Diadora Cellula Review

The Diadora Cellula is a daily trainer with a soft balanced ride, that blends Italian design with modern running tech. Its medium 5mm drop, coupled with Anima foam, creates a ride that balances stability, cushioning, and responsiveness very well.

But how does it perform where it matters most? After logging miles on my local running routes, this review is going to reveal everything you need to know before buying, including my final verdict. Buckle up, it’s time to go Italian Stallion on this one!

Key specifications

• Price: $170 at Diadora.com
• Weight: 9.6oz (272g) for US(M)9
• Drop: 5mm (40mm at the heel, 35mm at the toe)
• Upper: Durable sandwich mesh with suede-like overlays and toe bumper
• Midsole: Anima foam for plush cushioning and stability
• Outsole: Duratech 5000 rubber for durability and traction

How they fit and feel

The Diadora Cellula is true to size in length with a medium width and a snug toe box (classic Italian fit, ha!). This offers a secure, traditional fit that feels natural and accommodating. If you typically find snug toe boxes uncomfortable, consider sizing up by half a size.

The padded articulated heel counter does a really good job of locking my feet in place without irritating my Achilles, and this cushioning extends to the collars too.

What’s good

The upper design of the Cellula is very soft and comfortable thanks to the sandwich mesh paired with suede-like overlays to provide durability and support. The perforated liner improves airflow too although it’s going to perform better in colder weather due to the dual layer upper.

The heel padding and supportive structure does a great job of providing just enough stability without feeling rigid – this makes it a dependable option for a variety of runs from daily jogs to longer distance efforts.

The Anima foam midsole has well balanced cushioning and impact absorption while still maintaining a modest amount of responsiveness. Although the Cellula is a neutral running shoe, it feels pretty stable underfoot, especially with the broad platform that supports your gait on long runs or recovery runs.

While it doesn’t have the explosive energy return of newer superfoams, like Pebax for example, it does have a smooth, consistent ride for daily training, very much akin to the Saucony Ride 17 or the Brooks Ghost 16 – two top alternatives to the Cellula.

Speaking of the ride, the Cellula’s 5mm medium drop and subtle rocker geometry work well together, to promote natural smooth transitions during strides. It feels very forgiving at slower paces, but a little mushy at higher speeds – making it an ideal companion for recovery days or those easy miles where comfort is king.

Diadora‘s Italian craftsmanship is quite evident in the design of the Diadora Cellula, this also makes them a good option as a lifestyle shoe. I’ve been wearing them for long days out with my family – the cushioning is really great for daily use.

Things to note

While the upper is durable and supportive, it runs slightly warm, so if you’re running in hot conditions, expect to feel the heat inside the shoes.

The midsole, though comfortable, doesn’t deliver a huge amount of responsiveness or bounce of modern high-energy foams, and this lack of snap makes the Cellula less appealing if you’re looking for a daily trainer that will also perform well for speed-focused workouts or interval sessions.

Although I found the traction to be pretty good overall, distribution and coverage of rubber compound, could be improved. The Duratech 5000 outsole grips well on clean, wet, or dry surfaces but the white areas (pictured below) are exposed midsole foam, which, as you can imagine, is less durable and far less grippy.

My verdict

The Diadora Cellula is a stylish, well-built daily trainer that mostly prioritizes comfort and stability. Its plush midsole, smooth ride, and Italian design make it a great choice for easy-paced runs, recovery efforts, and even casual wear – so if you like the style and need a daily trainer that performs well where this one does, then it’s worth the $170 price tag.

However, its lack of responsiveness and limited traction in certain circumstances may leave you looking for more excitement and versatility elsewhere – and I’d recommend starting with my best daily trainers roundup.

Have you tried the Diadora Cellula? Let me know what you thought in the comments! And if you enjoyed this review, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and YouTube channel for reviews like this one.