Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10 review

We think the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10 stands out as a superb option for runners who demand speed:

• Midfoot and forefoot strikers will find its massive energy return and aggressive grip perfect for shaving seconds off all 5K and 10K races.
• Track enthusiasts will appreciate the spike-like feel—close to the ground and highly responsive—yet with enhanced leg protection.
• Admirers of the Takumi Sen legacy will be pleased too, as the 10th edition maintains its hallmark attributes—it’s lightweight, narrow, and built for speed.

The Takumi Sen 10 is not suited for rearfoot strikers or those with wider feet—it has a super-narrow heel and a cramped toebox and we found the heel stability lacking, which might pose a problem for many runners. For a better fit and more stable ride, we suggest the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 or the Adidas Adios Pro 3.

We also think the Takumi Sen 10 has an suboptimal cushioning-to-weight ratio. From our lab analysis, runners looking for substantial foam underfoot will find better options in pricier models like the Saucony Endorphin Elite or the Nike Vaporfly 3, even for 5K races.

Adidas is renowned for creating ultra-thin, see-through uppers in their racing shoes, and the Takumi Sen 10 is a prime example. We anticipate excellent results from our breathability tests because of this design.

Our smoke test confirmed our expectations—smoke easily escaped from the toebox, encountering virtually no resistance. This effortless airflow scored a perfect 5/5 from us.

We also examined the halved upper under a light and observed uniform transparency across most of the upper, not just in the toebox.

The next step was to use the microscope, an invaluable tool that unveils the true nature of the upper.

What we observed was a minimalistic, single-layer engineered mesh crafted with thicker horizontal yarns interwoven with thinner vertical ones, creating tonnes of microscopic holes.

While the Takumi's design significantly enhances its ventilation, the downside is a scratchy material. Combined with some rough internal stitches, it's totally unsuitable for going sockless. Sorry, triathletes!

Just as we anticipated excellent ventilation prior to our smoke-pumping test, we must now face the reality of this mesh in terms of durability.

The video clearly shows the Dremel tearing through the upper almost instantly—a clear demonstration of its fragility, compelling us to rate it a dismal 1/5.

Much to our satisfaction, the heel counter outperformed expectations when subjected to the same rigours as the toebox.

The absence of padding in the heel—it has just two pads on either side—contributed significantly to a robust performance, earning it a solid 4/5 rating.

Our anticipation was high when we noticed the Continental logo on the outsole.

The outsole is composed of three unique sections—a segment of Continental yellow rubber, two pieces of sandpaper-like material, and some exposed foam in the centre.

Initially, we measured the hardness of the thinner material, which registered at a notably soft 52.1 HC. To put this into perspective, consider the analogy of a Formula 1 car's soft tyres—they offer exceptional grip yet tend to wear out quickly. We're curious to see if a similar scenario unfolds here.

To assess the durability of the sandpaper-like material on the outsole, we conducted one final test using the Dremel.

The results were concerning—our test left a 1.9-mm dent, severely damaging the outsole. While we anticipated some wear, the extent of the damage was disappointing. This finding is particularly worrisome for runners who tend to wear down the outer part of their shoes, such as supinators.

While some might consider using the Takumi Sen 10 for various types of runs, it's primarily engineered as a competition shoe, making the 1.8-mm rubber entirely appropriate.

This design choice naturally affects durability, as we previously observed, but minimising weight is crucial in terms of performance.

One of the critical aspects of the Takumi Sen 10 is its attempt at maintaining a low weight—measured at just 7.1 oz or 200g. While this positions it as a featherweight contender, there's a significant drawback worth mentioning.

The shoe's Lightstrike Pro midsole, crafted from TPEE—more on this in our detailed guide on foams—is notably heavier than its PEBA-based competitors. Consequently, Adidas was forced to reduce the overall stack height and dimensions of the shoe to manage the weight effectively, and despite these efforts, it's still as heavy as the towering Nike Alphafly 3.

On a brighter note, it's worth mentioning that although heavier, Lightstrike Pro ages like fine wine, maintaining its top performance far longer than PEBA superfoams.

With a heel stack of just 30.6 mm, World Athletics surely verified that the Takumi Sen 10 meets their road racing regulations (40 mm) with ease, just as we did.

With that said, heavier runners—especially heel strikers—might find the Takumi Sen 10 suitable only for distances up to 10K. Lighter athletes, however, might use it in half marathons. We also think that opting to race a marathon in this model doesn’t seem practical for almost anyone, except for some exceptionally light individuals.

With only 22.8 mm in the forefoot, this shoe embodies the perfect modern racing flat, providing an excellent mix of ground feel and top-notch foam technology.

It's ideal for track workouts, delivering an experience akin to wearing running spikes but in a road shoe package.

Adidas advertises the Takumi with a 6-mm drop, but after several precise measurements following World Athletics guidelines, we determined it to be 7.8 mm, still a mid-drop shoe anyway.

This discrepancy of 1.8 mm might seem significant, but it's well within normal manufacturing tolerances or could be attributed to the natural compression of the foam. It's a minor variation that shouldn't raise any concerns.

Given its design as a 5K racing shoe, we expected a thin insole to help minimise weight. And we got it at just 3.4 mm.

Adidas has adopted the supershoe midsole design started by Nike with the Vaporfly—two slabs of superfoam sandwiching a stiffening agent. For the Takumi Sen 10, instead of a carbon plate, it features Energy Rods 2.0 made from fibreglass to ensure the shoe isn’t too stiff.

We’ll start by discussing the midsole, and later we will cover the rods. The first of the two TPEE-based Lightstrike Pro layers is the one closer to the foot, formulated with more softness and less density (13.4 HA) to enhance foam compression and comfort.

The second layer of foam is the one closest to the ground. It’s denser and firmer at 20.4 HA, which helps stabilize the shoe and prevents bottoming out despite its relatively low design. It also results in a ride that lacks plushness, providing a firmer, more responsive overall feel, as it should be in any Takumi Sen.

We found a 17.7% increase in firmness after a 20-minute freezer stint—a very good result. This ensures consistent foam performance regardless of the season you're racing at, which we highly value.

We already hinted at a natural, classic ride in the Takumi Sen 10, and its subtle toe rocker confirms this. 

The rocker is minimal by today's standards, providing just enough assistance during toe-off, leaving the rest of the work to your feet. This feature is fantastic for short races and manoeuvring around corners in 5Ks that are anything but straight lines.

The Takumi Sen 10 stands out from most other shoes on the market, and it's a bit unusual in terms of stability too, especially due to both midsole cutouts.

It has a narrow platform—particularly in the heel—without midsole sidewalls or a rigid heel counter, yet it still feels fairly stable for neutral runners, especially for forefoot strikers. We believe this is due to the combination of the firmer foam layer, Energy Rods, and low stack height, among other factors.

With a stiffening agent in the midsole, we knew this shoe wouldn't offer much torsional flexibility. After our manual assessment, we found it to be a 4/5 in rigidity—confirming our expectations of a notably rigid shoe.

Contrary to the previous test, the heel counter offers no rigidity—it's just your heel against the upper. Obviously, this earned a 1/5 in our tests.

We can only recommend this shoe to those without any rearfoot stability concerns. Otherwise, we suggest the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 for better heel security.

Holding the Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10 next to almost any maximalist running shoe is almost comical—it's significantly smaller.

Starting with the forefoot, we measured it at just 110.3 mm, sitting below the typical width for most running shoes.

The heel measurement of just 75.8 mm left us truly astonished. It's akin to driving a go-kart on a circuit—pure adrenaline, ideal for those who love an exhilarating ride or for track enthusiasts.

However, this narrow design makes the shoe not appealing at all for heel strikers. We highly recommend the ASICS Magic Speed 3 instead for those seeking better heel support.

We already mentioned that the Energy Rods are made from fibreglass instead of carbon fibre. This results in a less stiff, more forgiving shoe.

We tested this in our 90-degree bend test, requiring just 29.9N of force—about half of what’s usually needed for carbon-plated shoes.

We tested it again after 20 minutes in our freezer and observed a 26% increase in stiffness—a result that we consider favorable.

The Takumi Sen series has consistently maintained a performance fit throughout its iterations, and the 10th edition continues this tradition.

Measuring just 96.6 mm across the widest part of the upper, the shoe is absolutely perfect for those with narrow feet. It also offers a spike-like, low-volume secure lockdown that runners with average-width feet will appreciate during short intervals or races, providing a snug, race-ready feel.

This trend extends to the big toe area as well. We measured its width at 75.2 mm, clearly revealing a notable taper.

This design likely makes the shoe unsuitable for those with wide feet, as the snug fit may not accommodate those with broader or square foot shapes.

Adidas opted to forego a gusset in the Takumi Sen 10, aiming to shed extra weight (and some money) from the design.

Despite this choice, the shoe's slim profile and snug fit in the forefoot and midfoot ensure that the tongue stays comfortably in place without shifting, and we've experienced no undesired movements during runs.

While most racers feature razor-thin tongues, the Takumi Sen 10 pleasantly surprised us with a generous 4.0 mm of padding. Adidas smartly focused this padding in areas that endure more lace pressure, while keeping the rest of the tongue as thin as possible.

Adidas remains one of the few brands that still doesn't use notched laces in their premium racing shoes—a decision we find disappointing.

This padding may seem minimal compared to the average shoe, yet it's significantly three to four times the thickness typically found in high-performance supershoes. This thoughtful design choice provides a bit of comfort without compromising the shoe's streamlined, race-ready feel.

As part of the Adizero family, we anticipated Adidas would maintain the iconic design language in the Takumi Sen 10, including the flap-like pull tab on the heel—and indeed, there it is!

We discovered that, unlike many road racing shoes, the insole of the Takumi Sen 10 is not glued to the midsole, allowing us to remove it in just a few seconds.

However, we found that replacing it presents a challenge. The ultra-narrow heel shape means that most aftermarket insoles likely won’t fit perfectly. Moreover, we believe finding another thin, perforated insole as breathable as the original will be difficult.

If you're doing intervals on the track or pushing to the limit in 5K/10K races, reflective elements typically aren't necessary. That's why it's not concerning that the TS10 features... none at all!