Published: January 9, 2021
SCORE: 8.5/10
Weight: 185 g men’s size (UK size 9) and 6.8 oz (US size 9)
Heel Drop: 6mm (33 mm / 27 mm)
Shoe Type: Neutral running shoe
Running Surface: Road
Pace: Fast
Pros
- Minimalist and breathable upper
- Super lightweight
- Versatile
- Seamless heel-to-toe transition
- lower stack higher and exceptionally stable
- Durable
Cons
- Minimal upper cushioning thus not great for long-distance running
- The midfoot area runs narrowly, and it can cause fitting issues to a wide-footed runner.
Introduction
The Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen series, a Japanese Adidas shoe model, has been in the market for a while now. Though the Takumi Sen series has constantly kept a low profile, it is known for outstanding performance in the global athletic competition.
The Adidas Takumi Sen 8 holds a new world record in 5k and 10k races. In September 2021, Ethiopian Senbere Teferi set a time record of 00:14:29 in a 5k female race, while the Kenyan Agnes Jebet Tirop set a new time record of 00:30:01 in a 10k race at Adizero Road competition in Germany. The achievement emphasizes the prowess of the Adizero Takumi Sen in short distance runs.
What makes Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 a success is that it is not an iteration of its predecessors but a whole new version. The previous Sen series have low stack height, are insanely lightweight, and incredibly fast. On the contrary, the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 has additional stack height and revamped midsole to enhance speed and comfort. Like its predecessor, the Takumi Sen 8 is designed for 5k runs.
The deviation from the previous models is not a surprise since Adidas has never been consistent with the Takumi series. I remember the first two series making a ground-breaking entry into the running scene. It was received well by runners but kept fading away every year. Still, the previous versions, Sen 6 and 7, were pretty different and inspiring.
They were nimble, minimal, secure, insanely lightweight, and fast. However, there was no way Adidas could compete fairly with competitors who now have lighter and responsive midsole foams than the BOOST foam. Besides, the growing demand for cushioning and responsiveness cannot go unnoticed. Thus the reason the Adizero Sen 8 has a stacked up midsole.
Now, Adidas is adopting its innovation, the LightstrikePRO foam, which is more lightweight and responsive. The LightstrikePRO foam has been implemented in the Prime X and Adios Pro 2. My experience is that the LightstrikePRO foam works better in the Adidas Takumi Sen 8.
Take Away:
Adidas got rid of the minimalist features and the magnificent ground feel of the previous Takumi versions. Instead of the boost foam, it adopted more cushioned and responsive LightstrikePRO midsole foam, associated with the Adios Pro 2 and Adizero Prime X, making the Adizero Takumi Sen 8 feel like a real 5k running shoe.
Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 Instant Impression
I have the Takumi Sen 7, and it’s a running shoe with character. It has a secure fit, lightweight with profound ground contact. Hence, the Takumi Sen 7 is true to its moniker.
Since I had a good experience with Sen 7, it was a quick and easy decision to purchase the Adizero Sen 8. I must admit that I was in a pensive mood because of the significant difference between the two shoes. For instance, the new version is nothing close to the minimalist Takumi series I am accustomed to.
The Adizero Takumi Sen 8 looks domineering straight out of the box and exceptionally lightweight, but not as light as the Adizero Takumi Sen 7. The Celermesh upper looked thin and streamlined.
I felt restrictiveness around the midfoot as I tried them on. So, the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 is not a shoe you can slip your foot into in one go. Instead, it takes time, considering that you must readjust the laces to allow the foot to pass through the midfoot. Besides, the midfoot runs pretty narrowly, which is a piece of bad news to wide-footed runners. After that, I had to play around with the lacing to get the correct fitting. I had a sock-like fitting that was very secure despite the lack of a heel counter. Alas! The Adizero Takumi Sen 8 fits true-to-size.
I experienced a bit of discomfort during the first two miles. After the fourth mile, the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 gave in and became more forgiving with every mile. I did my first 5K in a record time.
I thought Adidas made the right choice to use the energyRODs in place of the carbon plate because the Sen 8 felt flexible and nimble when running. The ride was fast, snappy, and somewhat soft, especially when attempting fast paces. Whenever I ran at a slow pace, the energyRODSs went pretty numb and then exploded when I turned up the speed.
Overall, the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 felt like an actual 5k/10k running shoe because it was responsive with every stride and pretty soft underfoot. It had significant grip, and the gait was fast, efficient, and consistent. I didn’t want to stop running. The lightness is very profound to a point you may forget that you have no shoes on.
Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 Upper Design and Fitting
Adidas took a minimalist approach when constructing the upper. The Adidas Takumi Sen. 8 has a featherweight and flimsy upper with less padding, yet it is what a 5k racing shoe should precisely be.
The Celermesh material is well streamlined and highly breathable. I could feel air permeating through the mesh, and this makes it a perfect choice during summer. I have also run in drizzling weather with the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 and noticed how it takes in little water and dries up quickly. Thus, it can also work well as an all-weather running shoe for some runners.
At an instant glance, I noticed that the upper of Takumi is almost similar to Prime X’s upper design. It is easy to mistake one for the other.
The tongue is gusseted and sits nicely on my foot to enhance a snug-fit. The padding in the tongue is little yet enough for comfort. Even with a super-thin tongue, I did not feel laces exerting pressure on top of my foot. However, it bulged out a little when I laced up. This may be attributed to the side stitching and its thinness.
Adizero Takumi Sen 8 Fitting
The toe box is roomy, so you may opt for a half size down depending on how you like it, but my sizing was okay. However, I noticed the narrowness is similar to the Adizero Prime X, which can cause problems for wide-footed runners.
In my case, I like the slight narrowness og Adidas Takumi Sen 8. It is far better than the chunkiness of wide shoes. For a 5k, you need something that holds the foot from all sides well and still gives your foot the room to breathe, and allows the toes to splay without restrictions.
However, I may not recommend this shoe to a wide foot runner, especially someone who did not like the narrowness of Takumi 6.
The lacing system of the Adizero Takumi Sen 8 is well constructed except for the laces that appear cheap for premium running shoes that cost up to 170 bucks. I think Adidas would have done better with premium laces like the one in the Adizero Prime X.
I understand that Adidas wanted to cut off weight. Hence it replaced the thin mesh and nonexistent heel counter with a flexible material. Still, the lack of heel counter does not affect the lockdown because the heel collar extends upwards and has soft inner lining. The heel collar combines well with the gusseted tongue to provide a sock-like fitting.
Sadly, I felt pretty uncomfortable at the top of the foot when I tightened the laces further to get an extra lockdown. I think it’s not much of a concern because it doesn’t take a lot of effort to dial the fitting. You can avoid pinching on the upper or midfoot by playing around with the lacing.
Adidas Takumi Sen 8 Midsole Design and Performance
At the midsole of Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 is where the magic happens. The upper sits on the lightstrikePRO foam, equipped with carbon energyRODs to enhance responsiveness.
There is a massive change in the stack height—33 mm in the heel and 27 in the forefoot, giving it a 6mm heel drop. For your reminder, the Sen 7 had a 25.5 mm heel stack with about a 9mm heel drop. Hence, the Adizero Takumi Sen 8 has a considerable high stack height.
The rods are nothing near the rigidness of the Adios pro 2. The more energy I exerted, the more energy return I got. Hence the more I turned up the pace, the faster I ran. I noted the immediate rebound, trampoline-like but with a seamless rollover from the heel to toe. Running downhill felt like flying, and I kept telling myself to slow down.
The ride felt quite peppy because my feet did not have to sink to trigger a rebound like in the Vaporfly. I can compare the firmness of the midsole to Rebel 2.
While the energy return is comparable to many super shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2, it felt less aggressive than the Sen 7 and 6. I think the Puma Nitro Elite offers an almost similar experience of the Adidas Takumi Sen 8, and maybe Adidas was inspired by its competitor. However, the Liberate Nitro is slightly more aggressive and forgiving than Sen 8.
Adidas Takumi Sen 8 Performance
Unlike most high-profile plated running shoes like the Prime X, the Sen 8 has a mildly flexible forefoot and is pretty lightweight. The heel-to-toe transitions are exceptionally snappy, fast, and efficient.
I have interacted with countable runners with Adidas Takumi Sen 8, and only one intimated that the Sen 8 has lackluster running experience. The rest of the runners were upbeat about the lightness, agility, and snappiness, and I couldn’t disagree.
From my experience, the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 is a propulsive, stable, and comfortable running shoe. The midsole is quite flexible, and I felt the energy rods trying to do magic. I also experienced a mix of softness and protection under the foot, so I was confident with every stride. Hence, unlike the firm carbon plate, the energyRODs give the Adizero Takumi Sen 8 subtle cushioning even if the ride is not highly energizing. Adidas Takumi Sen 8 is firmer than the Zoom X but more responsive than the Adios Pro.
The outsole design of the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 is similar to that of the Adidas Adios 2, and the Adidas Pro Prime X. Adidas stuck with the traditional continental rubber outsole. It has worked well for this shoe. The thick continental rubber design in the medial section is similar to what you will find in the Prime X. I felt the grip in the wet conditions, on concrete and the road.
Adidas also placed a thin and softer rubber on the lateral side. I noticed that it did have more grip than the continental rubber, and cornering was easy. The rubber placement on the outsole radiates assurance. You won’t worry about slipping when running.
Notably, some outsole sections have cut-outs, yet they go unnoticed when you have the shoe on. The cut-out in the lateral side of the forefoot appears like an aesthetic because it reveals the energyRODs. Still, it could be for functionality, like giving the forefoot a bit of flexibility.
There is no doubt that the continental rubber outsole will give the shoe more life. I have been running in my Prime X, though occasionally, and it has minor traces of wear. I also like the less pronounced heel bevel for stability.
I have done both 5K and 10k runs, and there is consistent improvement in speed, especially when doing a 5K. However, I noticed that my cadence dropped whenever I attempted anything more than a 10k. The Adidas Takumi Sen 8 is less responsive at slow speed; thus, it isn’t fantastic for long-distance running. Interestingly, my feet remained fresh despite the cadence dropping. I attribute this to the soft lightstrikePRO midsole foam and weight drop.
Why You Should Buy Adidas Takumi Sen 8
The Adizero Takumi Sen 8 is a great shoe that faces significant competition from the New Balance Rebel 2, Liberate Nitro, Hoka Rocket X, and Endorphin Pro 2 for the same price. The Sen 8 cannot be ignored in terms of performance, primarily because it provides versatility and a natural ride. You can do a 5k a 10k, or tempo runs and Fartleks. Also, it is very lightweight.
The Adidas Takumi Sen 8 has exceptional upper design, good fitting, quite low stack height, and is exceptionally lightweight, making it an excellent marathon racer. However, the narrow midfoot area makes it a wrong choice for a wide-footed runner. Adidas Takumi Sen 8 is a perfect choice for a runner who does not have an extremely narrow or wide foot but sits there in the middle.
While I appreciate the design, Adidas did not do a perfect job using cheap laces in a ‘cool’ shoe.
The $180 price tag may feel like a lousy bargain until you experience the Takumi at high speed. It comes as a better alternative to Adida Adios Pros 2 because of its magnificent stability even at high speed. Besides, the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8 has consistent speed bursts and toe-off. Thus it is fun running in it, especially over a short distance.
If you can’t afford the Adios Pro 2, go for the Takumi Sen 8, and you will get a nimble and speedy running experience. You will also notice the efficiency of Takumi at high speed because the overall lightweight, lightstrikePRO foam and energyRODs provide an excellent energy return than the rigid carbon plates.
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Reviewed by Logan Philip
Philip is a passionate and experienced athlete with a critical understanding of running techniques and routine. He is also a personal fitness trainer. At 28, Philip has several miles under his feet.
