The RW Takeaway: Not energetic but surefooted and moderately cushioned, the 361-Sensation 4 is a reliable stability shoe.
- High-density foam beneath the arch and a carbon-fiber shank stiffen the shoe, helping it keep you moving forward through your stride
- A two-layer engineered mesh upper lets your foot breathe
- A midfoot sleeve holds your foot snug within the shoe
Price: $135
Weight: 10.1 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W)
Type: Road
BUY MEN’S BUY WOMEN’S MORE IMAGES
The 361-Sensation 4 is a simple but effective stability shoe. Its midsole isn’t very thick and its EVA foam and EVA-rubber blend don’t give you much rebound, so despite the shoe’s beefy profile, it feels neither plush nor responsive. But it’s effective because it’s also packed with anti-pronation agents including a beefy medial post and a carbon fiber shank for torsional stiffness. You feel the substantial arch support immediately, but the stability is more subtle, in part because the shoe’s wide stance.
Related Story
The best part of the shoe is the upper. Like many 361-Degrees trainers, you get a padded tongue, plenty of collar padding, and a stiff heel cup. The Sensation 4 also has a midfoot sleeve that floats between the upper’s gusseting and the tongue, and is only sewn to the shoe in the forefoot and just ahead of the heel, beneath the sockliner. Tightening the middle laces therefore tightens the sleeve, giving you a snug midfoot fit in an otherwise wide-fitting shoe. This allowed me to dial in a secure but not-too-tight fit faster than I can in most shoes, and the engineered mesh ventilated my swelling feet on a 90-degree day. The 361-Sensation 4 isn’t the most exciting shoe in my rotation, but it’s ideal for easy days and long runs when I want a big stability shoe to lull me into a comfortable lope.
road runner 361-Sensation 4
road runner 361-Sensation 4
Pros
- Effective but not overly aggressive stability
- Accommodating upper forms to many foot shapes
Cons
- Not high-rebound or quick-feeling
A Wide Yet Secure Upper
Most of our testers enjoyed the Sensation 4’s two-layer engineered mesh upper. The material felt cool on humid days, but the fit is the highlight. The toe box is wide and accommodating, and although it’s a bit narrower in the midfoot, the shoe should be wide enough for most foot shapes. Also, at the midfoot, is a sleeve that connects below the footbed and wraps around your arch before connecting to the laces. Tightening the middle laces tightens the sleeve, which locks your foot atop the shoe’s midfoot stability elements (high arch and medial post) without overly constricting your ankle. “The lacing system held my foot properly to minimize rolling on uneven terrain,” said one tester. For a secure but comfortable ankle fit, the collar is plush and the tongue is padded thickly to complete a circle of softness.
Moderate Cushioning and Stability
The 361-Sensation 4 is a stability shoe in the traditional sense, meaning it has high-density foam below the arch that doesn’t squish as easily as the foam in the rest of the shoe. That, coupled with a relatively high arch, provides support that help stabilize an overpronating foot. Whether you like that depends on whether you like (or need) a stability shoe. The midsole isn’t particularly thick and the shoe is relatively wide, which adds to the stable feel. A midfoot carbon-fiber shank gives the shoe torsional stiffness, another stabilizing factor that not everyone liked. One tester said it felt like running with concrete blocks on his feet, but others appreciated the stable ride; you’re more likely to enjoy the moderate cushioning and stability if you’re already running in a shoe with some stability built in.
The midsole itself is a combination of EVA foam and an EVA-rubber blend dubbed Qu!kfoam, which also forms the footbed. The latter material doesn’t compress as easily as traditional EVA; it adds durability over hundreds of miles, but it also makes the shoe heavier. The outsole uses blown rubber for cushioning in the forefoot and carbon rubber for durability in the heel, with horizontal flex grooves built in to help the shoe bend with your foot. We did most of our testing on paved roads and gravel rail trails; we didn’t have any slippage or durability issues after a month of running.
Run Impressions
With 16mm of foam and rubber up front and 25mm beneath your heel, the 361-Sensation 4 isn’t a thick shoe. Perhaps maximalist shoes have spoiled me in this way, but at 10.1 ounces for a men’s size 9, I’d like a bit more cushioning for the heft. Step on a big pebble and you’ll feel it through the sole. Yet, despite being thin, the shoe doesn’t feel that responsive, either. There’s enough cushioning for pounding away road miles, but apart from taking the blow and stabilizing your foot, the shoe is unremarkable to run in. Other wear-testers felt similarly. “I loved the support and cushioning it provided,” one tester said. “However, compared to other shoes I have tested, it is significantly heavier and lacks flexibility.”
This is to say it’s not that exciting of a shoe, but being boring doesn’t make it bad. The upper is superb: Its wide but adjustable fit suited our testers well and the padded collar helps you feel secure without tightening the laces too much. And everyone who approached the Sensation 4 wanting stability got exactly that; coupled with a high arch, the medial post is effective at stabilizing the foot and ankle. It’s not a shoe that dares you to get up on your toes and run faster than you probably should; it’s the sensible choice that gives you the stability you need as it fades into the background.
What One Tester Said
Katie S., tester since 2019
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“I liked how it let my feet breathe in higher temperatures and the toe box didn't crowd my toes. It had a good amount of cushioning without weighing too much, and allowed me to be quick on my feet. I run a lot of hills, which cause shoes to pinch my feet on the downhills. However, these held up well and I didn't feel like my feet were sliding around, nor were they pinched while descending. I ran primarily on concrete sidewalks and felt like the cushioning was great for frequent short to medium length runs, but wonder about the longevity for long runs or a marathon.”
4 Sweat-Resistant Sunscreens
Skinnies Skinnies Sungel SPF30 Eco Sunscreen
Unlike most sunscreens, it isn’t water-based; it’s more concentrated so you need less. In our test, we found it won’t sweat off.
Thinksport Thinksport Sunscreen SPF 50+
You won’t find any reef-harming chemicals in this sunscreen. What you will get is a thick, protective barrier of zinc oxide.
Kinesys Kinesys SPF 50 Fragrance-Free Spray
With its fine-mist pump, Kinesys sprays on as a thin layer you can rub in, It dries quickly and is completely unnoticeable.
Supergoop! Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion
This thin, easy-to-spread lotion won’t leave you feeling sticky if you smear it on just before you dash out the door.
A former Division 1 runner, Dan grew up riding fixies and mountain bikes and now reviews everything from performance running shoes to road and cross bikes, to the latest tech for runners and cyclists at Bicycling and Runner’s World.
