361 Degrees 361-Taroko | Shoe Reviews – Runner’s World
361 Degrees 361-Taroko | Shoe Reviews Runner’s World
The 361 Degrees 361-Taroko doesn’t excel at any one thing, but it’s a solid trail shoe that isn’t bad on the road for $110.
The RW Takeaway: The 361-Taroko isn’t particularly energetic on asphalt but provides great trail feel in a not-too-aggressive package.
- A two-layer midsole provides firm cushioning
- The knit upper locks down the midfoot and breathes well
- Rubber outsole lugs deliver grip on loose trail surfaces
Price: $110
Weight: 10.8 oz (men) 9.0 oz (women)
Type: Trail
The 361-Taroko is a road/trail hybrid trainer for runners who want a shoe that’s capable on any surface. Because there’s not much foam underfoot, we found it better for trails than pavement, although it handles hard surfaces better than many trail-specific shoes. The midsole has a thin layer of 361’s Qu!kfoam, an EVA foam and rubber blend that’s encapsulated in polyurethane, and it’s surrounded by an outer layer of traditional EVA. The former material provides plush cushioning and the latter gives structure, although much of the cushioning comes from a thick Qu!kfoam insole. Testers found the cushioning adequate for trails but said the shoe was unforgiving on pavement.
The outsole is a combination of blown and carbon rubber, and there’s enough rubber to add cushioning (and weight). The grip is good but the material isn’t as sticky as you’ll find on many dedicated trail outsoles, and the directional lugs showed noticeable (and expected) wear at the end of our testing period. The knit upper ventilates well but doesn’t keep out water, although its porous nature helps it drain quickly when wet. Testers liked the padded tongue and secure midfoot fit, although some noted that the shoe felt long for its size, which allowed their feet to slide back and forth. Buy the 361-Taroko if you run mostly trails and soft surfaces but want a shoe that that’ll get you to the trailhead, too.
Credible On-Trail Traction
The Taroko’s outsole isn’t lacking for rubber. Chunky directional lugs provide grip while flex grooves bisect the rubber to allow the shoe to bend with your foot; it’s quite flexible in the forefoot. Testers found the grip adequate for loose, sloppy trails, although some noted that the thin sole also meant they felt sharp rocks along the way. On-road traction was abundant, and thanks to the outsole’s hard rubber compound, the visible wear after a month of testing wasn’t any more than we’d anticipate from a mix of trail and road running.
Firm Cushioning
The Taroko’s two-layer foam midsole is relatively thin and it feels firm on the roads. “Right from the beginning, it felt like one of my shoes that had many miles on it,” said one tester. The midsole’s top layer is the Qu!kfoam EVA-rubber blend, and the 6mm-thick footbed is also Qu!kfoam. That’s the softer material you feel underfoot; there’s traditional EVA between it and the outsole rubber. Despite there being effectively three layers of foam (counting the footbed), the 9mm heel-toe offset means that the forefoot is pretty thin. The upside is a more direct connection with the ground, which trail runners might prefer. “On the trail this shoe provided the perfect balance of cushioning and control,” said one tester. “On the road the ride is firm, but this is a trail shoe so I’m not complaining.”
A Tough, Breathable Knit Upper
The porous knit upper was our testers’ favorite aspect of the Taroko. The material feels durable but it doesn’t trap heat, which should keep your mileage-swollen feet cool and comfortable on long summer runs. Such breathability allows water to pass through relatively easily, so although your feet will get wet in the rain, the shoe won’t retain the water for miles to come. Like other 361 Degrees shoes, the tongue is padded for comfort and it connects to the rest of the upper via internal webbing, which gives the shoe a secure, wrap-around fit.
Wide-footed testers had no qualms about the width, either. “There was great toe box area and the tongue and laces were positioned to be very supportive,” one tester said. Others lauded the shoe’s robust build quality. “Well made, no shortcuts taken on build or support,” said another tester. “I have a wide foot but I found these shoes ideal for the mixed terrain of trail running.” The upper’s only apparent issue was length: Testers felt the shoe ran long for its size and allowed for more fore and aft movement than they’d liked.
What One Tester Said
Michael Y., tester since 2012
Arch: Flat | Gait: Overpronator | Footstrike: Midfoot
“I liked that the shoe worked on-road and off-road. I did 50/50 and was surprised how it worked on both surfaces. I’ve used trail shoes on roads before and you knew you had trail shoes on. I’ve also used road shoes on trails and lack of traction always a problem. I think it would be a good light-duty trail shoe. It does not have the protection that other trail shoes offer: toe protection, tougher fabric, and cushioning. But it is lightweight and has pretty good traction that, on non-technical, smooth trails, could be pretty good. On the other hand it worked on roads and almost has a light racer-type feel. Traction was good and not too much for roads but I would not buy it strictly for roads. It is more of a trail shoe.”