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What You Want To Know
- Weighs 6.8 oz (193 g) for a US M9
- Lightstrike Professional midsole (33 mm in heel/27 mm in toe) with fiberglass EnergyRods and Continental Rubber outsole (unchanged from v8)
- Extra breathable higher with added assist in heel collar, non-gusseted tongue
- Nonetheless among the finest tempo sneakers that cash can purchase (which is why you can purchase the Takumi Sen 8 proper now)
- Obtainable summer time/fall 2023 for $180
This evaluate is sponsored by Bombas socks, which we’ve been utilizing to maintain us heat and cozy this winter (like the lads’s Merino wool low sock proven under). You purchase one, they offer one to somebody in want. Use code BITR20 to avoid wasting 20% off your first order!
The Intro
ROBBE: After I was a child, all I needed in life boiled down to a few issues: a Gameboy, baseball playing cards, and a pocket knife. My household was broke as hell so I by no means obtained a Gameboy. Fleer and Topps (and God forbid– Bowman) have been my solely choices for card amassing. And I obtained a tiny Swiss Military knife for Christmas one yr, and doubtless some oranges in my stocking.
A Swiss Military knife is cool, however I needed an actual knife. Possibly I used to be preconditioned from rising up with the epitome-of-cool switchblade comb, however I needed a real-life switchblade– the short launch, the slim design, the truth that it was really unlawful.
Nevermind that my sole intention of proudly owning one was merely to open and shut it for hours on finish. Possibly throw it at a pair timber. Think about The Warriors, nevertheless it was simply me preventing tall grass within the discipline behind my home. Very Star Wars child vibes.
Anyway, lengthy story brief, as a young person I lastly obtained my switchblade someplace in Budapest, efficiently introduced it again into the states in my checked baggage, then promptly misplaced it on a curler coaster at Hershey Park. The largest desires are like supernovas, they burn shiny and die quick.
Talking of issues that burn shiny and run quick, we’re right here to evaluate the Adidas Takumi Sen 9, which– in its earlier iteration– was one in all our favourite tempo/short-distance race day sneakers of the final yr. A light-weight shoe that options the most effective of the Adizero efficiency line, the Takumi Sen 9 is unchanged the place it issues most. It has the identical midsole as model 8, that means we nonetheless have 33 mm of Lightstrike Professional within the heel and 27 mm within the forefoot (6mm drop), glass fiber rods, and Continental rubber within the forefoot of the outsole.
What’s completely different is the higher. It’s much more light-weight and breathable than final yr, although the tongue not has stitching or gussets (extra on that later). The shoe weighs 5.5 ounces for my males’s 7.
Whereas we love Swiss Military knife (see our favourite do-it-all sneakers of 2022), typically we simply need the pace of a switchblade. The Adidas Takumi Sen 9 is simply that, and extra.
The Good
ROBBE: If you wish to hear me wax poetic about my love of the Takumi Sen 8, go learn that evaluate. I’ve already written the primary half of Crime and Punishment on this evaluate, so I’ll attempt to hold it extra Theodore Geisel from right here on out.
What I really like concerning the Takumi Sen 9 are the identical issues I cherished concerning the earlier model. The higher locks down proper across the midfoot, virtually soccer cleat model. It’s slender (which I like), nevertheless it holds you straight over the mattress of Lightstrike Professional. I did need to do some little bit of finagling with the laces (and went to the highest eyelet) to search out the best match, however as soon as I discovered that, it felt golden. I simply felt just like the shoe was an extension of my physique.
My first run within the shoe was a 13-mile long term with 8 simpler miles to start with, capped off by the hilly Celtic Solstice 5-Miler. Surprisingly, the shoe feels fairly good at simpler paces, a tad agency within the forefoot however the bounce of the Lightstrike Professional evens issues out. In fact, it shines at quicker paces because the safe match of the higher harnesses the one-two punch of the EnergyRods and the Lighstrike Professional to offer a propulsive toe-off. The gorgeous forefoot grip of the Continental rubber digs into the pavement to offer an additional snap via the stride.
My second run within the shoe was an 8-mile run at a reasonable tempo and it felt simply pretty much as good, giving a speedier really feel to a less-than-all-out effort. I completed my testing off with an 8-mile run with mile repeats, and located it carried out superbly from begin to end.
What’s actually stunning about this Takumi Sen 9 is its stability, regardless of the medium-high stack peak and slender final. I think this largely has to do with the safe match of the higher, locking the ankle and heel in place, one thing that lots of racing sneakers have points with. There’s a slight enchancment in that division on this model, because the heel pillows contained in the collar are extra substantial this go-around. I’ve poor ankle stability however by no means as soon as felt unstable within the shoe, which says so much when operating on the pothole-ridden and broken-cement terrain of Baltimore roads and sidewalks. It was additionally raining on my final run within the shoe, and it did nice on moist pavement.
In fact, the shoe is extremely light-weight so it simply disappears on the foot. All of it comes collectively to offer an ideal race day bundle for distances below the half marathon. For individuals who are snug with much less cushion than sneakers just like the Adios Professional 3 or Alphafly Subsequent% 2, this may even work as a marathon shoe.
Additionally, wow does this shoe look good. It must be one in all my favorites proper now by way of design and colorway.
For all the things this shoe offers, I feel the value level is completely honest, and I’m blissful to report that it stays at $180, regardless of most firms rising their prices by $10 or extra in 2023.
The Dangerous
ROBBE: Whereas I do love this shoe to loss of life, there are a number of minor points I had with the shoe. The obvious one is the non-gusseted or stitched-in tongue. Final yr’s model had stitching that went midway as much as maintain it in place, whereas this model has none. I had no points with slippage, however due to the paper-thin building of the tongue, it’s liable to wrinkling. It’s particularly tough to iron out the creases as you’re placing on the shoe and lacing it up, and also you’ll most likely need to loosen the laces to get it good. Which is one thing you don’t need to do each time as a result of discovering that excellent lace configuration is a little bit of a chore.
On my first run, I did need to cease a pair occasions to determine the lacing. If it’s not dialed in good, it doesn’t really feel safe. I additionally needed to lace the entire approach to the highest eyelet, however I additionally couldn’t do heel lock lacing as a result of the laces have been too brief for it. As soon as it’s discovered, it’s nice, nevertheless it takes a little bit of effort to get there.
Relating to the sizing, the Adizero line tends to run lengthy, so I went a half-size down this time round and it match virtually completely. It nonetheless appears to run only a tiny bit lengthy, however any smaller can be too tight.
Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 9 Conclusion
ROBBE: The Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 9 stays among the finest (if not the most effective) tempo/shorter race sneakers on the market. The right stack of Lightstrike Professional and safe match of the higher makes this a modern dagger for something quick. And whereas it isn’t a multitool, you may get away with utilizing it as a light-weight each day coach in a pinch.
I’ve to say, I feel that is one in all my top-5 favourite sneakers just because it’s an extremely enjoyable shoe to run in. It makes you’re feeling like a quick runner, at any tempo. And typically that’s all we actually need in life. That, and a switchblade within the again pocket of our Jansport backpack.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Takumi Sen 9 was on sale for a pair weeks, however has now been taken down from each adidas.com and Working Warehouse. Initially, the shoe was slated for launch in fall 2023, so there could been an error on the retail facet in posting it stay. That mentioned, the Takumi Sen 8 is on the market at half off proper now, and the Takumi Sen 9 is only a very slight improve, so if you happen to’re focused on what the Takumi appears like, now’s your likelihood to strive.
You’ll be able to decide up the Adidas Takumi Sen 9 for $180 (summer time 2023) or the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 for $90 by utilizing the store hyperlink under.
Robbe is the Senior Editor/Evaluation Supervisor for BITR. He lives in Baltimore together with his spouse and two sons and runs with the Sooner Bastards. When he’s not operating in bizarre locations or getting injured in odd methods, he might be discovered mountain climbing, tenting, bikepacking, or hanging with associates.
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