On Cloudflow v3 Review: A Quietly Solid Lightweight Trainer
By Social Media Wizard Bach Pham
The 2021 On Cloudflow quietly returns with some major updates in the
upper and underneath to help greatly refine the prior version.
Considered their lightweight daily trainer, the On Cloudflow v3 features
a streamlined design that can both do easy miles and longer distances
for anyone looking for a traditional stack height shoe. The 2021 model
features the brand's ongoing push towards sustainability with recycled
materials in the upper on top of their signature Helion foam and
CloudTec design.
Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.5 oz, 238 g (men's size 8.5), 7 oz, 198 g (women's size 7)
Stack Height: 30 mm heel, 24 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Classification: Lightweight Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The new On Cloudflow features a revitalized upper design that slims down the padding from the prior version
in favor of streamlined upper partially made with recycled materials
(70% of the polyester is recycled materials). The outsole gets a
critical customization that does away with one of the biggest complaints
against On in the past: that it's "too firm." A new, softer rubber
compound - also used in the Cloudboom Echo - helps clean up the
underfoot experience and better highlight what the Cloudflow and Helion
midsole can offer to runners.
FIT
The
On Cloudflow v3 fits a quarter inch long. Most people should be able to
go true to size and use the lacing to get a good lockdown without any
issue. For those who are typically floating between sizes, I would
recommend sizing down. For those who are fairly true to size 95% of the
time, going true to size is fine unless you plan to use the shoe for
aggressive workouts and would like a more snug fit. The upper compared
to v2 is much more stripped down in the latest version, offering an
average, but ample amount of space around the toebox. There is a wide
version available. The heel is a bit loose on first slip-in, but the
laces cinch down extremely well, allowing for a great lockdown. I did
have to lace lock this pair, but have had zero issues with the fit since
doing so. Going back to length, the upper slightly folds over the toes
slightly on first run, but settles quickly and becomes a non-issue on
ensuing runs once it molds to your feet. There is a moderate, support
heel counter in the Cloudflow and a very minimal tongue that works just
fine. I had no issues with breathability in both the cold and warm
weather that this strange season has brought us in South Carolina (also
low as freezing, as high as 80s!).
The insole is removable and
there is a mild bit of arch support underfoot. I had tremendous problems
with the overly aggressive arch support in v2, but they have done a
good job taming that in the latest update. Overall, once I got dialed-in
after the first run, I have had no issues with fit for the On Cloudflow
v3.
PERFORMANCE
With the same midsole underfoot, you would think the Cloudflow v3
would be a very similar shoe to its prior iteration. The On Cloudflow
v3, however, a brand new
rubber outsole that helps soften the harsher prior ride. the new rubber material (also seen in the Cloudboom Echo, their
marathon racer) helps alter the underfoot dynamic of the shoe
from firm to somewhere right in the middle of firm and soft. The best
comparison is Goodyear rubber in both its grip and softness underfoot,
allowing the midsole to shine. The Helion Cloudtec is still by no means
the softest in the business, but feels on par with daily training foams
like Adidas Lightstrike; something effective that gets the job done for
daily mileage.
I would actually put the underfoot experience on
par with the recent Adidas SL20.2 in terms of comfort and personally
actually prefer the Cloudflow thanks to the Speedboard providing some
rigidity throughout to make the shoe feel stable and guided. A mild
rocker lets the shoe obtain a very natural stride. This makes the
Cloudflow v3 feel versatile, allowing me to do easy paced runs or crank
up the pace when I wanted. The Speedboard helps provide a little
feedback when turning things up mid run. The shoe - while rigid in the
heel - does have some decent forefoot
flexibility despite the speedboard. It helps promote a bit of natural
movement which is why it feels so reminiscent of the SL20.2.
Usage-wise,
I found the Cloudflow good for both easy mileage and short-to-middle
distance workouts. I took it out for long runs and enjoyed it (I have a
preference for light, nimble footwear for long runs), but for those who
prefer more cushioning underfoot may want to visit the Cloudstratus.
The
durability of the new rubber seems to be holding up well so far after
50 miles. I have not seen any particular wear in the rubber compared to
v2 where I did start seeing some dents around 40 miles. With the exposed
foam and softer rubber outsole, I expect average durability for the
Cloudflow v3, around 200-250 miles.
Finally, a long-time
complaint of On shoes is rocks. I did get exactly two rock stuck in the
crevice of the shoe during my 50 miles, but nothing that ever impeded my
runs. This is not a shoe for trails by any means and I would recommend
it for road use only.
STABILITY
This
is a neutral shoe, but like all On-Running shoes there are several
mechanics at play that helps make it more stable. The Speedboard goes
throughout the full length of the shoe and does a nice job of providing
rigidity, especially in the heel and midfoot. The guidance line
underfoot helps promote some centering on the run while the moderately
rigid heel counter provides a good locked-in fit. The shoe runs just
slightly more towards firm and has a very moderate stack height by
today's standard which all contributes to the Cloudflow feeling
grounded. There is also the most minor of medial sidewalls which also
works to help keep the foot dialed in.
The width of the shoe is
relatively standard for a lightweight neutral trainer though, which
makes it best labeled as a mild stable neutral shoe. The On Cloudstratus
or Cloudswift provides a wider platform for those who want some
geometry in their shoe, but a similar rolling ride seen in the
Cloudflow.
THOUGHTS AS A CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGIST
Where On Sits in the Running Market Today.
When you look within the running community, it's hard not to notice
that a lot of damage was done early on due to the combination of
perceived firmness from On Running's models along with the the
rock-catching underneath. It can be very hard for runners to drop their
original perceptions of a brand, especially a newer one that is working
to establish itself.
Where On managed to make huge growth
however, has been through two unique avenues. The first is in the ultra
and triathlete world. In many ways this makes perfect sense with founder
Oliver Bernhard being a former World Champion in the duathalon. On has
gone on to sponsor tremendous Ironman and Triathlon champions like
Javier Gomez and Nicola Spirig. The Cloudflow reviewed today has long
been a simple go-to in that department for many runners looking for a
lightweight shoe that can pick up the pace. The underrated Cloudultra
has also led many to impressive results this year for many of the
brand's athletes on the trail.
Outside of running sports, On
particularly took off in the lifestyle department with it's On Cloud
model. Built to be a workout and crosstraining shoe, it became an iconic
design that caught the attention of sneakerheads everywhere. In
Germany, the Cloud's popularity soared so much it became the second most
sold sneaker in the country behind the Nike Air Max. It's become
fashionable among even celebrities like Will Smith and the Rock. The
brand make it's biggest move in recent years with the signing of Roger
Federer, who has helped build out a new tennis line and bring new
attention to the new 10+ year old brand.
This leads to where On
sits today as a brand when it comes to running. Between the lifestyle
and steady advances in performance, On shoes have found a place for
casual runners who want footwear that doubles for everyday use. The
design happens to be stable and comfortable enough for walking, which
adds to the value of the shoes for many fans of the company. From a
performance standpoint though, the earlier struggles mentioned - a
history of firmer than average footwear and a design that is susceptible
to rocks - have been hard for On to escape. We have seen bigger gains
in their trail running department with the
solid On Cloudultra which has been a big winner for them in the ultra and Ironman world for
several of their athletes. While On has moved in the right direction
with their incremental changes, I'd really love to see them take a leap
and make a big advancement in their midsole to help push them to the
next level in their road running footwear, balancing modern comfort with
their unique, stable design. Recently, the brand made their first nod
in that direction with the introduction of their first super-stacked
shoe in the On Cloudmonster.
Sources
"On's Future is Lifestyle, But it's Not Moving on From Performance" https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/on-running-shoes-interview/
"Roger Federer, Sneakerhead?" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/23/style/roger-federer-on-running-sneaker-deal.html
 |
| Prior Generation Cloudflow |
On Running was founded by Swiss athlete Oliver Bernhard, a three-time World Champion in Duathalon, and his partners Casper Coppetti and David Allemann (formerly CMO of Vitro, a Swedish furniture brand) in 2010. The goal of Bernhard and team was to create a shoe that had a cushioned landing, but firm takeoff. We have to remember that 2010 was the midst of two shoe paradigms: traditional running shoes with stability like the DS Trainer, Kayanos, and more, and the minimalist movement. The goal of On, while it sounds relatively common today with super shoes creating that soft platform and rigid takeoff, was not as commonly seen then.
On particularly took off in 2014 when two things happened with a brand new model that’s come to define the brand: the On Cloud. The original intention of the shoe was based on running (pun intended), and led to Swiss triathlete Nicola Spring’s silver medal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The On Cloud also started to garner a cult status outside of running, with celebrities and sneaker fans taking appreciation of the sleek, modern design of the shoe. On has really embraced this, bringing a wide range of colorways to the Cloud model and continuing to evolve the shoe with both performance and aesthetic in mind. Since its running beginnings, the brand has involved in other areas, including hiking, lifestyle - embracing the On Cloud culture with new lifestyle specific entries - and most recently tennis in partnership with Roger Federer. On has a couple of defining characteristics. There’s the cloudtec, those pods that are the basis for their entire line. The less discussed aspect of On that’s made them a worldwide success is the Swiss construction. While shoes have evolved and streamlined greatly in the past ten years, when you think about shoe models prior to 2010 you have a lot of big models like the Asics Kayano and Nimbus which embraced a construction or the absolute other end with things like the Vibram Five Fingers. On, embracing its Swiss heritage, really brought to the table a stripped back design with its original On Cloud running shoe. Emerging out of the 1950s, Swiss graphic design schools emphasized a form following function, rather than over function mentality to their work. Their design is no surprise when it came to the Eastern European block of influence that was present in the country (Netherland’s De Stiji block geometry design, the squareness of Bauhaus architecture being two major influences). Over the years, “Swiss Engineering” and design only became more and more reformed, focusing on tight-knit, stripped back construction, solid colors and geometric patterns, and strong block writing that’s clear and efficient in delivering its messaging. This design nature is clearly seen in On’s running shoes. While there certainly is a simple, clean design aesthetic the shoe visually, upon closer examination you can see the functionality of the lines and colors to highlight the construction of the shoe. In this sea/petrol colorway, where the blue ends in the upper and the grey begins in the heel, you can feel the transition from the less structured forefoot area to the sturdy grey portion that protects the heel. The midsole coloration also signals a change going into the heel where a softer Helion midsole exists. The blue wrapping around the heel demonstrates where the heel padding ends and sturdy heel counter starts and ends. The upper design in general is shaved as far as it can go while still maintaining comfort, helping keep the weight down to as much as the material allows. The cloudtec even fall into the aesthetic, with the repeated square geometry throughout, cutting space where allowed while still maintaining symmetry. There isn't a part of the shoe that is overbuilt in anyway, which is a credit to On's construction. The Cloudflow is a good example of On taking Swiss engineering to the extreme to create a slick, dialed-in design from top to bottom. Sources Swedish Design: An Ethnography, Keith M. Murphy Modern Swedish Design: Three Founding Texts, edited by Uno Ã…hrén, Lucy Creagh, Mary Creagh, Helena KÃ¥berg, Barbara Miller Lane, Kenneth Frampton What You Should Know About Swedish Design, aproposter On’s Future is Lifestyle, But It’s Not Moving From Performance, Highsnobiety Proper Interview: David Allemann Co-Founder of On, Proper
RECOMMENDATIONS
The
Cloudflow runs a touch long in general for US sizing. Redialing the
sizing not only would help with sizing decisions, but also with the
minor folding over the toes I found in this model. In general I do think
the upper is a nice refinement over the prior year, stripping things
down yet still maintaining comfort throughout. While I find the
underfoot ride comfortable to my needs, On will have to consider either a
new foam or 2-3mm of additional stack to meet the demands of today's
more cushion-oriented market. Added stack would also help promote more
effectiveness in longer efforts up to the marathon for runners.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The On Cloudflow v3 is for someone
looking for a cushioned ride that sits right in between firm and soft
and features a more traditional height than today's growing market of
high stacked shoes. The softer outsole opens up the Helion foam to
showcase a protective, versatile ride. Similar to how we praise the
Mizuno Waverider, the Cloudflow is a mild stable neutral thanks to its
Speedboard, guidance line, and low stack height. Fans of shoes
like the older Boston 8 or 9 and similar footwear will find
similarities to the Cloudflow. It also just looks great and is comfortable for everyday
activity and errands.
Rotation-wise, in-house at On this is an excellent pairing with the Cloudmonster, their maximal shoe. Using the Cloudflow for easy days and workouts and the
Cloudmonster for recovery and slow, long efforts has been a really
enjoyable. Any comfortable shoe you find for long distance training and
recovery would be a great fit here. The Cloudflow also pairs well with a
super shoe like the Puma Deviate Elite - which has a similar fit and shaping - which can handle long run
duties and heavier workouts while the Cloudflow handles easy mileage and
some occasional uptempo work like strides. For someone wanting to use
the Cloudflow for most of their uptempo work and even racing, pairing a
cushioned trainer like the Cloudmonster mentioned earlier would be great. The Cloudflow in
general is a versatile option that can play into your shoe rotation in
many ways.
GRADING
Bach
Fit: B+ (Lengthwise,
it may take trial and error to see which pair fits you best based on
your sizing, but the shoe does a good job of locking the down the foot
once you get the right size)
Performance: B+/A- (A
good, mild rocker with a nice underfoot feel that's versatile for easy
days to workouts. Longer efforts will depend on the runner's preference
towards lower stack footwear)
Stability: B+ (Speedboard, rigid heel counter, minor sidewall, and guidance line all over stable mechanics for this neutral shoe. Width is average though. Look to Cloudstratus for a wider platform)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (Refinement
from prior version through new outsole material and recycled upper
offers a very sleek package from On that will draw newcomers)
Personal: A- (I
have been able to dial in many different types of runs in the Cloudflow
without complaint. A really nice mild stable neutral shoe)
Overall: B+/A- (An excellent upgrade over v2 and a shoe that could turn people to On for the first time)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse.
*Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
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Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Huma Chia Gel: Natural and goes down easy. Powered Contributor Nathan Brown to his marathon
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Theragun Massager: This small version is great on the go for working tired legs
Ciele Hat: Our team's favorite running hat of choice!
FURTHER READING
More from On Running
On Cloudstratus 2.0 - One of the best On shoes to date, especially for long distances
On Cloudswift 2.0 - A big update to their daily trainer, featuring sustainable materials
On Cloudboom - On's first attempt at carbon plated racing. Aggressive fun
On Cloudventure Peak - The brand's lightweight, nimble trail runner, with an extra sticky outsole
On Cloudflyer - On's light stability trainer
On Cloudace - On's heavyweight stability shoe
Recently at Doctors of Running
Asics Nimbus Lite 3 - Redialed upper and midsole highlight this stable neutral update
Hoka Kawana - A New, Modestly Stacked "Crossover" from Hoka for 2021
Asics Nimbus 24 - Flytefoam Blast+ helps reshape the Nimbus line into the future
Hoka Carbon X3 - A new ProflyX midsole and knit upper highlights this long distance racer's update
Hoka Mach Supersonic - A limited release Mach with Profly+ midsole
Brooks Hyperion Elite 2 - We dig back in time to take a look at Brook's current racing shoe.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
Thanks for reading!
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TESTER PROFILES:
Marketing and Social Media Manager
Bach Pham is a 140 lb male with PRs of 23 5K, 52 10K. He typically runs between 25-35 miles per week at a variety of paces between 8:30 (tempo) -10:00 (recovery) min/miles. He typically prefers shoes that provide some mild to firm cushioning underfoot that is lightweight and responsive. Currently his goals are to complete the half and marathon distances.
Editor's Note: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does not serve as a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned about an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
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