On Cloudstratus 2.0 Review: The Best On Shoe Yet?
By Chief Editor Matt Klein and Guest Reviewer Ryan Flugaur
On Running is known for developing high quality shoes and apparel with very unique designs. Their cloud based cushioning technology is on the firmer side, which when paired with their speedboards/plates makes for snappier shoes with great ground feel. The previous version of the Cloudstratus was a shoe we did not review, but tried in store. It had a very firm ride for such a high stack height shoe. The 2021 version of the On Cloudstratus returns with a reworked Helion foam that provides the softest ride of any On shoe we have tried thus far. Still a firmer max stack height shoe, the On Cloudstratus 2.0 blends the firmer riding clouds with slightly softer ride while retaining the incredibly well done upper seen for years.
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| On Cloudstratus 2 in hand. A dark blue upper with a red external heel counter. Pods through midsole highlight the helion foam. The 2021 version of the shoe features a redialing of the foam which has us excited. |
On Running Cloudstratus
Price: $169.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.4 oz / 295g (men's size 9) 8.6 oz / 244g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 36 mm / 28 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Classification: Maximal Daily Trainer
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| Medial side of the On Cloudstratus 2. A bit of flexibility seen in the upper of the forefoot where there's slight wrinkling. |
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The On Cloudstratus returns as a max stack height training shoe for long miles on the road. Featuring a reworked Helion foam that runs firm, but softer than the previous version, the rockered ride and speed board provide an efficient ride. The upper is incredibly comfortable, featuring plenty of room in the toebox and more volume throughout the length of the shoe. My go to sockless shoe right now for both running and casual wear, the On Cloudstratus is best for those who want a comfortable upper combined with solid protection while retaining good ground feel.
Ryan: A
Stratus cloud is characterized by its flat, hazy, and gray appearance
and typically seen at low altitude. The word stratus comes from the
Latin word strato meaning layer. This is an accurate name for the On
Cloudstratus 2.0, as it features two layers of Helion enriched CloudTec
foam for maximum cushioning.
The
On Cloudstratus 2.0 is a highly cushioned, long distance, neutral shoe
made for five mile runs all the way up to marathon distance. I was pleasantly surprised with the ride as
it was much softer than expected and I had no problems knocking out a
16 mile run in this highly cushioned shoe. The fit is
much wider than many of the shoes I have run in this year which
sometimes resulted in more motion in the forefoot than I would have
preferred. I enjoyed the subtle details On added with its unique
star-lacing system, sock liner, and high quality materials. The
Cloudstratus 2.0 is one of my favorite looking running shoes and upon
further examination, it is apparent that On workmanship is top of the
line.
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| Top down view of the Cloudstratus upper. A star lacing system seen which helps tighten the lockdown well. |
FIT (LENGTH / WIDTH / COMFORT)
Matt: The On Cloudstratus 2.0 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The On Cloudstratus is a fairly high volume shoe. The heel fits normal to slightly wide, the midfoot fits wider and the forefoot is on the wider side. I had to really tighten the laces down at the midfoot to lock the shoe in, but had no heel slippage as the high heel collar and external heel counter locked my heel in well. Tightening the laces down in the midfoot works well as the star lacing system wraps that area well. The lace connections at the forefoot respond less well as they pull and cause the forefoot upper to crease. This created some abnormal bending points at the upper that fortunately did not bother me. The heel counter did not bother me at all as it is more external and there is plenty of padding. It did lock my heel in very well and stabilized the rearfoot. The inner liner of the upper is very soft and is comfortable against bare skin. I have worn this shoe sockless for up to 8 miles without issue. Overall the upper fits comfortably with a higher volume/wider fit while still providing security.
Ryan: The
Cloudstratus 2.0 fits me true to size length wise, however, I found the
width of the mid and forefoot to be much wider than normal. I typically
enjoy a wider toe box but even the Cloudstratus 2.0 felt as though it
offered too much space. On occasion, my toes would slip around the toe
box, especially at faster paces. The Cloudstratus 2.0 offers a unique
star-lacing system which may help to snug up the toe box for some
runners. This system provides loops over the dorsum of the foot and when
the laces are tightened, the upper is pulled taught over the toe box
providing a more conforming fit. This allows the fit to become
personalized for the runner and may benefit individuals that may have
slightly different foot sizes or widths as they would be able to tighten
up one shoe while keeping the other loose. I found the star-lacing
system to be intuitive and had no complaints with it. The tongue is
attached to the shoe by an inner sock that I found extremely
comfortable. The heel felt secure with the help of an external heel
counter that wraps around the posterior of the shoe and anchors into the
sidewall to add guidance without feeling too restrictive.
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| Heel of the Cloudstraus. Helion written on foam. Minor On logo on red heel counter. |
PERFORMANCE (RIDE / SPEED)
Matt: The On Cloudstratus 2.0 is a max stack height in theory, but performs as a firmer shoe in typical On Running fashion. Rather than a solid midsole, the On Cloudstratus 2.0 uses 2 layers of their "clouds", which provide a unique cushioning experience. There is a significant guidance line that runs through the center of the midsole from the heel through the midfoot. This splits the clouds into two separate layers of cloud with each one on the medial and lateral sides separately. The heel is beveled, with more of the curve on the lateral row of "clouds." The forefoot does not have a split and has smaller clouds.
The Helion used is softer than previous, but with the design and less midsole present with the split, the ride is still firmer than other shoes with this much stack height. There is toe spring at the forefoot, which combined with the heel bevel and Speedboard creates a rockered sole. The Speed Board sits under the foot, adding to the firmer feel. It has some stiffness to it, but is not rigid. There is still some flex through the forefoot, although the midsole thickness and Speedboard stiffen up the heel and midfoot a decent amount. The rockered ride made me not notice the 8 mm heel drop and even makes the shoe feel slightly lower than that. Use wise this shoe is best for road miles and well groomed trails for medium length runs for most.
The Cloudstratus 2.0 is still not appropriate for rocky trails as rocks continue to get stuck in the guidance line. Those who like firmer rides will have no trouble using this shoe for long miles, recovery runs and getting miles in. The ride is rockered as mentioned and feels best when you get into a rhythm working with the rocker and Speed Board. It is not great for trying to pick up the pace as it is a little heavy for fast efforts. Instead, it works better on normal pace runs as a daily trainer or as an efficient firmer shoe for long runs. The durability is decent with some initial wear only at the posterior lateral heel. I have not worn through the outsole yet, so am expecting a fairly average number of miles out of these.
Ryan: The
Cloudstratus 2.0 performs well when transitioning from initial contact
to midfoot and feels smooth when adding up miles on my longer runs. I
will admit that when picking up the pace during a tempo or workout run,
the Cloudstatus 2.0 felt a bit clunky as the Helion foam compressed on
impact and noticeably slowed the natural progression from the heel to
ankle rocker. This was not an issue on slower runs which this shoe is
best designed for. The midsole is attached to what On calls the
Speedboard which I will discuss in detail later. The Speedboard is a
fairly flexible plastic material plate that offers a small amount of
flex from transition of initial contact to toe off. Despite the toe
spring and the speed board, I never felt the Cloudstratus 2.0 propel me
forward like with other rocker shoes as in the Asics guidsole
technology. This may be due to the fact that the Helion foam compresses
and flexes a significant amount each step.
When running and walking in
the Cloudstratus 2.0 I was able to visually see the Helion foam compress
foam as the holes in the foam collapsed. This never led to any feeling
of instability which I was a bit worried about when looking over the
construction of the shoe. The tread on the outsole provides good
traction on a variety of running surfaces ranging from dry and wet
pavement to gravel trails. I have around 80 miles on the Cloudstratus
and they continue to display very little wear. I anticipate these shoes
will last well over 250 miles for most runners.
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| Outsole of the On Cloudstratus held to a wall. Large groove seen from heel to midfoot showing speed board. Strategic rubber around parameter of the shoe. Medial side exposed. |
STABILITY
Matt: The On Cloudstratus 2.0 is technically a neutral shoe, but there are many elements intentionally added for stability. The heel counter is asymmetrical, with a slightly larger and farther forward reaching medial side. This provides gentle guidance at heel strike, working with the posterior lateral bevel that guides the foot in laterally at that contact (if you land there). The Speedboard sitting under the foot firms up the ride and adds mild resistance to motion side to side. The guidance line through the heel and midfoot keep motion more centered from initial contact through midstance. There are also mild midsole elevations/guiderails in the posterior midfoot and anterior heel that may provide some subtle guidance forward. The wider last/shape, particularly in the forefoot provides inherent stability particularly with toe off. Overall, there are many subtle methods for stability, but none are overt enough to cause problems. This shoe will work well for those with neutral to mild stability needs over long mileage or anyone who wants a stable shoe without typical methods of stability.
Ryan: For
being a neutral trainer, the Cloudstratus 2.0, felt stable throughout
my runs despite the unique Helion foam hole construction which I was
expecting to be more unstable. This may be due to a couple reasons.
First, the holes are engineered in a way that places more dense foam
over the midline of the shoe, where there is likely to be more body
weight, thus helping to limit the compression. The second reason is that
the surface area of the Speedboard resting on top of the foam may
better help disperse the load of impact throughout the entire shoe.
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| Forefoot of the On Cloudstratus. OC logo on midfoot.Open mesh upper seen. |
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
Ryan: On
states that the speedboard used in the Cloudstratus 2.0 results in “big
energy return”. By this statement, I assume On is meaning that upon
initial contact, energy will be transferred to the speedboard and then
returned back to the runner with push off, similar to how a diving board
works. Can this speedboard truly accomplish this goal? From previous
studies we know that running economy can be altered by a range of shoe
characteristics including, shoe mass, cushioning, comfort and shoe
stiffness. The speedboard, like other plates, helps to stiffen the sole
with the goal of storing energy from initial contact and returning it
back during toe off. It is difficult to quantify something such as ,“big
energy return” and is typically performed by measuring secondary
factors such as running economy. From other studies by Ortega et al.
(2021) and Roy Et al. (2006), we understand that even a small increase
in energy return , around 1%, from the plate itself would be a generous
assumption to make. We also know that the placement of the plate may
affect the individual's running economy and that it may be
individualized for the runner. Another thing to consider when discussing
plate efficiency is the speed of the runner. Earlier, I mentioned how
the Cloudstratus 2.0 performed best at slower paced runs. Research done
by McLeod et al, (2019) showed that a high stiffness shoe displayed
optimal performance at faster running rates. This would mean the
speedboard would give minimal energy return to some runners while
offering no assistance to others based on their weight, running style,
speed, and other factors not related to the shoe itself.
Another
claim that On makes with the speedboard is that it offers increased
durability of the shoe. The Cloudstratus 2.0 is designed with a gap in
the Helion foam from the heel throughout the midfoot. The speedboard
sits on top of that foam helping to disperse the landing forces
throughout the entire surface of the foam. In theory, this may help to
improve the durability of the shoe but again this is a very difficult
thing to objectively measure.
As of right now, we are still
unsure of how plates truly impact different runners but we do know that
the plate itself is likely not the only factor that improves energy
return. This likely comes from a variety of shoe factors which may vary
between different runners and different shoes.
References:
McLeod,
Aubree & Hunter, Iain & Bruening, Dustin & Johnson, Aaron
& Remund, Kirk. (2019). Running shoe optimal stiffness and speed.
Footwear Science. 11. S207-S208. 10.1080/19424280.2019.1606336
Ortega,
J.A., Healey, L.A., Swinnen, W. et al. Energetics and Biomechanics of
Running Footwear with Increased Longitudinal Bending Stiffness: A
Narrative Review. Sports Med 51, 873–894 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01406-5
Roy
JP, Stefanyshyn DJ. Shoe midsole longitudinal bending stiffness and
running economy, joint energy, and EMG. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006
Mar;38(3):562-9. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000193562.22001.e8. PMID:
16540846.
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| Lateral heel side of the Cloudstratus. Moderately tall, modestly padded heel seen. Lightly padded tongue. |
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I appreciate all the unique methods added to create a stable shoe. However, for what this shoe is billed as, ie a maximal daily trainer, the ride could be much softer. Even for me, the ride is a little firm for long miles and can be a bit harsh during warm up. Once my body gets moving it is fine, but starts to feel a little harsh after 12-15 miles. I would suggest softening the durometer of the midsole to provide a little more sense of cushioning just to take the edge off. The shoe may also feel softer if the speed board was lowered a bit more into the midsole so it is easier to feel the Helion foam.
Ryan: The Cloudstratus
2.0 offers a significant amount of space throughout the mid and forefoot.
When looking over On’s website, it clearly states that it was designed
for individuals with wider feet. My only recommendation would be to
decrease the toe box volume. However, seeing as On clearly states who
the target audience for the shoe is, I feel that the width of the shoe
was On’s goal and it should be used to help benefit those runners that
prefer a wider shoe.
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| On Cloudstratus 2 hiding in a bush. |
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)
Matt: The On Cloudstratus 2.0 is a firmer maximal shoe for those wanting an efficient ride with a wider/higher volume fit for long miles. The upper is incredibly comfortable, with a well designed external heel counter and a comfortable inner liner that works well for sockless running. The fit is on the wider/higher volume side, although the laces do tighten up the midfoot well if needed. The double layer of Cloudtec provide protection, although the ride is still on the firmer side for such a high stack height shoe. The rocker combined with the Speedboard creates an efficient roll through the gait cycle, so once you get into a rhythm the shoe is comfortable. There are many subtle methods of stability that create a stable shoe here that will work well for those sensitive to traditional stability methods or anything too overt. Overall the On Cloudstratus 2.0 will work as a protective daily trainer for those wanting to get a large number of miles in a higher volume shoe with a firmer ride.
Ryan: The On Cloudstratus
is a maximum cushioned neutral shoe made for longer distance runs or
more time on your feet. The width of the shoe makes the Cloudstratus 2.0
best suited for runners that have wider feet and prefer more room. This
was my first time running in an On shoe and I really enjoyed the ride.
The Cloudstratus reminds us that marketing may not be representative of
all runners and we must continue to follow the research and what we
truly know. I will continue to run in On footwear as I enjoy the fine
details On adds to their footwear as they redesign footwear using their
CloudTec technology.
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| Wide lens look at the lateral side of the On Cloudstratus 2 |
GRADING (SHOE CATEGORY)
Matt
Fit: A- (Great fit with adjustable, but higher volume. Tightening down laces does crease the forefoot though)
Performance: B- (Firmer, efficient ride. Decent rocker while maintaining some flexibility in the forefoot. Firmer than expected for so much stack height. Best for mileage for those who want protection but like a firmer ride)
Stability: A (Stable ride for a neutral shoe. A variety of well executed, but subtle methods)
DPT/Footwear Science: A- (Excellent design in regards to asymmetrical heel counter, guidance line, heel bevel geometry and Speedboard. However, the ride is firmer than expected, particularly with initial step which may turn people away).
Personal: B (I love wearing this shoe in clinic and for shorter sockless runs. However, the firmer ride, lower responsiveness and weight make it difficult for me to reach for this shoe for the majority of my miles)
Overall: B+ (A protective, rockered, firmer maximal shoe for those who want to still maintain some ground feel with a higher volume fit.
Ryan
Fit: B+ (The
forefoot and toe box fit on the wider side. The lacing system helps to
lock the foot down but the toes on occasion may feel sloppy for runners
with narrow feet)
Performance: A- (Smooth and easy rolling. A bit of the firm side, but moves so well for daily mileage)
Stability: A- (As a neutral shoe, the Cloudstratus offers a fairly stable ride thanks to smart engineering)
DPT/Footwear Science: A- (On
is an innovative company working to find new ways to improve their
footwear. The combination of the Helion foam with the speedboard helps
to provides a stable yet highly cushioned ride)
Personal: B+ (I
really enjoyed running in the Cloudstratus. I mainly used it during my
long runs 8 miles plus and it held up very well. My main dislike was the
large width and overall volume of the shoe that occasionally felt
sloppy.)
Overall: B+ (Overall, a good daily trainer that offers a stable ride with a large amount of cushion)
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
*On Running Cloudstratus
Price: $169.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
Compare with Other Long Range Cruisers
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TESTER PROFILES:
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Ryan Flugaur, PT, DPT, TPI Certified
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Dr. Flugaur began running four years ago when he was looking for a change to his current exercise program of body building. He continues to do some light strength training but running has become his true form of exercise to stay healthy. He has met some great friends through running and loves the camaraderie that the running community brings. He typically runs 20-40 miles a week depending on his training schedule. Dr. Flugaur lives in Wisconsin with his wife Olivia and 2 kids, Lucy and Jack. When not running he enjoys mountain biking, fat biking in the snow, camping, and cheering on the badgers, brewers, and bucks. PRs Include: 5K:20:05 (2021), 10 K: 43:36 (2021), Half-Marathon 1:42:22 (2021)
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