adidas adizero Takumi Sen 11 Review
By Matthew Klein
adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 11Price: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 6.5 oz, 184 g (men's size 9 / women's size 10.5)
Stack Height: 33 mm heel / 26 mm forefoot
Drop: 7 mm
Shoe Purpose: Racing Flat
Pros: Softer Bouncy Midsole, Light, Turns Over Easily, Slightly Higher Volume Fit
Cons: Less Stable Heel/Midfoot, Mild Heel Slippage
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 11 is a moderate stack height super racing shoe for those who want a softer/bouncier ride for mile to 10k/half marathon racing. The new Lightstrike Pro mixture provides a softer and bouncier ride, making for a both responsive and protective ride underfoot that turns over extremely well for faster efforts. A new, lighter upper provides a slightly wider forefoot (for a racer) with some stretch while still being mostly secure. A drop in stack height and weight from the prior versions keep the ride more balanced, while the softer sole allows for a little more snappiness from the new glass fiber Energy Rods 2.0. An excellent, faster shoe for shorter to moderate distance races and workouts, the Adidas Takumi Sen 11 finally brings the series in the super realm without going overboard on stack height.
SIMILAR SHOES: Nike Vaporfly 4, New Balance SC Pacer v2
PAST MODEL: Adidas Takumi Sen 10
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Adidas Takumi Sen 11 fits me true to size in my normal men's US size 10. The fit is close like most racing flats, although there is a little bit of room in the forefoot for toe movement. The upper is a Lightlock woven mesh material, which is thin and light. It is moderately breathable, feeling fine most of the time but has gotten a little sweaty during hot weather. The width is surprisingly normal to a tiny bit snug in the rearfoot. The toe box is tapered but opens quickly into a slightly wider fit (for a racer). While the volume is lower, there is stretch to the upper that gives a little bit more room. The midfoot fits normally with a thin, fully gusseted tongue. The tongue has padding on the underside that protects from the laces, although the laces are also secure enough that I did not have to lace lock or overly tighten the laces. This transitions into a normal to slightly snug heel.
The heel has no heel counter and a little padding around the heel collar. Those with heel sensitivities will do extremely well. I did get a little movement in the heel initially (translation) but tightening the laces fixed this. Those who want a stiff counter with a strong hold may be disappointed. While the majority of the inner liner of the upper is quite comfortable against bare skin, the heel tab prevents this shoe from allowing this. I had quite a bit of rubbing from the heel tab almost to a blister, so while this upper is light and mostly secure, taller socks will be needed.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Minimally, Yes at higher speeds
How Flexible is the Shoe: Somewhat Stiff
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Yes
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Adidas Takumi Sen 11 is a moderate stack height racing shoe. It still features things consistent with super racing shoes, including full-length energy rods 2.0 (glass fiber) as a stiffening agent and a new variation of Lighstrike Pro throughout the whole midsole. The new Lightstrike Pro is much softer and bouncier than prior versions, making this one of the first versions of the Takumi Sens to feature Lightstrike Pro and actually feel super. Regardless of where you land, this midsole has some pop. This version comes in lighter than the prior versions at 6.5 oz (men's size 9). The lower total volume makes the shoe feel even lighter and turning over feels natural. The combination of the size, weight and bounciness of the midsole makes the shoe feel lighter than its listed weight. There is a 7mm heel drop listed and it feels slightly lower due to the larger heel bevel and softer sole. The heel transition is extremely smooth thanks to a larger posterolateral heel bevel and the soft transition. There is no posterolateral heel flare like previous versions so the heel transition is the best its been for years. This continues into a narrow midfoot that feels better transitioning quickly through. The forefoot is snappy, bouncy and stable. There is a slightly late rocker with mild toe spring. There are also full-length glass fiber energy rods 2.0 that provide stiffness without being rigid. They add to the responsiveness of the sole and at higher speeds, I can feel them bend and snap back. This feels natural rather than the extreme stiffness of full plates. However, those with toe mobility issues should know this shoe will flex under load, so it will not be a good option unless you have decent toe mobility.
Pacing-wise, this shoe is excellent at all workout paces. For tempo runs, there is still enough cushioning for short to moderate distances. The bouncy cushioning feels consistent and can keep a rhythm. The Takumi Sen 11 also shines at faster interval paces thanks to the bounce, lighter weight and snappiness of the rods. I have done everything from 400-1200m repeats and it feels fantastic to move quickly in this shoe. At extremely high speeds, it will respond and as mentioned, the rods will bend and snap. It is easier than higher stack super shoes to turn over as the midsole design actually lets you push through your calves and forefoot. Because of that, this shoe is not as great for longer-distance racing unless you have stronger mechanics. There are plenty of faster, more elite people who could use this for a marathon but most runners will do better in the Adios Pro 4 or Boston 13. From a racing perspective, this is an excellent choice for the mile up to the 10k (maybe half-marathon for some people). It best parallels the function of the Nike Vaporfly 4. However, the durability and traction are far better in the Takumi Sen 11.
The full-length Lighttraction GCPU outsole has good grip on man made surfaces and despite 30 miles of hard use, there is no wear on the outsole. The midsole is also holding up extremely well, although I am sure it will start to soften more with additional miles. The slight amount of exposed midsole in the midfoot makes me hesitate to suggest this for off road endeavors, but there is some traction for light dirt and trail. For more aggressive trails this will absolutely not work (unless you are David). This is therefore a short to moderate distance racing shoe with good durability that will do best on the road.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Adidas Takumi Sen 11 is a neutral racing shoe. There are no traditional methods of stability in this shoe. The heel does have a large posterolateral heel bevel that guides landings in. Unlike the previous version, there is no posterior-lateral flare that pushes the foot inward. When the shoe breaks in, this does allow some lateral bias at the heel. However, the heel and midfoot are narrowed, especially medially, so those with medial stability needs will not do well in those areas. The forefoot has a ton of midsole flare, especially medially. The forefoot rocker is also slightly laterally biased. As the shoe breaks in, the rocker bias, medial forefoot sole flare and the mild medial forefoot sidewall actually create some lateral forefoot bias and mild guidance for those with medial stability needs. As someone who has medial forefoot stability needs, this has made this shoe work well for short to moderate distance runs. For moderate to longer efforts, this shoe will work better for those with neutral mechanics. So those with mild medial forefoot guidance needs may be fine here, but otherwise this is a neutral shoe.
Thoughts as a DPT: Relative Stiffness of Shoes and Softer Cushioning
By Matthew Klein
One of the first things I noticed about the Takumi Sen 11 was the far softer Lightstrike Pro midsole. The softer and bouncier ride dramatically changes the ride from prior versions, which have all been relatively firm for having a "superfoam" in them. Personally, I like this as I expect even a moderate stack height racer to have a resilient and compliant midsole if they feature a superfoam midsole. Those who liked the relatively firmer ride, which may make the shoe feel lower to the ground, will be disappointed with this version. A firmer (relatively) midsole can provide a little better proprioceptive (body positional sense) information. It can also make the shoe feel more stable, although the incredibly narrow midfoots and posterior flaring made them feel more unstable. However, the firmer ride of the prior versions came at the expense of responsiveness and despite having a little taller stack height than version 11, I never got the bounce I was hoping out of the prior Lightstrike Pro featuring Takumi Sens. Therefore, the softening of the midsole not only makes it feel more forgiving, I think the foam works better with the rods. The rods can now flex a little more with the softer midsole and snap better than prior versions, which often felt stiff.
This is also an example of how midsole compliance can change the flexibility of a shoe. Despite the presence of rods, a stiffening agent, there is far more forefoot flexibility under load (at speed) compared to prior versions. It is still snappy, but the rods have more room to bend due to less additional stiffness from the midsole. While shoes often feel stiff in hand, especially with plates and rods, how much they actually bend will be completely different when body weight is applied through them with the increased loads associated with running. Running can put anywhere from 4-5x body through each foot with each step, which is a completely different amount and quality of force compared to trying to bend them with your hands.
Therefore, just because something has a stiffening agent does not mean it will work for everyone with toe mobility problems, like hallux rigidus. Those individuals tend to do better with a stiffer rockered sole. Running normally requires 60-90 degrees of toe extension for normal forward progression. A rocker and stiff sole can reduce this, allowing those who do not have it to keep moving forward. However, it is important to note that a combination of a softer sole with a stiffening agent can still allow some motion. This can be great for those like me who have the motion but want the snappiness to push forward. This can also not be great for those who do not have the motion and rely on an artificial forefoot rocker to move forward. This is not good or bad, just something to note for those with a variety of toe mobility and footwear needs.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: In my opinion, the Adidas Takumi Sen 11 is an improvement in every way from the previous version. The rearfoot bevel and flare have been improved so there is less of a medial push, the midsole is softer and more responsive and the rods flex better. Despite being slightly lower in stack height, I feel the Takumi Sen 11 is the most super feeling racer of all the prior versions. That said, there are a few things I would still like to suggest for improvements. The first is the heel collar. The thin collar and tab can really dig into the skin and cause irritation, so if there is a way to either reduce the stitching there or add a covering to protect the skin in that area, it would be much better. My other major suggestion is to leave the gap in the midfoot but fill it in on the medial side. While this is not the tallest shoe out there, it still has a softer midsole and a decent amount of foam underfoot. Having a wider relative midfoot with a central window/gap would still keep weight down while improving central guidance. Outside of those things, this is a great update. Of course, I would like to see this shoe lighter, but not at the expense of the midsole bounce and the excellent outsole durability.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 11 is for those who want a moderate stack height, lighter super shoe for mile to 10k and maybe half-marathon racing. The midsole will work best for those who want a softer, bouncier ride and a stiffening agent that flexes somewhat under pressure for a snappy feeling shoe. The upper will work for those who want a tiny bit more room up front while still being mostly secure. The Takumi Sen 11 has clearly differentiated itself from the Adios Pro 4 due to the lighter and slightly more flexible ride, while also being incredibly different from the lighter, non-plated, lower stack height Adios Pro 9.
Its place in the lineup matches the Nike Vaporfly 4 and New Balance SC Pacer v2 far better than lighter shoes as it still has some decent cushioning underneath while still being best at short to moderate distances. Those who do not like the softer ride will do better in the Adios 9 which sits far lower to the ground. This type of shoe is important as not everyone wants the maximal 40->40mm super racing shoe. I have really enjoyed the lighter and softer ride and found that not being so tall off the ground (33 mm is still tall). What I find most surprising given the parallel to the Vaporfly 4 is how fantastic the $180 price tag is. This is so rare for any super racing-type shoe to be in this price range and with the awesome outsole durability, makes this a great price to be had. This is only $20 more expensive than this shoe was over a decade ago. While the design is a little different, this is the first time this shoe has impressed me in a while and I am hoping Adidas can continue to honor the legacy of the origins of this fantastic series.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Slightly wider forefoot for a racer with a well-gusseted tongue. Slight heel slippage that can be secured with the laces)
Performance: A- (Bouncy, softer and snappy ride make this an excellent shoe for intervals and tempo runs. Best for mile to 10k races and up to the half-marathon for faster people. )
Stability: B [Neutral] (Mild guidance for those with medial forefoot guidance needs with a highly neutral midfoot and neutral heel)
Value: A ($180 is a great price for a lighter, moderate stack height super shoe that easily competes with similar shoe that cost $80 more especially with the fantastic outsole durability)
Personal: A- (The softer, responsive midsole, smoothed out heel and mild medial forefoot guidance makes this a great shoe for me over short to moderate distance workouts)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORadidas adizero Takumi Sen 11Price: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
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