The 361 Kairos is a brand new shoe from 361 designed with mild stability. Typically, I wear neutral shoes, but I appreciate keeping a mild stability shoe in my rotation for when my legs are tired. While many people aren’t as familiar with the brand 361, it continues to be one of my favorite running shoe brands. They’ve been around for years and even sponsor Olympic medalist Katie Zafares.
The Kairos was designed with a lot of features, including:
- MORPHIT fitting system: offers dynamic and breathable support to the upper
- Length of posting is increased for more stability
361 Kairos Quick Facts:
Weight: 9 oz
Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm
Cost: $130
361 Kairos Introduction:
As mentioned, I typically run in neutral shoes, but my legs and feet get tired, and like most people, I tend to pronate more. The 361 Kairos is designed as a mild stability shoe with that “traditional” posting. We’ve seen a lot of stability shoes (like the Brooks Adrenaline) get out of posting, but if you are someone who likes to feel the arch support, the 361 Kairos still has that posting.
361 Kairos Fit:
Right off the bat, I love the 361 Kairos color. The white with orange accents pops and it really looks good. And no, you shouldn’t choose a shoe by the color. The 361 Kairos uses a lot of fancy names for their shoe. Some features for the upper include:
- 361 Fitz-Ride Midfoot: This helps to wrap and secure the midfoot and reduce unnecessary motion and sliding.
- Pressure Free Tongue: The tongue is designed in an anatomical pattern with soft materials that removes pressure from the ankle. I must say, the 361 Kairos tongue is one of my more favorite shoe tongues.
Trying the 361 Kairos on for the first time; it felt good. I am a firm believer that the best shoe uppers disappear off your foot, and the 361 Kairos does just that. I am a huge fan of their plush tongue. With so many running shoes getting towards a sharp and thin tongue, this feels nice.
The mesh upper is roomy without feeling like it’s sliding. As someone with a wider foot, it doesn’t feel like it’s rubbing.
In running shoes, I wear between a size 10-11 wide, and the 10.5 in the 361 Kairos fits well.
361 Kairos Ride:
Like the fit, the 361 is jam-packed with technology for the ride too:
- Qu!kfoam: Besides being a pain to type out, the Qu!kfoam is an EVA rubber blend that provides both cushioning and responsiveness. It’s proven to maintain the same energy return and long-lasting comfort throughout the entire life of the shoe.
- QU!K Comfort Insole: Designed using the 361 proprietary foam material. It molds to your foot. I found this especially true, and the 361 Kairos got more comfortable with each run.
- Qu!k Spine: The Qu!k Spine is lightweight carbon fiber. (Keep in mind this doesn’t mean it’s a “carbon fiber plated shoe.” The plate acts as a stabilizing force and keeps you moving forward. Like a human spine, it also keeps the midsole from breaking down.
- QU!K FLEX 4FOOT ENGINEERING: This is developed to keep the foot naturally rolling through the gait cycle. The flex grooves are developed to mimic natural motion of the foot and a more balanced toe-off.
All of this sounds great, but how does it ride? The 361 Kairos rides like a cushioned yet responsive stability shoe. You’ll feel the stability, but it doesn’t feel “clunky” or like it’s controlling your foot. I’ve tried the 361 Kairos in a variety of runs including, easy runs, long runs, and a few faster runs. It has the ability to handle everything, and it’s a great shoe to take when you aren’t sure what kind of run you’re doing for the day.
Durability and Traction: I’ve used the 361 Kairos on several dirt trails and inclement weather, and it responds well. I don’t find myself sliding around, plus the upper breathes well. I’ve put just over 100 miles on the 361 Kairos with no signs of it wearing down.
361 Kairos Conclusion:
I really like the 361 Kairos, and it’s one of my favorite stability shoes as of recently. If you are looking for a mild stability shoe that still maintains traditional posting, the 361 Kairos is a good option. I do hope they keep that traditional medial posting for those who appreciate extra support.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Brooks Aurora, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, New Balance 1080 v11, Hoka Bondi 7,
Speed Work: 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, New Balance Fuelcell TC Shoe Review, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro,
Long Runs: Hoka Clifton Edge, Under Armour Sonic HOVR 3
Trail Running/Hiking: Hoka Torrent 2, Saucony Peregrine 11, North Face Flight VECTIV
Races: Asics Metaspeed Sky, Hoka One One Rocket X, adidas Adizero Pro, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite stability shoe?
Have you tried the 361 Kairos?