ON Running Cloudmonster

Shoes Review

In March 2022, brand ON Cloud Running released new running shoes. They had a big advertising company  and an opportunity for people to try shoes during trial runs worldwide. I like the esthetic of the brand. AD company looks impressive, as well as shoes design. But we all know not everything in running shoes is about design.

Let’s look what The Cloudmonster is.

First, technical specifications.

WEIGHT 9.70 oz/275g (M), 8.1/230g (usually for sample sizes 9US men and 7.5-8US women)

Height of 33mm at the heel, 27mm at the forefoot

Drop 6 mm

What inside?

The technologies are the same as in all the models On running shoes.  They have CloudTec midsole with “Cloud” elements that compress during landing to reduce impact. They have On Runnings Helion Super Foam in midsole but more foam in volume than other ON models. The foam is very durable, so they supposed to have long running life.  Signature CloudTec pods are larger than usual, and more of them. Above the CloudTec pods, there is a plastic plate – the Speedboard and also they have new for the brand rocker construction, as always for better energy return ( yes, you can feel it). 

The upper is made from thin, breathable mesh, they have a gusseted tongue what means it is connected to the upper in the middle with laces. The tongue is thin, and in general, the entire upper is not tight compared to other sneakers of this type ( massive and which one is supposed to be cushioning). From the official website, “Featuring our biggest CloudTec® ever for massive cushioning and max energy. A monster of a ride on the road.”

Prices and colors

They have pretty nice colors.

Women’s https://www.on-running.com/en-us/products/cloudmonster/womens/glacier-meadow

Men’s https://www.on-running.com/en-us/products/cloudmonster/mens/acai-aloe

Price $169.99

My impression 

Monsters are my first ON shoes in which I ran a lot. I got them for a test a few weeks before the speed project, where I ran in them the first day it was about 40-50 kilometers. In total, I have run over 100 km in them to the today date. Actually I have two pairs in different colors. 

First impressions were mixed. It seemed to me that sneakers should be soft, plush, but in fact, it turned out to be quite the opposite; I would call them springy and pushing forward. The first thing you notice is how light they are despite their massive appearance. And so what I like about lacing is very comfortable; the design of the tongue area is also comfortable, and they do not put pressure on the upper part of the foot. You can not put them on without untying them; at the same time, for a comfortable fit, they do not need to be laced very tight. Shoes fix the foot very well and appeal to those who have problems fixing the heels.

I am usually very sensitive to the fit of shoes in the instep zone, but I don’t like to lace up my shoes. Yes, I know this is a very bad habit, but I prefer that the sneakers are not tight laced and can be put on and taken off without touching the laces. Despite the fact that this model cannot be put on by unlacing, the fit is still very comfortable. They do not need to be tightened tightly so that the foot sits comfortably in the shoes and at the same time the upper part is so thin that it does not press at all and does not feel in the instep area.

Besides being light, they are also very breathable; they did not get hot even in thick socks in the middle of the day in the desert, when I was running TSP.  

I also like the brand’s attitude to sustainability let’s say these sneakers are made of the 80-percent recycled polyester content, which accounts for 35 percent of the entire shoe.

What I do not like.

At first, they seem very stubborn ahah ( I mean hard and not flexible ) , as if they don’t want to bend under the force of the foot; this is especially felt when running uphill when you run a little on the toe, and at that moment you feel that the shoes resist bending. Most likely, this effect is from the plate inside; it seems that they become more flexible with the times. 

They fit true to size; I wear 7.5US, the same as Nike Pegasus 38.

For whom? I would recommend them in general for all types of runners, but I would not expect softness from them; instead, on the contrary, you can add speed in them. I think they will work for tempo workouts probably even better than for recovery ones. 

I would also start running carefully in them, especially if your feet are not trained.

In general, I like them for road running, I ran in them on some trails, as you can see ( ahaha see pics above), but they are great for light trails and roads. I like the style and colors so much; I like the fit; usually, I prefer to put my shoes on without uniting them, but these shoes fit very comfortably, and it’s a huge advantage how light and breathable they are.