The 361 Miro Nude 2 is one of the more unique racing shoes on the market right now. At 138 grams, or 4.9 ounces, it feels closer to an old racing flat that has been adapted to the modern age.
The 361 Miro Nude 2 is built for racing, quick turnover, and runners who want a carbon-plated shoe without a giant stack of foam underneath them. It is an interesting twist on modern racing shoes. While almost all carbon plated shoes have gone towards a “the more, the better”, the 361 Miro Nude 2 has gone towards “the lighter, the better”. I’ve talked before about how I do miss old school racing flats.
361 Miro Nude 2 FAQ:
Is the 361 Miro Nude 2 a racing shoe?
Yes. The 361 Miro Nude 2 is a carbon-plated racing shoe best used for faster efforts, 5Ks, 10Ks, and shorter road races. Some runners may use it for the half marathon or marathon, although it does not have the same deep cushioning as a max-stack marathon racer.
Is the 361 Miro Nude 2 good for daily training?
No. The 361 Miro Nude 2 is too minimal for daily mileage. It can handle workouts, strides, track sessions, and races, although I would not use it for easy runs or regular training miles. For daily training, I would look at something like the Hoka Skyward X 2 or a standard trainer from my Shoe and Gear Reviews.
Now, let’s get into an honest 361 Miro Nude 2 shoe review.
Quick Facts
- Price: $220
- Category: Carbon-plated racing shoe
- Stack Height: 33 mm heel / 26 mm forefoot
- Drop: 7 mm
- Weight: 138 grams / 4.9 ounces, unisex sizing. A separate women-specific weight is not currently listed.
- Best For: 5K, 10K, road racing, track workouts, fast intervals, and runners who prefer lighter racing shoes
361 Miro Nude 2 Upper and Fit
First, how many times have I said you should never buy a shoe by looks? Well let me tell you, the 361 Miro Nude 2 is one of my favorite looking shoes. Something about the white and splash of color…I really like it…but that’s just a bonus. The 361 Miro Nude 2 uses a lightweight engineered yarn upper. There is very little extra padding because the shoe is trying to be as light and fast as possible. For those who remember the 2010-2015 racing shoe era…these uppers were all the rage.
Expect a secure midfoot wrap and a lower-volume race fit. This is not the shoe for runners who want a plush heel, stretchy upper, or tons of room in the toe box. It is designed to hold the foot in place when the pace gets faster.
A perk of such a lightweight upper is that it is also extremely breathable. That is helpful for warm-weather racing, but it does mean the shoe will not feel protective in cold rain or rough conditions. I don’t think I would take them out on inclement weather anyway.
As far as fit, I typically wear a women’s size 10-11 or unisex 9.5 and the unisex 9.5 fits well. I haven’t had any issues and unlike 2016 racing flats, there is plenty of space for my toes to splay.
361 Miro Nude 2 Ride
The ride of the 361 Miro Nude 2 is quick, direct, and snappy. The CQT EXTREME dual-layer TPEE foam gives it more bounce than an old-school racing flat, while the hollow carbon-fiber QUIKBONE plate adds stiffness and forward motion without making it feel like a giant lever underfoot.
This is where the Miro Nude 2 separates itself from many modern carbon-plated shoes. It does not feel like a tall foam block with a plate buried inside. It feels closer to a racing flat that happens to have current foam and carbon technology.
That can be good or bad depending on what you want from a racing shoe. If you want soft, protected, max-cushioned marathon comfort, the Miro Nude 2 will likely feel too lightweight. If you miss lower, lighter racing shoes and want something that turns over quickly, this is much more appealing. Something I have to remember is we really haven’t had these types of shoes is almost a decade (wow am I old?), so if you haven’t run in them in a while you should take time to get used to the shoe.
For 5K and 10K racing, the Miro Nude 2 fits best. The low weight helps leg turnover, and the 7 mm drop feels natural. I was a bit cautious of the 7 mm drop, because I thought it may feel too clunky…but thankfully it does not. I would also use it for track workouts, faster intervals, road mile racing, and aggressive tempo work.
For the half marathon, it depends on the runner. Lighter, efficient runners may enjoy it. Runners who rely on big cushioning late in a race may want more foam. For the marathon, I think most runners will be better in something more protective like the Saucony Endorphin Pro 5 or another high-stack racer.
361 Miro Nude 2 Outsole
The outsole uses strategic RPU durability zones instead of a full rubber outsole. That helps keep the weight down, although it also means the outsole is minimal. This is not a shoe I would drag through daily miles, wet gravel, or rough roads. I’m actually surprised at the quality of the outsole because typically outsoles are one of the first things to go when a shoe is trying to drop weight.
The traction should be fine for clean road racing and dry track work. I would be more careful in rain, sharp turns, or rough pavement.
361 says the shoe is designed to last up to 10 marathons. I would still treat it like a race-day shoe. Save it for the efforts where the weight savings actually count. My pair currently has about 50 miles on it with no signs of slowing down…which truthfully is rare for a carbon plated shoe.
Where the 361 Miro Nude 2 Fits in a Rotation
The 361 Miro Nude 2 fits as a short-distance racing shoe and fast workout option. It is not your daily trainer, recovery shoe, or long-run cruiser.
A rotation might look like this: a daily trainer for most mileage, a cushioned long-run shoe, and the Miro Nude 2 for workouts and race day. If you already own something like the 361 Furious Future 2.0, the Miro Nude 2 is the lighter and more stripped-down option. You can read my 361 Furious Future 2.0 Shoe Review for a better comparison inside the brand.
361 Miro Nude 2 vs Original 361 Miro Nude
The original 361 Miro Nude was already known for being extremely light. The Miro Nude 2 keeps to that while adding a more refined race-day build, CQT EXTREME foam, the QUIKBONE carbon-fiber plate, and strategic outsole coverage.
The biggest difference is that the Miro Nude 2 feels more like a complete racing shoe rather than a novelty ultralight shoe.
Closest Competitors
There curerntly isn’t much that is close to the 361 Miro Nude 2…which is both good and bad. The closest competitors are lightweight carbon-plated racing shoes rather than max-stack marathon racers…to me the closest is the Nike Streakfly 2 but even that fits and feels different. Think Nike Vaporfly, Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen, Puma Deviate Nitro Elite, and other shoes built for fast road racing. All of those are still going to feel chunky.
Who Should Buy the 361 Miro Nude 2
- Runners who race 5Ks and 10Ks often.
- Runners who miss lighter racing flats.
- Runners who want a carbon-plated shoe that does not feel overly tall.
- Runners who already have a daily trainer and want a race-day shoe only.
Who Should Skip the 361 Miro Nude 2
- Runners who want one shoe for training and racing.
- Runners who want max cushioning for the marathon.
361 Miro Nude 2 Conclusion
The 361 Miro Nude 2 is one of the most interesting racing shoes out right now because it goes against the bigger-is-better super shoe trend. It is light, fast, and aggressive and reminds me a lot of 2016 racing shoes.
I would choose the 361 Miro Nude 2 for 5K and 10K racing before I would choose it for the marathon. It has the speed, the plate, and the weight savings, although it does not have the same protection as higher-stack marathon shoes. Anyway, I’m a fan.
Curious about how I do gear reviews? You can read about that here. Love running? You can subscribe to my weekly newsletter or read more about running shoes in my ebook.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite race day shoe?
Have you tried 361?