361° Meraki 7 Review
The 361 Meraki 7 is a well-cushioned neutral road running shoe designed for everyday running. The focus of the Meraki 7 is to provide a comfortable fit and a cushioned ride for your easy-paced and longer runs. The fit feels snugger and more wrapped around the foot than the previous version. The material is still soft and pliable, and the initial feel is one of comfort. The heel tab is no longer swallow-tailed and doesn’t come up as high. The heel cup is firm and well padded, yet still pliable, and pulls in around the heel nicely when the shoes are laced up. The collar is also nicely padded.
The tongue is very soft and pliable, with a good level of padding. It is half gusseted, and the laces thread through a tab to help hold it in place and prevent it from slipping to one side while running. There is an extra lace hole at the top, which can be used to create a snugger heel fit or for a runner’s loop. The big toe line is straight, which allows for a positive push-off. The stack height is 37/28, giving a heel-to-forefoot drop of 9mm, which is the same as the previous men’s version. The women’s stack height has increased from 31/22 to match the men’s at 37/28.
The midsole is constructed using the same two foams as the Meraki 6. The base layer is Engage, a TPU-based foam that offers a high level of shock absorption and structural stability. On top of this sits Primo foam, a very light supercritical foam that gives a plush feel to the ride. A P-35 insole adds an extra layer of softness, further enhancing step-in comfort. Although the midsole uses the same materials, the ride feels different. I found the Meraki 7 to have slightly less compression, with more flexibility in the forefoot, allowing for a better connection with the ground. The midsole retains a slight rocker shape to help keep the foot moving through the gait cycle. This encourages a quicker cadence and can reduce heel striking, improving efficiency and lowering impact forces.
The men’s UK 8 weighs 282 grams, while the women’s UK 5 weighs 236 grams.
The Meraki 7 provides a smooth ride that doesn’t feel overly soft or firm. I found I could run for long periods and forget about the shoes entirely. As a midfoot striker, the 9mm drop feels on the higher side, but the flexibility through the midfoot allowed me to land naturally. I only noticed the higher heel on descents, where it tended to contact the ground slightly earlier. For heel strikers, the cushioning provides a soft landing, and the rocker helps guide the foot through to toe-off. Importantly, the rocker never feels intrusive or overly controlling, but it does contribute to a smoother ride—something that becomes more noticeable when switching to other shoes.
Not many everyday training shoes are as versatile as they once were. The current trend towards softer midsoles can result in energy loss and make it harder to run at faster paces. The Meraki 7 bucks this trend. While it is well cushioned, it still performs well at steady and tempo paces, as well as during pickups in longer runs. The forefoot is responsive, making uphill efforts feel efficient and controlled, which is ideal for hill reps.
On longer runs—up to two and a half hours in my case—the cushioning maintained its integrity. The ride felt just as smooth at the end as it did at the start.
Gecko Grip is used on the outsole, and I found the traction to be reliable, even in wet conditions. It provides a secure connection with the ground, contributing to a stable and confident feel. Many similarly cushioned shoes have a wider base, which can reduce ground feel and make the ride feel less nimble. The Meraki 7 avoids this, helping it feel more agile and controlled, particularly when picking up the pace.
361 shoes fit similarly in length to Brooks, Saucony, Altra, and Topo. If you usually wear Hoka, New Balance, Karhu, Inov-8, or La Sportiva, it may be worth trying half a UK size larger to achieve a similar fit—for example, a UK 11 in 361 is roughly equivalent to a UK 11.5 in Hoka. The Meraki 7 is available in two widths for both men and women. The standard width is not especially generous—similar to Hoka—so runners with slightly wider feet may prefer the wide option.
In summary, the 361 Meraki 7 is a well-cushioned everyday running shoe that delivers a plush yet smooth and versatile ride.
Alternatives to 361° Meraki 7
361 Centauri 3: Although the Centauri 3 is made by the same brand as the Meraki 7 it has a very different ride. The Centauri 3 is much softer with a more cushioned feel to the ride. If you prefer your running shoes to feel soft on impact, then these would be worth considering: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-degrees-centauri-3-review/
Altra Fwd VIA 2: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet more room to spread and function. 4mm heel to forefoot with a rocker but, the rocker does less of the work for the body. The cushioning is similar in that it isn’t very soft with a lot of compression but, firmer with more feel. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-fwd-via-2-review/
Brooks Glycerin 23: A 10mm heel to forefoot drop makes the Brooks Glycerin 23 feel similar when you put them on. The Glycerin 23 upper is more padded which gives more of a feel of luxury when you put it on but, the function is the same. The Glycerin 23 toe box is a lot more pointed. There is no rocker so you must do more of the work but, the high heel to forefoot drop gives some assistance. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-glycerin-23-review/
Inov-8 RoadFly Max: A broad rounded toe box allows the feet the room to spread and function inside the shoes. The heel to forefoot drop is 6mm which promotes more of a midfoot landing. The midsole isn’t as flexible initially but, does get more flexible with use. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-roadfly-max-review/
Saucony Triumph 23: Less of a straight toe box. A similar feel to the cushioning but, the ride is less smooth encouraging more lift with the glutes and hamstrings. They have a similar feel for the ground type of ride and also don’t feel as bulky as other high cushioned road running shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/saucony-triumph-23-review/
Altra Torin 8: A zero-drop shoe that promotes more of a midfoot landing. A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the room to spread on impact and function inside the shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-torin-8-review/
Karhu Mestari 1.5: A straight big toe line gives the Mestari 1.5 a similar strong push off. The rocker and Karhu Fulcrum give the Mestari a lot more propulsion than the Meraki 7 but, with it comes a more controlling feel to the ride. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-mestari-run-1-5-review/
Hoka Bondi 9: A more pointed and narrower toe box. The ride is softer with a more pronounced feel to the rocker. A more controlling ride. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-ondi-9-review/
New Balance 1080: A much softer and bouncier feel to the ride. The rocker is similar subtle but, there is much less feel for the floor. Available in three width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/new-balance-m13/fresh-foam-x-1080-t100
Topo Atmos: A broad rounded toe box allows more room for the feet to spread and function inside the shoes. There is a very noticeable rocker and the ride is firm which helps with propulsion. Available in two width men’s and one width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-atmos-review/
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