361 Degrees Kairos 2 Review
The 361 Kairos 2 is an everyday training shoe designed for runners who need some anti-pronation support. It is well-cushioned, durable, and comfortable, as expected from a shoe intended for daily use on most runs.
The 361 Kairos 2 has been selling so well in our Newcastle-upon-Tyne shop that we’ve struggled to keep it in stock. When runners visit, we assess their foot shape and determine whether they need anti-pronation support. We then present a selection of suitable shoes, allowing the customer to test them in the concrete service corridor at the back of the shop. This provides an authentic feel for the shoes and helps customers choose the pair that best fits and feels comfortable. When customers repeatedly select a shoe and return to tell us how well it performs, we know we’ve found another excellent running shoe. The 361 Kairos 2 has become one of these, which is why we want to review it for those who can’t visit our Newcastle-upon-Tyne store.
The Kairos 2 is designed for runners who mildly pronate. When your foot strikes the ground, your arch compresses to absorb the shock. It should then reshape, allowing you to push off from under your big toe. If the arch doesn’t reshape quickly enough, the push-off occurs from the inside of the foot, causing the ankle, knee, and hip joints to be slightly misaligned. Since running is repetitive, this can lead to overuse injuries in the lower legs. Common symptoms of over-pronation include shin pain, pain in the patella tendon (just below the kneecap), and pain in the iliotibial band (outside of the thigh).
Many shoes designed for anti-pronation support use firmer foam on the inside, which doesn’t compress as easily as the softer foam used elsewhere in the shoe. This reduces the arch’s compression and helps the runner push off correctly. The 361 Kairos 2 is unique in that the midsole foam is uniform in density throughout. Over-pronation is controlled by the foot’s positioning inside the shoe, the broad base, and the rocker or curved shape of the midsole. The foot sits inside the midsole, made from 361’s Engage foam. This design guides the foot from landing (whether on the heel or midfoot) to toe-off. The midsole is broad at the heel and under the midfoot, providing stability and support. The Engage foam offers a comfortable level of cushioning but isn’t overly soft, which ensures a stable ride.
The heel-to-forefoot drop is 8mm (34mm/26mm). This, combined with the rocker shape of the midsole, keeps the foot moving smoothly through the gait cycle. It reduces the time the foot has to pronate, minimizing braking forces and allowing for a quicker toe-off. My experience running in these shoes is that my posture is slightly corrected, resulting in my glutes and hamstrings working harder than in other shoes. The Kairos 2 feels comfortable and natural, without feeling overly controlling. I find that I don’t lean forward at the waist as much when running uphill and feel more upright when running downhill. I don’t notice the rocker when walking, but once running, the shoes help keep my feet moving.
I used the Kairos 2 for all my morning runs, which cover about five miles of undulating terrain. Initially, I felt some tightness in my hamstrings on the return uphill, but by the end of the second week, this feeling subsided. I also noticed an improvement in my posture when running in other shoes during my evening runs. Everyone’s posture is slightly different. If you already have good posture and tend to engage your glutes and hamstrings with an upright torso, the Kairos 2 will reinforce your foot posture rather than correcting it.
The heel cup is made from firm thermoplastic, designed to hold the heel securely and prevent twisting, which occurs when the foot over-pronates. The heel tab is dovetailed, pulling it away from the Achilles to reduce rubbing. Over-pronators often suffer from sore Achilles tendons due to overstretching, leading to inflammation. The dovetailed heel tab also adds a bit of spring to the heel cup, providing better grip and reducing the chance of slippage. The heel cup and collar are well-padded, as expected from a shoe designed for daily comfort.
The tongue is lightly gusseted, and a tab through which the laces thread helps prevent the tongue from moving inside the shoe while running. The tongue is well-padded from the base of the laces to the last lace hole. Beyond this point, the tongue that covers the ankle is soft and thin.
The 361 Kairos 2 has six lace holes, meaning the laces don’t extend as far into the toe box as in other running shoes. This makes the toe box feel roomier and moves the tongue attachment point further up, reducing the risk of rubbing on the toe joints, even for those with high-volume feet. An additional lace hole at the top allows for a snugger heel fit or the option to butterfly lace the shoes. The toe box, although not as rounded as those in Altra or Topo shoes, features a straight big toe line. This design allows for a stronger push-off and gives the feet room to spread and function properly, helping to reduce pronation.
The upper is made of very soft, seamless mesh, adding to the shoe’s initial comfort. An everyday training shoe should be one you enjoy putting on, so it must feel comfortable. This is the shoe you’ll spend the most time in, so comfort, cushioning, and underfoot protection are the priorities. Most training miles are run at an easy pace, so you don’t want a shoe that pushes you to run quickly. A shoe that feels smooth and easy to run in is a better option. It’s clear why our in-store customers needing anti-pronation support are choosing the 361 Kairos 2—it ticks all these boxes. The Kairos 2 is also available in two widths for both men and women, ensuring a perfect fit regardless of foot width.
361 running shoes are similar in length to those from Hoka, New Balance, Inov-8, La Sportiva, and Karhu. If you use Brooks, Saucony, Topo, or Altra, we recommend trying half a UK size larger for the same length. The women’s UK 5 weighs 270g, and the men’s UK 8 weighs 307g.
In summary, the 361 Kairos 2 is a comfortable, well-cushioned every day running shoe designed for easy and long runs. It offers mild anti-pronation support, but because it lacks an active anti-pronation mechanism, it could also be worn by neutral runners seeking a stable ride.
Other Considerations
New Balance 860v14: The New Balance 860 v14 has a more sturdy feel. The cushioning is softer in the heel but, similar in the forefoot. The lack of a rocker makes it feel less smooth and for the same reason doesn’t activate glutes and hamstrings the same. Available in three width men’s and three width women’s.
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-860v14-review/
Hoka Arahi 7: The cushioning is slightly softer on impact. The heel to forefoot drop is 5mm. The anti-pronation support comes from a J shaped section of firmer foam in the midsole. The rocker is less noticeable when running. This coupled with the softer cushioning makes the ride feel less smooth. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-arahi-7-review/
Brooks Glycerin GTS 21: The GTS versions of Brooks shoes are the shoes with Anti-pronation support. The Glycerin has a nitrogen infused midsole which gives it a very bouncy ride. The heel to forefoot drop is 10mm and there is no rocker. The feeling when running in them is soft and bouncy rather than smooth and efficient like it is in the Kairos 2. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-glycerin-21-review/
Altra Paradigm 7: Altra’s have a broad rounded toe box to promote more foot function. The Paradigm 7 is zero drop to encourage a more midfoot landing which helps load the foot correctly so that it can spread on impact to give cushioning, stability and propulsion. The cushioning is similar in feel to the foam used by 361. It is not super soft so that your foot knows it has touched the floor and therefore gets the message to function. The Paradigm is available in two width men’s and one width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-paradigm-7-review/
Altra Provision 8: Offers less anti-pronation support than the Altra Paradigm and 361 Kairos 2. The midsole foam is firmer which stimulates more foot function and gives a more natural ride. There is more volume in the toe box than in the Paradigm 7. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-provision-8-review/
Topo Ultrafly 4: A broad rounded toe box like the Altra shoes but, the Topo Ultrafly 4 has a 5mm heel to forefoot drop. There is no rocker to promote a smooth ride. It’s preference as to whether a shoe with a rocker is preferred or not. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-ultrafly-4-review/
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23: Available in three width men’s and two width women’s. The toe box is more pointed than the Kairos 2 and less roomy. The midsole is similarly firm. The heel to forefoot drop is 12mm and there is no rocker. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-adrenaline-gts-23-review/
Karhu Ikoni: A similar straight big toe line in the toe box. The propulsion and help with your posture is supplied by a Fulcrum in Karhu shoes. This has a similar effect to rocker. The forefoot is more flexible and the cushioning slightly softer. There is less pronation support later in the gait cycle. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-ikoni-2-0-review/
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