These are three of On Cloud’s best walking shoes. Each one provides different characteristics, different types of cushioning, and a slightly different fit, so they feel different when you walk or stand in them.
On Cloudsurfer 7
The first shoe that we’re going to talk about is the On Cloudsurfer 7. It has a slightly atypical look compared to the shoe you might normally see in the shop, as it has a progressive rocker on both the heel and the forefoot. As you can see, the heel and forefoot curve upward, allowing the shoe to rock back and forth. This is really helpful if you’re looking to propulse forward. It helps with a nice, snappy walk and gives you a nice bit of bounce as you walk. So if you’re a quick walker who likes to move fast, this can be an excellent shoe.
It has some downsides, which we’ll touch on in a moment. First, let’s talk about the amount of cushioning in the shoe. So, the stack height at the rearfoot is 32mm, and at the forefoot, it’s 22mm, providing a difference of 10mm in heel drop. So that’s the difference from the back to the front of the shoe. Some people might find that the rocker surface is slightly unusual compared to what they are used to. We would say the shoe is really useful if you’re looking for a super lightweight shoe as it comes in at 245g, probably one of the lightest premium shoes on the market at this price point for everyday wear.
The fit on top is a true size, so you don’t need to alter it up or down. It has plenty of width throughout the shoe and is relatively roomy in the toebox, which is slightly unusual for the On Cloud brand. Some people might not like the design that goes across the laces on the top, it has a nice padded tongue on top that’s gusseted, so it’s stitched in, so it doesn’t move from side to side and it has a really nice and cushioned and padded around around the heel counter.
This is a shoe that we definitely classified as a neutral shoe. It doesn’t have a huge amount of support and has few sidewalls on either side, but it doesn’t negate the fact that you have such a rocker on the shoe, and if you look at it compared to the other shoes, it’s really progressive, and it really helps with that walking gait
On Cloudmonster 2
Then, in complete contrast to that, you’ve got the On Cloudmonster 2. It is a premium maximalist shoe with 35mm of stack height in the rearfoot and 29 mm of cushion in the forefoot, giving you a 6mm drop. It comes in at the heaviest of all 3 shoes at 295g in a men’s 9 US, and the cushion itself comprises On Cloud’s Helion cushioning. It’s a dual-density midsole with a TPU plate running through it. The TPU plate differs from a carbon fibre plate but stiffens the shoe similarly, so it’s hard to bend, especially in the toe box.
In terms of the rocker on the shoe, it has a slightly different profile than what you get in the Cloudsurfer, so it has a mild rocker on the heel and a moderate rocker on the forefoot, so not as much of that snap forward as what you’d experience in the Cloudsurfer. Still, it gives you a little push-through as you get to that late gait cycle phase. However, if you’re looking for ultra comfort and you’re someone who stands all day or walks for long periods of time and spends a lot of time on their feet, this could be an excellent shoe for you.
Regarding cushioning and support, sidewalls on the medial and lateral sides of the heel cradle the foot to give you that extra bit of comfort. It has an engineered mesh on top with lots of space in the toolbox, similar to what you find in the Cloudsurfer. It has a very thin tongue, slightly different from what you get in the padded tongue of Cloudsurfer and Cloudrunner. The tongue is gusseted, so it doesn’t move side to side, but we did find that when you lock down the laces, it can be a little bit tight or cause a little bit of compression on the front of your foot. Some people might find this uncomfortable.
It has a little padding on the heel counter, similar to what you’d find in the Cloudsurfer. It’s a bit more unstable on the heel cup, so it can move from side to side easily, whereas it’s a bit more stable in the Cloudrunner 2, which we’ll talk to you about now. So, overall, Cloud Monster 2 is best for people who spend a lot of time on their feet and want lots of firm cushioning and padding underneath them. It’s a super comfortable shoe and one that we’d highly recommend.
On Cloudrunner 2
Finally, we have the Cloudrunner 2. This is one of On Clouds’ mild stability shoes. It has quite a big stack on the rear foot, so it’s 39mm, and then 29 mm on the forefoot, providing a 10mm drop. It weighs around 277g in a men’s size 9 US, between the Cloudsurfer and Cloudmonster 2 in weight. In terms of the cushioning, it’s relatively firm, so its moderate cushioning gives you a little bit of bounce back.
It has a mild forefoot rocker but nowhere near as aggressive as the Cloudsurfer. So, as you can see in our video, it’s quite a stable shoe. It is a normal-width shoe relative to the normal On Cloud fit. So, if you have a normal-sized foot, it should be fine, but if you have a slightly wider foot, you might look at the wider option in the Cloudrunner 2.
It has engineered mesh on top, nice locked-down lace, plenty of padding on the gusseted tongue, and lots of cushioning around the relatively stiff heel counter, making it difficult to move from side to side.
Verdict
So if you’re looking for more of an allrounder that’s got a high stack, so 10mm compared to 6mm in the Cloudmonster 2, that’s got moderate stability, nice and comfortable that is an all-rounder for day-to-day activities, then we choose the CloudRunner 2.
If you’re looking for a shoe for quicker walks, we’d recommend the Cloudsurfer 2, and if you’re looking for premium comfort and are happy to sacrifice the weight in return for that, then we’d recommend the Cloudmonster 2.
Our archives have plenty more reviews on all types of walking shoes.
