Article by Renee Krusemark
On Cloudsurfer 2 ($160)
Pros:
Good looking shoe: doubles well for casual uses
Comfortable, rolling midsole geometry
Cons:
Shallow toebox
Limited trail terrain uses
Stats
Spec.Weight: men's 10.12 oz / 287g US9 // US9 women’s 8.11 oz / 230g US8
Sample Weights:
women’s 8.04oz / 229g (left shoe) 8.36oz / 236g (right shoe) US7.5
v1: 8.20 oz / 233g US8
Stack Height: 34 mm heel / 26mm forefoot, 8mm drop
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Renee: On makes good-looking shoes, and the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 is no exception. I reviewed the first version of the shoe and also On’s other trail shoes (Cloudvista, Cloudultra and Cloudultra Pro).
The Cloudsurfer Trail 2 is most definitely more road focused than On’s other trail options. The upper is revamped for enhanced stability. Most reviewers, myself included, found the upper of v1 was not supportive enough for trails.
The upper for v2 is much more locked down. Almost too locked down. The upper is low volume, which for me works fine. High volume feet might find the new upper to be too constricting over the midfoot.
The toebox is shallow. The upper material is thick and runs hot (late July running became sweaty although this will be an asset for winter). I ran 18 miles out of the box, so I don’t discount the comfort. I wouldn’t continue to use the shoe for long distances because of the shallow toebox, especially on trails when foot placement is shifty. I am between half sizes in many brands and elected for a US 7.5 instead of my usual US8.
I recommend a half size longer if between sizes. I have the Cloudultra 3 in a 7.5 and it fits perfectly. With the shallow and angled toebox, the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 fits a bit short. Otherwise, with a moderately padded tongue and heel counter, the upper is very comfortable.
Midsole & Platform
Renee: My first run was 18 miles and the midsole stack and comfort were good. The first version had a soft, comfortable midsole which many reviewers thought was not trail friendly. Some of that instability was caused by the loose upper. In v2, the midsole is meant to give a rolling sensation from heel to toe from the CloudTec Phase elements which continue from v1. I think the rolling sensation from the elements is well integrated. The shoe has an 8 mm drop and that “rolling” sensation does not translate well to uneven terrain.
For gravel or smooth trails the midsole works well. The shoe does not have a plastic rigid Speedboard as some other On’s trail shoes have.
The midsole feels best from a heel strike. When forefoot landing, there’s a bit of a rocker forward but with the shallow and angled toebox, I had some discomfort. Again, I was able to run it as far as 18 miles but I would suggest usage for short or mid distances on easy or flat terrain only.
Outsole
Renee: The outsole features 2mm chevron-shaped lugs. The exposed sections across the forefoot, underfoot at the midsole, and through the heel helps with flex. The lugs aren’t super helpful on thick gravel, but they are good enough for some slight traction on crushed rock.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Renee: Road to trail or “hybrid” shoes can often fall into a no-man’s land. I most often run gravel and I’m still inclined to use a road shoe when possible and a true trail shoe when needed.
In my opinion, the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 fits more into the road shoe category. I would not suggest the shoe for single track trail or even for hilly uneven gravel. The shoe does run well on crushed rock bike paths. I’d normally select a road shoe for that terrain although having lugs (albeit 2mm) helps with traction for any steep inclines/declines.
The shoe is comfortable for walking and it can easily double as a casual shoe.
Fans of On will like the aesthetics of the shoe. For a hybrid shoe, the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 isn’t my first choice for running, but it is one of the most stylish and “walkable” options in its category.
Renee’s Score: 8.6/10
For scoring, I used our road criteria.
(Ride 9/10, Fit 8/10, Value 8/10, Style 10/10)
😊😊😊
8 Comparisons
Cloudsurfer Trail v1 (RTR Review)
Renee: The upper is more secure in v2 although It has a more shallow and lower volume fit. High volume feet will find v2 constricting.
Hoka Challenger 8 (RTR Review soon)
Renee: The Challenger has a wider range of use from mild to actual trails. In every case, for running, I’d choose the Challenger. The On is a better looking shoe though. I suggest a half size longer in the CloudSurfer Trail as compared to the Challenger.
Merrell ProMorph (RTR Review)
Renee: Sizing will be similar. While the Cloudsurfer Trail upper is too shallow, the ProMorph is just right in terms of security for trails. The ride on the ProMorph is a bit firmer and it has a midfoot rocker. For casual use or walking the Cloudsurfer Trail is better. For anything running, the ProMorph.
Altra Experience Wild 2 (RTR Review)
Renee: The Wild 2 has a more spacious toebox and works better on actual trail. As a casual shoe on flat, firm surfaces, the Surfer Trail.
Salomon Aero Glide 3 GVL (RTR Review)
Renee: The Aero Glide GVL midsole was too soft for me on rough gravel or trail, but it is good for bike paths or mild terrain. For soft comfort underfoot, the Glide. For a firmer feel and roll forward, the Cloudsurfer Trail. The upper of the Glide is far more voluminous.
Nike Pegasus Trail 5 (RTR Review)
Renee:. The Peg Trail has a bit more flex and bounce underfoot while the Surfer Trail geometry works from a heel to toe roll. The Nike toebox is more accommodating. Both shoes work as a casual shoe as well.
On Cloudvista 2 (RTR Review)
Renee: Both shoes fall into a no man’s land for me. The Vista is heavy and with the new Cloudultra 3 in the lineup, its usage is unclear. I’d like to see the Vista revert back to a low stack shoe. While the Vista might be better for trails, I’d recommend the Cloudultra 3 instead.
On Cloudultra 3 (RTR Review soon)
Renee: For actual trails, the Cloudultra 3 is so much better as that’s its intended purpose. That said, it’s better than the Surfer for moderate trails as well. I’d only opt for the Cloudsurfer Trail for casual use. I suggest a half size longer in the Surfer Trail as the toebox is more angled and more shallow in comparison.
All RTR reviews: HERE
Latest Reviews-chronological order HERE
Tester Profile
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.
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. No compensation was provided by brands for writing this article. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
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3 comments:
I’ve been debating between the Cloudsurfer Trail 2 and the Challenger 8 for some light gravel running, and this really helped clarify things. That shallow toebox is a dealbreaker for me since I’ve got high-volume feet. Looks like I’ll be sticking with Hoka for serious runs, but I might still grab the On shoes just for casual wear — can’t deny they look sharp.
Also, I have to say, the way you described the “rolling sensation” of the midsole reminded me of how your timing has to be just right in Geometry Dash Lite — one wrong move, and it's game over! Same goes for picking the wrong shoe for your terrain.
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