Adidas Adizero Pro replacement?!? (with replies from adidas)

Upon closer inspection I've realized that the Boost material is directly under the foot on the Sen 3 (and the Ren 3) vs under the EVA layer on the AB2, so that might explain the feeling of "more boost" in the front, quite tempting...

Has anyone else tried the sen 3?

Pretty thorough

A good review of Sen 3B here:

http://gearselected.com/adidas-takumi-sen-3-boost-review-adizero-racing-flat-shoe/

APT (George) et al,

Despite aquiring Ren 3 B in early March I only tried them for the first time today. Absolutley delighted.

For me they are the optimum combination of lightness, great level of cushioning, excellent responsivness via the forefoot boost and, a key factor, the sole as a whole provides really good feedback from the ground being covered which I think is lost to some extent, certainly dampened, with full midsole boost. With Energy Boost and less so in Adios Boost the feel from the ground is rather artificial, unlike Sen and Ren 2 which provide a much truer feel. With Ren 3B you seem to have hit the bullseye and got the balance spot on.

Added to the above, the shoes look first rate in Night Flash/Collegiate Navy/Solar Red and I think they will prove more durable than previous models. In particular the updated Quickstrike outsole looks like it will last for 100's+100's of miles and the Adiwear/Continental rubber seems beefier, but I'd still like to see the Adiwear being a little more robust as this is always the area that wears out first on all of my shoes (and makes my think it's built in obsolescence). Btw I only wear Adidas, nothing else.

I have Sen 3B in my 'stock' of new shoes and will break these out in the next few weeks. Based on the experience with R3B plus the fact that I prefer, marginally, Sen 2 to Ren 2, my expectation is that Sen 3B will be brilliant! Hope so, will let you know.

Andrew

Thanks for link to review and your own.

It's always a pleasure to work on Takumi models...and fun

Could you give me the advantages of only using the boost in the forefoot rather than for the whole sole

JDC -

The amazing thing about Boost is that it both cushions (slows down harmful pronation and sole angle velocities) but also provides amazing propulsion. In a model like Takumi Ren and Sen, the target is someone who is more interested in the propulsion properties as they will likely be moving faster in these shoes vs. a trainer. Perhaps I would ask you if think a slab of quite soft material in the heel would be beneficial in a quick session, 5k/10k race?

Hope this helps.

Really suprised at the claim that boost 'slows pronation', I had a hip/abdominal problem for over a year, I had numerous treatments to no avail. Went to see a pediatrist who did an in depth study into my problem, filmed me running, monitored my foot movement/impact etc... At the time I'd been wearing Boston Boost and Adios Boost. In both shoes but particularly the Adios my foot collapsed at toe off due to the super soft nature of boost, this was causing my hip to come across and cause issues in my hip/groin/lower back/glute etc... He then repeated the procedure every week for two months in a firm shoe, the injury cleared up almost immediately and my foot stopped collapsing. I've since had a friend with the same problem... and was in the same shoe.

As someone who wore Adidas for years because I liked a firm ride the Boost has been a disaster for me, a year of injury and now an entire product line from Adidas that uses one technology. No other manufacturer seems to have put all their eggs in one basket in the same way. It's really disappointing.

unhappy adids customer wrote:

No other manufacturer seems to have put all their eggs in one basket in the same way. It's really disappointing.

I haven't been sold on the Boost technology either. Some components of the shoe are very good (the Continental rubber is very durable and seemed extra grippy in winter's icy conditions). I have been on a quest to find a replacement for the Adizero Pro, and the Adios 2 wasn't it at all. The Takumi-Sen that people have been talking about looks very promising but it is expensive and hard to find, at least here in Canada.

Anyway, nothing against Adidas - they are more or less my preferred brand for most things running - but at the end of March I picked up a pair of New Balance RC1600 v2 and they feel very much like the Adizero Pro in many aspects, at least to me. They seem to be made on a straighter last than most road flats (like the Pro) and have similar little black rubber "nubs" on the sole. Similar stiffness and ride.

I'm really liking them. It makes some sense because before I was wearing the Pro I went through several years (early 2000s) of happily wearing the NB RC series of the time; RC210 - RC240. Looking back, the NB RC240 was as good as the Pro. I lost interest when they phased them out and went with the horrible RC1001, as I think they were called. Now it is full circle, and I am back with the NB offerings.

Bottom line - I am VERY familiar with the Adizero Pro, went through many pairs, and believe the NB RC1600 v2 to be a really good replacement.

I am female, with a size 7 foot. In the US, it appears that you only sell the shoe in men's sizes. I did order a pair in size 5 Mens, and they've worked wonderfully. However, I do note that in other countries, you offer the shoe in both mens and women's sizes. Any plan to offer the shoe in women's sizes in the US?

darkwave,

Takumi Sen Boost is a unisex model (I can confirm that there is the 'man' logo and a 'women' logo on the Adidas shoe box).

However Takumi Ren has seperate models for men and women, but I don't believe these are on general sale in the US...not sure why, can only guess Adi's view is that there won't be sufficient demand.

Hope that helps.

Andrew

So they why would you not use the same system in the adios boost 2? The shoe still needs to be fairly responsive being a racing flat, though I understand that more cushioning is needed for the marathon

Are any notable adidas athletes using the takumi sen boost and if so, what has their feedback been?

noBeard wrote:

http://kleinrunsdpt.blogspot.se/2015/04/adidas-takumi-sen-3-review.html

Pretty thorough

Nice find, he also has Ren 3 (http://kleinrunsdpt.blogspot.fr/2015/03/adidas-takumi-ren-3-review.html) and AB2 (http://kleinrunsdpt.blogspot.fr/2014/09/adidas-adios-boost-2-review.html) reviews - useful for comparison purposes. I'm a bit surprised that he thinks that the Ren 3 are lighter than the Sen 3 though.

@Booster - have you broken out the Sen 3 ? After reading kleinrunsdpt's reviews they don't sound too tempting if you're already happy with the AB2 as I am, espcially for the lack of Boost effect in the forefoot. The Sen 3 would be more appealing in that respect, on top of being lighter.

Gather the moss,

I've yet to run in Sen 3 Boost (I've so many shoes that I want to get a little more wear from those already out of the box) but if my experience of Ren 3B are anything to go by I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Of course we are all different and there are so many variables in the equation with shoes (+individual feet+weight+running style+capability etc!) that it's always very difficult to be absolutely prescriptive about it, but what I find so compelling about Sen (and Ren) is their feather-like lightness, good cushioning and great responsiveness. With the latest iteration, as George from the Adidas Product Team has explained, the forefoot Boost provides excellent propulsion.

I think the propulsion quality will be more apparent in Sen Boost than Ren Boost, the latter being designed, primarily, for training rather than competition although I think Ren could used for racing depending on individual factors. Btw Ren are heavier than Sen, but it's a bit like comparing the weight of one full feather with 85-90% of another!

Great shoes that, for me, are preferable to Adios. Really didn't think I'd say that but Sen and Ren are that good. Almost feel that they are a bit of a hidden secret that (outside of Japan) the masses have yet to cotton on to.

Caveats above aside, would have no hesitation in recommending these two models.

All good points, thanks, actually rereading my previous message I see I forgot to write "Ren 3" in "they don't sound too tempting". Since I'm really happy with the AB2, I think I would see more of a difference with the Sen 3 so I'll see if I can track a pair down !

gathernomoss,

Fyi I imported Amazon Purple Sen 3B from the US. I purchased from Eastbay with 20% disc...they always seem to have promos going on. Current 20% off ends today I believe, code EMEB544Z.

Best, Andrew

Thanks, nice discount but shipping is $40, ouch. Will wait for a coupon on the Adidas site in Europe ;-)

adidas product team wrote:

RC is exactly the same how as Hagio. Only name change!

Please never get rid of this shoe.

Absolutely great, affordable, no nonsense, quality flat.

Love it, did my long slow run yesterday (8 min pace) and it was absolutely wonderful.