Is "Asian Last" a real thing? "Adidas Takumi-Ren (is) designed on an Asian last which features a wider forefoot.&

It is. I had a Nike model years ago, the Katana, and then a Reebok model, the Taikan, which both had more spacious forefoot than other respective models from those brands. It's not sloppy big, just more spacious. The midfoot fit nicely, which is where snugness works best for me. I'd say the Topo forefoot and overall fit is comparable, if not identical.

Yes . There is an Asian last. Nike believes the typical american foot is shaped like a narrow pointy garden spade. Same with adidas, where they believe white men and women in america have the same narrow pointy feet.

This is merely experience rather than actual knowledge of a separate last, but i do find that few shoes fit my forefoot well, almost all are too tight across the widest part of the foot. The takumis sen meanwhile, fits my foot like a glove, far better than any other adidas ive tried. So i suspect the “asian last” is a real difference. Have you tried buying direct through adidas japan?

Thanks for the quick responses, team. Checking into AdiJapan now :-)

Never heard of the Katana, either... will investigate!

Imperialist 18 wrote:

Yes . There is an Asian last. Nike believes the typical american foot is shaped like a narrow pointy garden spade. Same with adidas, where they believe white men and women in america have the same narrow pointy feet.

Isn't that the truth! And if you think men's shoes are bad in that regard, try women's! My feet have high narrow arches but are very wide through the forefoot and toes, exactly the opposite to the way shoes sold in the U.S. are constructed. Some are worse than others, and Nikes are worst of all, but I've rarely found a running shoe in my size that really fits me ideally. I normally wear men's shoes because they are wider, but I'm only a men's 7.5 and that size is often hard to find.

Thanks for this post--I will check out Adidas.

theJeff wrote:

Thanks for the quick responses, team. Checking into AdiJapan now :-)

Never heard of the Katana, either... will investigate!

It wasn't the racer or cage, which may have had identical lasts, it was this one:

I've worn these Asian lasted shoes and they aren't noticeably eider than any typical wider "Caucasian " lasted shoe.

They also weren't as good as the Champion Gusto CT when it came to all around quality. The ride wasn't as good and they didn't last longer either.

I've never been happier just buying a fresh pair of C GTC every couple of months.

amkelley wrote:

Imperialist 18 wrote:

Yes . There is an Asian last. Nike believes the typical american foot is shaped like a narrow pointy garden spade. Same with adidas, where they believe white men and women in america have the same narrow pointy feet.

Isn't that the truth! And if you think men's shoes are bad in that regard, try women's! My feet have high narrow arches but are very wide through the forefoot and toes, exactly the opposite to the way shoes sold in the U.S. are constructed. Some are worse than others, and Nikes are worst of all, but I've rarely found a running shoe in my size that really fits me ideally. I normally wear men's shoes because they are wider, but I'm only a men's 7.5 and that size is often hard to find.

Thanks for this post--I will check out Adidas.

Check out ON, too. I have high arches, long and narrow feet with monkey toes, women’s 10.5: I’ve been running in Adidas and Salomons for 15 years and just got my first pair of ONs a few wks ago. They hold me midfoot really well and I can do really steep descents without my toes riding the tip of the toe box. I’ve logged about 500 miles in them so far and love them.

If you want the Japanese racing flats go to the Japanese version of those sites.

https://shop.adidas.jp/products/BB7727/

Japanese Racing flats wrote:

If you want the Japanese racing flats go to the Japanese version of those sites.

https://shop.adidas.jp/products/BB7727/

Thanks :-) If you use Chrome, it will translate the page for you as well. Not sure abt other browsers.

I guess my question is as much "do I want to try these - are they really a wider fit?" as it is "where can I get these?"

Thanks again.

Japanese Racing flats wrote:

If you want the Japanese racing flats go to the Japanese version of those sites.

https://shop.adidas.jp/products/BB7727/

Don't know about the functionality of them, but I can tell you that these are dope!

And if anyone is interested in Asics Japanese racing flats, same story. Go to the Japanese website. Can anyone explain to me why they don't sell the Japanese type of racing flats here on the US version of there websites?

https://www.asics.com/jp/ja-jp/tarther-japan-legends/p/1013A046-021.html?width=STD

https://www.asics.com/jp/ja-jp/sortie-japanseiha-2-monochrome/p/1013A049-002.html?width=STANDARD

amkelley wrote:

Isn't that the truth! And if you think men's shoes are bad in that regard, try women's! My feet have high narrow arches but are very wide through the forefoot and toes, exactly the opposite to the way shoes sold in the U.S. are constructed. Some are worse than others, and Nikes are worst of all, but I've rarely found a running shoe in my size that really fits me ideally. I normally wear men's shoes because they are wider, but I'm only a men's 7.5 and that size is often hard to find.

Thanks for this post--I will check out Adidas.

It seems like you've never heard of New Balance shoes. They have been making their shoes in multiple widths like forever and they are widely available in stores and online. No need for an "Asian" shoe in only one model when New Balance makes multiple widths across their range of shoes as standard.

I tried several different widths with NB, both Zantes and 1400, and nothing fit well. Could just be me of course, but also might be that they change the width of the whole shoe, as opposed to just the forefoot?

I think despite Trump's overtures to "Little Rocket Man" that "Asian Last" just naturally follows from "America First" or so it would seem. Except in the men's race at Boston this year.

hwieniawski wrote:

I tried several different widths with NB, both Zantes and 1400, and nothing fit well. Could just be me of course, but also might be that they change the width of the whole shoe, as opposed to just the forefoot?

That's been my experience with New Balance. If they fit me in the forefoot, they're way too loose through the arch and heel.

SlowFatMaster wrote:

I think despite Trump's overtures to "Little Rocket Man" that "Asian Last" just naturally follows from "America First" or so it would seem. Except in the men's race at Boston this year.

I see what you did there :-)

No , I prefer a non American, Asian brand .

ah you are discovering the awesome Takumi just in time to realize they aren't made any more

honestly though I assume with your shoe size you have some weight so they would not be ideal

it's like a firm adios with even less support, very little boost in strategic parts to keep down weight

adidas really needs to come up with a replacement, the sub2 was a waste of everyone's time and money