On Cloudsoma Review
By Matthew Klein and David Salas
On CloudsomaPrice: $180 at On
Weight: 7.9 oz, 225 g (men's size 9 / women's size 10.5)
Stack Height: 33mm heel / 27mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Shoe Purpose: All-Terrain Training/Racing shoe
Pros: Lightweight, superfoam midsole, natural without being barefoot, secure and low-fitting upper with forefoot width, great multi-surface function
Cons: Not for technical trails, early lug wear, expensive for moderate stack height shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The On Cloudsoma is a brand new all-terrain training that could work as a 5k-10k racing shoe for some in less technical trails. The shoe features Helion HF foam which is also found in the Cloudmonster Hyper. The design uses what On calls Cloudtec Connect which adds more natural flexibility to the shoe on the run. The shoe features a thin Missiongrip outsole which is tacky, but slightly light on durability for a trail shoe. If you are seeking a lower stack, lighter weight trainer that lets you feel more nimble and tied to the trail, the Cloudsoma could be a good option.
SIMILAR SHOES: Hoka Zinal 3
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The On Cloudsoma fits me true to size in my normal Men's size 10. The upper is a sock-like mesh that initially fit a little snug but opened quickly. The volume is low, especially in the forefoot, and the toe guard makes it feel lower. There is a little extra room in the forefoot and the stretchy mesh does stretch nicely with toe splay. This continues into a normal to slightly snug and still low-volume midfoot. The tongue is integrated into the upper and does fold a little when tightening the laces. This has not created too many problems for me, even over 10-12 mile runs. The fit is fairly secure, so I did not have to tighten the laces. The tongue only has thin padding, so care needs to be taken with how much you tighten the laces as they can cause lace bite (pinching the extensor tendons on the top of the foot). The heel fits slightly snug with a an extended counter that wraps fairly far forward on the medial and lateral sides of the heel. There is mild heel collar padding and socks are a must due to the slightly sharp top edge. The heel counter has almost no padding in front of it although its rounded pressure took more pressure off my Haglund deformity than expected. While the counter did not bother me too much, this still will not be a good option for those with sensitive heels.
The security is good in the heel and midfoot but there is some slippage in the forefoot. Most of this is due to the most flexible part of the mesh sitting up front. This is great for allowing some gentle toe splay and room, but is not great with turning. I did experience sliding with quick turns, which made this shoe far better for going in a straight direction. Despite this, the upper is quite comfortable as I also used this shoe as a walking/standing shoe for all-day wear and had no problems. So the comfort is there but only the forward or stationary directions.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Hoka Gaviota 6, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Saucony Azura, Salomon Aero Glide 3
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Mildly
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mildly Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No (no removable insole)
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Moderate
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The On Cloudsoma is a moderate stack height, multi-surface lightweight trainer. The midsole is full-length Helion HF foam, which provides a slightly softer and more responsive ride underfoot. The 6mm drop feels lower than listed and further adds to the snappy feel underfoot. Combined with the lighter weight (my size 10 is mid 8 oz) and moderate stack height, this makes the shoe feel quite nimble. Despite being advertised as a "connecting ride" the ride feels low but still quite protective. It isn't a maximal ride but still isn't minimal. The Cloudtec Connect is larger pieces of midsole/outsole created by deeper flex groves that are supposed to create independent cushioning elements that flex and adapt around terrain. Despite the "connect" name, the ride is not as flexible as expected. There is some flexibility in the forefoot, but the rest of the shoe is slightly stiff, which creates a more snappy ride. Combined with the nimble feel, the Cloudsoma glides over most terrain, including both mild trails and road. I have used this shoe for road almost 50% of my testing miles and it has done fine. It is a bit more flexible and feels closer to the ground on road, whereas on trail it feels a little more cushioned On trail, it does adapt to varied surfaces but only mild ones. On more technical terrain I struggled with this shoe due to the lack of a rock plate. Large rocks can be felt, so dirt and softer surfaces are preferred.
The heel cushioning is initially soft then firms up when compressed. There is a decent heel bevel that transitions especially smoothly thanks to the separate lateral piece and the lateral bias of the longitudinal flex groove. The forefoot is firmer due to being closer to the ground and provides a quick roll forward. The minor forefoot rocker is long with flexibility that starts after the metatarsal heads of the foot. The ride feels surprisingly stable and works well at easier and slightly uptempo paces on road. On the trail, it feels far faster with pace pick-ups feeling easy. Quick pace changes are easy in the shoe as long as you are on softer and smoother surfaces. The traction is good on road and soft surfaces where the small lugs can dig in. On mud and rocks it feels slippery or sharp, so my paces have slowed down on those surfaces. I can see how this might be a racing shoe for those used to less shoe given the lighter weight and more responsive midsole. For me as someone who likes lightweight trainers but races in super shoes, it has been a great nimble shoe for picking up the pace on trails and all day wear for walking/standing.
Durability-wise this shoe has done fair after over 40 miles. Due to the amount of road use I am starting to wear down the lugs in the heel but the rest of the outsole is staying intact. Given the slightly earlier wear and less midsole I expect an average number of miles out of these but time will tell as I continue to wear them.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The On Cloudsoma is a neutral shoe that feels surprisingly stable. While there are no traditional stability elements, the midsole extends up around the foot the entire length of the shoe. These sidewalls (or trimlines as called in prosthetics and orthotics). Combined with the lower stack height and firmer ride once the foam compresses after initial landing, the length of the shoe feels mildly guided. The midfoot longitudinal flex groove being more on the lateral side is unique and I do feel a slight lateral bias toward the outerside of the midfoot. The heel is similar with the separated lateral podular midsole compressing noticeable more for me than medial. Additionally, the long heel counter, while harsh on my posterior heel, does a great job of locking in the heel on the medial and lateral sides. The forefoot is a bit more neutral with the increased flexibility but the small sidewalls help. Thus, the On Cloudsoma a stable neutral shoe that has worked well for me over surprisingly longer miles, more than I would normally expect for a shoe like this.
Thoughts as a DPT: Flexibility in a World of Stiffness
By David Salas, PT, DPT, CSCS
The On Cloudsoma is an interesting shoe for the modern era. Not that long ago, we had many options that were at moderate stack heights with flexible soles. Footwear trends have shifted to higher and higher stack heights with increasing stiffness to aid their rocker profiles. This includes many of On's models as well. The On Cloudsoma flips the script and goes back to some basics.
The Cloudtec Connect midsole is a new direction for On. They are filling in the foam midsole and are adding a lot of flex grooves to the platform. The goal is to create an "intuitive" ride. They want you to have a shoe that deforms naturally to your gait pattern for a natural feel. The Helion HF foam still maintains good cushioning and is tuned to have more ground feel. Being an all-terrain trainer, this is a shoe that is appreciated on both road and trail. The flexibility is especially appreciated during steeper climbs or descents, where larger range of motion requirements are present.
I am happy that the On Cloudsoma is coming to the market because it expands the options for people. Flexible trainers have been diminishing as of late. It is good to see a shoe that can hit a variety of footings efficiently in that category. The flexible ride feels natural without being unstable. Those wanting something protective on the trails without a stiff rocker have a really good option here.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I have enjoyed the On Cloudsoma way more than I expected. It is far more stable than expected and the mild rocker offloaded my Achilles a surprising amount. I have run far more than I expected to in this shoe and worn it casually a ton (people seem to love the color). The lighterweight and moderate stack height are a welcome surprise from the towering and heavier rides that are more common especially in trail shoes. My major suggestions are to modify the heel counter and add a little more structure to the forefoot. The heel counter on the posterior-most aspect of the shoe is mostly unpadded. It definitely pushes against my calcaneus (heel bone) but I love how far it extends forward. This cups and seems to stabilize my rearfoot well. I would love if the posterior most aspect of the counter could be made more flexible. Padding it will shorten the shoe and with the nice sock-like mesh upper, it would be nice to extend that over a commonly sensitive area.
My other suggestion is to add a little bit more structure to either the heel or midfoot aspect of the upper. Going forward is fine but turning can cause some sliding. This shoe be done mildly as I am enjoying the slightly extra toe box room. Outside of that and a high price, this has been a great shoe.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The On Cloudsoma is a moderate stack height, superfoam multi-surface shoe for those that want a slightly ride with a snappier underfoot feel. Those wanting a borderline sock-like fit and a normal width fit with a slightly stretchy forefoot will enjoy the upper. Those wanting a superfoam midsole while still having some ground feel and a snappy underfoot feel that can handle a variety of mild surfaces will enjoy this shoe. Those who also want a surprisingly stable shoe from heel to toe will do well. Those with incredibly narrow or wide feet wanting either a super minimal or super maximal ride will not do well in this shoe.
While a bit more expensive than I think it needs to be, the On Cloudsoma is a unique shoe. In a world of maximal shoes, it maintains some of the newer age lessons while going back to more moderate stack heights. This combination of softer foam and moderate stack height provides a unique combination of decent ground feel with protection. This has reinforced to me the need to keep up the use of these newer foams while diversifying stack heights. I am curious to see if this is a one-off or if we see more shoes like this. In the meantime, this will continue to be a training tool for me when I need to take a break from the large number of maximal shoes out there.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (One piece upper with sock-like mesh. Stretchy in forefoot with more snugness in midfoot. Heel counter a bit more stiff than it needs to be and less stable on turns, but comfortable for long efforts and all day wear)
Performance: B+ (Multi-surface use with bias toward less aggressive trails. Light, snappy but better for easier efforts with the occasional pace change. Moderate stack height of superfoam balances ground feel with protection)
Stability: A- [Stable Neutral] (Full-length sidewalls, long heel counter and longitudinal flex grooves provide a surprisingly guided ride)
Value: B (Moderate durability with early outsole wear offset by unique design of this shoe. Still a bit expensive)
Personal: A- (Although the drop feels a little lower due to the midsole compression, I have really enjoyed the ride for short to moderate distance runs and all day wear. Will stay in my rotation for something different that is still runnable)
Overall Design: B+
SHOP | SUPPORT DOROn CloudsomaPrice: $180 at On
Shop Men | Shop Women
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FURTHER READING
On's budget super foam racer.
A new max cushion cruiser.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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