361 Meraki 6 Review | 361 Degrees
The 361 Meraki 6 is a well-cushioned, neutral road running shoe designed for everyday use. It offers a smooth ride that delivers a cruising, long-distance feel. It’s ideal for the bulk of your running mileage, including long runs.
361 sales have been steadily growing in a Newcastle-upon-Tyne store for several years, primarily driven by the 361 Kairos 2, a road running shoe that offers some pronation support, or a more supportive feel for runners who don’t need that support (316 Degrees Kairos 2 Review), and the 361 Centauri 2, a neutral road running shoe (361 Degrees Centauri Review). The addition of the 361 Meraki 6 to our range provides a neutral road running shoe with a plusher ride and more cushioning. As with all 361 running shoes, we offer the Meraki 6 in both regular and wide fittings, ensuring you can get the perfect fit.
The magic of the Meraki lies in its midsole, which features two different foams. The base foam, Engage foam, is TPU-based and provides very high shock absorption with moderate energy return. On top of this is a layer of Primo foam, which offers moderate shock absorption and a good level of energy return. Effectively, the Primo foam adds the bounce to the midsole. The result is a foam that feels well-cushioned and responsive, but not too much of either, making it perfect for everyday training. The midsole is not so soft that you sink into it with every step, nor is the rebound so high that it urges you to run faster with each stride. Instead, the midsole is balanced, offering just enough cushioning for comfort and just enough rebound to make each stride feel effortless. This balance creates that cruising, long-distance feel.
The stack height is 37mm in the heel and 28mm in the forefoot, giving the Meraki 6 a 9mm heel-to-forefoot drop. A men’s UK 8 weighs 282 grams. For women, the stack height is 31mm in the heel and 22mm in the forefoot, with a UK 5 weighing 238 grams.
The midsole features a slight curve or rocker. Combined with the 9mm heel-to-forefoot drop, this provides some propulsion. Rather than stopping when the heel touches the ground, the curved midsole keeps the foot moving, reducing braking forces. This means the body and shoes have less force to absorb at impact. It also reduces overstriding, helping the runner maintain a more upright posture, making them lighter on their feet and requiring less effort to run. This contributes further to the Meraki 6’s cruising, long-distance feel.
The outsole has been enhanced with Gecko grip rubber under the forefoot. This is a grippy rubber designed to perform well in wet conditions, providing a positive feel during toe-off. The heel section uses a high-abrasion rubber to maximise durability.
The heel is stiffened but lacks a plastic cup, allowing it to mould to your heel when laced for a snug, bespoke fit. The heel tab curves away from the Achilles to reduce the chance of rubbing. Both the heel cup and the cuff have good padding, as does the tongue. The gusseted tongue has a tab to secure the laces, preventing it from shifting during your run. There’s also an extra lace hole at the top, which can be used to tighten the heel or for butterfly lacing.
The upper is made from a soft-knit construction. The toe box isn’t the roomiest, but the straight big toe line allows for a positive push-off. A wide width is available for runners with wide or high-volume feet. 361 running shoes are similar in length to Brooks, Saucony, Altra, and Topo. If you typically wear Hoka, New Balance, Inov-8, or Karhu, we recommend trying half a UK size smaller for a similar fit.
The rocker and 9mm heel-to-forefoot drop initially make the 361 Meraki 6 feel a bit like standing on a wedge. This is a feeling I often get in shoes with a rocker or a high heel-to-forefoot drop, as my everyday shoes are mostly flat and flexible. Of course, the Meraki 6 isn’t designed for standing or walking around, and once you start running, it feels quite different. I barely noticed the high heel, and though the rocker was noticeable, it was subtle. I felt like I could run in my natural gait without the rocker taking over. On up-hills, I ran easily without sinking into the cushioning. On downhills, the rocker didn’t push me to run faster than I wanted, giving me a lovely cruising feel. On longer runs, I found that the midsole materials held their integrity, remaining firm even after several hours.
The 361 Meraki 6 is designed for easy and long runs. They’re comfortable enough for steady paces, but if you push the pace, the midsole compresses, and you don’t get the same propulsion. Therefore, they’re better suited for the bulk of your training and can be paired with a shoe designed for quicker sessions.
In summary, the 361 Meraki 6 offers a solid level of cushioning and makes running feel effortless. It’s perfect for cruising through easy and recovery runs, as well as tackling those long-distance runs in comfort.
Other Considerations
Brooks Glycerin 22: A more pointed toe box. The ride feels plusher and more cushioned but, this does take away some of the feel for running that you get with the Meraki 6. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-glycerin-22-review/
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14: A more pointed toe box with a softer and bouncier ride. Like the Glycerin 22 this does take away from the feeling of running which the Meraki 6 does manage to retain. Available in two width women’s and three width men’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-1080v14-review/
Altra FWD VIA: A much more rounded toe box gives the feet more room to spread and function in the shoes. A lower 4mm drop facilitates a more natural ride. The cushioning is firmer to stimulate foot function which take away the plush feel to the ride. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-fwd-via-review/
Karhu Ikoni 3: Although the Ikoni has some structure to help control pronation should you need it the shoe can also be worn by neutral runners who like a more stable ride. The cushioning is more responsive but, with the Karhu Fulcrum system adding some propulsion it still has a smooth ride. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-ikoni-3-review/
Hylo Impact: A more pointed toe box and softer ride. The rocker is more noticeable but, isn’t too controlling due to the softness of the shoes. A comfortable daily trainer with the added bonus that they are completely recyclable. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hylo-impact-review/
Topo Atmos: A broad rounded toe box gives the runners feet the room to spread and function. The cushioning isn’t as soft to stimulate the feet to spread on impact. The rocker is more noticeable and does tend to take over a bit especially on downhills. Available in two width men’s and one width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-atmos-review/
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