On Cloudsurfer 2 Review
By David Salas and Andrea Myers
On Cloudsurfer 2Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.0 oz, 255g (men's size 9), 7.8 oz, 221g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 37 mm heel / 28 mm forefoot
Drop: 9 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Trainer
Pros: Durable build with a steady rocker, decent responsiveness for a training shoe
Cons: Toe spring and flexibility may cause some toe or forefoot irritation for those that are sensitive to that, expensive for a daily trainer
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a neutral daily training shoe focused on providing an effortless experience when you are running. The shoe does feature a rocker profile, with a more pronounced forefoot rocker and toe spring. The Cloudsurfer 2 has a competitive weight that does offer some merit with long runs and slight uptempo efforts as well. The On Cloudsurfer 2's updates include a tuning of the midsole, a new upper construction for breathability, and a more durable and grippy outsole to make this shoe a true daily workhorse.
SIMILAR SHOES: Topo Specter
PAST MODEL: On Cloudsurfer
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The On Cloudsurfer 2 fits true to size in my men's 9.5. The shoe is relatively normal width throughout the platform, with a slightly wider forefoot. The shoe does have a decent amount of volume, which is good for swelling accommodation and for those that like a little more space. The forefoot boasts most of the volume. The tongue is moderately padded and does a good job of preventing biting from the laces. The general hold on the foot is solid and I did not experience any foot translation or heel slippage. The heel collar is very padded and I had no irritation from the lower riding heel counter. The mesh material itself is pretty comfortable throughout and does a good job of not giving any hot spots or irritation. On updated the upper materials to have more breathability from the first version. At first I did not notice it much, but as I have worn the second model more I do feel like the forefoot is a little more breathable with the update. For those that are familiar with the first model, they did update the lacing system. The laces still have the elastic piece distally at the start of the laces, but uses a more traditional eyelet system as it moves proximally. I did find that this lockdown felt more natural and effective than the previous model. I remember the elastic piece proximally would get a little bit tangled with the laces when I would try to lace them up in the previous model. The upper of the On Cloudsurfer 2 strikes a nice balance of being plush, lightweight, and breathable. I do think I would like to see a little bit more forefoot width in the future models, but I was generally happy with the upper construction here.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Andrea: The On Cloudsurfer 2 fits true to size in my usual women's 9.5. I have a full thumb's width from the front of the shoe to my big toe and the toe box is normal to slightly wider than average. I did experience some irritation on the dorsum of my 4th and 5th toes due to the placement of the lace eyelet in that area, which are much wider than the other eyelets and create stiffness in that area of the shoe. This discomfort kept me from running more than 6 miles in the shoe. The midfoot and rearfoot width are normal and I had no issue properly locking the laces down. There is a small, stiff heel counter that is balance out by ample padding internally. The non-gusseted tongue is on the thicker side and it is held fairly securely in place by a lace loop. The laces are pretty normal flat, non elastic laces. The shoe uses regular eyelets except for the ones closest to the toes, which are reinforced loops of fabric, which appear pretty durable. The mesh upper is on the thicker side and I suspect it would get warm in the summer, although I have not had a chance to test the shoe in temperatures above 50F.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes (if toe spring is agreeable)
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Moderate (when loaded)
How Flexible is the Shoe: Moderate
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
David: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a neutral daily training shoe that gives you a decent amount of cushioning with mild to moderate responsiveness. Being at 9.0 oz this shoe does give a nice weight for a daily trainer, with some potential for light uptempo work. The Cloudsurfer 2 continues using a rocker profile, with the forefoot region being more pronounced. The Cloudtec Phase midsole is soft, but it is firmed up a little bit by the thicker outsole underneath it. The heel uses a mild-to-moderate centralized bevel and a more aggressive rounding through the forefoot. The shoe is generally stiff throughout, but does have some flexibility through the forefoot when the shoe is loaded. Because the On Cloudsurfer 2 uses the CloudTec Phase midsole, this shoe does not have the traditional Speedboard that you would expect from On. Because of this, I do feel that the midsole has a tad more deformation to it when it is loaded. Those wanting that more compliant feel will have that here, especially for the On models. The foam still holds its structure relatively well though. Compared to some other companies, I would still place this on the firmer end of soft across foam spectrums.
The geometry of the Cloudsurfer 2 likes for you to settle into rhythm and go to sleep. I do feel like the rocker on the Cloudsurfer 2 does its job pretty well, but there is something worth noting that may not agree with some people. The Cloudsurfer 2 has some flex to it right after the metatarsals. This is also where the toe spring is most aggressive. For those that are sensitive to toe springs... this may make your toes extend even more when you load the shoe. I could feel a tiny bit of soreness in my toes the first run in this shoe, but then it leveled out. The outsole traction is pretty good throughout and should service most of your needs. I was a fan of the first model, and I am still a fan of the second. I do think I would like to see the forefoot stiffened a tad though.
Andrea: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a daily trainer that features a moderately bouncy and cushioned midsole. I enjoyed the feel of the midsole for my easy runs, but there were two features that limited my comfort in the shoe. The first was the pressure from the eyelets closest to the toes as described in the fit section. The second is that the shoe features moderate toe spring, but also has a flexible forefoot. In my experience with shoe testing, this combination tends to cause hot spots under my 1st and 2nd MTPs due to the forefoot bending as I push off. I experienced this in the original version of the Cloudsurfer and I was hopeful that On fixed this in version 2. It took 4 miles for the pain to come on during my first run, and this pattern repeated in every run I did in the shoe, limiting me to runs of 6 miles or less.
The shoe feels like a moderate weight daily trainer that I think I would enjoy if not for the forefoot issues. The CloudTec Phase midsole provides a nice balance between cushioning and responsiveness and felt great for easy miles until the forefoot pain set in around mile four of each run. The shoe feels lower than its stated 9mm drop and midfoot landings felt fairly natural, even at recovery paces. The heel bevel and compliant midsole likely contribute to the drop feeling lower than 9mm for me. I think the shoe is a little soft to be used for faster running, but I'm sure some runners who prefer a softer midsole will find it suitable for uptempo longer runs. All of my runs in the shoe have been on wet or sand covered roads and one run was on a dirt rail trail. Traction is above average in the shoe and it actually did pretty well on muddy sections of the rail trail. I have 30 miles on my pair and there is no visible wear on the rubber outsole and mild wear on the exposed midsole in the midfoot. I would expect average to above average durability from the outsole, depending on your individual landing pattern.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is about as neutral as things get. There is very mild sidewalls, and some gentle sole flaring, but this shoe runs very neutral. The underfoot platform still runs a little narrow through the heel and midfoot, with a normal width forefoot. The softer foam can come off a little unstable without a stiffening agent. The outsole firms things up a little bit, but just enough to make it less unstable. Those who need some additional stability wont find it here, but those that love neutral designs definitely have that.
Andrea: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a neutral shoe that features some guidance methods. There is a small heel bevel, a moderate forefoot rocker, and moderate toe spring; all of which encourage forward motion. The guidance of the forefoot rocker and toe spring are somewhat offset by flex grooves in the forefoot, which mute the guidance element of the rocker and toe spring. There is also a central guidance line that runs from the rearfoot all the way to the base of the toes, which may also help to center the foot from initial contact to pushoff. While the forefoot base is on the wider side, the midfoot and rearfoot are narrow, which may reduce stability for those who land further back. The relative softness of the midsole also reduces the guidance features described above. Overall, this is a fairly neutral shoe that I would not recommend for those with any significant stability needs in any direction.
Thoughts as a DPT: Flexible Forefoot + Toe Spring?
By Andrea Myers
I have been testing shoes for DOR for almost 4 years now, which means I have run in a lot of shoes that I never would have tried on my own. One benefit of this is that I have found some new favorite shoes that I probably would not have discovered otherwise (like the Brooks Hyperion Max 1). Another benefit is that it has greatly helped with my own pattern recognition of what shoes features or combination of features do or do not work well for me. One pattern that has held strong for me is that shoes with a high amount of toe spring plus a flexible forefoot tend to cause burning pain under my 1st and 2nd MTPs. This has happened to me in the On Cloudsurfer 1 and 2 and the New Balance 880 v15. Why would this combination of features bother me in such a way? Toe spring positions the MTP joints in extension, therefore, it is important that people who run in shoes with a significant toe spring have sufficient MTP extension to be comfortable in such a shoe. I do not have limited MTP extension and there are many shoes with toe spring and a stiff forefoot that do not give me pain. When a shoe has toe spring and a flexible forefoot, I can feel my toes flexing into the sole of the shoe as I push off, and this is what is likely causing the burning sensation I experience in shoes like the Cloudsurfer 2. The flexor hallucis longus (FHL), which is the muscle that flexes or bends the big toe, is typically active at pushoff because big toe flexion is part of the push off phase of running gait. A shoe with toe spring and a stiff forefoot may reduce the work of the FHL because it does not allow the big toe to flex at pushoff. However, a shoe with toe spring and a flexible forefoot forces the FHL to work from a more extended position than it would in a shoe without toe spring, potentially causing increased pressure and/or friction at the 1st and potentially 2nd MTP joints.
There are certainly plenty of people who will not have this issue in the Cloudsurfer 2 - why is that? The answer depends on each person's preferred movement pathway, joint mobility, lower extremity strength, and level of sensitivity. For myself, I know that the combination of toe spring and a flexible forefoot will likely not work for me, but I will continue testing shoes with this feature, because I might be surprised and enjoy a shoe that I originally had doubts about.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: I did enjoy my time in the On Cloudsurfer 2, and I do foresee some more miles coming. I do have some recommendations though. The first would be to widen the forefoot a little bit on fit. I am a big fan of the increased volume through the forefoot, but I can still feel the material on the sides of my toes some. The second would be to make the forefoot a little stiffer. The shoe feels like it needs to make a choice on being flexible or stiff, as right now it rides in the middle. The forefoot has a good amount of toe spring with some forefoot flexibility mixed in, but creates a larger extension moment on the toes by doing that. I do think the shoe would benefit from keeping the toe spring, but stiffening the forefoot to make for a smoother toe off experience.
Andrea: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a decent daily trainer that has a moderately bouncy and compliant midsole. I like the feel of the CloudTec Phase midsole, but unfortunately the fit and geometry of the shoe did not work for me. I think the fit of the shoe could be greatly improved by making the eyelet row normal eyelets instead of the material loops they currently use, as well as making that row narrower, which will reduce the stiffness of the upper over the dorsum of the 1st and 5th toes. I also think that making the forefoot stiffer will make the shoe roll better and make it more comfortable for those like myself who are sensitive to the combination of toe spring and a flexible forefoot.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a neutral daily training shoe for someone that likes a more forefoot prominent rocker and some flexibility mixed into it. The shoe does have a softer midsole that is firmed up some by the thicker outsole. This is a truly neutral shoe and does not provide too much in terms of stability in the platform. This is largely going to rely on the runners own stability mechanisms and how they like to use the forefoot rocker. Because of the toe spring and flexibility in the forefoot, those sensitive to having extension through the toes may want to be careful with this one. If you like neutral shoes and don't mind that, this shoe is a solid neutral training workhorse.
Andrea: The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a neutral daily trainer that will work best for those with normal 1st MTP extension range of motion (this is not a shoe for those with hallux rigidus), who prefer a softer midsole, and have a narrower forefoot due to the placement and design of the last eyelet row. The shoe feels very similar to the original Cloudsurfer, so if you liked that version, you will probably like v2. From a value standpoint, this shoe is a little overpriced at $160, but is consistent with the higher price of almost all of their running shoes. For me, the Cloudsurfer Next, with its firmer midsole, better fitting toe box, and lower price ($150) would be a much better personal choice, so those whose preferences tend to track with mine might check the Next out.
GRADES
David
Fit: A- (The general fit and lockdown is good throughout. I do think the shoe could benefit from a slightly wider forefoot.)
Performance: B+ (A nice training shoe with good rhythm. Rocker is forefoot focused, but does have some flexibility. This may give some pressure on the toes for those sensitive to extension in that region. Mild to moderate responsiveness, but good cushioning.)
Stability: B (Very neutral. Outsole traction and upper lockdown is good. Heel and midfoot platform narrow. Minimal sidewalls or sole flaring.)
Value: A (For those who it will work for, $160 seems pretty fair for its durability and uses.)
Personal: A- (I do think I'd like the forefoot a little stiffer, but generally speaking the shoe does work well for me as a training shoe.)
Overall Design: B+
Andrea
Fit: B (wide eyelet row over toes caused discomfort in that region, otherwise fits comfortably and TTS)
Performance: B- (I enjoyed the balanced responsiveness and cushioning of the CloudTec Phase midsole, but the flexible forefoot and high toe spring caused burning pain at my 1st and 2nd MTPs, limiting the duration of my runs)
Stability: [neutral] B (mild forward guidance from heel bevel, forefoot rocker, and toe spring, but I don't understand the point of having a forefoot rocker and toe spring the forefoot is also quite flexible. Overall a neutral shoe.)
Value: B (Price a little high for a relatively basic daily trainer, like most On shoes. Cloudsurfer Next is a better value for me)
Personal: B- (Fit and geometry issues kept me from running comfortably in the shoe. I won't be putting more miles on this one.)
Overall Design: B-/B
SHOP | SUPPORT DOROn Cloudsurfer 2Price: $159.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING
Lightweight trainer from Brooks at a good price.
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