361 Futura 3 Review: A Comfort-First Trail Shoe With One Big Trade-Off

Introduction

Trail shoes from lesser-known brands can be hit or miss, so the 361 Futura 3 arrived with a lot to prove. Retailing for £130 in the UK, it slots into a competitive price point in today’s running shoe market, and specialist running stores stocking the shoe have gone as far as calling it potentially the best all-round trail shoe available. That is a bold claim, so we took it out on a proper mixed-terrain test run to see how much of it holds up.

Before the run, though, the numbers are worth a look. You get a stack height of 35.5 mm at the heel and 29.5 mm under the forefoot, for a 6 mm drop, plus a decent level of soft cushioning in the midsole. The catch shows up on the scales: our pair in a UK 9.5 weighed 364 g, which is well off the pace of modern cushioned trail shoes.

First Look: What Has Changed

Compared with the previous Futura 2, there is a new woven fabric upper aimed at comfort, breathability, and durability, along with a well-padded ankle collar, heel cup, and gusseted tongue. Funky-looking 3D printed overlays wrap around the toe box for extra on-trail protection.

The lacing system is one of the more thoughtful touches. Bright orange cords run through the eyelets and work internally down to the midsole, so pulling the laces tight draws the midfoot inward for a secure lockdown feel. There is also a handy pocket at the top of the tongue for stowing loose laces, plus gaiter attachments in the form of a metal loop at the bottom of the laces and a Velcro tab on the heel.

Midsole and Ride Feel

The midsole now uses 361’s eco-friendly CQT quick foam, which the brand says delivers higher energy return and better durability over the miles. On first press, it feels soft and bouncy, and that impression carried through on the run.

On compacted trails and tarmac, the midsole really excelled, offering a comfortable, bouncy ride that would happily last a full road run. The trade-off is stability: the foam did not feel especially planted on more technical sections, and we would want more rocky, technical mileage before fully trusting it there.

Outsole and Traction

This is where 361 made a strange move. The Futura 3 uses the brand’s in-house Apex Grip Rubber outsole with a 4 mm lug depth, with claims of up to 40% better traction on wet, slippery trails. The previous model wore Vibram Megagrip, a rubber widely regarded as the gold standard for wet conditions, so switching away from it raised eyebrows.

On our test run, which included far more mud than expected, the 4 mm multi-directional lug pattern offered good traction and the rubber felt nicely sticky. Still, Vibram Megagrip’s proven record leaves some doubt about whether the swap was worth it, even if it likely helped bring the price down from the Futura 2’s £140 to £130.

The Test Run

Our route mixed Cornish coast path with dune trails and a stretch of tarmac: steep steps, overgrown sections, plenty of mud, and some flat, faster running. That variety is exactly what an all-round trail shoe needs to handle.

The fit is a genuine highlight. True to size in a UK 9.5 with average width, the shoe felt super comfortable straight out of the box, with plush fabrics, a secure heel hold, and no rubbing or irritation. The upper worked well for our foot shape from the very first mile.

There was one frustrating moment. Around the halfway point, the laces worked loose, causing some foot movement inside the upper on technical ground and steep descents, enough that we had to stop and retie them. The good news: once retied, they stayed put for the rest of the run.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Weight is the elephant in the room. At 364 g in a UK 9.5, the Futura 3 feels heavy in hand, with much of that mass sitting in the heel. Compare it to other deeply cushioned trail shoes like the Mont Blanc Ultra T1 at 286 g, the Scott Kinabalu Ultra at 289 g, and the Salomon Ultra Glide 4 at 297 g, all measured half a size up, and the gap is more than 60 g. In an era of high-tech fabrics and modern foams, that difference is hard to ignore, and trimming the Futura 3 down to around 310-320 g would make it a much stronger performer.

Also worth knowing: our pair had a fairly strong chemical or glue-like smell out of the box, which was not particularly pleasant. Minor, but noticeable.

Buying Advice

If you prioritize comfort, plush cushioning, and a well-built upper for mixed but not highly technical terrain, the Futura 3 is easy to like, and its £130 price undercuts the previous model. If you regularly run rocky, technical trails or care deeply about shoe weight, it is worth comparing against lighter rivals before committing. On strength: fit, cushioning, and traction impressed; weight and mid-run lace loosening are the trade-offs to accept.

Conclusion

The 361 Futura 3 performed better on the trail than its specs suggested. The upper is genuinely excellent, the CQT foam delivers a bouncy, comfortable ride on most surfaces, and the Apex Grip outsole handled mud well. Whether it truly deserves the “best all-round trail shoe” label is harder to say while it carries more than 60 g of extra weight compared with key competitors. For comfort-focused runners, it is a strong option; for weight-weenies, the search continues.