Is this the best On running shoe to date? It’s certainly something different in terms of looks and feel. Using computer modeling and analysis to create a new style of the brand’s cloud-cushioning, the ON Cloudsurfer is a drastic departure from previous models. The brand’s speedboard is now absent and instead, we have a new midsole featuring Cloudtech Phase.
The TL;DR – What You Need To Know:
9.0
MH RATING
Is this the best On running shoe to date?
- Right from the word go, the shoes feel great.
- The upper is soft, breathable, and plush, and the cushioning is softer and more welcoming than any On shoe previously.
- There’s no doubt that the brand is putting in a lot of work in research and development, and this shows in the new ON Cloudsurfer and in the early glimpses we’ve seen of the yet-to-be-released Cloudboom Echo 3.
The Deets: Tech Specs For The Cloudsurfer
- MSRP: $230
- Release date: March 2023
- Stack height: 32mm
- Weight: 9.1 oz (men’s size 9)
- Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm
On Cloudsurfer: First Impressions
First up, a word about size. The fit is true-to-size in terms of the Cloudsurfer fitting the same as other ON models. The brand use just a half-size conversion from a USA to UK size (like New Balance) but other brands use a full-size difference. So a US Size 10 from ON is a UK9.5 (Brooks, Saucony, Mizuno etc US10 = UK9). As always, it’s best to try the shoes in a store if you can.
So, with that in mind, the first impression of the ON Cloudsurfer is great. The shoe looks striking and feels great.
The upper is soft, breathable, and plush, and the cushioning is softer and more welcoming than any On shoe previously.
Here Are The Cloudsurfer’s Key Specs
A newly developed midsole uses computer-optimized Cloudtech Phase cushioning. Using the brand’s Helion foam cushioning material as well as the new cloud design, a super-soft and smooth riding feel is achieved.
The sequentially collapsing clouds are a departure from the more usual Cloudtec design and help the shoe feel soft on impact but a little more responsive on toe-off.
The brand’s speedboard isn’t used in the Cloudsurfer and this gives the shoe a much softer and more flexible feel than many of their other models. It feels so good, in fact, that I’d go as far as to say that we’ll see more models from the brand in the future without the speedboard.
The upper uses a dope dyeing process, which requires 90% less water in its production. The upper now uses 30% recycled content, so the brand is becoming just a little more environmentally sensitive.
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Road Testing The On Cloudsurfer
Right from the word go, the shoes feel great.
The soft padding around the ankle collar and heel welcomes your feet inside. The plush feel continues around the rest of the upper, with the tongue having just the right amount of padding to feel comfortable without feeling too thick or heavy.
The level of cushioning is instantly noticeable as being softer than any previous On model. Even the Cloudmonster with its high stack and maximal cushioning design doesn’t feel quite as soft and welcoming as the Cloudsurfer.
My first run was an easy end-of-the-week 4-mile recovery jog. Running at an easy pace it’s noticeable how the cloud elements collapse to absorb impact. I don’t think you need to feel how they work, after all, we want the smooth ride and impact-reducing feel, don’t we?
As the pace increases, the shoe simply feels smooth with a touch of energy return on toe-off. It’s not a massively propulsive feel, but not every shoe has to be. It just feels good.
While I ran in the shoes at a variety of speeds (except fast intervals, I must admit), it felt good at anything from an 8-minute mile pace down to a 6-minute mile pace. It is a genuinely neutral shoe, and although it’s not unstable, it is best suited to the more neutral runner.
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