What we think of the new SPIRE 3

361 Degrees, it may not be a shoe company you are familiar with, but their product quality is impressive. Worn by Canadian triathlete Taylor Reid and WTS leader Katie Zaferes, 361 degrees is a brand you’ll want to keep an eye out for in your local running store.

The SPIRE 3 is the third edition of the SPIRE shoe, a neutral lightweight endurance trainer. It is ideal for triathletes looking for a shoe that will withstand the pounding of an Ironman while delivering lightweight performance. Not doing an Ironman anytime soon? Don’t worry. The SPIRE 3 is a great shoe to rack up the mileage this summer.

The SPIRE line is known for it is QU!KFOAM technology, which is built into its midsole, delivering comfort and responsiveness while on the road. This shoe technology lends itself to those racing a half or full distance triathlon, where there is repetitive pounding.

What sets the SPIRE 3 above its predecessor, the SPIRE 2, are its added features like the QU!K Spine, Fitz Rite midfoot and a pressure-free tongue.

The QU!K Spine is a built-in carbon fibre plate that adds support to the midfoot. Its responsiveness is felt as you turn your legs over in those hard brick sessions.

The Fitz Rite midfoot, speaks to the comfort of the shoe. Fitz Rite is the soft webbing fabric around the foot that keeps the foot snug in the shoe. I was impressed by just how comfortable this shoe was during my long runs. I noticed little to no irritation around my feet, allowing me to enjoy the run without worrying about re-tying my shoes. Additionally, the pressure-free tongue has pads are built into the tongue to provide that comfort you need for long triathlons and lots of training kilometres.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and features of the shoe considering I wasn’t as familiar with this company before the review.

The shoes are available online and in local running shops.

Weight: 10.4 ounces each

Price: $ 189.99