be a bit on the boutique end of the spectrum when it comes to selecting race gear, but that just makes it all the more alluring.

So when I was browsing through the World Athletics prototype list (yeah I’m a nerd, leave me alone) and saw that Diadora was crafting a distance spike, my interest was piqued, and when Robbe told me Diadora had reached out asking if we wanted to review it, my response fell somewhere in between, “Oh sure, yeah, whatever,” and “OH MY GOSH YES, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.”

The Mezzofondo (Italian for “middle-distance” and pronounced “med-zoh-fon-doh”) is the brand’s first foray onto the high-octane oval. *Checks notes and notices Diadora’s sprint spike, released in 2024.*

Ahem, the Mezzofondo is the brand’s first serious foray onto the high-octane oval. Weighing in at 5.7 oz, with full-length PEBA in the midsole and a carbon plate, Diadora markets the Mezzofondo as a spike for any distance, from 800m to 10k. That’s a pretty vast span, especially considering the vastly different needs of those races, so of course I’m here to put Diadora’s claim to the test. Time to take this Lambo for a ride.

What we like about the Diadora Mezzofondo

KALEB: Diadora has been incredibly vocal about their design and feedback process with Marco Langon, their NIL athlete. Langon competes collegiately at Villanova University — one of the most competitive middle-distance programs in the US — and Diadora is quick to boast that he set two PRs in the Mezzofondo prototype: one in the mile and one in the 5k. It’s a fine line, trying to give all the credit to your athlete while also taking a sliver for yourself as the brand that provides the footwear, but assuming the Mezzofondo has anything to do with those performances, this sucker’s got some serious range. Let’s break down some of the design choices:

Underfoot, Diadora intentionally went with a firmer formulation of PEBA in the midsole, reducing the “squish” factor in return for greater stability, durability, and that ever-elusive factor of “responsiveness.” In the road-running market, plush comfort is still one of the top selling points, but in the final stages of a track race, there’s a tightrope to be walked between keeping the legs fresh and having something solid to push against when it’s time to start the kick. No one likes to be swimming in a marshmallow, and no one likes to run with bricks on their feet. The Mezzofondo strikes a good balance, especially for shorter races like the 800m, 1500m, and mile.

The carbon plate in the Mezzofondo features a unique concave shape near the back of the heel, reminiscent of New Balance’s Energy Arc plate setup from their earlier racing models. This is meant to keep the plate from bending downward during the footstrike (like slightly folding your pizza slice to keep it from drooping). In practice, this means the Mezzofondo has a definitive “on your toes” tendency to tug your foot towards the toe-off phase ASAP.

I watched some videos of Langon’s running form, and he’s a fairly consistent forefoot striker, even in longer track events like the 5k, so this makes sense. The spike is meant to keep that aggressive forefoot momentum and propel you forward from the ball of your foot to your toes. Like the midsole durometer, this trait pushes the spike towards the middle distances a little more than it does for long races.

The one-word sensation I had in my mind during my time in this spike was “smooth.” At the foot strike, there isn’t much squish, but there also isn’t much shock up through the leg. You don’t feel a whole lot of impact, and before you know it, you’re onto the next stride, thanks to the rigid carbon plate giving more of a rolling sensation than a snappy one. The whole spike rides smoothly and powerfully, and when you pick up the pace, the Mezzofondo goes with you. If Diadora is the running equivalent of Lamborghini, the Mezzofondo stays right in line with the motif.

What we don’t like about the Diadora Mezzofondo

KALEB: Compared to the bougie reputation Diadora has for itself, the upper on the Mezzofondo feels a bit like an afterthought. This is a fairly common problem in first-generation superspikes: too much effort underfoot and not enough thought above. The heel security is a bit so-so if you don’t cinch the laces down tight, and the lacing chain can be a bit finicky. I was able to achieve an acceptable lockdown in the Mezzofondo, but it didn’t have that “part of my foot” feeling that spikes like the Saucony Endorphin LD or the Brooks Hyperion Elite MD have. The last itself runs on the slightly narrow side, which can further add to lockdown difficulties when trying to get the lace tension just right.

And, yeah, Diadora, the price tag. $260. It’s a good spike, but I’m not going to recommend that any sane person shell out 2.6 Bennies for anything less than rocket boots. You’re paying for a logo, and that’s just the truth when it comes to flashier brands.

Final thoughts on the Diadora Mezzofondo

KALEB: I’d say the Mezzofondo’s sweet spot is in the Mile, with a range up to the 3K or down to the 800m. I’d consider taking it up to the 5K if you have efficient form and calves that can handle the constant on-your-toes push, but a 10K would definitely be a stretch. Still, 800m-5K is an impressive span of events, and Marco Langon has certainly proven that the Mezzofondo can be taken through the paces.

Personally, I’m looking forward to using the Mezzofondo in the indoor mile this winter, and the outdoor 1500m come spring, but I’ll definitely try to experiment with it and push the upper bounds of its distance capabilities. It’s got an addictive underfoot feeling that is fun to push the pace in, and I’m looking forward to channeling my inner Italian sports car on the track this year.

You can pick up the Diadora Mezzofondo for $260 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the button below.