361 Degrees Eleos Review
By Matthew Klein and Nathan Brown
361 EleosPrice: $145 at 361
Weight: 9.9 oz, 280 g (men's size 9), 7.9 oz, 224 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 36 mm / 30 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Performance Trainer
Pros: Bouncy midsole, Great Forefoot Transition, Solid Outsole Durability
Cons: Slightly short fit, slightly clunky heel (Matt); Not as great for faster workouts (Nathan)
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The 361 Eleos is a performance trainer for those who want a slightly wider fitting shoe with a bouncy midsole for a variety of training efforts. The new PRIMO midsole provides a resilient, responsive and soft ride. The upper provides a comfortable fit for those who want a wider but slightly lower volume upper, although some may want to consider a half size up. Coming in lighter than its listed weight, the 361 Eleos feels light and bouncy on foot, making it an excellent option for both easier and uptempo efforts while racking up miles.
SIMILAR SHOES: Topo Specter 2, ASICS Nimbus 26
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The 361 Eleos fits me slightly short in my normal US men's size 10. A comfortable yarn/mesh upper provides a slightly wider fit and lower volume throughout the length of the shoe, especially in the forefoot and midfoot. The forefoot feels slightly short due to a small taper, a slightly thicker toe guard and some extra toe spring. This opens into the slightly wider midfoot and forefoot mentioned. The thin to moderately thick tongue is well gusseted and holds the foot down well. The 361 logo adds a little bit more structure to the upper and I did not have to tie down the laces to get a secure fit. The midfoot instep does fit lower, so those with a higher arch/instep may get some pressure on the top inner part of their foot. The heel fits normally with a moderately flexible heel counter and a decent amount of heel collar padding. There is enough padding combined with the less aggressive counter that those with mild heel sensitivities may be fine with the 361 Eleos's heel (try it first if you can). The inner aspect of the upper is fairly comfortable against bare skin even with the toe guard. While most people should still consider socks, this may be an option for sockless running.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Nathan: The 361 Eleos fit great in all areas for me. I had ample volume and length in the forefoot, nice lockdown in the midfoot, and a secure heel. There is a good amount of width throughout the shoe and opens up even further in the toe box. The heel has a secure and moderate amount of padding that covers a heel counter and prevents any irritation. The tongue also has moderate amounts of padding, but not so much that it makes the foot feel insecure. The lacing system is simple and locks the foot down well without any irritation. The mesh material is basic yet effective, and some of the logo overlays add some structure and stability. Overall, this is a no nonsense upper, and it works great.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 9
Shoes that have fit Nathan well: Topo Phantom 3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, ASICS Novablast 4
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Mach 6, Puma Deviate 3, New Balance Rebel v3
Shoes that have fit large: Saucony Triumph 22, Brooks Launch 9 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Somewhat
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mildly Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: Somewhat
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The 361 Eleos is performance trainer that can handle daily miles, long runs and uptempo efforts. The full-length PRIMO midsole provides a softer, bouncier ride that allows this shoe to move at a variety of paces into uptempo and some workout paces. It is not so bouncy that it feels like a racing shoe but has enough pop and cushion to be used from moderate to longer runs. Although listed at 9.9 oz for men's size 9, my size 10 comes in at 9.6 oz and feels even lighter than that. These feel like a lightweight trainer, so to see that weight even on the scale was surprising. There is a 6mm drop although it feels higher due to a slightly clunky heel.
While there large bevel, it is centered with a large amount of flare in the posterior, medial and lateral directions. As someone who lands at the posterior lateral side of the shoe, this makes for a slightly early landing that transitions me forward a bit quicker than I would like. Once to the midfoot, the ride smooths out, making landing a little farther forward more comfortable. The shoe is somewhat stiff flexibility wise but you may not notice due to how soft it feels. This makes for an easy transition off the forefoot, which features a large and early rocker. This shoe is not stiff enough for someone with toe mobility issues and will also not work given the additional toe spring.
While I am seeing some early wear on the exposed midsole, the outsole has done extremely well. I have 40 miles on my pair with no signs of wear on the outsole rubber at the heel or forefoot. The midsole bounce (resiliency) has also not changed, so I suspect the 361 Eleos will last longer than many performance trainers on the market. Despite the good durability, the outsole traction is fairly average. With the amount of exposed midsole, I would keep this shoe on road or extremely well-groomed surfaces. On wet track and leaves this shoe can slip a bit, so dry smooth terrain is where this shoe does best.
Nathan: The Eleos is one of the softer, yet bouncy shoes I have tested this year. And although I typically do not like really soft shoes, this one didn't feel "mushy", but more compressed as a whole unit. Regardless, it is certainly on the soft end of the cushioning spectrum. It shines for easy runs, daily miles, and some mild uptempo efforts. At true tempo paces or at paces at my half marathon pace, the softness seems to catch up with me, making it not ideal for true workouts.
That said, it is a great option for a lot of daily training and feels lighter than the listed weight. Unlike Matt, the softer foam led to a very smooth heel transition, which continued all the way to toe off. No hitches at any of the paces for me. The forefoot is surprisingly flexible despite the higher stack, and for those looking for a maximally cushioned trainer without a plate and some forefoot flexibility, this shoe is worth the look. I've found myself reaching for this shoe for my long runs and recovery runs most often.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The 361 Eleos is a neutral shoe with some guidance elements. There are mild sidewalls in the heel and plenty of width/sole flare throughout that those who need mild guidance elements may do fine. Standing and landing farther forward in this shoe are solid. However, when landing at the heel, the extra sole flare at the lateral heel does create an early initial contact and throws me medial quickly. This is offset slightly by medial sole flare at the heel and wider midfoot. The forefoot is quite stable thanks to the wider shape, mild stiffness and forefoot rocker. Therefore, those with mild midfoot or forefoot guidance at most needs will probably do best in this shoe.
Nathan: The Eleos is a neutral shoe. With such a soft foam, there are some built in geometries to balance it out. In particular there is a very wide ground contact surface due to the flaring of the midsole. There are also some mild sidewalls. In all, they did classic geometric changes to make sure that someone could run in this shoe without a lot of feelings of instability without employing a plate.
Thoughts as a DPT: How Does Midfoot Width Impact Stability?
By Matthew Klein
As someone who doesn't typically work well with softer shoes, the Eleos worked well. A large part of this is the wider midfoot, which makes this inherently more stable for someone like myself who needs a little more guidance in that area. While traditional methods of stability focused on medial posts of wedges, there are more mild to moderate ways to add stability that have become more common. Midfoot width is a major one.
As midsole stack heights get taller and midsoles get softer, widening the midfoot is a natural progression to provide an inherent level of stability. However, the opposite can still be used to increase flexibility or promote motion in a certain direction. While I typically want wider midfoot designs for myself, the width design needs to be factored into the purpose and overall function of the shoe, which may change greatly depending on the target consumer.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The 361 Eleos is another solid trainer from 361. My only suggestions revolve around the upper and heel. The slightly short fit of the upper may require a half size up. Unless that comes pre-advised, this could be adjusted by reducing the somewhat aggressive toe-spring and mild toe box taper. The heel bevel is good, but would be better if there was not so much posterior flare and if the bevel was moved slightly lateral. The second part could also be achieved by rounding the lateral sole flare just slightly to allow a smoother heel transition. Outside of those things, this is a pretty solid shoe.
Nathan: I'm glad the 361 Eleos exists. It's a very soft, high stacked, bouncy shoe that still has forefoot flexibility and no plate. There are no major changes I'd suggest at this time if they want this shoe to fit the space of easy runs, long runs, and daily training. If they want it to be a true performance trainer, I think there needs to be a slight increase in bending stiffness, whether through a plate or a less complaint foam.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The 361 Eleos is a performance trainer for those who want a bouncy midsole and slightly wider fit that can handle most things you throw at it (on road). The upper is slightly short, so many want to consider going up a half size. Others who want a close fit may do fine with the wider forefoot/midfoot and comfortable heel. The heel is a little clunky but transitions into a great midfoot and forefoot that will do well for those who land a little farther forward. A great option for those who want one shoe for easy runs, some workouts and longer runs, the Eleos is definitely worth its $145 price tag with the level of performance that matches many shoes that cost far more. This shoe and the Miro have made me interested to see what 361 is up to and I look forward to experiencing more from this brand.
Nathan: Calling all soft shoe lovers. The Eleos is a great option for people who love soft foams, bouncy foams, but still want to have some flexibility in the forefoot. This is a great shoe for long runs, easy runs, and some daily training, but certainly has a top speed that won't allow you to do all training for a half marathon or below. This foam feels special, and one of the. best foam feels that you can get for $145.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+ (Comfortable upper with slightly wider forefoot/midfoot. Slightly tapered toe box and toe spring make for a shoe that feels 1/4 to 1/2 size short, so consider going up a half size)
Performance: B+/A- (Bouncy ride with slightly clunky heel and smooth midfoot/forefoot. Versatility into easy, long and uptempo runs)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Wider sole, sidewalls make for some guidance that is offset by the softer sole and extra lateral heel sole flare. On the stable side of neutral though)
Value: A- (Solid durability and bounce for a shoe that costs <$150)
Personal: B+/A- (The short fit and slightly clunky heel limits my use of this shoe but I like really like the midsole material)
Overall Design: B+/A-
Nathan
Fit: A (Secure and roomy)
Performance: A- (Great for training and long runs. Lacks top speeds and may be too soft for some)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Balanced out well for how soft it is)
Value: A (One of the best at the price point)
Personal: A (My current go-to for easy runs and long runs)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR361 EleosPrice: $145 at 361
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