On Cloudsurfer Max Review
By David Salas
On Cloudsurfer MaxPrice: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.3 oz, 292g (men's size 9), oz, g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: Not provided at this time
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Training, Maximum Cushioning, Long Runs
Pros: Excellent cushioning for those that love firmer rockers, stable for a neutral shoe, good standing and walking shoe as well
Cons: Laces have some biting, foam will definitely be too firm for some
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The On Cloudsurfer Max is a daily training shoe that features maximum stack height and a firm rockered ride. The shoe has a generally balanced feel to it for easy running, walking, and standing. The On Cloudsurfer Max, similar to other Cloudsurfer models, does not use a Speedboard like other On models. Though this midsole does not have the most pop to it, this shoe is a workhorse daily training and long run shoe for those that want a firm and consistent rocker on their foot without sacrificing cushioning.
SIMILAR SHOES: HOKA Bondi 9
PAST MODEL: On Cloudeclipse
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The On Cloudsurfer Max fits true to size in my Men's 9.5. The upper material does feel premium and is soft on foot, while still being breathable and supportive. The tongue is gusseted and does a good job of locking down the foot. The tongue is on the thinner side however, and I can feel some biting from it. The width in the heel and midfoot is normal, with the forefoot having a little more width to it. The forefoot does taper pretty quickly, but is decently wide at the metatarsal heads. There is a lot of volume through the forefoot and plenty of space for foot swelling during longer efforts. There is a stiff heel counter that has a backwards curve to it through the calcaneus. I did not have any issues with rubbing in that area. The heel collar is padded well. I enjoyed the fit of the upper, but I do think the tongue thickness or the lacing system could be adjusted some to prevent biting from the laces. It wasn't a deal breaker for me, but it was noticeable enough.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild, rockered
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Potentially, with space behind calcaneus
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Good
PERFORMANCE
David: The On Cloudsurfer Max was an interesting experience. The shoe on the surface looks incredibly plush and cushioned, but the on foot feel is different. The shoe certainly has a lot of foam and good cushioning, but the foam material itself does not seem to compress as much as other foams. This gives for a quite firm feeling underfoot, but still holding plenty of cushioning for long efforts out running or walking.
The On Cloudsurfer Max uses CloudTec Phase, similar to the Cloudsurfer Next and Cloudsurfer 2. To me, the Cloudsurfer Next version of CloudTec Phase felt firmer than that of the Cloudsurfer 2, and the Cloudsurfer Max consistent with the general feeling of the Cloudsurfer Next's foam. There is no Speedboard in this model, but the foam is abundant and rigid enough to still give a pretty stiff rocker underfoot. The heel is beveled well and is integrated with a decent sidewall through the rearfoot and midfoot. Though this shoe is very neutral, it still feels pretty stable underfoot because of the firmer foam and sidewall. The forefoot has a decent rocker and also some mild toe spring. Though the foam itself feels firm, this shoe does deliver a smooth rocker that holds its ride over longer efforts. The outsole durability seems good so far, and is thicker than most other On models that I have run in. The outsole is road focused, but seems good enough for some basic off road running.
The midsole does a very good job of providing a consistent and rhythmic platform for easy running, walking, and standing. There is not a whole lot of responsiveness to it however. I found that the shoe itself maintained its rocker well at all paces, but the foam felt a bit flat when pushing it. The shoe does carry a little bit of weight at 10.3 ounces, but it is still light enough to be comparable with most max stack shoes for easy days. I do really enjoy this for easy shuffling miles for daily runs or longer runs. This has quickly become a go-to shoe for me when I am in situations where I need to run, walk, work, or travel and I know I won't need to go fast. This was was my running/travel shoe for San Francisco recently and did great for that.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The On Cloudsurfer Max is definitely a neutral shoe, but runs surprisingly stable. For having a good amount of stack, the platform width is not the widest, nor is there much sole flaring to counter that. The firmer foam and usage of sidewalls helps tremendously with giving a more stable experience though. The heel counter is also quite rigid, without putting any excessive pressure anywhere. The general feeling the On Cloudsurfer Max gives is that of a "structured" neutral shoe.
Thoughts as a DPT: Protecting the Neurologic Structures of the Foot
By David Salas, PT, DPT, CSCS
The foot is complex, but there are some basic considerations to lookout for when choosing a shoe that is right for you. A lot of times at Doctors of Running we talk about biomechanics and seeking out shoes that align with your individual needs. However, it is also important to look for shoes that fit your foot well. Just as you would want a shoe to roll with your natural movement pattern, you also want your shoe to hold your foot securely without placing any excessive pressure on it. Our feet are innervated really well. This is because they are one of our main contact points with the earth around us. This is great, because it gives a lot of feedback on our environment, but it can also backfire on us sometimes. We usually think of the sensory nerves on the bottom of the foot, but you also have innervation of sensory nerves along the top of the foot as well. For some people, when they have an upper that does not work for them, they may experience tingling in their toes, or in a specific region of their foot. That is usually because there is excessive pressure, or an entrapment on a superficial and/or cutaneous nerve. The sensory innervation for the dorsum of the foot is mostly supplied by the superficial peroneal nerve, outside of a small space in between the webbed space of the first and second toe that is supplied by the deep peroneal nerve. It is important to make sure that the volume of a shoe is not too low through the midfoot, or that the squeezing from the laces is not too tight over the top of the midfoot, to make sure there is adequate space and gliding of the surfaces. If it is too low or tight, that will create an acquired nerve entrapment, and potentially issues with tingling, sensation, pain, etc.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I really enjoyed my time in the On Cloudsurfer Max, but I do have some recommendations. My first would be to rework the tongue. The material itself is comfortable, and the lockdown is good, but I still get a noticeable amount of biting from the laces.
The other, thing would be to look into a way to soften the landing experience on the foam a tad. This isn't necessarily for me... I like the firmer feeling. I know this will be too firm for a lot of people though. I think something as simple as a softer sock liner could do the trick, without overhauling the foam or midsole.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The On Cloudsurfer Max is a highly stacked option for those that like firmer rockers. The shoe is very neutral in profiling, but the firmer nature couples with some sidewall action to give you a stable neutral experience. The shoe does not have the most responsiveness, but does really well for eating up easy miles, walks, and time on feet standing. This did well for me as a travel shoe when I know that I won't be doing any fast workouts on the trip.
GRADES
David
Fit: B+ (Good fit and lockdown throughout, but the laces to bite some through the tongue)
Performance: B+ (Great for easy rhythmic miles, but the foam lacks pop when going faster. Weight is balanced enough, but could be a little lighter as well.)
Stability: B+ (Normal width platform and sole flaring, but firmer nature of shoe and good sidewall usage create a stable experience)
Value: B+ (Being at $180, there is a lot of competition. For those wanting that firm rocker though, this does well. It just doesn't quite have the versatility as some of the other shoes at the price point. For easy runs, walking, standing all-in-one shoe, worth it.)
Personal: A- (I tend to like firmer shoes, and so this gives me a lot of cushioning underfoot, while maintaining the firmer feel. The biting of the laces through the tongue is the only reason I don't have an A here.)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DOROn Cloudsurfer MaxPrice: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
*Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
Check out Gear We Love
Naked Belt The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist.
Saysky Running Gear: We were really taken aback by this Scandinavian company's ultra-thin, durable performance clothing
Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor: Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup
goodr Sunglases: Run in style with goodr's super fun sunglasses.
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Water Bottle: Perfect for long runs when you need hydration in the summer
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Ciele Hat: Our team's favorite running hat of choice!
Fractel Hats: Our team's wider fitting running hat of choice!
FURTHER READING
Nike's stability trainer.
Mizuno's performance shoe.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW DOCTORS OF RUNNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: Doctors of Running
Youtube Channel: Doctors of Running
Instagram: @doctorsofrunning
LinkedIn: Doctors of Running
Strava: Doctors of Running
Podcast: Virtual Roundtable
Pinterest: Doctors of Running
PODCAST
Check out the Doctors of Running Podcast to find more reviews, interviews, and running features from the team.
Visit our Podcast Page
Find us on Apple
Find us on Spotify
Contact us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com
NEXT: Nike Structure 26
