Thanks to their sleek styling and the success of sponsored athletes like Hellen Obiri —?who just won the Boston Marathon for the second consecutive time — On running shoes have made a serious dent in the running market in an impressively short amount of time. The Swiss sneaker brand has been gaining ground on industry institutions like Nike and kicked off the 2024 financial year with record sales, surpassing $500 million in sales in a single quarter for the first time.
On’s running shoes are defined by two foundational design elements. The first is their CloudTec technology, aka the linked “clouds” or pods underfoot. These pods compress when your foot hits the ground to absorb shock, then bounce back into shape to propel you forward as your foot pushes off the ground. The second element is the Speedboard, a rigid plate in the midsole of each shoe. On can change the material, shape, thickness and curve of that plate depending on whether the priority of the shoe is comfort, speed or something in between.
How On pairs CloudTec with different Speedboard designs and midsole foams optimizes each shoe for different training purposes, and the 13-year-old company already has a versatile lineup of styles. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to On running shoes, these are the most popular options.
Best On running shoes
On Cloudrunner 2
The Cloudrunner is the most affordable running style from On. The newest version of this women’s daily trainer upgrades the midsole to the brand’s new Helion superfoam, which offers lots of energy return (or bounce), with a mild rocker shape to further help you spring forward into every step.
A durable TPU heel clip — essentially a hardened piece of plastic — wraps around the sides of the Cloudrunner 2 men’s shoe to lock your foot in place and help you better control the 31 millimeters of foam underfoot. Just keep in mind that On’s foam skews toward the firmer end of the spectrum, so when On says a shoe offers “cushioned support,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it will feel soft.
On Cloudflyer 4
If you put the Cloudflyer next to the Cloudrunner, you can see that the former has chunkier CloudTec pods and a more exaggerated rocker, both of which can help you run more efficiently while racking up more miles. It won’t be the speediest shoe; the Cloudflyer weighs 257 grams (or just over 9 ounces), despite using the brand’s lightweight Zero-Gravity foam in lieu of the new Helion superfoam.
A wider base, firmer side panels, molded sock liner and higher heel collar all make for a super-stable stride as the miles tick by, and the unique, star-shaped lacing system of the Cloudflyer 4 helps relieve pressure at the top of the foot for long-term comfort.?
On Cloudmonster 2
The OG Cloudmonster was On’s first foray into maximal cushioning, and you can see that intention in the biggest CloudTec pods you’ll find on any of their running shoes. With dual-density Helion midsoles — meaning two layers of foam sandwiching the nylon-blend Speedboard — these shoes manage to be a little softer and better at absorbing impact than the previously mentioned daily trainers, without sacrificing stability or forward momentum.
Yes, this men’s shoe is maximally cushioned, but that still doesn’t mean it’s soft. (On shoes are almost always firmer than most competitors.) It does make them more versatile daily trainers, however, which may justify the slightly higher price.?
On Cloudeclipse
The Cloudmonster was so popular, On took the maximalist approach even further. The Cloudeclipse combine a double layer of CloudTec Phase cushioning with Helion Superfoam for an even thicker midsole and softer cushioning. On the Cloudeclipse, the midsole cutouts are angled so they more naturally collapse as your foot hits the ground and then rebound to propel you forward as your foot rolls toward push-off.?
The lack of a traditional Speedboard on the Cloudeclipse may be to thank for the more natural feeling of these double-layered shoes. Instead, they come with a piece of flexible plastic on the bottom, which allows for a much less rigid feel than the brand’s other styles.?
On Cloudneo
Sustainability has always been a part of On’s DNA (all the shoes on this list use some percentage of recyclable materials), but the Cloudneo — a high-performance shoe designed for speed — takes that approach to a new level. They're made of 90% recyclable and over 50% bio-based materials. Instead of a one-time cost, buyers pay $30 a month and can send their old pair back after six months in exchange for a new pair; that math works out to $180 per pair, a similar price to other performance shoes.
With recyclable material and more than half of the shoe crafted from bio-based materials, these men’s Cloudneo shoes can be exchanged every six months for a new pair. On then recycles the raw materials — over 50% of the Cloudneo is derived from castor beans — into the next generation of shoes.
On Cloudmonster Hyper
On’s latest release capitalizes on the super-trainer trend (in which race-day technology trickles down to everyday running shoes). The Cloudmonster Hyper are maximally cushioned, just like the two shoes listed above, but they’re slightly lighter and feature a new Pebax-based superfoam called Helion HF hyper foam, which sits atop the standard CloudTec cushioning and is used in lieu of a Speedboard to better absorb impact and promote bounce.
Is this new Cloudmonster Hyper men’s super trainer really a super shoe in that it could also work for race day? Probably not — they're a little too heavy — but that combo makes them great for racking up daily volume and for long runs, and they're by far the softest and most responsive trainer from On.?
On Cloudboom Echo 3
If you couldn’t tell by the price tag, the Cloudboom Echo 3 is On’s high-performance race-day shoe. Every element of this shoe is designed with performance in mind, from its weight — a scant 188 grams (or 6.6 ounces) — to the carbon Speedboard with an aggressive rocker shape to propel you forward, to the fusion of CloudTec and Helion HF hyper foam that maximizes energy return.
Looking for a solid race-day shoe? You get everything you need with the Cloudboom Echo 3, including silicone inserts on the laces and insoles to guarantee your feet stay locked in place. This aren’t the racing shoes for everyone, though; they are extremely firm, have a narrow platform (which can compromise stability) and tends to work best at faster paces.
Best On trail-running shoes
On Cloudvista
The Cloudvista are specifically engineered to soften the feeling of running on hard-packed dirt for short- or middle-distance outings. They're one of the company’s lightest trail runners, combining CloudTec with Helion superfoam for just enough cushioning without adding extra heft.
The closed outsole on the Cloudvista means you won’t pick up any rocks on your journey, and the Missiongrip traction ensures your footing stays solid on uneven surfaces. The best part: The shoe is designed to seamlessly move from road to trail, so you get a two-for-one deal at one of On’s more budget-friendly price points.?
On Cloudsurfer Trail
Tackle new terrain in comfort wearing the Cloudsurfer Trail. Similar to the Cloudeclipse, these shoes have angled CloudTec pods for a more responsive ride, paired with Helion superfoam and soft padding at the heels for better shock absorption. There are no rigid Speedboards here, so you get a softer, smoother experience underfoot, even when you’re navigating tricky rocks and roots or dealing with other obstacles.
Both responsive and super well-cushioned, these men’s Cloudsurfer Trail shoes have more strategic lug patterns on the Missiongrip rubber outsoles to dig into challenging surfaces, wet or dry, and are small enough that stones won’t get stuck. (P.S. If you really like the sound of this shoe, there’s also a road version.)
On Cloudventure Peak 3
If you’re looking to max out your speed on the trails, these minimalist racing shoes are your best bet. They’re On’s lightest trail shoes, and they’re tricked out with all kinds of high-performing tech. Instead of full-length carbon Speedboards, like you’d find in the Cloudboom Echo 3, the Cloudventure Peak 3 have two-pronged Speedboards that are made of 30% carbon and injected TPU, which — along with the multidirectional lugs — allows for agility and stability on uneven ground.
Nope, you won’t find any CloudTec pods under the forefoot of these Cloudventure Peak 3 men’s shoes. Instead, a minimal amount of cushioning keeps your foot close to the ground to further maximize agility and forward momentum.?
