125km in my Takumi Sen8 and I love them. And they can do everything from my fastest efforts all the way up to a half marathon racer. I think I've covered everything from 8k sessions up to 18km. Fast, light, snappy, but enough cushioning to handle up to the half marathon. I believe they dropped a significant amount of weight from the 8 to the 9, which is crazy. But what I'm really going to wait for is to see if they put the Strung upper on the Takumi....if they do...I will pay whatever price they want.
Just picked this one up as well and did a 3x8min threshold run yesterday and it was a very fun session. Disappeared on the foot and I really felt the fiberglass rods flexing where sometimes carbon feels too stiff. Was 40% off so at $108 is definitely worth it.
TS8 is the one of the best shoes I bought I'm well over 300K and shoe is still going strong. If I had to pick one flaw that would be laces but it's definitely not a dealbreaker. I wouldn't compare this shoe with Streakfly even though Nike marketed that shoe as a 5/10K racing option it doesn't have the same snap and and midsole feel like you get from Takumi Sen. Streakfly bottoms out little and it could be a decent steady run shoe for short distances but Takumi Sen is a different beast. Looking forward to Takumi Sen 9 which is almost an identical shoe apart from a small upper changes.
I've recently just bought this shoe, so I have not put it through many different situations yet. I think it works best for track sessions for me so far. On a 5 mile mixed trail run, I found it a bit too harsh and unstable when landing on mid foot. So I'd say it's a forefoot striking shoe for faster intervals, and I maybe might give it a go for a 5k. I also have the pro 3, which I love.
I find Lightstrike Pro just doesn't bottom out. The TS8 remarkably felt just as cushioned at the end of a 30k run as in the beginning, where most midsoles would start to feel flat for me after about 15k. The long collar seems to be present on the 8 as well, as it was the first time that a runner's knot both really did make a difference for me and was absolutely necessary. But not to worry, as my feet are narrow so there was too much lace left over anyway. Fit is sublime, feels close to the foot and extremely nimble but never restricting. Had to go half a size down or I would have had miles of space left in front of the big toes. I still clearly feel how my right forefoot sits ever so slightly further back than the cut of the upper material would have it placed, but that's only when I really put my mind to it and it disappears in a jiffy. The midsole is super comfortable for all paces after breaking it in. Felt really firm especially during the first run but after about 50k it had settled in. Have another pair waiting in a box and finally also managed to snag a pair of AAA Pro 1, a shoe I've sort of been dreaming to have 🤣 The Adios Pro 2 and 3 have carvings in their midsoles that work opposite of what I would need in the more truly neutral og Lightstrike Pro supershoe.
I would agree there, it never feels like it bottoms out and I find it continues to feel the same regardless of the distance you run! On some shoes the midsole can get a bit too squishy and feel flat after a certain distance, but not this midsole… the pro 3 has been a testimony to that!
Great vid Andy. Love my Takumi Sen 8. Light, fast and great for many races and quicker training work. Reckon it’s good all the way to half marathon distance but really excels at around 10k imo. This shoe won’t suit wide feet though. I use a runner’s loop to tie them and it’s fine for my average width feet but I keep the lacing reasonably loose outside of the heel lock
For me the best use is track sessions. But just like you Andy, I was blown away by these when I put them on the first time a few months ago. Made me consider buying adios pro 3.
I am glad that finally you and Tim Grose had been able to test Takumi Sen 9 and that you had a good experience with it. I have TS8 which only shoe that I bought 3 pairs of the same model (well, at good discounts as always) and TS9 is a minor update so I think I'll skip on this version. Great shoe for speed interval workouts!
Andy, Great shoe I have three colourways and a sen 8, but Asics Noosa Tri 15 is out, true to size (I actually go ½ size down in Asics) size 13 available at sportshoes with 15% off (asics15 code), just received mine after ordering yesterday. No plate, 236g size UK 9½, gusseted tongue, very comfortable got to try it for £114.74. I think you'll like it and I love the colours. Had previous versions a lightweight fast shoe.👌
You obviously know lightstrike well Andy, I got the Sen 8 very early on, it took me a few speed sessions to trust it, it feels harsh until you literally put you foot down, sometimes on a long fast session I feel as if I can feel too much road, but I never have any pain afterwards, the harder you push it the more it gives you. I thought it was just me with the fit, the narrowness, the close fit across the top, I find I have to get the lacing right because it doesn’t ‘settle in’ after you start running, it has to be right, worth stopping and getting the lacing right
Great to see you review this fantastic shoe Andy! One thing to note looking at your video is the way the shoe seems to make you pronate on landing...If you look at the way the midsole is shaped it seems the shoe is made to do that (the midsole is shaped differently on the medial and lateral sides). On the other hand the Adios pro 2 is lower laterally than the medial side and force you to supinate... I would be curious to see the midsole geometry development with Adidas!
Thanks Paul! Yes I noticed when I slowed a clip down just how much I was pronating inwards… it was quite significant! I didn’t notice it when running but it’s something I’ll be aware of moving forwards!
Kofuzi reckons it's so similar to the TS8, other than livery, you're better off getting the discount clearance 8s rather than brand new 9s. And the 8s are one of my top 3 favourite shoes ever. I'll wait for these to be discounted and get some later in the year.
Thanks the shout out and good to hear they are working for you. Between us we bought the entire UK 13.5 stock - all 2 pairs of them! Hoping to try mine later on. Re sizing, adidas UK sizing is just 0.5 more but still a US 14 or 32 cm shoe like say UK 13 in Nike or Saucony. I wonder if the UK 14.5 might have been OK for you? I do recall a few New Balance ones when you had similar issues. One drawback these days of Internet only sales. As I recall your feet are about 3mm longer than mine so think you are right on the very limit of what they recommend for us. Am finding all the current adizero shoes "fiddly" for lock down. Think partly as the uppers are so flimsy in say this or the Adios Pro 3 there is nothing much to lock on to. So looks like these are fine for your "buffed out" trails. Mind you it is so dry at the moment that everything is very firm anyway.
Between us we are taking all their stock 😂 yeah I have wondered that but then I went up to a 14.5 in a new balance I became way too baggy so it’s a trade off… I think I’d rather have them a tiny bit too small than oversized… plus my pro 3 seem to of stretched a bit as I no longer get the issue in them 👍
@@TheFODRunner yeah sizing up a whole size kind of defeats the object as then the weight would be like an Adios Pro 3 which we already have and for me at least then far too wide. I “got away” with a 12.5 in an adidas for years and TBH the 8 in a 12.5 was only fraction short but great to get something now that fits much better as have come to appreciate that thumbwidth now. No length issues for me on Boston 12 or Adios 8 BTW in a UK 13.5. Going to be interesting to see if/when Adios 8 might be better than the Sen 9 as the Adios 8 is “only” 273g despite being only part Lightstrike Pro.
HI Tim / Andy - I'd be really grateful if you could provide your input. Im interested in these shoes and always thought Adidas didnt do my size. For reference I wear 31cm / US 13 in Nikes / Saucony / etc and its perfect. Would UK 13.5 (30.5 cm) work in this case? It seems to me their UK 14 is not available in any adizero model and UK 14.5 would be too much. Thanks in advance
Love my Sen 8 as well. At 400km no wear and midsole feels the same. Main negative for me is that it only works for fast paces, during warm up or off intervals it feels uncomfortable and unstable. Will probably buy another 8 on discount
Had since the 8s and now got the 9s. First shoe in a long time I intend to keep replacing (unless they mess up a future version). So good for speed days.
Like a lot of runners i got the Takumi 8 for around £80 incl postage and although i didn't use them until just recently i decided to take them on a Park run and was a little surprise to course pb by 35sec. Un like the Pro 2's that are great at holding a good pace these are fast without trying and i think if the 9's are as nice Adidas have a winner for short raceseven if they are a tad expensive. Ian
Yeah they’re a tad expensive but it seems they’re well worth it… I need to use my vaporfly 3 for my next race(s) but I would like to try these over a small distance race too
I have slightly wider forefoot and will avoid these , love the midsole compound in the adios pro 3 that does fit me just right . Thank you for the review , the width comment is so helpful !
I have now limited the Adidas takumi Sen 8 to parkrun Pb attempts. It is the fastest shoe I have.... Definitely have the highest cadence running hard in this shoe. Prefer the comfort of the rebel v3 or speed 3 for training.
There’s some pretty decent discounts around for 8 & 9 (near same) so I think that’s the way to go. I’ve got a pair of 8s I bought on super discount but still boxed until I need them (check the discipline!)
For 10k racing, i think i just try my Takumis this summer. There is enough cush and the turn over it gives just might be better for me for that distance. Just the feeling i got on my first session with them. Save the 40mm stackers for 21k racing and up. Weirdly, for my UK 10.5 they were true to size with a good thumb width. Maybe they are not used to make that big of shoes 😂
Nothing to do with shoes or running. But you being a spurs fan how do you feel about your new coach? Me being Aussie and knowing his journey I’m excited about what he can achieve for you guys.
I’m excited for him but being brutally honest… the issues at our club run much deeper, we need new owners and a chairman if we are to ever turn a corner!
Would like to try these. That stack compared to the old Takumi Sen though, and in today's world even this would be classed as a lower stack. 😅 Don't discount it as a race shoe either, Emile Cairess ran his 2.08 marathon debut at London 2023 in these. 👌
As mentioned above, they just had a great sale in the US on the Sen 9, and I scored the opaque mesh, green, black stripes color way for $108! Have a 5k in the morning and looking forward to wearing them.
Streakfly and Takumi Sen aren’t really the same type of shoe. Streakfly is a light trainer with a more flexible natural feel. Takumi is more like a “super shoe” with the carbon rods. I get the reason some make that comparison though.
I used to use the Adidas Boston Boosts up to version 9 until they changed it from the 10. I've tried the Adios 7s but the upper has split in a strange place. I'm contacting Adidas for a replacement. I might try the Takumi Sen instead.
While I generally like the shoe (I have version 8), the floppy heel collar is something I don‘t enjoy. Feels very unstable on uneven surfaces or when cornering.
@@TheFODRunner no, you are not alone. 🫵😝 it is a bit too floppy for my taste. I prefer a bit of structure, as it feels like my heel is slipping from left to right in it when I am not just running in a straight line, which kinda annoys me 😂.
The pro 3 is a bit wider and more “stable” Landing, the takumi feels more aggressive… I raced a 10k in the pro 3 and they felt fast but didn’t have that edge! So I’d be keen to try the takumi next!
@@TheFODRunner Yes! Thanks for the content. I enjoy watching your reviews and vlogs and seeing you achieve new personal bests inspires me to do better myself. Thanks Andy. 👍
@@TheFODRunner i noticed rebel v2 and propel video you said they run short too, cause newbalance run same size as adidas. I have to half size up in these brands to get thumbs width
@@JoutarouKuujou1 yea they do! I have to do the same as adidas and just notch up to a 13.5 from a 13… that seems to be my “true to size” in those brands
This is generally a narrow shoe, from watching Tim Grose recent reviews you’re probably better off trying the adios 8 or Boston 12 first as they seem to be wider than this!
Doctors of running is a good resource. Pretty sure they said these were unstable. Brooks are due to release the Hyperion GTS and that's what I am waiting on.
Midsole feels like nothing else.. Even better than the Adios Pro 3 but my midfoot said NO .. Send it back.. I am size 43 in Nike and Saucony etc but 42.7 in Adidas Takumi sen 9 or Pro 3.
I know this comment will be very unpopular But I don’t like sen 8 and I’m geussing the 9 is the same for me sen 8 is too firm, no energy return and no bounce Not sure what I’m missing because everyone online seems to love it For me it doesn’t come close to the vapourfly 1/2/3
It’s not unpopular…. I’m sure plenty are of the same opinion! All I’d say is don’t compare it to the vaporfly… it’s definitely not in the same camp, the pro 3 would be the direct comparison there…. I think the rival Nike shoe would be the Streakfly 👍 and yes the 8 and 9 are almost identical!
I sometimes wonder if runners who have tried ZoomX before in the likes of the Vaporfly expect Lightstrike Pro to be the same i.e great out of the box… With both the Takumi Sen 8 and Adios Pro 3 I found them firm and little bounce at first but come 50 or so miles wow totally different shoes and by far my favourites. So maybe folks are giving up on them too soon…
It's a personal thing. I love the takumi sen 8's for their lower stack and firmer feel (give it 50k and they do soften a little). Didn't even take the streakfly out of the shop. Too squishy. I have the Adios Pro 2, which I use, but that squish saps my energy and feels clunky. With the Sen 8, I feel much fresher at the end. Never tried the vaporfly - maybe I should.
@@rob8939 maybe I’ve got 53k in the pro 3 and it’s not bad it just doesn’t feel bouncy or like the carbon rods are doing anything especially when compared to vaporflys or alphaflys where it feels fast and like the shoe is tipping you forward and pushing you The Sen 8 really destroys my feet and beats up my legs but maybe I should try to use them more It’s just hard to use them when I can put my old vapourfly 2s on that are much softer ,bouncer , faster and they look after my legs It might just be down to the way I run or something as a lot of people absolutely love light strike pro shoes I do like the prime x but it’s a little too wobbly for me and I worry about rolling my ankle constantly
@Steve H With regards to the takumi sen 8 - I actually wouldn't, if they aren't fun to run in and making your recovery harder. It is supposed to be enjoyable after all! Go with what works for you.
Love my Sen 8 as well. At 400km no wear and midsole feels the same. Main negative for me is that it only works for fast paces, during warm up or off intervals it feels uncomfortable and unstable. Will probably buy another 8 on discount
