Article by Zack Dunn, Beto Hughes, Michael Ellenberger, and Sam Winebaum
361-Meraki 4 ($130)
Introduction
Sam: The Meraki 4 is 361’s bread and butter, heavy duty daily trainer. At 10.6 oz / 300g (US9) in a men’s 9 with a “relatively” modest total stack of 23.5mm forefoot / 31.5mm heel so 8mm, drop. In today’s world of super light high stack trainers these stats tell me we are dealing with a shoes that seeks to deliver lots of durability, support, and stability with that low forefoot stack a sign that it is flexible.
But the Meraki 4 is not an “antique'' by any stretch. It has a state of the art engineered mesh upper with instead of an inner gusset tongue a mid foot underlay panel laminated to the outer upper reminding in some ways of the approach of the adidas Celermesh in shoes such as the adios Pro 1 and 2 but here more panel than grid.
Underfoot, the midsole is dual density with QuickFoam a rubberized foam with an outer skin underfoot with below that a new LTEVA layer. Embedded between the layers is a not super wide (so not a big plate spanning mid foot) fiberglass QuikSpine shank for a touch of guidance/support, “linear integrity”, and propulsion. Finally we have a copious well decoupled outsole with plenty of easy flex. All of this says to me on the surface tha is a more traditional daily trainer of the heavy duty variety with a promising ride and surprisingly fair $130 price point.
Pros:
Zack/Sam/Beto: superb upper fit and lockdown: solid heel, secure midfoot, decent front room
Zack/Sam/Beto: nice forefoot flex
Zack/Beto: midsole is soft and forgiving, has a sponge like feeling
Sam: ride combines a soft dense landing with a responsive snappier and flexible take off
Zack/Beto/Michael/Sam: Build quality and overall durability seem very high
Beto/Sam/Michael: 361 Quickspine has a nice transition from heel to toe at easy pace and is stable at mid to forefoot landing.
Sam: single trainer great value option for moderate pace daily training-durable, very secure, stable, decently lively
Cons:
Zack: not the most versatile shoe (a little too nimble for long runs, too soft for fast paces)
Beto/Sam: heavy for fast paces and long runs.
Beto: a little bit narrow if you have a wide foot.
Michael: upper material tends to bunch
Stats
Estimated Weight: men's 10.6 oz / 300g (US9)
Samples: men’s 10.3 oz / 292g US8.5, 12.8 oz / 364g US13
Midsole Stack Height: 16mm /25mm
Full Stack Height 23.5mm / 31.5mm, 8mm drop
Available August 2021. $130
Tester Profiles
Michael is a 2019 graduate of Northwestern University Law School in Chicago and is a patent and intellectual property attorney. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). He recently finished 2nd at the Chicago Half-Marathon in a PR of 67:43, and was the top Illinois finisher in the 2017 Boston Marathon (2:33:03, 82nd overall). He also has a 2:31 marathon PR from the 2018 Austin Marathon.
Zack Dunn: I am a rising high school senior. I’ve been running for 7 years, and focused solely on running after giving up on years of baseball and wrestling. I race distances between 800 meters and 10K whether it be on the track, the roads, or on cross country courses. I do most of my training on the roads, some training on the track, and occasionally run trails logging anywhere from 40-60 miles a week. My typical training consists of easy days, long days, workouts (fartleks, tempos, interval training, etc.). My typical training paces range from 7’30 a mile on easy days to sub-5 minutes a mile on fast interval days, and with many paces in between. My personal bests are 2:02 for 800m, 4:30 for 1600m, 9:50 for 3200m, 15:57 for 5K, and 34:10 for 10K.
Beto Hughes Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico
31 yrs old, Height: 5’10,, Weight: 195lbs
I started running in 2016, training to lose weight. I used to weigh 295 lbs and between Running and Crossfit began my love for the fitness life and for Running.
I am now aiming to be a Boston Qualifier. Weekly mileage: 60 - 75 miles on Road
Favorite distances: Marathon and Half Marathon also Ultra Marathon.
You can follow me on Instagram @betohughes https://www.instagram.com/betohughes/
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is 64 with a 2018 3:40 Boston qualifier. Sam has been running for over 48 years and has a 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range training 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA.
First Impressions/Fit/Upper
Zack: I personally really enjoyed the engineered mesh upper and thought it was executed perfectly. I felt it was kept simple and had all of the vital parts well engineered. The upper had great comfort as well as great midfoot lockdown with no heel slippage. The tongue was well padded, as was the collar with the right amount of cushion without feeling overly plush.
One of the best things about the upper is the Morphfit cage. It basically is a midfoot band (very similar to the Pegasus 37 midfoot band) that keeps the midfoot locked down and helps with stability. I can’t really comment on breathability, as most of my runs were in the 80-85 degree range, so my feet were hot anyways, but they didn't get overly hot either, so that's good.
The 3D high-frequency molded heel counter was pretty good as well, as it kept the foot locked down well.
Beto: The upper is an engineered Mesh which works really well. The Morpfit, as 361 called it, is a lacing/hold system that works like a charm and really held my midfoot in place with no pressure points or hot spots. Once I nailed the lockdown, the foot felt secure and had great stability with the fit really comfortable with zero movement. The tongue has enough padding so if you want to tighten the laces a bit more you won’t have any pressure. The heel counter is simple, has enough padding that feels really comfortable and locks the heel in place with no issues. The heel hold felt really secure and stable with zero heel slippage as it is well structured so points for that to 361. Let’s talk about breathability. The shoe is breathable enough for really hot and humid days. I tested in 96 F temperatures with 95 % humidity and didn’t feel that the shoe got super hot. It does hold a lot of sweat during those long runs though. I tried thin socks and that helped a lot as I felt more air. I had zero blisters, chafing or irritation problems during those hot and humid runs.
Sam: A very solid comfortable upper here with the foot locked to the platform immaculately and comfortably if somewhat more “heavily” so due to its construction and especially the truly over massive quite rigid if effective and not really noticed heel counter.
Moving forward the collars are also more rigid than most with just the right amount of softer but not over thick padding. Lace up is easy, easy here with never any adjustments on the go and no need to overtighten. Heck, you could even almost run them unlaced as after the rear the Morphit panels of underlays provide a solid smooth and very reassuring wrap of the foot.
The tongue is a winged leatherette type affair but with more padding than I can recall in such a tongue in recent choses. The fit is true to size for me with more than adequate toe box room.
The mesh is very pliable, with many slots for ventilation but also upper flex and as there are no front overlays of any kind and a quite soft bumper plenty of overhead room and better than average width as a result. Ah the miracles of toe box room and comfort when the midfoot and heel is locked down as here.
Michael: I have a feeling that I may be disagreeing with my fellow reviewers on some parts of this - while I did generally enjoy the composition of the Meraki, I had an issue where the upper material tended to bunch slightly around the forefoot. It wasn’t an issue of fit - my 8.5s were a great, locked-in size - but more the nature of the lacing and toe box construction, generally.
Setting that quirk aside - I should note, too, that it didn’t cause any blistering or other issues - I do think the mesh upper is a benefit of the shoe. It’s airy and light, and feels solid enough to handle both summer and winter running. The heel, as others have noted, is also a major plus - no slipping or sliding, and no irritation to speak of. It’s not the most exciting shoe I’ve ever put on my foot, but (bunching aside), it didn't’ cause any issue, either!
Midsole
Zack: I personally really enjoyed the midsole of this shoe for everyday running at easy/steady paces, but not really, in all honesty, at any faster paces. The midsole was just too soft and spongy for fast paces, and lacking the responsiveness needed to excel at fast paces, though it wasn’t terrible -along with this not being a lightweight shoe at 10.6 oz / 300g (US9). The midsole was very forgiving though which is what made it great for easy/steady paces. It consists of 3 man parts; 361’s Qu!kfoam, LTEVA foam, and a Quik Spine (plastic/fiberglass midfoot shank). Those three parts really worked together well with the Qu!kfoam being soft and very shock absorbing, the LTEEVA providing underfoot support and comfort, and finally the Qu!k Spine adding support, stability, and midfoot propulsion/rigidity to help add some responsiveness to the midsole. Overall, I was pleased with the midsole as it does what it was made to do.
Beto: The Meraki is made with a Top layer of Quickfoam (rubberized EVA with a skin), then a light bottom EVA foam with in the middle a Quick Spine of fiberglass reinforced plastic. The Quick Foam is very soft and forgiving and has some responsiveness to the stride. After 2 runs I felt the midsole broke in and made the shoe really comfortable for daily mileage and especially for easy and steady runs. Easy, long runs were also great.
When I tried to push the pace the shoe felt like I needed to use more energy than I have to with other shoes. Definitely this is a daily trainer that is more for easy and steady paces rather than for speedier workouts. During some easy runs + strides I felt I had to push harder but that is because the shoe is a bit heavy and the Quickfoam is soft. Still there was decent enough response to do some strides at harder efforts.
The Quick Spine really helps the shoe to be more stable especially for those who heel strike as it gives propulsion. In my case I like how it felt at midfoot which gave me a nice and smooth mid foot to toe off sensation. The Quick Spine gave me a great transition at each step and you can feel how stable the shoe is, especially during long runs. The LTEEVA Foam layer is firmer than the Quickfoam so it gives stability and with the Quick Spine you can feel that propulsion at steady paces with the Quickfoam softer and comfortable so balancing the ride with also nice flex at the toes.
Michael: 361° has implemented a dose of its Quik Foam compound here - a rubberized EVA material, with a PU coating to stabilize - and I was pleasantly surprised. As Beto mentioned, it took a few miles to sort of break in (soften, specifically), but once primed, I found Quik Foam to be quite energetic and fun. This bounce is countered, slightly, by the overall heft of the shoe (more of that in the Ride section), but I can’t say I was disappointed with the Meraki’s midsole blend here. In fact, for some of my “signature” (by that I mean, coach- and teammate-disapproved) progression runs, I really liked breaking out the Meraki - it’s springy enough to handle near-tempo pace, without feeling out-of-control or just uncomfortable for those first couple miles.
Anyone eyeing the shoe or trying in-store will also notice the Quik Spine - this is an element I don’t think I’ve seen from 361 before, but it’s apparent though the outsole of the shoe, and provides some rigidity and spring. It’s hard to know exactly how much this shank does, versus the pop of the midsole itself, but I think you can feel it at toe-off (at least enough to keep you rolling forward!).
Sam: I tend to agree with Michael’s midsole assessment here. But for the weight of the shoe, yes it is felt, the midsole foams, the small stabilizing, “linear integrity”, and propulsion from the QuikSpine shank (fiberglass although patterned like carbon) and overall geometry, including admirable front flexibility deliver a stable, densely and well cushioned and very decently energetic feel for such a big shoe. The combination will never get you in trouble and has enough response and flow to handle any moderate pace running and if you need a touch of stability (platform and upper) it is about as secure and stable as you can get without getting into stability shoes and their posts, rails, and such. None of that here.
Outsole
Zack: The outsole of this shoe performed well, providing adequate traction on pavement / light dirt trails. As well as having fine traction, it also seems after 50 miles there is no clear sign of wear which is good. I believe this shoe can last into the 350-450 mile range. The outsole is 361’s Qui!k Flex outsole, which enhances traction/durability while also utilizing flex grooves in the forefoot for a natural and more balanced toe-off, which I sensed and enjoyed.
Beto: The Outsole worked really well, had great traction on roads and pavement and had no problems on wet roads or rainy days as it's been raining a lot lately here in Mexico. The traction never let me down and is also good enough for light trails. The shoe uses 361 Quick Flex which has a nice flex at toe off and goes well with the Quick Spine for a great transition and propulsion. The outsole as Zack says should easily go 450 miles even more. I ran 120 miles on mine and the outsole wear looks minimal so this is a great shoe for piling on those daily miles.
Michael: I didn’t put as many miles in the Meraki as Beto or Zack, but after approximately 40 miles, I can confidently say that my pair of the Meraki is good as new. With a full rubber outsole, I have no qualms here - and I will keep coming to this shoe as the weather gets dicier and I need something that I know will stick to the pavement.
Sam: Lots of rubber thickness, well segmented up front for that nice flex on toe off. The outsole should last many many hundreds of miles
Ride
Zack: Overall I think the ride of this shoe performed well for what it was made for, which is the steady everyday miles, and nothing else. As stated in the midsole section, the shoe had a very spongy ride, making it nice and soft for easy/steady paces, but was not really as effective for any faster paces. It just was too heavy and lacked the pop that I needed for fast runs. It could be used for longer days, but it’s lacking the stack compared to today’s max trainers these days so choosing for longer days would be based on the runner’s preferences for such a shoe.
Beto: The shoe is made for daily training, for those Easy or Mid Pace runs and Long Runs. The more I ran the shoe the better it felt, the Quickfoam is soft and the Quick Spine provides good propulsion, stability and a smooth ride. It is not the best shoe for speed workouts. It is not made for that but has enough pop for some strides at a good pace, maybe a couple hundred meters in distance at a time.
Meraki 4 is a traditional daily trainer with solid new technology and updates without losing the traditional feeling of a good workhorse shoe. It's a heavy shoe but has a lot of good things in it so it’s well worth a try. That's why it’s 361 best selling model. It really gets the job done for what it’s made for, and that's daily mileage.
Michael: Pinning down the optimal use case for the Meraki 4 is no easy task. There’s propulsion here - largely from a springy midsole and midfoot shank - but it’s not quite an aggressive stance. On the flipside, the cushioning - while adequate - is not exactly generous, and I didn’t love the Meraki for pure recovery efforts. Still, there is a decent middle-ground here - it’s fast enough to handle tempo efforts without being punishing at fast or slow efforts.
Sam: A ride for many miles of varied moderate pace training. Nothing exceptional or flashy but just enough well designed geometry and modern materials to deliver a heavy duty training ride that isn’t cumbersome or boring and very steady on its feet, unlike me! I do notice the shoe’s weight and sort of regret it is not under 10 oz where it really could shine as a daily training ride for most runners.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Zack: Overall, I enjoyed this shoe as I thought it accomplished its task of being a simple, daily trainer very well. It was comfortable, soft, and a pleasure to run in but that came at the expense of it not being a more versatile fast option. So if you’re looking for a simple, lower stack shoe, meant for easy miles with a forgiving midsole, then this will be for you.
Beto: Overall, I enjoyed the shoe more that I thought I would. After the first 2 runs the shoe started to feel better and better and more comfortable as it was breaking in. It’s comfortable, soft enough to go the distance, has good propulsion with great durability and traction. Meraki 4 is definitely a good daily trainer to build mileage with. If you want a shoe that will last and especially for easy runs with not too much stack height, has a traditional feel with light stability and a bit of propulsion it is a great option. 361 well done with this upgrade.
Michael: The Meraki 4 falls into a weird category - it’s positioned like an up-tempo trainer, but with the likes of the Endorphin Speed, Zoom Fly, or Magic Speed to be found, I don’t quite think the 361 can fit in. It’s too heavy and clunky to be truly aggressive (even though, as I mentioned earlier, it’s a fun shoe to take to pace). It just doesn’t quite have that “wow” factor - it moves, but it doesn’t necessarily do the work for you, the way that, for example, an Endorphin Speed might. Unfortunately, I found the 361° to be a bit too clunky to be a great pure recovery shoe, either - something like the New Balance 1080 or even Pegasus fills that role much better.
From a lesser-known brand, I think the Meraki is a great trainer, and it’s only because it feels so polished that it gets compared against the best in the industry. While the Meraki has an upside, I don’t know where exactly it fits in amongst that crowd. It packs an engaging ride, but if you're looking for specialized options (something specifically for tempo runs, say), this may not be it. If your only trainer is the Meraki, then at least you’ll be able to touch all the bases - but it’s a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none.
Michael’s Score: 8.5/10
Sam: Meraki 4 is a well executed, comfortable, durable trainer with a somewhat low stack height for these max cushion times. It has a flexible “thinner” forefoot after a big broad friendly heel landing and a slight and welcome mid foot shank impulse. It is smooth and well cushioned, more traditional in ride but very much up to date in materials from its dual density midsole and shank to its fine engineered mesh upper.
It is a great choice for the more serious “beginner” runner planning a gradual but real increase in mileage as I doubt they will get you into trouble in the early going as you might in lighter flashier shoes. For sure it is a great value at $130. It is stable, secure, and well cushioned if on the heavy side and weight is its only real weak point.
My sense is that a lot of the weight comes from a somewhat overbuilt heel counter and maybe even the over copious and thick rubber coverage. While for sure comforting to look at as a sign of durability and value, and unlike many such outsoles not in the way of the flow of the shoe, some grams might be shaved off there. At 10.6 oz the Meraki 4 is a very good shoe at under 10 oz it could be a great one.
Sam’s Score: 9.08 /10
Ride: 9 (50%) Fit: 9 (30%) Value: 9.5 (15%) Style: 9 (5%)
Comparisons
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
ASICS Magic Speed (RTR Review)
Michael: Unlike the Meraki, the Magic Speed - ASICS’s lower cost racer or more aggressive trainer - packs a true carbon fiber plate. I think that plate makes it a more appealing workout or race option, but does make it a little harsh for my everyday training, and I think the 361° handles recovery miles better than the Magic Speed. It will come down to preference - if you’re training in a plated shoe already, the Magic Speed may be an easier transition than those coming from something more traditional.
Mizuno Wave Rider 25 (RTR Review)
Sam: The Wave Rider is 0.8 oz lighter with a 12mm drop vs. 8mm for Meraki and has a lower and yet more flexible forefoot than the Meraki and a touch more heel cushion. It’s ride is more dynamic with the higher drop and well executed Wave plate really driving the gait to the flexible toe off without leaving out plenty of neutral shoe stability. Its Enerzy foam is more energetic with its lower weight and ride leaning it more towards daily training versatility including faster paces than the Meraki can deliver.
Beto: The Wave Rider 25 enters in the same range of price and similar category of a daily trainer. Both have very durable, stable soft heel landing and a front soft but thinner toe off. The Wave Rider 25 has more pop and works better for daily training and tempo runs. The Enerzy foam midsole with the new Wave plate works amazingly well giving propulsion and stability from heel to toe off. The 361 Meraki 4 has its Quickspine shank in the heel to mid foot which gives a nice stable heel landing and a good flex at toe off which delivers a fluid turn over on easy and mid pace runs. The only issue is the weight of the Meraki 4 is heavy for Tempo Runs but for daily mileage it is an excellent option especially so for its durability.
Mizuno Wave Sky 5 (RTR Review)
Beto: The Wave Sky 5 is a high cushion shoe and it now has a full Enerzy Foam at the bottom and a Enerzy Core at the top to make it more soft and responsive. At the same time it is stable and has a good flex at toe off. On the other hand, the Meraki 4 has a Quickfoam top midsole and a bottom EVA with a Quickspine made of fiberglass helping stability and propulsion with great flex at toe off.
The Meraki 4 is more of a daily trainer and the Wave Sky 5 is your high cushioned shoe for daily training but on this occasion I’ll go with the Meraki 4 for that smooth transition and comfortable fit to go the distance and great durability for the price.
Sam: I agree with Beto here. At $130 for the Meraki vs. $170 for Wave Sky 5 I do not see much additional value or performance benefits from the Wave Sky beyond a slightly more cushioned forefoot.
Nike Zoom Pegasus 37-38 (RTR Review)
Michael: A close call here, but I think I slightly favor the Pegasus - especially once it’s been broken in - for most mileage. The 361° has a slightly faster feel to it, but I would never bet against a Pegasus, and I think the combination of terrific upper, lockdown, and midsole technology do give a slight edge over the performance-first setup of the Meraki. It’s enough of a tossup that, for those able, it’s worth trying both to see.
Sam: The Pegasus is almost 0.8 oz lighter than the Meraki and delivers a different ride: high pressure air bag front rebound vs. flexible toe off. The Meraki is more stable, somewhat more cushioned and less awkward to run at slower paces or when heel striking than the Pegasus which shines at faster paces and for those who tend to mid foot to forefoot strike and decisively so.
New Balance Fresh Foam More v3 (RTR Review)
Beto: The More v3 is a high stack cushioned road shoe that has tons of protection from pavement and a super soft feel underfoot with a rocker geometry from heel to toe. The upper is very comfortable with enough space for toes to play and a comfortable tongue with great breathability and great heel lockdown. The platform is wide so is a very stable ride for a neutral high mileage trainer.
If we compare the More v3 to the Meraki 4 I will say the Meraki 4 will be your daily trainer for almost everything and the More v3 your easy long run or recovery shoe. I like the More v3 as the rocker helps at toe off making it very smooth at mid pace and keeping the legs fresh but the Meraki 4 is more versatile for other training but not my favorite for tempos because of the weight but it can get the job done. This is more of a question of preferences: either something versatile like the Meraki 4: comfortable, durable and versatile or the More v3 for a more cushioned ride that is durable and stable with a higher stack height of midsole.
Sam: The More v3 is softer and more cushioned with a 5.5 mm more forefoot stack and 2.5mm less heel stack so a 4mm drop shoe. Meraki is steadier and more versatile at slower paces although heavier by 0.8 oz. I find the More really shines for me at faster paces off the heels with lots of energetic bounce whereas at slower paces the low drop and soft midsole leave me more bogged down than in the Meraki 4.
New Balance Fresh Foam 880v11 (RTR Review)
Sam: Same idea. About the same stack with a 10mm drop vs 8mm and 0.9 oz less weight, the 880 competes directly with Meraki which is a touch more stable and secure but not quite as any pace versatile a daily trainer as the 880 is.
Saucony Ride 14 (RTR Review)
Beto: The Ride 14 is a very versatile daily trainer from Easy Runs to Tempo. It is not the lightest but is responsive when picking up the pace. The Ride 14 has a PWRRUN midsole with an inside bottom insole of PWRRUN+ giving it more comfort and responsiveness. The Meraki 4 has the Quickspine and Quickfoam on top and EVA at the bottom making it really comfortable when broken in. Both are similar in sensation at easy pace and mid pace but when going on a Tempo Run the Meraki 4 you can really feel the weight but still can do the work while with the Ride 14 as soon as you get into Tempo pace the shoe really responds and has more pop with each stride. Durability is very high for both with the choice based on preferences. If you want a durable shoe that is very versatile the Meraki 4 is a go to but if you want something with more pop the Ride 14 will be the one.
Sam: I agree with Beto. The Ride 14’s front with its big bars of well decoupled rubber comes into its own as you pick up the pace. At slower paces the 0.7 oz heavier Meraki has a smoother flow and somewhat more cushion and stability.
Saucony Endorphin Speed (RTR Review)
Michael: The Endorphin Speed (and upcoming Endorphin Speed Run Shield) is a more aggressive, more energetic option than the Meraki - for those specifically targeting hard workouts or races, versus the more training-focused option from 361. That said, I think the energetic PWRRUN PB in the Saucony still makes it a better training option than the 361 - though wide-footed runners (or those who just prefer more toebox room) may want to at least try the Saucony before buying. I found it quite narrow.
Beto: The Endorphin Speed is such a great shoe and hard to compare as this is a more speed day oriented. Is more aggressive and has more bounce at faster paces especially if you have a target faster pace. The Meraki 4 is more of a daily trainer that checks all the boxes: Durability, great lockdown, stable and very comfortable for those long miles. The Speed has a very bouncy PWRRUN PB midsole with a nylon plate inside and the Meraki 4 has a more traditional midsole with its smaller Quickspine shank that helps with transition and gives stability. Between the two shoes the Speed will be the better choice as it can do a lot even race day.
The Meraki 4 is available now from 361 USA HERE
Watch Sam's Initial Video Review (12:41)
Tested samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased through affiliate links. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
EUROPE Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
AUSTRALIA Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
AMAZON Men's & Women's SHOP HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment