Price: $150
Weight: 11.2 oz (M), 9.1 oz (W)
Type: Road
Summer Running Gear
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s More Images
The moment you lace up the On Cloudsurfer, you’re greeted with a message printed on the insole: Unleash your speed. Not as lightweight as the Reebok Floatride Run Fast or as prominent on race courses as the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%, the Cloudsurfer is still a top option for chasing that PR.
With a no-frills design and enough kick to zip you around any track, our wear-testers unanimously praised the Cloudsurfer’s overall ride. As one tester put it, “Swiss engineering at its finest.”
Like most of their offerings, On has placed what they dub a “speedboard” between the cushioning. This flexible thermoplastic polymer plate maximizes energy return to propel you forward with each step, not unlike the carbon fiber plate found in that A ride so smooth, you’ll forget how fast you’re going. After just one run in the Cloudsurfer, you’ll be scouting the local race calendar to show off your speed.
For Cushioning, Less Is More
Though it occasionally feels stiff underfoot, your feet are protected from taking a beating by a split layer of cushioning. A thin top layer wraps around the entire midsole, while a second layer is positioned between the midsole and the exposed cloud crash pods under the heel. This proved to be all our testers needed for both shakeouts and long runs.
Cool on the Feet, Hip on the Street
The upper falls in the Goldilocks zone for just about every category. The material allows for breathability without sacrificing style and the toe box has enough room to splay while remaining secure around the foot.
Other highlights include an insole that’s stitched onto a thin rubber pad—this keeps it from sliding around during tight turns or while pounding downhill. The wrap around the arch isn’t completely restrictive, allowing for some movement. Plastic clips around the heel keeps the foot in place over fast speeds, though the thin construction underfoot may not be enough for runners requiring more in the form of stability.
The lacing system is all that’s holding the Cloudsurfer back from being truly great. The laces themselves are thin, awkward, and tended to slip when attempting to tie them. One longtime tester said they were “more suited to a pair of dress-shoes” than running shoes.
Wear Tester Feedback
Races - Places
Arch: Medium | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Heel
“My favorite part of this shoe was the forefoot fit. This tends to be a problem area for me as I often get blisters at the base of my big toe. But no blisters, no rubbing at all. I have a wider than average foot so this shoe might not be ideal for runners with a narrow foot.”
The Best Carbon Plate Shoes for Speedy Runners Runner’s World in 2014, Derek Since becoming a video producer for Meb Keflezighi and Desiree Linden’s Boston victories and Amy Cragg’s win at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan Altra Torin 8: The Brooks Ghost of Zero-Drop Shoes.
