Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 11 Review: It’s Turbo Time!

Watching Jingle All the Way with my family reminded me how ridiculous waiting can feel when something is hyped and just out of reach. In the movie, it was the Turbo Man doll. For me, it was the Takumi Sen 11 and missing out on the initial small US release, followed by the slow crawl toward a wider drop. Months of seeing it on other people’s feet and wondering if it would live up to the hype made the wait feel longer than it should have. Different setting, far fewer Santas involved, but the anticipation felt very familiar.

The Takumi Sen 11 is Adidas’s low-stack speed shoe, built for short, fast efforts where precision matters. With Lightstrike Pro foam, a full-length EnergyRods system, and a locked-in race fit, it lives squarely in the 5K to 10K lane. After all that waiting, the question is simple. Was the Takumi Sen 11 worth the hype, or did it end up feeling more like a toy you finally get, only to realize it was better in your head?

SPECS

FIT

True to Size

SURFACE

Road

WHAT'S NEW

COMPS

PROS

CONS

IS THIS SHOE FOR YOU?

The Takumi Sen 11 is built for runners chasing speed over shorter distances, from 5Ks and 10Ks up to half marathons. It handles interval sessions and tempo runs with ease, offering a lower stack and a responsive, racing-flat feel that keeps you connected to the ground. For anyone used to high stack racers, it’s a great alternative, giving a more direct ride and a livelier feel underfoot while still delivering the performance you need for faster efforts.

WRAP UP

The Takumi Sen 11 ends up being one of those rare cases where the wait actually makes sense. It is not trying to be everything or stretch beyond its limits. Instead, it delivers a light and fast ride that shines when the pace is high and the distance is short. If you are looking for a do-it-all super shoe, this is not it. But if your focus is 5K and 10K race day speed with a more connected, stripped-down feel, the Takumi Sen 11 proves it was worth tracking down.

Disclosure: I purchased the Takumi Sen 11 with my own money. All opinions in this review are my honest thoughts based on my experience. Adidas did not provide the shoe, sponsor this review, or review any of the content beforehand.