Speed Showdown: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 vs Adidas Takumi Sen

Picking the perfect running shoe is like setting your level on a Sleep Number bed. Some prefer firmer, some prefer softer, but everyone has their sweet spot. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 and Adidas Takumi Sen 9 approach speed day from two opposite sides of the soft-firm continuum, presenting runners with options. Here, we explore their differences and let you know which one is best for you.

Overview: Adidas Takumi Sen 9 vs Saucony Endorphin Speed 3  

Both the Adidas Takumi Sen and Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 are their respective brands' speed day options, and the Takumi Sen is also positioned by Adidas as a 5k/10k racer. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is part of the brand's Endorphin line, which is characterized by their rockered platform called Speedroll geometry and also includes the Shift, Pro and Elite. The Takumi Sen is part of Adidas' high-performance running family called Adizero that includes the Adios, Prime X Strung, Boston, SL and Pro 3.

Midsole: Lightstrike Pro vs PWRRUN PB

The midsole of the Endorphin Speed 3 is made with Saucony's PWRRUN PB foam, a beaded PEBA compound that's bouncy and cushioned. PEBA is the same type of material that's in shoes like the Nike Vaporfly and Alphafly, but in the Saucony application it's a bit softer and squishier. The Endorphin Speed 3 also has a winged nylon plate that adds structure, stability and rigidity to the platform, though not as much propulsion as a traditional carbon fiber plate.

The Takumi Sen uses Adidas' Lightstrike Pro foam, which is a supercritical TPE compound that's dense, firm, bouncy and responsive. There are also carbon fiber energy rods that reinforce the platform and add snappiness to the underfoot sensation without making the shoe overly rigid like a carbon fiber plate can sometimes do. 

The Takumi Sen has a lower stack height on paper and also feels a lot lower profile when you have it on foot. Because the Endorphin Speed 3 is so cushioned and soft, it can feel like a higher max stack shoe with its 36mm heel height (which itself is high), 26mm forefoot and 8mm drop. The Takumi Sen sits at 33mm in the heel with a 27mm forefoot and 6mm drop.

Ride: Fast and Furious vs Fast and Comfortable

The Adidas Takumi Sen 9 feels like pure speed, fast and furious with a streamlined simplicity. It's bouncy but nimble when pushed, and the firm foam feel combined with moderate stack height give it a deft ride. We've most enjoyed the Takumi Sen for bouts of work shorter than 8 miles, as the lack of foam and firmer ride can start to feel harsh after an hour or so.

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a like a leisure yacht compared to the Takumi Sen's racecar. The PWRRUN PB is comfortable and soft at slower aerobic paces but can adapt and transform into a more compliant, lively compound at marathon and half marathon pace. The nylon plate doesn't give us much feedback, which we appreciate during our training. However, runners expecting the energy return and propulsion found in a traditional carbon plated super shoe won't find that here.

Of the two shoes, the Takumi Sen feels faster while the Endorphin Speed 3 feels more comfortable and versatile for daily running. The Takumi Sen weighs less than the Speed 3, which also gives it an edge when it comes to speed. We wouldn't use the Takumi Sen as a daily trainer because the speed-oriented ride lacks the cushion and stability preferable for everyday running (plus, we don't recommend running in plated shoes for regular training). However, the Speed 3 can and does slot into that daily role for many runners who want a faster feel for their everyday miles.

Outsole & Durability: XT-900 vs Continental Rubber

The Adidas Takumi Sen uses the brand's excellent Continental rubber, produced by the tire company, that's found across the lineup of Adidas performance models. It's grippy and flexible, providing traction and toe-off in wet and dry environments. Most of the forefoot is covered while the midfoot is exposed and the rear is moderately covered.

Saucony's Endorphin Speed 3 uses XT-900 rubber found across the brand's core running lineup like the Ride, Shift 3, Pro 3 and Triumph. While XT-900 isn't as grippy as Contintental rubber, we've never had issues with it in any of the brand's shoe, which is all you can ask of an outsole rubber. The rubber covers the foam sparingly, however, with cutouts and strategic placements to save weight. At around 300 miles, the rubber typically wears through.

The Endorphin Speed 3 is designed more with everyday use in mind than the Takumi Sen. However, both have a similar amount of rubber outsole coverage and superfoam midsoles. Either shoe should last at least 300 miles depending on your biomechanics, weight and terrain you run on.

Upper Comparison: Takumi Sen 9 vs Endorphin Speed 3

The upper of the Saucony Endoprhin Speed 3 is a slightly stretchy engineered mesh material. It's airy, lightweight, breathable and snug without being tight. It also manages to accommodate a variety of foot shapes due to its pliable nature. In all, this is one of the most comfortable uppers we've encountered.

The Takumi Sen's upper is its biggest downfall. While lightweight, the material used feels rigid and solid to the touch like a waxed canvas. The fit is tight and unforgiving, with a narrow shape from heel through midfoot and toebox. The laces are thin and can bite when cinched down to the level necessary to get a stable lockdown. The discomfort tends to melt away as the miles pile, but the overall fit and feel of the upper is not a strong point.

In general, the Speed 3 is a more comfortable shoe that will fit a wider variety of runners. The Takumi Sen likely will not fit wide-footed runners or those who prefer a more voluminous upper. The Speed 3's fit and feel makes it a suitable choice for easier runs while the Takumi Sen is best reserved for your fastest training workouts and short races.

Who They're Best For

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is a good option for runners looking for a versatile uptempo shoe that can handle speedwork as well as routine training runs. The Sped 3 also excels as long run shoe due to its cushion and bouncy rockered platform, which makes the final miles of a two hour run tick off in relative ease. It's not a great raceday option for runners capable of sub-3 hour marathon, but beginners runners or those who don't want a carbon fiber plate should be more than satisfied using it on race day.

The Takumi Sen is a good option for runners tackling a structured training plan who want a workout shoe for fastest speed work. It excels at sessions with 15 minute or below long repeats at half marathon pace or faster. If you're training for a 10k or 5k, this is a decent race day choice for efficient runners, but most will likely benefit more from the energy return of a traditional super shoe like the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 3.

Final Thoughts

The Adidias Takumi Sen and Saucony Endoprhin Speed 3 are great shoes with different use cases—the Takumi Sen is lean and mean, while the Speed is comfortable and bouncy. We have both in our rotation and pull for the Takumi Sen on track day and the Speed 3 for uptempo bops around the neighborhood. Choose the one that will help you dial it up and dial it in as you chase your next running goal.

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