On Cloudgo: Continuing On the Right Path
By Matthew Klein, David Salas and Bach Pham
The On Cloudgo marks a bit of a transition for the Swiss running company. Pinned as their new benchmark beginner shoe, it features one of the softer rides in the company's arsenal and an accommodating, almost fully recyclable upper. It's a bit of a convergence of two goals they seem to be working towards this year, softening their historically firmer rides both here and with the introduction of their new Cloudmonster, while also blending in subtly their push towards sustainability.
On CloudgoPrice: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.99 oz, 255 g (men's size 9), 7.76 oz, 220 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: Not Provided
Drop: 11mm
Classification: Lightweight Daily Trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The On Cloudgo is a neutral, lightweight trainer with a well-cushioned ride. A redone Helion midsole provides a softer and more compliant feel underfoot. The flexible TPU Speedboard is almost not noticeable, providing a ride best for easy miles and daily training. An extremely comfortable upper provides a normal fit except for a more snug forefoot. Continuing to improve on providing a "cloud-like" experience, the On Cloudgo provides a neutral cushioned ride for those with normal-width feet wanting a shoe that does equally well for training as it does for casual wear.
David: The On Cloudgo is a lightweight daily trainer that brings a unique shoe to the On line. Most of the On models to this point have all had a noticeably firm Speedboard, or plastic plate throughout. The On Cloudgo changes this with a softer and more flexible TPU Speedboard. It also brings a gently rockered geometry with their Cloudtec foam across the full length. This a neutral daily trainer that provides a smooth ride throughout with no major frills, but a pleasant experience.
Bach: The Cloudgo is a neutral daily trainer that leans on the lighter side. It bridges an important gap in the On Running line-up by providing a neutral-leaning, beginner-friendly model alongside their new stable neutral Cloudrunner model. The Cloudgo features a 90% recycled materials upper and Cloudtec cushioning using their latest design that's brought them a good amount of success with models like the Cloudmonster and Cloudultra. For those looking for a no-frills cruiser for everyday miles, especially newcomers who are trying to find a comfortable shoe to get started with at their local run retail store, the Cloudgo could be a model on many's shortlist.
SIMILAR SHOES: ASICS EvoRide 3, Mizuno Wave Rider 25
FIT
Matt: The On Cloudgo fits me true to size in my normal US Men's size 10. The upper material is a thicker mesh that provides a slighlty warmer feel. The internal aspect of the upper is seamless and provides an incredibly comfortable against skin feel. Those looking for a shoe to wear sockless should consider the Cloudgo. The width is normal in the heel and midfoot while being snug in the forefoot. The forefoot tapers somewhat but the mesh does stretch and provide room. The thicker mesh offsets the width in the midfoot, although I still had to tighten the laces. The laces do come down fairly low and it does cause some mild pressure on the top of my metatarsophalangeal joints (toe joints). This has gone away with time, but some may want to consider relacing that last lace strap. The tongue is moderately thick, not gusseted, but secured by the laces. I had a little tongue slippage on longer efforts, but it was not noticeable.
The heel has a large amount of padding and a flexible heel counter. The counter has not given me any issues although those with sensitivities should approach with mild caution. Despite having a normal width, I did not have to lace lock the shoe for security. The external overlays seem to do a great job of locking the foot down without extra pressure (minus tightening the laces a little). Overall this is a comfortable and slightly thicker upper.
David: The CloudGo fits true to size in my Men's 9.5. The mesh material is a tad thicker throughout and provides a daily to premium trainer type upper. Everything is a little more plush throughout including the tongue. This does not sacrifice breathability though. Though a little thicker I did not have any problems with breathability. Lockdown throughout is pretty good and the padded tongue lets you lock things down quite well. The length is true to size if not a tiny bit long. The width is normal in the heel, midfoot, and forefoot. I wouldn't classify any specific region of this shoe wide or narrow. The heel counter does have some padding around it and provided no irritation.
Overall, I am very happy with the upper. There is some light external overlay throughout as well that seems to hold the structure of the upper as well. Could the upper be a little thinner? Sure. I am really pleased with it's dimensions and lock down ability though.
Bach: The On CloudGo fits true to size in my Men's 9.5, though just a hair short. I didn't feel the need to size up, but did go with some slightly thinner socks. The upper is otherwise very comfortable and accommodating. There's a lot of room for your foot to go into the shoe. The laces do an adequate job of locking everything down once you are in. There is a partial rigid heel counter with a moderate amount of padding going up. The shoe did a nice job of locking my heel and just getting the job done. The fit is just nice throughout and the upper is comfortable and well-done. The breathability was fine and created no issues. The insole is well-padded and also removable. Unlike some On models I've tried, there's no noticeable arch support in the Cloudgo. It's a pretty flat bed throughout.
The On Cloudgo is a model a lot of people are going to be able to slide on and find a lot of comfort upfront in a good way.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The On Cloudgo provides a cushioned, rockered and lighter ride. This is the softest On midsole I have felt. Although it is supposedly still Helion, the midsole is compliant and softer. It compresses well but does not rebound a ton, providing a relaxed and comforting ride. The ride is rockered and slowly rolls you forward. The heel bevel is angled posterior lateral, providing a smooth transition at the rearfoot. There is a TPU Speedboard, but there is a more than average amount of flexibility at the foefoot. The heel bevel, forefoot flexibility and rocker provide a comfortable ride for easy and recovery miles. The foam does not respond fast enough to be used for harder efforts, but the lighter weight (9 oz men's size 9) adds to the easy ride. An 11mm drop is listed, but it does not feel like that. I would estimate it more at 7-8mm as it feels similar to other On running shoes. The durability has been okay. I have 30 miles on my pair and there is already some wear at the posterior lateral outsole lugs. I expect an average to slightly below average number of miles out of this shoe for a lightweight trainer. Overall, the On Cloudgo is a cushioned daily training shoe for easy efforts.
David: The On Cloudgo provided a pleasant experience for me. The gently rockered ride with a softer TPU Speedboard gives a nice flowy transition throughout with no frills. The experience for me was a very balanced ride throughout with mild to moderate flexibility up front in the forefoot when loaded. The softer and more flexible Speedboard makes the foam feel a little bit softer underfoot as well. The shoe still does lean on the firm side of the spectrum, but definitely much closer to the middle end of firm/soft than other On models. There is a lightly beveled heel and toe spring. The shoe feels like it lets you run your way. This is definitely a neutral shoe and does give some elements of previous "traditional" daily trainers. The shoe provides a natural ride with smooth transitions throughout. The shoe does not come off as overly bouncy or responsive initially. In some ways the ride is really smooth but a little boring. That's what I like about it. The shoe is a nice shoe I can just fall into rhythm and get my daily miles in without worrying about pace. With that said, the shoe can actually respond decently well when you ask it to push. This to me gives me some resemblance of the Pegasus' of old or Adidas Boston's where you can daily train but push if you need to. This definitely leans on the daily trainer side of things though.
Bach: The Cloudgo is all about daily miles. The midsole itself is neither firm nor soft, sitting right in the middle. The new TPU Speedboard is far less present than the prior Speedboard, providing some rigidity in the heel and middle foot while leaving the forefoot fairly flexible. The shoe reminds me a little bit of a lower drop Mizuno Wave Rider 25 in that regard. The result is a shoe that is really built to provide protection underfoot and let you do the work. There's no real sense of firmness or softness through the ride, just a quiet, mildly rolling motion that lets you zone out. The shoe is listed at 11mm drop, but I honestly had no idea until I looked at the stat. It runs much more like a 6-8mm drop which is more traditional to On Running.
The shoe's less aggressive design makes it both better for daily miles and also a little less versatile for other activities like workouts. It doesn't feel super great picking up the pace as there's not a ton of response out of the shoe. I also didn't love the shoe for longer runs due to the midfoot being a bit compliant and causing my arch to be a little fatigued.
The outsole is a fairly smooth design that plays into the shoe's smooth ride. It does a fine job of gripping the road as needed. I took it on some grass and dirt road. It didn't respond really well on grass, but held up okay on dirt. This is definitely best a road shoe. Additionally, I have used this shoe for walking as well and it's been really great for running errands and daily walks due to the comfortable fit.
STABILITY
Matt: The On Cloudgo is a neutral shoe without any traditional elements of stability. There are small sidewalls in the midfoot on the medial and lateral sides. There is a strong central guidance line in the outsole of the shoe. The Speedboard is present, but it is TPU and provides more torsional ridigity at the rear and midfoot. The posterior lateral bevel does a great job of guiding the foot in and slowing down motion. Combined with the rolling ride, the On Cloudgo manages to keep you going mostly straight. This is not a stability or stable neutral shoe, but it is a neutral shoe that is not unstable.
David: The CloudGo is a neutral daily training shoe and does not have any specific stability elements. Some things it does pretty well is that it provides good upper security and lockdown, as well as decent sidewall integration. The traction underfoot is decent and will get you through most situations you ask of the shoe. The ride of the shoe is certainly neutral though.
Bach: The Cloudgo is interesting in that it is a small departure from prior On models which had a lot of inherent stability through the firmer Speedboard. The soft TPU Speedboard here is far less present and led to me feeling my medial flat arch a bit more on long efforts. I had no issues with most daily runs under an hour though. The traditional elements of On still do a nice job creating some stability elements in this neutral shoe. There's a lot of guidance between the mild rocker and deep guidance line underfoot which does a really excellent job of propelling you forward. The upper also has really good security throughout. I think most runners not needing intense stability will find this more than capable for their everyday runs.
BREAKING DOWN THE ON RUNNING LINE
The On Running line can be a little confusing for newcomers as many visually look similar. With the introduction of the Cloudgo, we thought this would be a good time to break down their current line-up. To learn more about each shoe, click the shoe title to find our review of the latest model.
Neutral On Running Shoes
On Cloudflow (lightweight daily trainer) - Their original entry-point shoe, a lightweight shoe that's one of the most versatile in the lineup for those who like a lot of ground feel and minimal upper.
On Cloudgo (daily trainer) - The Cloudgo sits in as the brand's best option for simple daily miles and as an introductory shoe to the brand.
On Cloudswift (lifestyle daily trainer) - The Cloudswift sits in the same playing field as the Adidas Ultraboost as a stylish, comfortable trainer for daily miles.
On Cloudstratus (midlevel cushioned daily trainer) - A higher level cushioned trainer from the Cloudgo and Cloudflow, but less cushioned than the Cloudmonster.
On Cloudmonster (maximum cushioned daily trainer) - The brand's most cushioned daily training option. Great for daily miles and long runs.
On Cloudboom Echo (racing shoe) - The brand's premier racing shoe for all distances.
Stability Shoes from On Running
On Cloudrunner (stable daily trainer) - The counterpart to the Cloudgo, the Cloudrunner has some slightly more resistant pods on the medial side which help provide a stable base.
On Cloudflyer (midlevel cushioned stability trainer) - The Flyer uses a lot of geometry in tandem with On's typical elements to create a wide, stable base that could work for many individuals.
On Cloudace (maximum cushioned stability trainer) - A unique max cushioned stability trainer. A super rigid heel counter, secure upper, wide base, and large pods help facilitate all the stability elements.
Trail Shoes from On Running
On Cloudvista (road to trail) - A very versatile trainer for road-to-trail running.
On Cloudventure Peak (lightweight trail) - A nimble trail shoe for tackling all-terrain.
On Cloudultra (max cushion trail racing) - Their premier ultra distance racing shoe for the trails.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: I have enjoyed the On Cloudgo as a relaxing daily training shoes. It was not quite stable enough for me to use for longer efforts but it was comfortable as a short to moderate distance training and casual shoe (they look great). My suggestions (as usual) are to consider adding some more width to the midfoot. This will provide a bit more guidance through that area so the sidewalls do not have to be increased. The posterior lateral bevel is excellent, but like Bach I would suggest a little more outsole reinforcement for durability. The upper is a little thick and that could be toned down given the extra warm it provides (which can be a little challenging in Southern California). I am incredibly impressed by the midsole and am excited On continues to move toward a true "cloud-like" feel. My last suggestion would be to continue to incorporate this midsole type into their other training shoes if they truly want to live up to their mantra.
David: I really enjoyed my experience in the On Cloudgo. My main recommendation would be to thin the upper just slightly. I like the way it secures the foot, but it does run a tad warmer than other shoes in the category. Otherwise, this is one of my favorite daily trainers of the year.
Bach: For the most part, my miles in the Cloudgo were a blur in the best way possible. My recommendation would be to actually just add rubber throughout for both durability and to add a touch more stability to the midfoot. I think On will only find ways to make the shoe softer. Adding a touch of rigidity back to the shoe would be nice to help balance things out. I think David is also on the right track with thinning out the upper a touch to keep things light, which the latest Cloudflow model does well.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The On Cloudgo is a softer, lighter, neutral daily training shoe for those who want a relaxed ride for easy miles. The upper will fit those with normal-width feet wanting a thicker and comfortable upper. The ride is soft (the softest On I have experienced), cushioned and responds slowly. This makes it excellent for recovery and easy miles with a lighter weight that makes keeping that pace feel like a breeze. The TPU Speedboard adds some rigidity in the heel and midfoot, while keeping the forefoot flexible and the ride neutral. A well-placed rocker helps the shoe roll forward, making the On Cloudgo the softest and smoothest On shoe yet.
David: The On Cloudgo is a neutral daily training shoe for someone that wants to have a nicely balanced training shoe without any sharp rockers or plates. The shoe reminds me a lot of the trainers of old, but still provides a little more softness than the older firm EVA models. The shoe has a gently rockered geometry with mild to moderate flexibility throughout. The TPU Speedboard is hardly noticeable at easy paces and gives you a touch of responsiveness at faster paces. This is a daily trainer that I can just settle into form and forget about everything else.
Bach: The Cloudgo is a neutral daily trainer for new runners and runners who want a simple piece of footwear that logs daily miles with no frills. It sits in the middle as far as cushioning goes, making it an option for anyone who is not thrilled about the softened midsole revolution or the shoes sitting on the extremer side of firm. It's the perfect rotational pair of shoe as well for those who want to have a shoe to pair with a speed day and long run shoe. This could be great with a Cloudflow or Cloudboom Echo alongside a Cloudmonster for those long efforts if you want to stay in brand, or something fun like an Endorphin Speed 3 and Triumph 20. The Cloudgo's simplicity makes it easy to build around, which is nice for runners who want to take things up a notch in their training.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B+/A- (Comfortable upper, slightly tapered forefoot but more width and strength in midfoot and heel. Slight creasing at forefoot but goes away with time)
Performance: B+ (Soft, relaxed ride with a surprising amount of forefoot flexibility for easy miles. Not super responsive but well cushioned)
Stability: B [Neutral] (Posterior lateral heel bevel, rockered sole and deep guidance line provide mild guidance. Mostly neutral ride with softer midsole and narrowed midfoot)
DPT/Footwear Science: B/B+ (On finally creates a softer midsole. However, this requires appropriate guidance, especially in the midfoot. New sole and flex grooves do provide forward motion, but will need a bit more to make it more versatile over longer distances)
Personal: B/B+ (Soft shoe for easy short to moderate mileage. Not versatile for me for longer and faster efforts, but extremely comfortable as a duel shorter run/casual shoe)
Overall: B+
David
Fit: A- (Good fit dimensions throughout, though upper is a tad thicker)
Performance: A (A little boring in the best way. Gently rockered ride with some flexibility that feels natural underfoot)
Stability: B+ (Certainly a neutral shoe, decent sidewall integration and upper security, ok traction)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (Nothing overly revolutionary here but good to a shoe go back to the basics)
Personal: A (A shoe I can forget about everything else and just log some smooth daily miles)
Overall: A-
Bach
Fit: A- (A lot of width throughout to accommodate some wider foot sizes while still locking down well. Feels a touch short)
Performance: B+ (Simple ride that feels effective for daily mileage. Lacks a little versatility)
Stability: B (Fairly neutral shoe with some stability elements, but midfoot is a bit weak over longer mileage)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (New design for On marks an interesting transition)
Personal: B/B+ (For cruising daily miles it does a great job, but for longer efforts or some faster work it is a little limited)
Overall: B+
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