Low Stack Racing Shoes Compared: Nike Street Fly, Adidas Takumi Sen 78 and New Balance SuperComp Pacer

Introduction

Lower stack super shoes are the most interesting trend in racing footwear right now. Instead of the 40mm stacks allowed by World Athletics that dominate most carbon plate shoes, these sit closer to 30mm at the heel, and they are designed for shorter race distances, generally 5K and 10K, with some pushing towards the half marathon.

We tested the Nike Street Fly, the Adidas Takumi Sen 78 and the New Balance SuperComp Pacer across fast training and racing at the distances they are built for. All three pair lightweight uppers with each brand’s best foam and some form of stiffening structure, but they take noticeably different approaches, and their rides feel very different on the road.

At a Glance: Key Specs

The Nike Street Fly is the lightest at 182 grams in a UK size 9 (6.4 ounces), and the cheapest by a clear margin at £134.95 in the UK or $160 in the US. It has a 6mm drop with a 32mm heel stack.

The Adidas Takumi Sen 78 weighs 194 grams (6.84 ounces) and costs £170 or $180. It also has a 6mm drop, with a 33mm heel stack. The New Balance SuperComp Pacer sits at 199 grams (7 ounces), priced at £160 in the UK and $150 in the US, with an 8mm drop and a heel stack believed to be around 28mm, though unconfirmed.

Design and Construction

All three use very lightweight mesh uppers with minimal padding around the heel, as you would expect from shoes built for short distance racing.

The Street Fly has a full ZoomX foam midsole with no full length plate, just a small heel-to-midfoot shank around the midfoot. The outsole uses what Nike describes as targeted rubber: generous forefoot coverage and two strips at the back, the classic weight-saving pattern.

The SuperComp Pacer pairs a very thin mesh upper with a full length carbon plate in a FuelCell foam midsole, described as Energy Arc technology: a scooped plate working with soft, bouncy foam. The outsole is stripped back, with forefoot coverage and two heel strips sitting almost flush with the exposed foam, so durability is not the priority here.

The Takumi Sen 78 uses Lightstrike Pro foam, Adidas’s top racing foam, which is soft, light and bouncy. Instead of carbon energy rods like the Adios Pro, the Takumi uses glass fibre energy rods under the forefoot plus a small carbon plate under the heel. There are midsole cutouts to save weight, but outsole coverage is actually good, with Continental rubber in the key toe-off zone and thinner rubber covering most of the rest, adding grip without much weight.

Fit and Sizing

Fit varies a lot between these three, so sizing is worth thinking about carefully.

The Street Fly ran a bit long with a roomy toe box. Midfoot and heel hold are good even so. If you want a racier fit, consider going half a size down; otherwise stay true to size. The SuperComp Pacer is the opposite: a very tight, short toe box and a streamlined narrow design. You cannot go half a size down, and if anything, going half a size up is the safer call, especially for racing towards 10K or half marathon.

The Takumi Sen 78 delivered a spot-on true-to-size fit with an aggressive but not cramped racing feel, secure midfoot hold and the classic narrow Adidas racing shoe fit. For narrow-footed runners it is close to perfect.

Ride Feel: How Each Shoe Runs

The Street Fly is the softest by far. Without a full plate, and sitting on a fairly high stack of very soft, springy ZoomX, it almost disappears on the foot with a natural feel and plenty of bounce. The trade-off shows at hard paces over longer spells: there is less punch and propulsion than a plated shoe, and it is easy to feel lost in the soft foam mid-race rather than being directed forward.

The Takumi Sen 78 has a much more direct feel. The rods deliver firmness and propulsion exactly when racing demands it, and it proved comfortable enough to carry a half marathon, a 10K race and plenty of fast training. On twisty courses or imperfect surfaces it is noticeably more nimble and agile than a high stack shoe. On long, straight, flawless courses, however, it gives up some punch to bigger, plated shoes.

The SuperComp Pacer is the firmest of the three and the closest in feel to an old-fashioned racing flat, though the FuelCell foam keeps it more cushioned and comfortable than that sounds. It feels very light and aggressive at the start of hard reps, but it tends to strain the legs a little more over longer efforts, even compared with the Takumi. It shines on hilly courses and mixed terrain, where its lightness and agility really pay off.

Which One Should You Buy?

The Takumi Sen 78 is the standout of the three and the one most worth considering. It works as a fantastic fast trainer and a genuine racing shoe, handles longer distances than the other two, and treads the balance between them: firmer and more purposeful than the Nike, more comfortable and protective than the New Balance. On broken-up parkrun paths or twisty half marathon courses with lots of turns, it matches up with almost anything on the market.

The Street Fly earns its place as the cheapest and a very fun, springy fast trainer, but the lack of a plate limits it for longer hard reps and races. The SuperComp Pacer is the most grounded and racing-flat-like of the three, with real speed and a full length carbon plate, but it strains the legs over longer efforts and delivers a less refined ride than the Takumi.

One honest caveat: none of these fully convinced over the established high stack full plate options for all-round racing. Where they excel is twisty courses, imperfect ground and short, fast efforts where a high stack shoe loses some of its advantage.

Conclusion

Three lower stack super shoes, three distinct personalities. The Takumi Sen 78 is the pick for most runners thanks to its fit, versatility and purposeful ride. The Street Fly is the budget-friendly fun trainer, and the SuperComp Pacer suits runners who want a firm, flat-like, plated feel. Match the shoe to your typical race course and distance and each of them has a clear place.