Details
Brand
361
Heel To Toe Drop
8 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Cushioned
Key Features
• Engineered Mesh Upper• Open mesh toe box• Fitz-Rite tech in midfoot area for support• Lightweight tongue design• QU!KFOAM cushioning• QU!K FLEX construction• Medial Post for pronation control• Blown rubber outsole• Flex Grooves in sole• 8mm drop• Available in wide widths
Upper
The 361 brand shoe has an engineered mesh upper with open mesh stationed around the toe box for additional breathability. In the midfoot area, the shoe features Fitz-Rite technology. This tech is composed of a specialized overlay design that ensures the foot is wrapped tightly to prevent unwanted movement or slippage inside.
Midsole
The shoe’s midsole features proprietary QU!KFOAM cushioning, which is quite responsive. The midsole area also features a fairly substantial medial post for pronation control.
Outsole
The Strata 2 features a blown rubber outsole with flex grooves for added flexibility. The grooves help in particular with forefoot flexibility, which helps ensure a super smooth transition from heel to toe. The flexible construction of the outsole also results in a shoe that requires no breaking-in period. The technology in the forefoot area is called QU!K Flex (similar in name to the shoe’s midsole material). It also improves the feel of toeing off.
Breathability
The engineered mesh upper, with open mesh in the front of the shoe, ensures runners get proper air flow during training, even when feet get hot and sweaty. The shoe also features a lightweight tongue to ensure air circulates in all areas.
Comfort
The shoe’s flexible design and responsive QU!KFOAM midsole cushioning provide wearers with a comfortable ride. The smooth ride is further helped by the outsole’s QU!K FLEX technology that enhances toe off feel and heel to toe transition. The lightweight and breathable engineered mesh upper also helps to regulate temperature to keep runners comfortable.
Style
The Strata 2 looks similar to other 361 brand shoes. The differences between models are very subtle. Like Asics brand sneakers, the branding is subtle but accented by bright pops of colors. For men, there is a vibrant orange and blue version available. Women can get their hands on an attractive dark blue model with fuschia accents.
Durability
A heftier construction provides a lot of support and impact protection, it also prevents excess wear and tear.
Protection
The shoe protects wearers from overheating, thanks to the engineered mesh upper. It also keeps wearers from overpronating, because of the medial post. Blown rubber on the sole provides traction and a bit of extra padding. QU!KFOAM cushioning in the midsole provides the majority of protection from impact in the Strata 2.
Responsiveness
The 361 shoe features a hefty dose of responsive QU!KFOAM cushioning in its midsole. The result is a super smooth ride with decent rebound.
Support
The Strata 2 is very supportive thanks to its engineered mesh upper, which provides a snug hold. The shoe features a Fitz-Rite midfoot wrap to keep the wearer’s foot wrapped and held in place.
Terrain
The shoe is made for road running, though it’s probably beefy enough to be used for trail running, it was not designed for such a purpose. The outsole does not feature a specialized design for added traction.
Price
Similarly to other shoes that provide both high support and cushioning, the Strata 2 is at the higher end of the price scale for running shoes.
Drop
The shoe features a drop of 8mm, which is fairly standard.
Stability
The 361 shoe provides high stability in the form of a standard medial post. This feature prevents overpronation.
Flexibility
The Strata 2 is very flexible for a high support shoe. The cushioning and design is not ultra rigid. Instead, 361 has built-in flex grooves to ensure a smooth ride. The forefoot gets added treatment with the QU!K Flex technology, which helps make for a responsive, snappy toe-off.
Traction
The blown rubber outsole provides a standard level of traction that works for road running purposes.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a shoe that provides both stability and cushioning, the 361 Strata 2 is a good option. Generous cushioning and a high degree of support and stability often mean that a shoe will feel rigid, inflexible, and clunky. The Strata 2, instead, is flexible, provides a smooth ride, and is surprisingly lightweight in feel.;The stable design requires no breaking-in period and the cushioning provides a great combination of comfort and responsiveness. Overall, the Strata 2 is a great update.
