Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8

With the Takumi Sen 8, Adidas has released a very light and surprisingly versatile competition shoe for shorter distances that still offers a high level of comfort. In addition to its intended use, it is also a good option for runners who have not felt comfortable with previous carbon racers.

Due to the less extreme construction in terms of sole thickness and stiffness, it offers a more natural running feel and can also be used without risk for regular fast sessions due to the lower influence on the biomechanics.

All in all, I am really excited about the Takumi Sen 8 and look forward to seeing what else the developers from Herzogenaurach have in the pipeline.

If you like this concept of lightweight and somewhat flatter carbon competition shoes, you will also find some comparable models from other manufacturers:

- The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite offers a similar height and weight as the Takumi Sen 8, but has a much softer cushioning, while the Takumi Sen 8 scores with better guidance.

- The brand new Nike ZoomX Streakfly is similarly softly cushioned as the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite, but offers less guidance and hardly any stiffness in the forefoot. On the other hand, it is by far the lightest shoe in this segment.   

- The Asics Metaspeed Edge is very similar to the Takumi Sen 8 in terms of weight, specifications and cushioning, but is positioned differently as a competition shoe for runners with a high stride rate. In my opinion, it is still an interesting option for shorter road running distances.