Article by Mike Postaski and Renee Krusemark
On Cloudultra Pro ($260)
Pros:
Stack, weight ratio: Renee, Mike P
Dynamic yet comfortable ride: Renee, Mike P
Stable and controllable for its stack height: Renee
Stable under the heel compared to other super shoes Mike P
Speed Board is not felt at all under the ball of the foot Mike P, Renee
Wide, foot-shaped upper - great for ultras Mike P
Cons:
High stack won’t work for everyone on highly technical trails: Renee. Mike P
Somewhat skimpy lugs, outsole Mike P
Potential high outside ankle collar may “bite” some Mike P
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 9.4 oz / 267g US9 women’s 8.04oz / 229gUS8
Sample Weights:
men’s 9.8 oz / 278g US 10
women’s 8.04oz / 229g (left) 8.22oz / 233g (right) US8
Stack Height: 38.5 mm heel / 32.5 mm forefoot
Platform Width: 81mm heel / 68mm midfoot / 110mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Renee: I reviewed the Cloudultra 1 and 2, the Cloudvista 1 and 2, and the hybrid Cloudsurfer Trail. What On does with this shoe is totally different than their previous trail shoes. I’m a mediocre runner and happy for mid packer finishes at technical or large races (if I race). You can be average and like this shoe.
I’m conflicted about the upper. I’m between half sizes in most brands and models. While the first versions of the Cloudultra and Cloudvista were perfect in a size 8, I found the second versions of both shoes a bit long.
The sizing for the Cloudultra Pro is closer to the second version of those shoes. For an ultra shoe, the length is appreciated so I recommend true to size.
The toe bumper is firm and actually protective. During a 20 miler, I felt the bumper hitting my large toe so I thought I might benefit from a half size down. The upper has a good amount of volume if you need it. I tied the laces super tight when running on thick gravel and had to re-tie after a few miles. I have low volume feet. The foot opening is slightly large for my narrow heels but comfortable. Using the top eyelet helps. The heel has inner padding and some stiffness, a great asset for long runs.
I wore no-show socks during a 7 mile recovery run in the dirt/heat and had no irritation on my heel although the laces (not using a runners knot) sit just above the tongue. The breathability is good.
The shoe is light for its stack especially as a trail shoe. My left and right shoes were not the same weight (8.04oz / 229g (left) 8.22oz / 233g (right)), common but not to this degree. I had a better heel hold on my right foot than the left so there may have been a production difference, (happens in early review shoes).
Mike P: Lots of hype around this shoe, but given the fact that for me, On hasn’t yet hit the mark with a truly performant trail shoe - I was not sure what to expect here. Pulling the Pro straight out of the box, I knew this model would be different. Visually stunning, light weight in hand, and premium in feel, the Cloudultra certainly delivers in the first impressions department.
Sizing is also tricky with me in the On’s that I’ve tried. Cloudvista 1 was very small in a US 9.5 (my normal), while CV 2 in a 10, seems overly large. I’ve also tested the Cloudventure Peak and Cloudsurfer Trail in US 9.5s which were ok, but were a touch small. I decided to go with a US 10 to be on the safe side, considering the fact that this is an ultra oriented shoe.
First of all - fit is very roomy, with a broad and wide toe box. They’ve certainly given consideration to the fact that you may have this shoe on your feet for very long distances and durations. An extremely lightweight and open-mesh upper does still wrap the foot securely. Strategic padded areas on the tongue allow you to cinch down where necessary and get a solid lockdown.
The multi-color, ribbed-style race laces are a nice touch - they look cool and don’t slip. They also seem to grab a bit through the eyelets, allowing you to zonally tension. The ankle collar does strike me as a bit high, which was concerning when I first tried them on. I can feel the lateral (outside) collar area, riding a bit on my lower ankle bone. But this is offset by the fact that the edging is quite soft and the interior padding is also soft and plush. It’s not a skimpy, stripped down heel padding setup as seen in many super shoes.
I ran a 108K race in them, more or less straight out of the box (one quick 4M test run before that), and I had no issues with the upper at all. The collar caused my no problems over 12+ hours, and I had no other points of irritation or hot spots whatsoever.
Midsole & Platform
Renee: The top layer of midsole is soft and functions like most super foams: comfortable when needed and responsive when needed. The plastic plate prevents any bottoming out or drastic stability issues from the soft midsole. Plus, the firmer midsole layer hitting the ground allows for a solid landing.
While the shoe is high stack, it often feels less because of the dual midsole. Using a plastic plate rather than carbon gives some responsiveness without a wild and uncontrollable spring. The stack is listed as 38.5mm in the heel, which is what I measured. Because of the rocker, the shoe looks higher stacked under the midfoot.
The dual density foams and plastic plate work surprisingly well for me as a mid pack runner, but high stack is still high stack. On very uneven landings, mostly thick clumpy gravel, I wasn’t losing stability but it was annoying.
I don’t have ankle problems, but if a course was completely rocky terrain when my foot is landing at an angle for most of the miles, I’d elect for a different shoe. I see that as the shoe’s only major limitation but it’s not the intended purpose. I don’t discount the Pro for shorter distances, like a 50k or less, although its clear purpose with the stack is comfort for ultras. Like most other super critical foams (mostly road shoes) I find the midsole starts to form to the foot, thus feeling more comfortable to the natural foot flex after a few miles (something I noticed at around 35 miles).
Mike P: The midsole is a dual layer of On’s Helion HF foam. The top layer, covering the entire length of the foot is softer, with a firmer layer close to the ground above the outsole. As you can see, there are still On’s signature cloud pods throughout, but in their tech sheet they mention a very specific design of these pods - with them being wider on the inside and narrower at the edges of the shoe.
I assume the idea is to give more cushion towards the middle of the foot/shoe, and then stabilize more towards the edges. Hard to say much about how effective this is, but I will say that it does feel quite stable given the high stack underfoot here. In comparison, the Cloudsurfer Trail V1 I tested feels way more unstable and squirrely underfoot in anything beyond moderate terrain and level ground.
Sandwiched within the midsole is On’ Speed Board - it looks ‘X’ shaped, with large forks up front and at the rear. It goes unnoticed underfoot, which for me is a relief. Previous Speed Boards have tended to jab me under the ball of the foot, or just be firm and noticeable. This one I can’t feel at all, which is great.
Outsole
Renee: The lugs are a 3mm depth chevron-shape and are well spaced. Like any other 3mm lugged-shoe, the shoe doesn’t have fantastic traction on thick gravel/debris. The smaller lugs don’t affect the ride of the shoe, so there’s an asset there. I did not run on paved road with these shoes, but on the short stretches between trails and dirt, they felt fine there too. The prong/shaped midsole exposure helps with midfoot flex, an absolute necessity for a shoe this high stacked.
Mike P: This may be one area where On decided to skimp a bit and save some weight. They do mention using “Finite Element Analysis” in the Mission Grip outsole design, so there’s that. Not sure exactly what that means, but you can notice a radially-oriented layout of the chevrons - they seem to point outwards from the center of the foot. I know Scott has done similar designs with their traction patterns before.
I measured the lugs at 3.5mm, which is ok for a runnably-oriented super shoe, but it does strike me as being a bit shallow given the large outsole cutout under the center and also the generally spaced-out lug setup here. There’s just not a lot of lugs throughout, so that could be an issue if you’re concerned about traction. It reminds me somewhat of the TNF Vectiv Pro 2.
The outsole performed well enough in my 108K race, which was mostly dry, with lots of creek crossings, some snow, a few soft/muddy sections, and a long stretch of pavement. It’s not a soft ground shoe by any means, but performance is acceptable and in line with other super shoes of this type.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Renee: The short recap: Yes, it’s good. Buy it if you need an ultra shoe and have the money. The long recap: With the soft midsole directly underfoot along with a plastic – not carbon – plate, the Cloudultra Pro is comfortable at slow speeds on rolling terrain and single track switchbacks. Most plated road shoes are much lighter in weight and of course with less traction but other than weight, the Pro works just as well as a road shoe on flat crushed rock.
For technical terrain, the high stack worked better than I thought (260ft vert per mile with small but constant switchbacks and ascents/descents). On that type of terrain, I’m not benefiting from a plate as I’m running too slow to avoid falling.
I noticed my legs were less fatigued after climbing and it was easier/quicker to run once I reached runnable areas. I switched shoes to Salomon’s SLAB Genesis (totally different shoe) just to compare how the Pro felt to a well-liked technical shoe. Of course the Genesis is more fun and more nimble (thus faster for an average runner like me) for anything technical but my legs are more fresh when running with the Pro.
During a 20 minute tempo, I was running 9-10 min/mile pace on the up/down then quickly moving to 6-6:30 min/mile paces on the runnable sections (all fast for me on trail). And the shoe is comfortable for my 12-15+ min/mile paces when I’m literally walking up steep ascents.
The shoe has great flex from the forefoot, surprisingly so for the stack, again thanks to the placement of the more flexible than carbon plastic plate under a softer top midsole layer.
Renee’s Score: 9.5/10 (9.5/10 Ride, 9.5/10 Fit, 9/10 Value, 9.5/10 Style 9.5/10 Traction/Grip, 10/10 Protection)
😊😊😊😊😊
Mike P: On delivers a sweet ride here with the Cloudultra Pro - it’s noticeably less aggressive than some other speed oriented, plated, trail supershoes. Think - Adidas Speed Ultra or the new Puma Deviate Nitro Elite Trail. There’s no super aggressive rocker up front as in the Adidas, and no high energy carbon plate like the Puma.
Instead you get a more moderate and gradual flex up front - which feels more natural, and I believe will feel better for most “regular” runners looking to step up to a trail super shoe. It just feels smoother on the run, as you’re not aggressively dropping into a steep toe-off, or having to balance on less ground contact area under the front of the shoe.
Another area I feel will be well suited to a greater majority of runners is the rear platform underfoot. There’s more support under the heel and on the ground, giving better stability than other trail super shoes which also have a high heel rocker. Again, this also feels better suited for “regular” runners. It will feel more familiar and comparable to training shoes that you use more often.
But of course, the dual-density Helion HF / Speed Board combo does provide the “super shoe goods”. You get that feeling of deep, soft & dynamic cushion, plus the element of propulsion from the plate (or Speed Board in this case). That’s the de facto setup for supershoes, but On’s package here just feels a bit more subdued and accessible.
I took them out for a very rugged Idaho 108K - crushing double-wide trails, steep climbs and descents, runnable sections, a little bit of everything. The Cloudultra Pros felt so good in my short test runs two days prior, that I decided to just give them a shot. The only reservations were about the high ankle collar and perhaps them feeling a bit too high, and therefore unstable for some of the roughest terrain I would have to deal with.
They handled everything - and were primed for more! The ankle collar was a non-issue - I mentioned the soft interior padding, and I think that neutralized the high-ness of the collar edge itself. The high stack and soft foam was also not a bother for me - I of course had to pay attention in very rocky sections, but this is the case with all super shoes of this type.
I love that they give a solid rear platform here - it felt great on downhills and even during flats and all types of rolling sections. Most super shoes really force you to be up on your toes, but this one, allows a wider range of supported footstrikes. It’s likely the most distinguishing characteristic of the Cloudultra Pro compared to other super shoes.
As far as comfort, my feet after the race were in surprisingly great shape and really not sore at all. Typically I would be dealing with at least some impact soreness or other hot spots after this type of race, but nothing here.
I think this is a shoe worthy of its name - the Cloudultra. Surely it’s ultra ready, and given how good my feet felt post race, the cloud part seems appropriate here too. I would have reservations taking it out on truly technical terrain, or very muddy or soft ground, but they could easily handle everything else. Add another model to the list of legit trail super shoes.
Mike P’s Score: 9.7 / 10
Ride: 10 - Super shoe feel underfoot, a bit more refined and stable
Fit: 10 - Welcomed spacious fit, especially up front. Secure upper.
Value: 9 - Price in line with other trail supershoes
Style: 10 - Absolute home run here - although mine are trashed post-race
Traction: 9 - 3.5mm lugs, not a lot of them, just appropriate enough for target usage
Rock Protection: 10 - I ran over lots of rocks, and didn’t feel them
Smiles 😊😊😊😊😊
7 Comparisons
Puma Deviate NITRO Trail (RTR Review)
Renee: Both shoes are well executed “super” shoes for trail, but with different advantages. The Puma is firmer underfoot, slightly closer to the ground, and more explosive because of the carbon plate. For shorter distances, the Puma. The high stack Cloudultra Pro is more suited for longer distances when comfort is needed. Sizing is comparable. The toe box of the Puma is longer so those between half sizes might wear a half size shorter in the Puma. The Puma is lighter in my women’s size 8 at 222g compared to 231g (average) of the Cloudultra Pro.
Mike P (9.5): I don’t have equal sizes here, so hard for me to compare in that regard. My Puma in 9.5 I’m sure would still be more snug than the Cloudultra Pro if I had it in a 9.5. It’s more of a snug, race fit, whereas the On is definitely wider and a bit more relaxed in terms of squeeze. It’s more suitable for longer distances. The Puma is closer to the ground, the foam feels bouncier to me, and really rebounds with the embedded carbon plate. Feels like there’s more action underfoot with that one. I’ve picked the Puma for shorter, faster racing (dirt half marathon) and the On for longer distances (108K so far).
Saucony Endorphin Edge (RTR Review)
Renee: I’m keeping the memory of this shoe alive and hope Saucony has a follow up plated trail shoe at some point. The Edge is a lighter shoe with just as much protection underfoot. The Carbitex plate gave some protection while being responsive and useful across a diverse terrain: except wet rock. The Edge had a loose upper, and combined with the plate and outsole it was not a shoe for rocky trail. The Cloudultra Pro gets the midsole and plate right. The plastic plate isn’t wild on technical terrain, but the shoe feels much higher in stack as compared to the Edge, which would be more controllable with a few upper adjustments and different rubber compound. Sizing is comparable.
Mike P (9.5): This shoe was very fast, but a bit harder to control. It’s closer to the Puma than the On, for sure. Despite the extremely high energy foam and reactive plate in the Saucony, I do think I could manage it better in technical terrain since it’s closer to the ground - especially after the midsole packed out after some miles. It’s still a relatively unstable shoe though. Too bad Saucony did not refine this into a more well-rounded super shoe. The Cloudultra Pro is much more suitable as a racing super shoe for the majority of runners.
Brooks Catamount 4 (RTR Review)
Renee: The Catamount 4 doesn’t have the super “race” feel as compared to the Cloudultra Pro. The Cat 4 is firmer underfoot and has the potential to be more secure on uneven or technical terrain for this reason. The Cloudultra Pro has a more dynamic ride while still being more comfortable at slow paces. For the price, the Cat 4 is a good buy for training/race option, although it is a slightly heavier weight. Sizing is comparable.
Mike P (10.0): My Catamount 4 in equal sizing is just a touch heavier than the On - but I measure about 6mm less in stack underfoot. The On does feel taller and bouncier. The Brooks feels fast, but in a more grounded kind of way. I’ve seen new versions of a Brooks super shoe in the race circuit - I wonder if they went up in stack, and went softer with that one? For now the Brooks Cat 4 is firmer, wider, and feels more stable for me. I love it for training, and it could definitely serve as a potential racer if you like the feel and ride. Both uppers are wide, comfortable, and also give great foothold.
Hoka Tecton X 3 (RTR Review)
Mike P (10.0): Tecton X 3 feels sneakily efficient, kind of in the same way as the Cloudultra Pro. You feel the plate impulse, but it’s not overbearing. I’d say you do feel it a bit more in the On. The On feels narrower and a bit more unstable - I think you get better technical range with the Tecton X 3. Both shoes have similar spacious fits in my equal US 10 sizing. The On may actually be a touch more spacious, but that may vary based on your foot shape. Underfoot, the level of cushion feels similar, but maybe a bit wider, at least in feel with the Hoka, and narrower/quicker with the On.
Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra (RTR Review)
Mike P (10.0): This is probably the closest comp, a high stack super shoe, mostly designed for runnable terrain. I find sizing equivalent, but with the On being generally spacious while the Adidas is roomy, or tight in different areas depending on your foot shape. Many find that it runs long, or wide, or narrow at the midfoot, or some combination. The Adidas feels quicker on the run, but the On has more stability under the rear of the shoe. I think the Cloudultra Pro will be more usable for most runners while the ASU is a very specific shoe mostly for faster, more efficient runners.
ASICS Meta Fuji Trail (RTR Review)
Mike P (10.0): The Asics is along the lines of the Adidas Speed Ultra, but taken further to the extreme. More stack, even more forefoot oriented, softer, and even less table under the heel. This one is a difficult shoe to run in and a difficult shoe to recommend to anyone. Go with the Cloudultra Pro.
Nike Ultrafly (RTR Review)
Mike P (9.5): Somewhat similar in stack height, the Ultrafly 1 is heavier, with an extremely stiff carbon fiber plate. I also found the Ultrafly toebox to be overly wide and still low volume over the top. The On is spacious, but more naturally footshaped, and I can get a more secure fit. The Nike has that carbon fiber propulsion similar to the On, perhaps a bit more active. But the On’s Helion HF foam feels more energetic and also has a lighter feel on groundstrike. Let’s see what Nike does with V2, but for now, On has the better super shoe on the market.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Renee is a former U.S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon.
Mike Postaski currently focuses on long mountainous ultras - anywhere from 50K up to his favorite - 100M. 5'10", 138 lbs, midfoot/forefoot striker - he typically averages 70 mpw (mostly on trails), ramping up to 100+ mpw during race buildups. A recent 2:39 road marathoner, his easy running pace ranges from 7:30 - 9:00/mi. From 2022-23 Mike has won the Standhope 100M, IMTUF 100M, and Scout Mountain 100M trail ultras, winning the Scout 50M in 2024. He also set a CR of 123.74M at the Pulse Endurance Runs 24H and completed the Boise Trails Challenge on foot in 3 days 13 hours, besting the previous record by 7 hours. Mike's shoe preferences lean towards firmer, dense cushioning, and shoes with narrower profiles. He prefers extra forefoot space, especially for long ultras, and he strongly dislikes pointy toe boxes.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
1 comment:
Hello, thanks for the review!
@mike, you say that the Tecton X3 is more suitable for technical runs? Because my feet slide in all directions in the Tecton, so it scares me if the CloudUltra are even less secure.
Historique
Enregistrées
Post a Comment