Can 361 Degrees break into the stability game with the Kairos 4?

Introduction to the 361 Degrees Kairos 4

SAM: 361 Degrees has had my interest for a few years. They came to my attention with the Centauri 1, and while that wasn’t my favorite shoe, the plush, exciting midsole made me think we’d see more of 361 Degrees in the future.

Since then, they have picked up high-profile basketball athletes in the Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic, and their brand has increased its visibility across the board. The Kairos 4 is the first stability shoe that I’ve reviewed from 361 Degrees, so I was excited to see how they have improved their product with a few more years under their belt.

Let’s get into what I found.

What we like about the 361 Degrees Kairos 4

SAM: When I review stability shoes, the first question I try to answer is, “How is this shoe getting its stability?” Does it have a medial post? A heel clip? Externally slanted heel bevel? Guide rails? The list goes on. The 361 Degrees Kairos 4 answers this question with a new platform geometry that is similar to what you may find in Saucony and Brooks stability models.

In the Kairos 4, your foot sits on a platform nestled inside raised sidewalls. There is no pushing of your gait away from pronation but instead a gentle guidance that keeps your stride on the right track. It’s subtle, effective stability, and happens to be my favorite part of the shoe. I also found the platform width helpful on the unstable ground surfaces you can get here in Baltimore, but never found it so wide that the shoe was impossible to take around turns. As far as building a stable platform for running goes, the Kairos 4 passed the test.

The 361 Kairos 4 is also a great opportunity for me to get on a soapbox about a running shoe development that has bugged me for a few years. I love the upper fit and construction of the Kairos. The Kairos 4’s upper is made from a soft jacquard mesh and is comfortable, plush, and supportive. The midfoot lockdown and stable heel keep your foot comfortable in place without much room to slide around.

This is something I haven’t had with a lot of shoes lately and a problem that calls for a peace conference between sock manufacturers and shoe companies. We have to meet in the middle on who gets to make their products frictionless and blisterproof. I cannot wear a lightweight blisterproof sock while wearing a shoe with a slick, friction-free upper. I need some friction somewhere! I cannot constantly deal with my foot slipping and sliding around because everyone is afraid of blisters and calluses on their long runs. This isn’t football; if the extent of our injuries is a painful blister instead of an AC joint sprain or a concussion, I think we can deal with it.

That concludes my thoughts on the upper of the 361 Degrees Kairos 4.

What we don’t like about the 361 Degrees Kairos 4

SAM: Sadly, I can sum up what I dislike about the 361 Degrees Kairos 4 in one statement: This shoe is slow and unexciting.

The N-TPU-based Engage foam is great for walking around, but flat and firm when running. The Kairos 4 is the exact kind of shoe that gives stability shoes a bad name and keeps physical therapists in business (a good thing in the end, but you get what I’m saying). While I found the shoe stable and comfortable, I didn’t enjoy running in it. The green upper is also horrendous, and I would have upgraded my design score from D to C if I had any other colorway. This section will be shorter than the previous one, but it carries more weight in the end.

Sorry, 361 Degrees, we have to be better for those who need it (pronators).

Final thoughts on the 361 Degrees Kairos 4

SAM: Overall, this review has left me uninspired. Aside from my rant about there being too much sliding in uppers nowadays, the 361 Degrees Kairos 4 made me bored and sleepy. As someone who has stability shoes by necessity, not choice, I want my peers to have choices that make them excited to listen to medical experts and get a shoe that protects their shins and calves.

361 Degrees has something good going with the stable platform design, and I hope to see some of the exciting midsoles they have in the Elos and Miro worked into future models to balance out the boring with some fun.

You can pick up the 361 Degrees Kairos 4 for $140 from 361 Degrees by using the buttons below.