361 Flame First Run Review: A Budget-Friendly Carbon Plate Racer That Punches Above Its Price

Introduction

The 361 Flame is a carbon plate racing shoe that has flown under the radar for a while, especially in the UK, where marketing has been minimal and the shoe has been somewhat elusive to test. After putting it through a half marathon race and a hard interval workout, it turned out to be far better than expected.

It costs around 150 pounds in the UK or 160 dollars in the US, weighs 233 grams (8.2 ounces) for men in a size 8, and has an 8 millimeter drop. It is designed to produce a fast heel-to-toe transition, high energy return, and more efficient running at speed.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Flame is built for speed. It suits runners looking for a carbon plate shoe for tempo training, intervals, and racing across a range of distances. It would be brilliant for 5K and 10K efforts, works well at half marathon distance, and the midsole has enough cushioning to cover a marathon without feeling too firm.

It also makes sense as a value option. If you want a carbon plate shoe but do not want to spend the 220 pounds and above that the leading super shoes command, this sits around the 160 pound mark, which is a solid price for what it delivers.

Main Strengths

The standout quality is the ride. The transition is lightning quick without being so aggressive or snappy that it creates foot fatigue over hard, extensive paces. At the end of a tough second 3K repetition, the pace was better than expected, with the shoe helping to hold target speed. That is the classic carbon shoe effect, and the Flame does it well.

The shoe feels lighter than it is and genuinely propels you forward. On a mild downhill it tipped the stride forward nicely and felt fast. The ride is snappy rather than smooth and rolling, reminiscent of the firm feel of some other plated shoes, but with a good amount of cushioning that never feels overly squishy. It does have some flex you can feel from the plate, and it is a thoroughly enjoyable, comfortable run overall.

The upper is a lightweight mono mesh with reinforced sections for added structure, a modest level of padding around the ankle collar, a lean tongue design, and a healthy amount of outsole rubber protecting the midsole foam. Fit is true to size with good lockdown around the midfoot once the laces are dialed in, and there is enough room in the slightly longer toe box to keep toes comfortable over long runs at speed.

As a comparison point, it does not have the soft bounce of a Vaporfly and feels a bit firmer, but it is not a completely different type of shoe either. It feels closest to a Nike Zoom Fly with a bit more lightweight feel, arguably making it better suited to racing than that shoe. It also holds its own against value-focused plated options like the Saucony Endorphin Speed and Hoka Rocket X, with a more noticeable carbon plate effect than the Rocket X.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The fit runs narrow. In a half marathon, the little toe rubbed against the side of the shoe by the end of the race. True to size is right, but thicker socks are worth considering to protect against upper fabric rubbing. The laces also needed some fiddling early on to get a good clamping fit around the midfoot.

The ride is somewhat intrusive at easy paces. It is not unstable, but it tries to make you run a certain way, and it feels most natural once you are moving at pace. At slower, steadier efforts it does not feel as comfortable or natural on the foot as some rivals, so it is best treated as a shoe for harder sessions and racing.

There is also no exit hole issue aside from one quirk: it is a loud, slightly sloppy-sounding shoe underfoot. That may not bother everyone, though hearing a runner coming was arguably an advantage on fast suburban street runs.

On price, around 140 would feel like an even better value, but at roughly 160 pounds, 160 dollars, or 180 euros it still undercuts the premium racers considerably.

Buying Advice

If you want a carbon plate shoe for intervals, tempo runs, and race day without paying flagship prices, the Flame is a compelling pick. It could work as a budget-friendly second racer in a more expensive rotation, or as a solid do-everything fast shoe for speed work and races. If your priority is a soft, bouncy, cushioned super shoe feel, firmer-shoe skeptics may prefer something plusher, but if you enjoy a snappy, propulsive ride, this delivers.

Conclusion

The 361 Flame is an interesting and exciting shoe with a lot of promise. It was impressive over a half marathon, held up well in a brutal 3K and hill rep workout, and feels like one of the better value carbon plate options available right now. For runners after a fast, enjoyable plated shoe at a reasonable price, it is an easy recommendation.