The 361 Flame 5 is a carbon-plated super shoe designed for marathon racing. Its impressively cushioned, highly propulsive ride drives you quickly through stride and keeps legs well protected from road impact. It’s also unusually stable for a super shoe, giving runners a more trustworthy platform than most race-focused options. However, while it can handle workouts and short-distance racing decently, it isn't especially light or springy for a dedicated racer, and runners with sensitive heels or Achilles tendons may find the stiff, unpadded heel irritating.
| ✅ Buy If: | ❌ Skip If: |
|
|
Our Verdict
The 361 Flame 5 is a great marathon racer. Its impressive cushioning keeps your legs well protected over the distance, while the stiff, highly efficient forefoot makes toe-off very propulsive. It’s also unusually stable for a super shoe, giving you a reliable platform when fatigued. However, it’s heavier than many dedicated racers, which takes away some of the nimbleness you’d expect from a top-tier marathon shoe.
Impressive cushioning protects your legs over long distances.
Highly efficient forefoot makes toe-off very propulsive.
Unusually stable for a super shoe.
Heavier than many dedicated marathon racers, limiting its nimbleness.
The 361 Flame 5 is a decent 5K/10K racer. Its very stiff forefoot gives you a forceful toe-off, while the forefoot rocker rolls you forward efficiently through push-off. It also gives back plenty of energy as the forefoot unbends, helping you sustain race pace efficiently. However, it’s relatively heavy for a short-distance racer, making it harder to turn over at top speed than dedicated 5K/10K specialists.
Stiff forefoot makes toe-off very snappy.
Tall toe-spring rolls you efficiently through late stance.
Heavier than dedicated short-distance racers, limiting efficiency at top speed.
The 361 Flame 5 is a very good pick for long runs. Its deeply cushioned platform holds up impressively over longer distances, keeping your legs well protected from the impact of the road. Its stiff, efficient forefoot helps create a smooth ride through stride, and it's also light for a long-run shoe. However, it's a racer at heart, so it's not the shoe for long, slow distances, and runners with dedicated support needs may find it less secure underfoot as they get tired.
Impressive cushioning protects your legs over long distances.
Stiff, efficient forefoot helps maintain a smooth stride as miles build.
Lively enough to not feel dull.
Runners with dedicated support needs may find it less secure when tired.
The 361 Flame 5 is an acceptable daily trainer, but racing is clearly its priority. Its great cushioning does a very good job of protecting your legs, and the ride is efficient when you want to run faster. However, it's not particularly stable for easy runs, and the stiff carbon plate makes the shoe overly rigid. The race-focused geometry also pushes you through the stride more aggressively than most runners will want day-to-day.
Great cushioning keeps daily miles well protected.
Runners who need support may find the platform less secure.
Race-focused ride is too aggressive for daily training.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 11, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Sep 10, 2026: Early access published.
- Updated Aug 31, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 20, 2026: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Aug 06, 2026: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
- Updated Aug 05, 2026: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.
We've bought and tested more than 250 running shoes. Every pair purchased with our own money, never supplied or sponsored by brands. Our data-driven tests are designed to go beyond marketing claims, and since every shoe goes through the exact same methodology, you can directly compare results to find the right pair for your needs.
Test Results
Energy Return
The 361 Flame 5 has good energy return overall. The forefoot gives back a good amount as it decompresses, helping the shoe stay lively through faster running, while the heel also rebounds well enough to keep the ride responsive for rearfoot landings. However, the rebound falls short of standout super shoes, relying more on its stiff, snappy forefoot than springiness for speed.
Good forefoot rebound helps keep faster running lively.
Heel also returns energy well.
Rebound falls short of standout super shoes.
The forefoot provides good rebound, though it gives back less than the 361 Flame 4. There's still enough energy returned as the foam decompresses to keep faster running lively.
The heel has good rebound, though it's less lively than the 361 Flame 4. It still gives enough back after landing to keep rearfoot transitions from feeling flat.
Stability
The 361 Flame 5is fairly stable overall, especially for a dedicated racer. Its decently firm heel keeps landings trustworthy enough, and though the forefoot is on the softer side, it’s wide enough that push-off remains controlled. The semi-gusseted tongue also provides reliable lockdown. However, this is still a race shoe, and the heel is narrow relative to the shoe’s tall stack, so rearfoot landings can still feel a bit unsteady. The outsole arch isn’t particularly wide either, limiting support through transition.
Stable for a dedicated racer.
Decently firm heel keeps landings trustworthy enough.
Semi-gusseted tongue helps provide reliable lockdown.
Wide forefoot helps keep push-off controlled despite the softer platform.
Narrow heel relative to stack can still make heel landings unsteady.
Narrower outsole arch limits support through transition.
The heel is decently firm overall. It becomes progressively firmer as more force is applied, helping keep rearfoot landings controlled without making the shoe overly harsh underfoot.
The forefoot is considerably firmer than the previous 361 Flame 4. It makes toe-off more controlled and contributes to the Flame 5’s improved stability.
Cushioning
The 361 Flame 5 has great cushioning. The forefoot absorbs impact amazingly overall, so landings remain well protected even for heavier runners at faster paces. The heel is still very protective, though it performs best at lighter and moderate forces and offers less protection than the forefoot as impact increases. The cushioning also holds up impressively over the marathon distance, reducing impact as the miles build.
Excellent forefoot cushioning holds up well across all weights and paces.
Heel cushioning provides very good protection for most runners.
Cushioning holds up impressively over the course of a marathon.
Heel isn't as protective as forefoot overall.
The heel provides very good impact protection and improves on the 361 Flame 4. Protection is best under lighter and moderate forces, but even heavier runners moving quickly still get a good amount of cushioning despite the drop at the highest load.
The forefoot cushioning is amazing. It absorbs impact very well, so protection remains excellent regardless of your weight or pace.
The forefoot cushioning holds up impressively over the course of a marathon, outperforming racers like the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3.
Bounciness
The 361 Flame 5 has an adequate amount of bounce. The midsole rebounds efficiently enough to keep the ride lively, but neither the heel nor the forefoot compresses very deeply under load. As a result, the shoe lacks the pronounced trampoline-like springiness of livelier super shoes.
Efficient rebound keeps the ride lively enough.
Shallow compression limits how springy the shoe feels underfoot.
The heel doesn’t compress especially deeply under load. There’s some give on landing, but not enough sinking movement to create the pronounced springiness of bouncier super shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Elite 3.
Snappiness
The 361 Flame 5 is very snappy. Its forefoot takes an amazing amount of force to bend, creating a stiff lever that provides excellent leverage through toe-off. It also returns an exceptional amount of the energy stored as it unbends, springing quickly back into shape as you push off. The softer forefoot and gentler rocker angle take a bit of edge out of stride, but toe-off remains impressively punchy and juicy overall.
Excellent forefoot stiffness provides plenty of leverage through toe-off.
Forefoot rebound is superbly efficient, so toe-off is quick and juicy.
Very stiff forefoot helps create an impressively punchy push-off.
Softer forefoot and gentler rocker angle take a little edge off toe-off.
The forefoot returns an incredible amount of the energy stored as it unbends. Very little is lost as the shoe springs back into shape, helping create a quick and efficient toe-off.
Roll
The 361 Flame 5 rolls impressively through stride. Its rocker holds its shape well under load, helping carry you forward rather than flattening out as you move through the shoe. The forefoot also rises early enough to encourage an efficient rollover, while its very stiff construction gives you plenty of leverage as you move into toe-off.
Rocker holds its shape well and keeps transitions smooth.
Forefoot helps carry you efficiently toward toe-off.
Very stiff forefoot provides plenty of leverage through push-off.
True To Size
The 361 Flame 5 fits true to size overall and doesn’t have a race fit. Its length is bang-on, while the forefoot and arch width give plenty of room for most feet. However, the toe box is fairly low, so runners with taller toes may experience some pressure or rubbing across the top of the forefoot, especially deep into the marathon distance. The stiff, minimally padded heel counter may also irritate runners with sensitive heels or Achilles tendons. That said, we’re still confident you can choose your normal daily trainer size.
Bang-on length.
Forefoot width gives runners plenty of room.
Arch is roomy enough.
Roomier fit than many dedicated racing shoes.
Low toe box may cause pressure or rubbing for taller toes.
Stiff heel counter may irritate sensitive heels or Achilles tendons.
The 361 Flame 5 is heavy for a dedicated marathon racer, gaining a substantial amount of weight from the 361 Flame 4. That extra heft is noticeable on foot, especially when you're trying to turn the shoe over quickly at race pace.
The 361 Flame 5 uses a beaded, nylon elastomer-based midsole foam that runs firmer than many modern racing compounds. The firmer tuning helps keep the tall platform a bit more secure underfoot, while the shoe still provides impressive cushioning and good rebound through stride.
The sawtooth laces have little stretch and kept lockdown very consistent during testing. We experienced no lace bite and never needed to stop and retie the shoe.
The 361 Flame 5 has good breathability. Its recycled carbon yarn upper (made primarily from ETPU with nylon and corn-based fibers) allows plenty of airflow through the midfoot, helping keep your feet cool over a long race or a hot day. Its ventilation is comparable to performance shoes like the Topo Specter 3.
The 361 Flame 5 dries exceptionally fast, taking just over half a day to return to its dry weight after being soaked. That's only a few hours behind elite racers like the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, so if you take it out in the rain in the evening, it should be dry and ready to run in again by the morning.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The 361 Flame 5 is a carbon-plated super shoe from the increasingly impressive Chinese running shoe market, replacing the 361 Flame 4. In an interesting move, 361 has traded some race performance for significantly better stability. The Flame 5 is heavier and a bit less energetic than its predecessor, with a much more accommodating fit, but its more secure platform makes it a much more trustworthy racer for runners who find many modern super shoes too unstable. If you've heard good things about Chinese shoes and are looking for your first pair, however, the Dynafish Xiaonian is much lighter and far more versatile, with an unplated ride that works just as well for daily training as it does for marathon racing. If maximum race-day performance matters more than stability, the Li-Ning Feidian 6 Elite is the best option: it's lighter, considerably more energetic, and more cushioned than the Flame 5, though its softer platform is much less secure.
If you're looking for more shoes built for race day, check out our picks for the best marathon running shoes.
The 361 Flame 4 and 361 Flame 5 are both carbon-plated racing shoes, but the Flame 4 is lighter, a bit more cushioned, and better suited to faster racing. The Flame 5 is much more stable and has a roomier fit, however, making it the better option if you're looking for a fairly stable race shoe. That said, its stiff heel counter can irritate runners with sensitive heels or Achilles tendons. Get the Flame 4 if you want the faster race-day option; get the Flame 5 if you value stability and a more accommodating fit, and don't have sensitive heels.
The Dynafish Xiaonian is a better shoe than the 361 Flame 5 for most runners. It's much lighter, more cushioned, more energetic, and more stable, making it far more versatile for everything from daily running to racing. The Flame 5 gives you a quicker, more forceful ride, so it's the better choice if you specifically want a carbon-plated racer, though runners with sensitive heels or Achilles tendons may want to avoid it due to its problematic heel counter.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 361 Flame 5 in men’s US size 9 for the majority of our tests; you can see the label for that pair here. We used a separate men’s US size 8 pair for our Breathability test, though this size difference doesn’t affect how the shoe performs in that test. The color shown for our size 9 pair is called “Pulse,” while our size 8 pair is in the “Apex” colorway. The shoe is sold as unisex and is also available in additional colorways. Wide versions aren’t available for this model.
