On Cloudrunner Shoe Review

Upper

Kaleb: "I really liked the Cloudrunner's upper design. The wrap comfortably secured my foot while providing ample space for toe splay. Given its level of comfort and trendy style, the Cloudrunner has become my go-to work and coaching trainer."

Connor F: "The upper of the Cloudrunner is incredible. From the first test run to the last, I never had to make adjustments to find my ideal fit or get a better lockdown. The upper materials have shown no wear throughout my testing, and I have not had any issues with hotspots even after using the shoes on many different types of runs. Due to this, I've been surprised how frequently I have been reaching for the Cloudrunner; lately, I grab them almost every time I leave the house."

Midsole

Kaleb: "Soft is not the word I would use to describe the feel of the On Cloudrunner. The midsole was great for absorbing the impact of foot strikes, but the embedded speed board was firm and a bit harsh on my foot. The Cloudrunner's midsole was also not as responsive as I had expected, given On's description of the shoe. That said, the firm footbed plus Speedboard combo did enable me to pick up the pace when I really wanted to. I could hold tempo pace without difficulty, though I found the sweet spot, in terms of pace, was around 8:00/mi. I expected a snappier underfoot feel from the midsole, but it was more of a protective roller versus a springy snapper."

Connor F: "The On Cloudrunner's level of softness is a bit challenging for me to rate. While running, the initial impact from the footstrike is taken away by the Cloud-Tec pods. However, just under the sock liner is the Speedboard, which runs the full length of the shoe, and I found that on any run over 30-minutes, the bones in my feet began feeling uncomfortable.

On the one hand, the shoe cushions landings well, but because the Speedboard is so close to the foot, I felt every landing on the hard plastic, ultimately taking a toll on the smaller bones in my forefoot. The Cloudrunner's midsole does not feel as responsive as some of the newer midsole foams currently available, and the pods do not snap back as much as I thought they would."

Outsole

Kaleb: "There is a significant amount of underfoot protection in the On Cloudrunner thanks to the Cloud-Tec midsole design. The embedded speed board offers additional protection and helps defend my feet from any rocks and debris on the road. Again, the Cloudrunner is unique in that it is highly effective at protecting the foot from impact, but its harsher overall feel limits it to shorter runs, at least for my preferences."

Connor F: "The level of underfoot protection I get from the Cloudrunner is very high. The shoe has a relatively tall stack height, and the individual pods do a great job defending against rocks and debris, almost as if they were independent suspension systems. Further, the Speedboard almost functions like a rock plate, helping keep my foot protected regardless of the type of surface I was running on. The Cloudrunner almost feels like a trail shoe with its level of protection, and I did find myself venturing onto trails while testing and was impressed by how versatile the shoe was."

Comparable Shoes

Connor: "I think the On Cloudmonster is comparable to the Cloudrunner. The biggest difference between the two shoes is that the Cloudmonster is much softer underfoot due to the larger pods and higher midsole stack. The Cloudrunner is more stable than the Cloudmonster but has a less bouncy and fun ride. For those who enjoy highly cushioned shoes, I would recommend the Cloudmonster, but those looking for a more controlled and stable ride will probably prefer the security of the Cloudrunner."