ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 vs Diadora Nucleo 2: Which Running Shoe Is Better?

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Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Aug 18, 2026 04:26 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Aug 17, 2026 12:26 PM

This review is in Early access

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Diadora

Heel Stack Height 40.2 mm

Weight 290.1 g (10.23 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 7.9 mm

Plate None

Heel Stack Height 38.9 mm

Weight 283.8 g (10.01 oz)

Heel-To-Toe Drop 8.1 mm

Plate None

Our Verdict

ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11

Diadora Nucleo 2

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

GEL-EXCITE 11 (Aurora Green/Black - (Men - US 9))
GEL-EXCITE 11 (Black/Carrier Grey - (Men - US 9))

Nucleo 2 (White/Bosphorus - (Men - US 9))
Nucleo 2 (White/Silver - (Women - US 7))

Review

See ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Review

See Diadora Nucleo 2 Review

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Main Differences for

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing

6.2

0.0

No major differences between these running shoes for half/full marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

6.2

0.0

5K/10K Racing

6.1

0.0

Long Run

7.0

0.0

Daily Training

7.6

0.0

Energy Return

2.6

0.0

Stability

8.6

0.0

Cushioning

6.9

0.0

Bounciness

3.8

0.0

Snappiness

6.4

0.0

Roll

6.8

0.0

True To Size

9.5

0.0

Design

Weight

4.8

N/A

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Weight

290.1 g (10.23 oz)

Lock g (Lock oz)

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

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Heel Stack Height

40.2 mm

Lock mm

Forefoot Stack Height

32.3 mm

Lock mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop

7.9 mm

Lock mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

8.0 mm

Lock mm

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

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Outsole Heel Width

100 mm (3.9")

Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Arch Width

83 mm (3.3")

Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Forefoot Width

117 mm (4.6")

Lock mm (Lock")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

2.54

Lock

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

3.62

Lock

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

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Internal Length

276 mm (10.9")

Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Heel Width

62 mm (2.4")

Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Forefoot Width

94 mm (3.7")

Lock mm (Lock")

Wide Sizing Available

Yes

Locked

Forefoot Fit: Width

9.5

N/A

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Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

2.5 mm (0.100")

Lock mm (Lock")

Toe TTS Deviation

-0.7 mm (-0.028")

Lock mm (Lock")

Forefoot Fit: Height

6.4

N/A

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Toe TTS Deviation

-4.3 mm (-0.169")

Lock mm (Lock")

Arch Fit: Width

8.9

N/A

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Arch Width TTS Deviation

-2.1 mm (-0.081")

Lock mm (Lock")

Length Fit

N/A

Toe Clearance Photo

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Heel Rocker Geometry

6.6

N/A

Heel Rocker Photo

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Heel Spring

20 mm (0.8")

Lock mm (Lock")

Heel Apex Position

26.6%

Lock%

Heel Rocker Angle

14.6°

Lock°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

7.3

N/A

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Toe Spring

50 mm (2.0")

Lock mm (Lock")

Toe Apex Position

58.6%

Lock%

Forefoot Rocker Angle

22.6°

Lock°

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

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Secondary Foam Picture

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Primary Foam Name

AMPLIFOAM™ PLUS

Locked

Primary Foam Type

EVA

Locked

Secondary Foam Name

N/A

Secondary Foam Type

N/A

Laces

Laces Picture

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Lace Type

Round

Locked

Width

5.0 mm (0.2")

Lock mm (Lock")

Thickness

2.5 mm (0.1")

Lock mm (Lock")

Stretch

10.0%

Lock%

Other Features

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Tongue Gusset Type

Non-gusseted

Locked

Plate

None

Locked

Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return

2.0

N/A

Heel Compression Video

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Heel Energy Return

Preview Graph

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Heel Energy Return

67.8%

Lock%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return

2.9

N/A

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Forefoot Energy Return

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Forefoot Energy Return

69.4%

Lock%

Heel Cushioning

7.2

N/A

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Heel Cushioning

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Energy Absorbed At 550N

2.76 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N

9.24 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N

16.35 J

Lock J

Forefoot Cushioning

6.7

N/A

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Forefoot Cushioning

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Energy Absorbed At 800N

3.84 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N

7.10 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N

10.91 J

Lock J

Heel Firmness

9.0

N/A

Heel Firmness Graph

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Firmness At 550N

59.2 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1100N

63.2 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1900N

85.1 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Forefoot Firmness

9.4

N/A

Forefoot Firmness Graph

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Firmness At 800N

77.9 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1300N

96.6 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Firmness At 2050N

130 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

6.2

N/A

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

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Energy Absorbed At 10km

6.81 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 20km

6.66 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 30km

6.56 J

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 40km

6.50 J

Lock J

Rocker Stiffness

5.7

N/A

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video

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Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Preview Graph

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Force To Flatten The Rocker

55 N

Lock N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return

3.4

N/A

Forefoot Bending Video

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Forefoot Bending Energy Return

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Forefoot Bending Energy Return

51.3%

Lock%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness

7.8

N/A

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

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Forefoot Bending Resistance

Preview Graph

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Forefoot Bending Stiffness

14.1 N/mm

Lock N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force

378 N

Lock N

Heel Compression Depth

4.9

N/A

Heel Compression Graph

Preview Graph

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Heel Compression At 550N

9.3 mm

Lock mm

Heel Compression At 1100N

17.4 mm

Lock mm

Heel Compression At 1900N

22.3 mm

Lock mm

Forefoot Compression Depth

4.6

N/A

Forefoot Compression Graph

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Forefoot Compression At 800N

10.3 mm

Lock mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N

13.5 mm

Lock mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N

15.8 mm

Lock mm

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ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11

Diadora Nucleo 2

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ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 vs Diadora Nucleo 2: Main Discussion

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ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 vs Diadora Nucleo 2

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

Our Verdict

Variants

Review

Check Price

Main Differences for Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold

Half/Full Marathon Racing

Full Comparison

Half/Full Marathon Racing

5K/10K Racing

Long Run

Daily Training

Energy Return

Stability

Cushioning

Bounciness

Snappiness

Roll

True To Size

Weight

Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight

Stack Heights

Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height

Forefoot Stack Height

Heel-To-Toe Drop

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop

External Shape

3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width

Outsole Arch Width

Outsole Forefoot Width

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio

Internal Shape

3D Model Internal

Internal Length

Internal Heel Width

Internal Forefoot Width

Wide Sizing Available

Forefoot Fit: Width

Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation

Toe TTS Deviation

Forefoot Fit: Height

Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation

Arch Fit: Width

Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation

Length Fit

Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry

Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring

Heel Apex Position

Heel Rocker Angle

Forefoot Rocker Geometry

Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring

Toe Apex Position

Forefoot Rocker Angle

Foam

Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name

Primary Foam Type

Secondary Foam Name

Secondary Foam Type

Laces

Laces Picture

Lace Type

Width

Thickness

Stretch

Main Differences for

Half/Full Marathon Racing