Adidas Takumi Sen 10 First Run Review: A Lightweight Speed Shoe With Real Pop

Introduction

The Adidas Takumi Sen 10 is the latest version of the brand’s lightweight speed shoe, priced at £170 or $180. It weighs 192g (6.8 oz) for men in a size 8, with a 6mm drop. Adidas positions it for training and racing up to 10K, combining two layers of Lightstrike Pro cushioning with Energy Rods 2.0 for a propulsive, snappy toe-off and minimal energy loss.

It is not a daily trainer for most people, and it is not the shoe to buy if you only own one pair. But as a lean, fast shoe for track sessions, intervals, and short races, it makes a strong early impression.

Fit and Sizing

This is an aggressive racing fit. The upper is a breathable mesh designed to wick sweat away from the foot, with a slinglaunch heel construction for lockdown and a traditional lacing system to prevent slippage. It is a lean, restrictive upper with minimal padding, and it can be a hard shoe to get on.

One runner with a narrow foot found it dialed in at his usual size, noting the shoe runs slightly short and slim in the midfoot. Another tester, also a UK size 8, agreed the fit is close and comfortable once on, with limited toe room and a narrower midfoot, but recommended staying with your normal size. If you have wide feet or run large for your size, trying it on or going half a size up may be worth considering.

Be aware that the extremely breathable upper runs cold. On frosty UK mornings, feet got noticeably chilly on easy jogs, something to consider if you get cold feet or plan winter use.

First Run: Easy Miles and Strides

An 8K progression run was the first test, starting easy and finishing around 3:30/km pace with strides. The verdict: an absolute delight. Even at relaxed paces the shoe feels bouncy and surprisingly soft underfoot, and the low stack makes it easy to turn over quickly, especially for high-cadence runners.

Moving through the gears, it feels nimble and agile around corners and up short hills. Strides were a highlight: getting up on the forefoot into the Lightstrike Pro delivers a snappy pop rather than booming bounce. It lacks the big super-shoe bounce of high-stack racers, but it makes up for it with sheer speed of turnover. Despite the lean midsole, an easy 5:00/km jog to and from the track (about 8K round trip) felt more comfortable than expected, though it is not a shoe for that pace all the time.

Track Session Verdict

A hard session of 3x400m, 4x800m, and 3x400m showed where this shoe belongs. On fast reps around 3:20/km pace, it feels barely there: light on the feet, quick to accelerate, with a snappy, fluid poppy feel from the Lightstrike Pro and newly designed Energy Rods working together.

It also held up well on stability despite the thin midsole, both at easy road pace and at full effort on the track. For this tester, it is already shaping up as a favorite track shoe, and the breathability stops being an issue once the session gets sweaty.

Grip and Outsole

Adidas covers the shoe generously with its Continental rubber outsole, with a broad rubber section up top and thinner exposed sections on the sides. Grip is excellent in every condition tested: frosty pavements, wet roads, and a wet track all presented no problems, and it should also improve long-term durability.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is a specialist shoe, not an all-rounder. Runners who prefer lots of cushioning may not want it for anything over a 10K, while those used to leaner racing shoes will find the midsole makes it applicable to more situations than expected. Compared with high-stack super shoes, it feels different rather than worse: nimble, agile, and genuinely fun for short, fast running. If you only race long straight courses and want maximum foam and propulsion, a bigger super shoe may still add up over the distance.

Buying Advice

If you race 5Ks and 10Ks, love track sessions, or want a second shoe dedicated to speedwork, the Takumi Sen 10 is an easy recommendation from these early runs. If you need a single do-everything shoe, look elsewhere. And note the price: at £170/$180, fun as it is to run in, it is a considered purchase.

Conclusion

Early verdict: the Takumi Sen 10 is a fantastic, incredibly lightweight-feeling fast training and racing shoe that borrows super-shoe technology without the super-shoe stack. It feels poppy, fast, and never holds you back. More testing is planned, especially on the track, but the first impressions are overwhelmingly positive.