On Cloudsurfer Review
Published: May 11, 2023
New On Cloudsurfer Delivers a Ride as Smooth as a Glassy Wave
Likes
- Plush underfoot feel remains comfortable on the run
- Lightweight feel with excellent lockdown
- A stylish aesthetic that can go with any kit or outfit
Dislikes
- Could be more responsive
- Shallow forefoot
- Not the best shoe for wet running conditions
What's New
Get your gear out because it's time to surf — time to Cloudsurf, that is. The On Cloudsurfer is a neutral, lightweight daily trainer that seemingly marks a new age in On Running. Unlike its On relatives, the Cloudsurfer removes the company's signature speed board. In its place, the Cloudsurfer features On's all-new CloudTec Phase midsole construction and promises seamless weight transfer for incredibly smooth transitions through the gait cycle. The new midsole geometry is also impressively comfortable, ensuring that any daily training run can be enjoyable. Additionally, the Helion foam offers a slight bounce to add a dose of liveliness to every run.
Along with an entirely new midsole design, the Cloudsurfer's outsole design is also distinct from other On shoes, providing continuous rubber in high-wear areas around the toe and heel, delivering sufficient traction and dependable durability where you need it most. The outsole also features a decoupling groove that contributes to a relatively flexible shoe that feels natural through the gait cycle.
Finishing things off is a lightweight and secure engineered mesh upper that promises to remain irritation-free while carrying you to your weekly mileage goals. Though new in almost every way, the one thing the Cloudsurfer does not deviate from is On's signature style. The Cloudsurfer will not only shine on the roads, but runners will be getting compliments as they go about their daily routines in the office or around town.
The Bottom Line
When a product is associated with surfing, it needs to encapsulate the easygoing, good-vibe culture of the sport, and On has done an amazing job doing that with the new On Cloudsurfer. As mentioned, this unique offering is unlike any other On shoe, and it is an intentional departure from some of the company's previously used midsole technologies, resulting in an incredibly soft, protective shoe whose performance on the run outshines the brand's iconic aesthetic.
Our testers loved the new CloudTec Phase and Helion foam midsole design, praising the shoe's incredibly soft underfoot feel and impressively smooth ride. Like a beginner surfer with a longboard, the Cloudsurfer injected a sense of ease, joy, and dependability into each testing run. Also similar to the legendary longboard, the Cloudsurfer is not the most high-performing when it comes to responsiveness and speed, and our testers could have used a higher energy return to support faster runs and workouts. That said, the Cloudsurfer was not designed for speedy performance, and our team loved the protective ride for long runs and easy daily mileage.
The upper also delighted testers with its lightweight feel and highly secure lockdown, and above all, its aesthetic. Though the performance of the shoe has been dramatically elevated, On does not sacrifice style with the Cloudsurfer, and our team recommends this shoe with any running kit, athleisure outfit, or even casual wear. The Cloudsurfer is an excellent beginner to intermediate shoe for those who run anywhere from 10 to 20 miles a week, and want a shoe that can easily transition from the office or classroom to the road. Do not be surprised if the Cloudsurfer marks a new chapter for On Running. Also, it would not surprise our testers if this shoe ends up being one of the best daily trainers of 2023.
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 8.3 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.3 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 37 mm (Heel), 27 mm (Forefoot) | 10 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to size |
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Risa: "Right off the bat, the Cloudsurfer was a good fit for me, both for my feet and my overall preferences. The engineered mesh upper was soft with a hint of plush luxuriousness. I easily got a secure lockdown and had no issues with the slightly wider platform, even as a more narrow-footed runner. I also had no issues with overheating, and the upper consistently delivered good breathability."
Kaitlin: "The upper is very breathable while still providing a plush contour around the heel and midfoot. The mini gusset in the tongue provides a gentle lockdown without feeling snug or creating irritation. The toe box did feel a little too shallow and snug for my foot, but overall the fit worked well."
Kaleb: "The On Cloudsurfer's upper was very comfortable on foot, and I had no issues with fit. It is secure through the heel and midfoot before opening up to a more spacious forefoot. There is a good amount of padding around the heel collar and in the tongue to offer an extra dose of comfort, but the upper remains light and breathable.
Can we talk about this aesthetic for a moment? On, per usual, blends running and lifestyle styling to bring you a unique and trendy upper that I thought looked awesome. If it was an athleisure kind of day, then the On Cloudsurfer was on."
Midsole
Risa: "I love a soft midsole for daily training runs, and I was excited about the Cloudsurfer right from the initial step-in. They immediately felt super plush, and I was impressed with how lightweight they felt on foot with their impressive 7.2-oz weight. I love the squish of On's unique foam compound and midsole construction as it compresses underfoot. The Cloudsurfer is not a fast shoe, despite the midsole's slight energy return, and was best for long runs at cruising paces, as well as daily training runs."
Kaitlin: "The Cloudsurfer provides a light and soft ride that feels great for easy or high mileage. While the midsole is not super propulsive, and I would not necessarily categorize the Cloudsurfer as a snappy shoe, it does make runs feel almost effortless. The shoe felt like an extension of my foot, with a barely-there feel and a soft ride that inspired me to push more miles."
Kaleb: "The Cloudsurfer's midsole is unlike any other On shoe I have ever tested. From the initial step-in to the last mile, the shoe was impressively soft underfoot, with a slight energy return that kept the ride from feeling mushy.
As mentioned above, this is not a fast shoe, and I do not recommend the Cloudsurfer for fartleks or your fast training runs. But for everything else, these trainers will deliver a pretty awesome experience. They were highly protective, and I had no difficulty completing long-mileage runs while wearing the Cloudsurfer, and daily training runs were always fun and smooth. The Cloudsurfer allowed me to put on cruise control and comfortably collect my weekly mileage."
Outsole
Risa: "I appreciated that the Cloudsurfer's outsole does not get rocks trapped in it! It is a little thing, but it makes a big difference, and no one wants to stop a run to remove rocks from their outsole. Based on my experience so far, I expect that the Cloudtec rubber will be able to withstand the test of countless miles, and its durability is on par with some of the best shoes in the daily training category. The outsole's grip is not notably sticky, but it's perfectly sufficient. Again, I found the level of traction to be consistent with the best daily trainers available on the market."
Kaitlin: "I worry that the lifespan of this shoe will be a little bit shorter given the midsole's softness and the amount of foam that is exposed underfoot. The midsole compresses quite a bit, and the exposed foam already looks lightly worn after only 40 miles. That said, the Cloudtec rubber in the high-wear areas appears to be holding up well, and the traction offered by the Cloudsurfer has been adequate for all my testing runs, although there is not an abundance of tread on the shoe."
Kaleb: "The Cloudsurfer's Cloudtec rubber outsole worked very well throughout testing, delivering sufficient traction on paved surfaces, even when they were wet. The rubber itself has held up well after roughly 35 miles, but like Kaitlin, I worry about the exposed foam. There is a lot of it underfoot, and it has shown some signs of wear so far. I look forward to seeing how it holds up through the 100-mile mark."
Comparable Shoes
Risa: "The Cloudsurfer really is a unique shoe, and I have found it tricky to come up with true comparisons. That said, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 is another very soft with some bounce in the midsole, but it is a max-cushion shoe with a 41.5-mm heel stack versus the Cloudsurfer's 37-mm heel stack. The Nimbus is also considerably heavier at 9.0 oz for a Women's 8.
The ASICS Novablast is a lightweight daily trainer (7.7 oz) like the Cloudsurfer, but its midsole is firmer, and I would recommend the Novablast for runners who want a more speed-oriented shoe or who generally prefer a firmer ride. I think the Cloudsurfer is a more attractive and approachable option for most runners because of its provided level of comfort. I rank the Cloudsurfer above more traditional daily trainers like the Brooks Ghost and Saucony Ride because it is more innovative and has that wow factor."
Kaitlin: "I feel like another On shoe model would be the most comparable to the Cloudsurfer given the unique technologies On uses. The Cloudsurfer feels like a lighter, softer, more flexible, yet less stable, Cloudstratus to me.
Outside of On's lineup, the Skechers Ride 10 and ASICS Novablast 3 are other neutral daily trainers that provide a lightweight ride with a comfortably soft underfoot feel. The Cloudsurfer feels softer than both those options, and the overall construction is more comfortable than the Skechers Ride 10. The Novablast is more responsive and versatile because of its energy return. What works best for you will depend on your training needs, but all three are good options."
Kaleb: "There is one shoe, and one shoe only, that comes when comparing the Cloudsurfer to other shoes, and that is the HOKA Clifton. Both shoes are relatively lightweight, with moderate to high stack heights. Furthermore, both shoes are soft, comfort-minded cruisers that excel on daily and long runs. The Clifton has a few more millimeters of stack and is slightly better equipped to handle your longest runs, but the Cloudsurfer, at least out of the box, felt springier.
That said, I have tested both shoes, and the initial pop from both midsoles loses some of its liveliness after 20 to 30 miles. This is not to say that these shoes do not remain fun and comfortable on the run, because they do, but both models focus on protection and making the run easier versus faster.
The Cloudsurfer distinguishes itself with its style, and I would recommend this shoe over the Clifton, especially if the style is something important to you in your decision-making process. That said, the Cloudsurfer has a higher price point."
Individual Thoughts
RisaOverall Score: 9/10
I thought I would like the Cloudsurfer, but I did not expect to love it, and it has become one of my favorite shoes! The other On shoes I have tested in the past were good-looking but firm underfoot and not my first choice for running.
The Cloudsurfer is an entirely different offering that I do not feel like we have seen from On yet, and it makes me excited to see what else On will be coming out with moving forward. The Cloudsurfer is super soft, lightweight, and yes, it is still very stylish. It truly provides everything I want in a daily trainer. Without a doubt, this is a shoe I will be grabbing for travel and athleisure, in addition to running. If you are looking for a comfortable shoe for cruising through your daily mileage, then do not sleep on the Cloudsurfer.
KaitlinOverall Score: 9/10
Overall, the Cloudsurfer's fit was true to size, but the toe box was noticeably snug for me, and my toes remained a little tender after long runs. In terms of ride, I love this shoe, and there are not a lot of models on the market that feel this lightweight and soft and still provide substantial protection for daily mileage.
Both the Cloudsurfer and Cloudstratus have become my favorite daily training shoes, and both deserve the hype. I do want to note that in wet, rainy conditions, the Cloudsurfer does not take on water well. It feels like the membrane gets a little saturated, leading to the midsole making some really funny sounds when you run. Typically, I would not have to worry about this, but with the very wet spring we have had here in California, getting wet was not always avoidable.
KalebOverall Score: 8.5/10
Compared to other On shoes, the Cloudsurfer is by far my favorite. It feels nothing like other On shoes to hit the market previously, which featured a relatively harsh speed board in the midsole that did not provide me with the protection I needed for daily training runs. The Cloudsurfer has ditched the speed, making way for On's new CloudTec Phase technology to shine through.
As mentioned, the midsole is plush with a slight vigor that keeps things light and bouncy while running at slower paces. Furthermore, the midsole is highly protective and will keep you comfortable on short daily runs and long efforts. Adding to the experience was a comfortable, lightweight upper that did not cause any irritation, almost disappearing on foot once I settled into my runs.
The only concerns I have are in terms of durability and stability. The super soft midsole may not be the best for those who struggle with overpronating, and there are more inherently stable neutral trainers. Also, with a large amount of exposed foam underfoot, I worry that the Cloudsurfer is not the most durable. Regardless, this is On's best shoe yet, in my opinion (still hoping to try the Cloudmonster at some point), and if you are a fan of the brand or have been thinking of trying them out for the first time, then I recommend the Cloudsurfer.
On Men's Cloudsurfer
The On Cloudsurfer is a snappy, fast-feeling running shoe built with premium materials. It is versatile enough for daily training and uptempo runs. The Cloudsurfer is designed for a neutral or supinated foot motion.
On Women's Cloudsurfer
The On Cloudsurfer is a snappy, fast-feeling running shoe built with premium materials. It is versatile enough for daily training and uptempo runs. The Cloudsurfer is designed for a neutral or supinated foot motion.
