Revision as of 17:51, 11 December 2014

The Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 2 is a Japanese lightweight racing shoe. It is only recently been introduced to the American market, having been previously only available in Japan, and remains a little tricky to get hold of. The name means "An Artisan of The Highest Order," and the shoe does seem to have an unusual design aesthetic. There is no single part of the shoe that is radically different from any other, but the overall impression is of a shoe from a different culture. (This is a little strange given that Adidas is German, not Japanese.) The midsole and the upper of the Takumi Sen are far stiffer than you'd expect for such a light weight shoe (6.3oz). The outsole provides a remarkably high level of grip on asphalt. (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Adidas Takumi Sen top

Adidas Takumi Sen bottom

Adidas Takumi Sen inside

Adidas Takumi Sen outside

1 Characteristics

• Why you'd buy it. You're after a light weight shoe, combined with a firm, inflexible sole and a high level of grip.
• Cushioning. The Takumi Sen is quite firm, much firmer than shoes like the Saucony Virrata. It's so firm under if there is sufficient cushioning to get the benefits of increased Running Economy. However, if you're a runner that likes a firm midsole the Takumi Sen may work for you
• Drop. The Takumi Sen midsole is 17mm/22mm for a 5mm drop. There's no noticeable "arch support", and the heel provides a slight cup for stability. However, I found the heel relatively narrow, unlike most shoes that are wider at the base of the heel to provide some stability. This didn't seem to be an issue for running however.
• Structure. The midsole consists of two different densities of EVA foam, combined with the hard plastic arch support inserts that is Adidas' "torsion system".
• Flexibility. The Takumi Sen is far less flexible than other shoes in its weight category. If you're looking for a light weight, but stiff soled shoe, then this may be a good option for you.
• Outsole. The outsole is covered by tiny protrusions that are covered with plastic that is the consistency of sandpaper. This provides a quite remarkable level of grip, and the outsole has the logo of Continental tires, so I assume they're responsible for this novel material. This is a high grip outsole for asphalt and similar surfaces; it is not for trails or dirt.
• Shape. The Takumi Sen is the classic shape that does not match the human foot, and narrows excessively in the toe box.
• Upper. The upper is remarkably thin and completely inflexible. It has good breathability, and its thinness means it dries quite quickly. The padding around the ankle opening is probably adequate, though not overly generous.
• Tongue. The tongue is very thin and unpadded.
• Lacing. The flat laces work well and remained tied.
• Heel counter. The heel counter is far stiffer than any shoe I can recall trying. The edge of the heel counter is quite well defined, but I think it's positioning will mean it shouldn't cut into most runners feet. One oddity is the Adizero logo on the heel counter can only be seen from some angles, which is a fairly cool effect.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy the Adidas Takumi Sen at Adidas.com.

2 Comparisons

The Takumi Sen doesn't have any close competition from the other shoes I've tested. Its combination of light weight, stiffness, high grip and firm midsole make it a little unusual.

2.1 Takumi Sen and Altra One2

Comparing the Takumi Sen and Altra One²:

• Similarities
  • Both are light weight.
  • Both are expensive, though the poor longevity probably makes the Altra more expensive in the long run.
• Advantage Takumi Sen
  • The Takumi Sen has amazing outsole grip on Asphalt.
  • The Takumi Sen outsole will last much longer than the Altra.
• Advantage Altra One²
  • The Altra One² is more flexible.
  • The Altra One² is zero drop.
  • The Altra One² is softer.
  • The Altra One² has a much toe box shape (not as good as the Cursoris).
  • The Altra One² is generally more comfortable.

Adidas Takumi Sen top	Adidas Takumi Sen bottom	Adidas Takumi Sen inside	Adidas Takumi Sen outside
Altra One2 top	Altra One2 bottom	Altra One2 inside	Altra One2 outside

2.2 Takumi Sen and Mizuno Cursoris

Comparing the Takumi Sen and Mizuno Cursoris:

• Similarities
  • Both are light weight.
  • Both are hard to get hold of; the Takumi Sen is rare and the Cursoris is discontinued.
• Advantage Takumi Sen
  • The Takumi Sen has amazing outsole grip on Asphalt.
  • The Takumi Sen outsole will last much longer than the Cursoris.
• Advantage Mizuno Cursoris
  • The Cursoris is more flexible.
  • The Cursoris is zero drop.
  • The Cursoris is softer.
  • The Cursoris has a much better toe box shape.
  • The Cursoris is generally more comfortable.
  • The Cursoris is often available at a much lower price.

Adidas Takumi Sen top	Adidas Takumi Sen bottom	Adidas Takumi Sen inside	Adidas Takumi Sen outside
Mizuno Wave Runner Cursoris top	Mizuno Wave Runner Cursoris bottom	Mizuno Wave Runner Cursoris inside	Mizuno Wave Runner Cursoris outside

2.3 Takumi Sen and Saucony Hattori

Comparing the Takumi Sen and Saucony Hattori:

• Similarities
  • Both are light weight, but the Hattori is lighter.
  • Both have a sub-optimal toe box that is not shaped for the human foot.
  • Both have low cushioning, though they have different characteristics: the Takumi Sen has thicker but firmer foam.
  • Both are hard to get hold of; the Takumi Sen is rare and the Hattori is discontinued.
• Advantage Takumi Sen
  • The Takumi Sen has amazing outsole grip on Asphalt.
  • The Takumi Sen has laces for a better fit (Hattori is available with laces as the Hattori LC, but they are even harder to find).
• Advantage Saucony Hattori
  • The Hattori is more flexible.
  • The Hattori is zero drop.
  • The Hattori is cheaper (when you can find it).

3 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.