ON Footwear Run Down

Cloud - Something ? Cloud - What?

Introduction 

In the world of footwear, brands seem like they are trying to make their shoe names as confusing as possible for our consumers. One brand that we specifically get a lot of questions about is ON Running. They have decided to put ‘Cloud’ in the name of each of their shoes, to represent the Cloud-Tech system that can be found in all of their shoes. As ON has become more and more popular over the last few years, they have created more and more models, which has been fantastic to see, however the naming of the shoes has become a little bit ‘cloudy’ (HA). In an effort to hopefully clear some of the confusion, here is a brief breakdown of the incredibly diverse offerings from ON that you can find right here at the runners shop. 

CloudFlyer 5

The CloudFlyer is a legacy model from the brand, and is one of the first Run Specific shoes that ON Created. The 5th generation of this shoe stays true to the original ON feel, which is a bit on the firmer side, caused mainly by the full length poly-propylene speed board (Plastic) embedded in the midsole. Because of its firm nature this shoe is one of the most stable ON options on the market, this coupled with the very substantial heel counter, makes this the most appropriate option for overpronators who want to try a shoe from the Swiss company.

CloudSurfer

The Cloudsurfer, or Surfer as we like to call it around the store, has quickly ascended into ‘Cult Following’ status for ON fans everywhere. This was the first ON shoe to be released without their patented SpeedBoard Technology. Without the limitations of the speedboard ON was free to create a lightweight and flexible daily trainer that wasn’t weighed down by an extra plastic piece. This is the softest training shoe that ON makes, and it isn’t necessarily the most stable thing in the world, so we tend to only recommend this shoe for people who are very neutral runners, and don’t necessarily need any extra guidance. 

CloudSurfer Next

One of ON’s newest creations, the Cloudsurfer Next, while it might look like the Cloudsurfer, it is really a very different running experience. This model is really better thought of as a replacement for the now discontinued ON CloudGo. Which entered the market at a slightly lower price point and was less cushioned and firmer than the rest of the ON models. The Surfer Next, can be thought of as the step down from the Surfer, it is a bit firmer, and more responsive, but won’t feel quite as comfortable and squishy as its Shorter named brother. (And 10$ Less)

CloudEclipse wait no, the Cloudsurfer Max 

Now this is where the naming starts to take a turn into madness. If the CloudSurfer Next is a step down from the Cloudsurfer the Cloudsurfer Max is the step up. Originally this shoe was named the cloud Eclipse, and I guess that was too confusing for the swiss, so instead of a unique named shoe, we get another surfer family model. In all honesty, this naming convention now actually does make sense, but it really grinds my gears that they couldn’t have just started here… There are many superfans of the Eclipse who are longing for their babies back, and if you look for the Eclipse it appears to be gone, when in reality this is the continuation of that model. Overall, it feels a bit stiffer, and more rocking sensation, but the cushion is soft, and max cush feeling. 

CloudMonster 2

The CloudMonster has been unapologetically fun, and weird since March of 2022. Now as we move on to the CloudMonster 2 this shoe continues the tradition of fun weird and bouncy training shoes that we all really love. This was the first model from ON that I remember being able to describe as ‘soft’. Before this, many of ON’s shoes were either very firm, or performance focused. The Monster has a very aggressive rocker that is assisted by a plastic speedboard to really make your toe off fun! The larger pods found in this shoe were engineered to squish just a little bit more than the other models. The result? A fun quirky shoe, that has gained a serious following in running, and casual wear circles. 

CloudMonster Hyper

While this model might look similar to its less expensive baby brother, their feelings, and use cases couldn’t be more different. While both are max cushion trainers, the CloudMonster hyper is a much more premium experience. The Hyper has taken the speed board out of the shoe, and opted for a nylon blended foam to be placed under the forefoot, for increased responsiveness and ‘bounce’. The Hyper is also over an ounce lighter (for a mens size 9) than the OG CloudMonster. While I’d use the cloudMonster on my easy days, and when my legs are feeling tired, I’d use the CloudMonster Hyper on my long runs, and tempo runs, or when I’m just looking to get a bit more help moving along quickly!

CloudBoomStrike (CloudBoomStrike-LS)

The most technologically advanced model in ON’s line up (and also the most expensive) is their top of the line, marathon racer! The CloudboomStrike uses a brand new foam compound called Helion HF, which I have to believe stands for ‘holy ….’ because this stuff is light, energetic and very cushioned. It's got a carbon plate, and all Peba foam goodness, so yeah it's fast. To add on to the craziness of this model, ON has recently released an LS Version of the shoe which stands for LightSpray, which is a 3D printing technique that creates a sock-like upper in just 90 seconds… Check out these photos below

ROBOT SHOES COMING SOON! 

Michael out.