361° Futura 3 Review
The 361 Futura 3 is a well-cushioned trail running shoe designed for hard-packed tracks and trails, but still versatile enough to cover road-to-trail use and provide traction on wet and muddy surfaces.
The Futura 3 has seen a lot of updates compared to the previous model. Apart from the appearance, which looks much more like a dedicated trail running shoe than its predecessor, the Futura 3 feels more substantial underfoot and more protective through the upper. The stack height remains 36 mm in the heel and 30 mm in the forefoot, keeping the drop at 6 mm. This is the same for both the men’s and women’s models.
What has changed underfoot is the makeup of the midsole. The midsole is broader, especially through the midfoot, which gives the Futura 3 a more stable feel when standing in the shoes and a more stable ride overall. The midsole is made from 361’s Quik Engage foam. This foam has a quick rebound, feels soft on impact, and maintains its structure over time. The heel section feels soft and cushioned, whereas the forefoot feels firmer and more responsive. So the runner gets initial impact protection followed by a positive push-off.
The midsole is curved, or rocker-shaped, to provide a level of propulsion by keeping the foot moving as it contacts the ground. This, coupled with the low heel-to-forefoot drop, helps reduce heel strike and increase cadence, making the runner feel lighter on their feet and more nimble. The midsole is stiffer through the midfoot, which makes the rocker more effective. This does make the midsole less effective at adapting to uneven ground compared to the previous model, but on less broken terrain it provides a smoother ride. The midsole doesn’t feel as bouncy but does feel smoother and more stable. On long runs, I felt my feet were more protected, and the rocker shape kept me moving more easily than the softer, more flexible Futura 2.
The level of toe spring has also increased (how much the forefoot or toe box curves upwards). This helps encourage the runner to lift their heels off the ground and maintain good knee lift. This gives the rocker a different feel to other brands, as you don’t feel like your feet are passengers within the shoes. You still feel like you are running naturally, as you would without a rocker.
The upper is now made from a more robust woven fabric, which is lighter, more durable, and more abrasion-resistant than the previous upper. There is a Velcro tab on the outside of the heel cup and a D-ring at the base of the laces, allowing a gaiter to be attached if required. Gaiters can help prevent debris from getting into the shoes and close the gap between running tights and the shoe, making them warmer in poor conditions. A plastic heel cup forms the base of the heel and helps hold the foot securely. As is the case with most running shoes featuring a rocker-shaped midsole, the foot sits slightly inside the midsole so it follows the curve of the shoe. This helps guide the runner’s foot through the gait cycle, maintaining a quicker cadence and a more upright posture.
The heel cup has a comfortable level of padding, as do the cuff and tongue. The tongue is lightly gusseted at the top to help stop debris getting into the shoe. At the top of the tongue is a pocket designed to tuck the laces into once tied. This stops the laces from getting caught in undergrowth, coming undone, or getting muddy. This is a real asset in a trail running shoe in my opinion. There is an additional lace hole at the top, which can be used to create a snugger heel fit or to butterfly lace the shoes. At the midfoot, three lace holes on both the medial and lateral sides have been replaced with webbing loops. These are attached at the base of the shoe and help pull the upper in around the foot. This creates a snugger midfoot fit and helps prevent foot movement inside the shoe when running on steep downhills or broken ground.
The 361 Futura 3 weighs 321 grams in a men’s UK 8 and 262 grams in a women’s UK 5. This is about normal for a do-it-all trail running shoe designed to be durable, cushioned, and comfortable for regular use. The rocker makes the shoes feel light on your feet, and the stable, protective feel gives the impression you could keep going all day. The toe box is more roomy and rounded than the previous version. This makes the big toe line straighter and allows the foot to spread more naturally, which promotes better foot function. Being able to wiggle the toes inside the shoe can also help reduce rubbing and blistering on longer runs.
361 sizing is similar in length to Brooks, Saucony, Topo, and Altra. If you normally wear Hoka, New Balance, Karhu, Inov-8, or La Sportiva, we would suggest trying half a UK size smaller. For example, a UK 11 in 361 is similar in length to a UK 11.5 in Hoka. The 361 Futura 3 is available in a wide fit in both the men’s and women’s models, helping runners achieve a more precise fit.
The well-cushioned ride does reduce ground feel, so you need to trust the grip. The outsole has been updated. The lugs are a similar shape to the previous model and designed to bite into soft ground, but they are slightly shorter. Apex Grip rubber improves traction on wet and dry surfaces and, according to 361’s testing, is 40% better than the previous outsole rubber. The recent spell of heavy rain has made it easy to test the traction, and I found it impressive. Despite the shorter lugs, the outsole gripped well on everything except the deepest mud and also held securely on wet, slabby rock.
In summary, the 361 Futura 3 has seen some strong improvements and has become more of a rugged trail running shoe than before. The traction is impressive, the fit is comfortable, and the ride is cushioned without being too soft.
Hoka Speedgoat 7: The Speedgoat 7 offers a more responsive feel to the ride when compared to the 361 Futura 3 which has a softer initial impact. The traction level is similar. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-speedgoat-7-review/
Topo Athletic Vista: More of an Ultra shoe than an everyday shoe in terms of the robustness of the midsole and that it is designed to keep you moving rather than allow you to free move at any pace. The toe box is broader with more room for the feet to spread and function which makes the Topo Vista feel a very comfortable shoe but, it’s not a versatile in terms of traction of performance in comparison to the Futura 3. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-vista-review/
VJ Ultra 3: A slighter broader and slighter more rounded toe box allows more room for the feet to spread and function. The ride is softer with a bit more bounce. Traction is a similar level. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-ultra-3-review/
Brooks Cascadia 19: A straight big toe line gives the toe box a similar amount of room. Available in two widths men’s and women’s. The traction isn’t quite a good on softer ground mainly due to the broad base of the shoe which also makes it difficult on narrow single track. The midsole is bouncy and comfortable and offers a ride similar to a road shoe on the tarmac. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-19-review/
Inov-8 Trailtalon Max: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread and function. The midsole is soft but, responsive and moulds well to the contours of the ground which makes the Trailtalon Max better at coping with more broken terrain than the Futura 3. The 6mm lugs also gives the Trailtalon Max the edge when it comes to traction on softer terrain. The Futura 3 does ride better on firmer surfaces and is a nice shoe to run in on tarmac. The Trailtalon Max is available in two widths men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailtalon-max-review/
Scott Kinabalu Trail: The Kinabalu Trail is a much more flexible shoe. The rocker is a lot more sutle feeling almost like it isn’t there in comparison to the Futura 3. Less cushioned with more ground feel a lighter nimble offering. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-kinabalu-trail-review/
La Sportiva Prodigio Max: A similar shaped toe box but, on a firmer and beefier midsole. More of a distance shoe than an everyday training shoe like the Futura 3 which feels softer and lighter on your feet. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-prodigio-max-review/
Saucony Xodus Ultra 4: A much more pointed toe box. The ride is firmer and the traction not as good on softer surfaces. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/saucony-xodus-ultra-4-review/
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