Article by Michael Ellenberger and Peter Stuart
361 Ventus ($160)
Pros and Cons
Midfoot bounce and cushion Michael/Peter
Overall do-it-all geometry Michael/Peter
Anticipated durability Michael/Peter
Cons:
Upper material and fit Michael
Forefoot can feel a little thin for longer runs Peter
Most comparable shoes
Nike Pegasus Plus
New Balance Rebel v4
Saucony Tempus
Mizuno Neo Zen
Adidas SL 2
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 8.85 oz / 251g US9
Sample Weight: men’s 8.6oz / 244g US8.5
Stack Height: men’s 35mm heel / 27mm forefoot (8mm drop)
Platform Width: 95 mm heel / 80 mm midfoot / 115bmm forefoot
$160. Available Feb. 1, 2025
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Michael: 361 is back - following up one of my favorite racing shoes of the past few years, the Furious Future, the harsh-but-fun Flame RS, and the more-than-capable Eleos trainer - with the new Venus.
Out of the box, the 361 Ventus offers a promising first impression, thanks to its TPU yarn-woven upper that balances breathability, comfort, and rigidity. The upper feels secure, and lockdown is doable, but the material does run slightly thick, which perhaps adds durability, if I’m being generous, but might not appeal to those who prefer a lighter, more modern feel.
What’s worse, while the fit is true to size (TTS), the toe box has slightly too much volume, leading to minor bunching of material at the front.
However, as alluded to earlier, the so-called “Qu!kWRAP” lacing system (I won’t be typing this again) enhances a comfortable and secure fit, by allowing adjustments across the shoe’s entire wrap-up area… but the, laces are notably too long, which can be a mild annoyance during runs.
Thus, while I’m happy enough with the upper and fit here, it does have its drawbacks - I think the Eleos trainer - while also suffering from a slightly-too-baggy upper - is a neater fit and a more well-rounded upper.
Peter: It’s no secret that I love the 361 Eleos. For me, there was no better daily trainer last year. The Primo midsole material was excellent and the ride was smooth, protective and dependable for mile after mile after mile. The promise of a slightly sleeker and lighter version of the Eleos is exciting. Ideally a tempo version of the Eleos will be a great tool to have in the shed. The upper fits my foot fine (although it’s actually a tiny bit cramped for me in the right big toe area–not enough to be problematic). The ankle collar is a bit overbuilt and feels like it belongs on a beefier shoe. Lacing and step in are good and overall, while it’s not the most exciting shoe in the world, it’s a solid upper.
Midsole & Platform
Michael: Fortunately, the midsole is the star of the Ventus. 361 has all kinds of buzzwords here - the midsole foam is labeled as Primo (same as the Eleos) but also uses a CQT EXTREM3 PEBA-based material - for a genuinely fun and bouncy ride. The Eleos was a big step forward for the company, but I found it just a little too mushy; here, the CQT EXTREM3 (that’s the last time I’ll type that, too) core delivers excellent energy return, and the encompassing Primo (EVA/PEBA blend) adds some rigidity and firm cushioning (my understanding is that the softer, super-critical Primo surrounds the snappier, higher-return PEBA compound.
On my first run out the door in these — a 20-miler, no less — the Ventus excelled in providing a bouncy, springy feel while maintaining softness for easy miles. They are closer to “mushy” than “stiff,” but you won’t hear a complaint for me on the balance here - if the Eleos was too soft, and the Flame RS too firm, the Ventus is the perfect blend of “just right.”
Peter: Clearly 361 is on to something with its Primo midsole foam. The midsole cushioning on the Eleos feels great to me. The Ventus feels similar but I can definitely feel the 3mm lower forefoot stack and CQT foam insert. For me the cushioning on the forefoot is just a little thin. That said, aside from a little bit of forefoot fatigue, the bounce, smoothness and flow of the Ventus midsole is excellent. It seems that the CQT Extreme3 is what helps firm up the Primo midsole here. The platform is plenty stable and overall the Ventus is an easy shoe to run in and picks up pace nicely.
Outsole
Michael: The outsole here is reliable and well-constructed, with nothing particularly exciting underpinning it (it has a fun name, though - GEKKO GRIP!). For a do-it-all trainer, I’d rather see an abundance of grip than a lack in favor of weight, and I think the Ventus offers more than sufficient grip even on some nasty morning (I did not get to take it out on our recent ice storm here, but I have done a 10-miler on packed snow, and it held up well - I’m confident these will handle most things you throw at them). Not a lot to dislike here at all - there’s GEKKO GRIP in the forefront and high-abrasion rubber elsewhere, so just expect a competent tact wherever you run.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Michael: The 361 Ventus is like the Goldilocks of the 361 lineup—not too firm, not too mushy, but just right. The Ventus offers a smooth, engaging ride - nothing out of this world, but more than competent for everyday miles, some light workouts - I think long runs is the sweet spot, where you want something comfortable enough to cover the mileage, but with some upside to close it out strong.
There’s a hint of stability there, to boot, that comes in a way I didn’t expect - some combination of 361’s ARCHLOCK system and sidewalls provide a nice little guidance system; I noticed it when running slower, but still feeling like I had that strong, fast foot strike. There’s some lateral rigidity that doesn’t get in the way, but does seem to help stabilize.
As noted above, the biggest drawback is the upper - less volume and shorter laces would go a long way, along with maybe a smidge thinner material to boot - but it’s functional, and doesn’t materially detract from my enjoyment of the shoe. The midsole and outsole are the real MVPs, delivering performance and durability that outshine the overly stiff 361 Flame RS and even the higher forefoot cushion stack Eleos. The Ventus is a really solid entry into 361’s lineup, and a shoe that many runners should consider.
Michael’s Score: 9.3/10
Smile Score: 😊😊😊😊/5
Peter:
I’m still partial to the Eleos as a do-it-all trainer, but the Ventus is an excellent addition to the 361 lineup and is a nice complement to the Eleos as a shoe to put on for tempo days or for distance days with some quality work in them. It’s a fun and smooth shoe that is quite stable and could work for lots of people. I find the forefoot just a hair too thin, but that’s a personal preference thing–and really doesn’t come into play until well after 10 miles. Overall I’d recommend the Ventus–and it is certainly a more enjoyable shoe than many other similar trainers from more established brands, Between the Eleos and the Ventus, it’s pretty clear that 361 is hitting their stride.
Peter’s Score 9/10
Smile Score: 😊😊😊😊/5
5 Comparisons
361 Eleos (RTR Review)
Michael: I was very, very pleased with the Eleos - a high-stack, mega-cushioned option from 361 - as a strong step forward in their lineup. But, as I write above, it wasn’t perfect - while I think the Primo cushioning brings the shoe more in line with other top-shelf offerings (think ZoomX or PWRRun PB), I found the blend here to be just a touch too soft, and ultimately lead to more mush underfoot than zip. That’s not to say the Eleos isn’t a fun shoe, but it’s just not as versatile as the Ventus, which - while a little lower-platformed - can do a lot more work in the faster paces, I think. Both shoes are great strides forward (no pun intended) for 361, but I prefer the Ventus.
Peter: The Eleos is a better choice for all around daily trainer and long distance runs for me. I like the Ventus a lot though and it’s great for picking up the pace a bit. Both are excellent shoes.
Nike Pegasus Plus (RTR Review)
Michael: Both very competent, very fun shoes. I greatly prefer the upper on the Nike, and think its geometry is slightly better positioned for faster running. The 361 has a wider, more generous platform and fit, and feels markedly more stable. The 361 is also a better shoe for winter conditions, as the tread on the Nike is a bit thin (though it works well enough in most cases). I prefer the Nike, but both are good.
New Balance Rebel v4 (RTR Review)
Peter: Very different feeling shoes. The Rebel 4 is firmer,
Saucony Tempus (RTR Review)
Michael: The Saucony Tempus is a sleeper hit from Saucony's lineup, a “stealth” stability shoe with a poppy midsole. Neither shoe is perfect - the Tempus at the very least had a long break-in period, and I don’t think either upper is flawless - but both serve their purposes well. If you want a wide platform and a softer shoe, the 361 is a better call - and I think it probably checks more boxes overall than the Tempus, even though you can’t go wrong.
Mizuno Neo Zen (RTR Review)
Michael: At time of writing, I’m about 20 miles into the Neo Zen, and really loving it. I once again vastly prefer the Mizuno upper - basically unstructured throughout and a knit, and crazy light - but do think the midsole is a little too soft and mushy to really hammer paces. The 361 is firmer, more stable, and overall just more traditional underfoot. I’d take the Mizuno for easy and everyday miles, but I do think the 361 has better overall range.
Peter: These are actually pretty similar shoes. The Mizuno Neo Zen has a little extra magic for me. A little more bounce, a little more protection in the forefoot. The upper on the Zen is more streamlined too. Both are excellent shoes.
Tester Profile
Michael is a patent attorney and graduate of Northwestern University Law School. Prior to law school, he competed collegiately at Washington University in St. Louis (10,000m PR of 30:21). Michael’s PRs include a 67:43 half-marathon (Chicago Half-Marathon) and a 2:21:19 marathon PR at the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon. Michael continues to race on the roads, and is chasing a sub-2:20 marathon and potential OTQ in the future.
Peter lives in California and has been a sub 3 hour marathoner as well as a 1:21 half marathoner in recent years.
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