Article by Courtney Kelly and Kurt Biesemans
On Cloudultra 3 (190USD, 200EUR, 180GBP, 250CHF)
The Cloudultra 3 is part of ON’s newly launched Ultra Collection, positioned just below the elite-focused Cloudultra Pro. It bridges the gap between trail accessibility and high-end performance, offering a more approachable yet still highly capable option for ultra-distance runners.
This shoe is tailored for runners who prioritize long-distance comfort and energy return, without signing on for a race-specific super-shoe. Whether you're training for ultras or simply clocking extended trail miles, the Cloudultra 3 promises balanced comfort, responsiveness, and technical adaptability.
What’s under the hood?
More plush, softness and energy return provided by the Helion HF hyper foam.
An upgraded Missiongrip™ rubber outsole with FEA-optimized lug geometry for more traction.
A quick-drying Leno weave mesh upper designed for breathability and durability while maintaining a secure fit even through sweat and long efforts.
An engineered rocker and embedded Speedboard, promoting efficient turnover late into long sessions.
Let's put it to the test!
Pros:
Comfortable: Courtney
Well designed upper and solid lockdown : Courtney
Durable: Courtney
Highly breathable: Kurt
Great traction on technical terrain: Kurt
Full length rock plate protects from sharp rocks and stones: Kurt
Removable insole (always handy with trail shoes that get wet): Kurt
Good fit with gusseted tongue: Kurt
Flexible in the toe area, important for steep terrain: Kurt
Lacing system: Kurt
Cons:
Lacks lateral support in the ankle area: Kurt
Stats
Spec.: Weight: 295gr (M), 235gr (W)
Sample Weights:
men’s 316gr (US10/EUR44)
Stack Height: 32 mm heel / 26.5 mm forefoot (5.5mm drop)
Platform: Heel 95mm, Midfoot 75mm, forefoot 120mm
Platform Width: mm heel / mm midfoot / mm forefoot
Most comparable shoes
Inov8 Trailfly Max
Hoka Mafate speed 4
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Courtney: The Cloudultra 3 is On’s technical, yet dependable long distance trail running shoe.
The fit of the Ultra was true to size, providing room to wiggle the toes up front.
The firm and stable heel counter sits lower on the achilles (I will discuss this more in length later), yet provides cushioning that wraps around the ankle. There is a little extra room on the lateral heel but this may work well with thicker socks or wider feet.
The engineered leno weave upper is breathable, and although I wouldn’t call it soft, it is flexible enough.
The weave seems very durable yet porous in wet conditions. TPU overlays are placed strategically at the toe and taper from heel to midfoot at the platform creating a protective and secure hold on the foot.
Kurt: The Cloudultra 3 has a sleek appearance: simple colors with fun, eye-catching accents. Of course, it features On’s very distinct identity midsole pattern. To my opinion, On managed to create a non-nonsense shoe.
Kurt: Important for a running shoe, and even more for a trail running shoe, is the fit. The shoe needs to give you comfort, stability, confidence, support and breathability (for longer runs or wet shoes) This is what the Cloudultra 3 gave me when I tested it on technical and rough terrain, the Alps.
The upper is made from quick-drying, Swiss-engineered, Leno weave mesh. Designed for breathability, durability and a secure midfoot fit even after sweat and long efforts.
Kurt: The toe box provides decent space for the forefoot so that it can expand during a long trail run without causing pressure points.
Kurt: The toe bumper is reinforced with an overlay, making it very robust on rough terrain where you will probably regularly hit rocks with the tip of your shoe.
Kurt: The Cloudultra 3 has a fully gusseted tongue made from a sock-like neoprene material. This semi-elastic mesh encloses your foot in a pleasant way making sure you have a snug fit and lockdown in the midfoot. The tongue seamlessly integrates with the upper. It provides just enough cushioning and in combination with the lacing system it provides a soft and comfortable feel.
Kurt: On added an additional stretch strap at the middle of the tongue. Is is fixed on both edges. Honestly I don’t see the use of it.
The heel area of the shoe is well padded, not too much, not too little.
For me, the heel cap could be slightly higher so that the sides of the heel collar could also be slightly higher. I find that this shoe lacks lateral support in the ankle area. A higher and reinforced heel collar would help with this.
Midsole & Platform
Courtney: The Speedboard and Helion HF supercritical foam top layer, Helion EVA bottom layer work together to provide a cushioned yet stable and efficient stride.
Compared to other On shoes I have recently tested on the roads (Cloudsurfer and Cloudflow 5), the Ultra is more cushioned and the dual layers of Helion HF and EVA work well on softer trail surfaces. It’s certainly not an overly soft feel, but it's enough to keep you running for long durations. The perforated sock liner is breathable and comfortable adding to the cushioned feel underfoot.
I found I was able to take the Cloudultra 3 from road to trail easily. I was able to race in the Ultra recently in a short hilly leg of a relay. The Ultra was surprisingly quick, but I did feel unstable over larger gravel and ended up rolling my ankle when hugging the side of the trail. I think this goes back to the lower cut around the ankle and lack of a secure and snug fit at the heel.
Kurt: On’s midsoles, including the one in the Cloudultra 3 - are instantly recognizable thanks to their signature CloudTec technology. They don’t use a traditional continuous slab of foam, like most other brands. Instead, On designs its midsoles with individual “cloud” pods: hollow, oval-shaped cushioning elements arranged across the length of the sole. The individual pods compress on landing to absorb impact and then quickly rebound to deliver a snappy push-off. This creates On’s trademark “soft on landing, firm on take-off” sensation. The Cloudultra 3 does also benefit from this technology. It delivers a more responsive, a more dynamic and more energetic ride.
Kurt: You see the rock plate in the forefront of the foot (image above)
The Cloudultra 3 uses On’s Helion foam, a lightweight, temperature-resistant material designed to balance plush comfort and responsiveness. It is softer than earlier On foams but still retains structure, which is especially important for long trail runs where stability matters.
In addition, On has embedded a full-length rock plate aka Speedboard®, within its midsole. This protective plate helps guard against sharp rocks and roots, offering an added layer of confidence and safety on technical terrain. It is made of thermoplastic and also serves as an energy-return element for all-terrain performance.
To conclude: The Cloudultra’s midsole combines cloud pods, Helion foam, and a Speedboard plate to give you a cushioned and responsive ride.
Kurt: Platform: Heel 95mm, Midfoot 75mm, forefoot 120mm.
Outsole
Courtney: The outsole of the Cloudultra is made of thickly placed Missiongrip rubber that comes up over the bevel to provide optimal coverage and traction.
The lugs are widely spaced; forward facing down the center of the forefoot and diagonal arrows facing outwards. This strategic placement is engineered using Finite Element Analysis or FEA.
Kurt: The outsole is made of On’s Missiongrip Rubber with V-shape lugs. The Missiongrip rubber has a 'sticky' property, which means that it sticks to the surface you walk on.
In the middle of the outsole, there’s a section that isn’t covered with Missiongrip rubber. On likely designed it this way to allow for a bit more torsional flexibility, helping the shoe adapt better when running over uneven terrain.
The Cloudultra 3 delivers impressive traction across a variety of surfaces. On technical and dry terrain, the grip feels secure and confident, while even on wet rocks the outsole maintains reliable hold, inspiring trust when the conditions get tricky.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Courtney: The Cloudultra 3 impressed me with its comfortable, protective ride. For a runner who hits the trails as supplement to my training (with the occasional trail race), the Ultra helped me run with confidence.
The energy return on the Cloudultra is enough to keep you moving, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it's the lightest, fastest trail shoe at 9.52 oz in my women’s size 9.
This being said, I found the lockdown and comfort of the shoe to be excellent, especially over varied terrain. Rolling my ankle during the race was proof that the Cloudultra’s heel stability is an area that needs improvement.
The Ultra is a good option for hikers and walkers. It's not just an attractive $190 running shoe. You get a very durable shoe, and although I don’t have any ultra race ambitions yet, I would feel confident taking out for long trail runs in the future.
Courtney’s Overall Score: 8.85/10
Ride (30%): 8.5
Fit (30%): 9.5
Value (10%): 8.5
Style (5%) 10
Traction (15%): 8
Rock Protection (10%): 9
😊😊😊😊
Kurt: The Cloudultra 3 weighs 316g (US10 / EU44), which isn’t exactly lightweight, but it doesn’t feel sluggish either. While the stack height isn’t particularly high, I never felt it was lacking. On the contrary, the shoe delivers a balanced, controlled ride with a strong connected-to-the-ground sensation, while still offering ample cushioning to comfortably tackle ultra-distance efforts.
What truly stands out is the versatility. The Cloudultra 3 handles a variety of scenarios with ease — from slower trail training sessions to longer ultra-distance races.
At €200 / $190, it sits on the higher end of the price spectrum compared to its competitors. However, given its versatility and solid build, I find the price well justified. The shoe feels robust and built to handle serious mileage without breaking down quickly. They don’t call it Swiss engineering for nothing 🙂
In terms of terrain, the Cloudultra 3 is a true multi-purpose trail shoe. I haven’t tested it in muddy conditions yet, but given the relatively low-profile lugs, I suspect it’s not where the shoe will shine most. On rocky, technical, and dry trails, however, it performs confidently.
One thing to note is the narrower midfoot platform (75mm), which might make it less ideal for runners with wider feet.
I tested the Cloudultra 3 during shorter, faster sessions but also relied on it during longer, high-elevation days — including a 30K run with 2000m of climbing in the Alps. In all scenarios, it proved to be a reliable, versatile partner on the trails.
Kurt’s Overall Score: 8.83/10
Ride (30%): 9
Fit (30%): 8 (-1 for lack of ankle support)
Value (10%): 9
Style (5%) 9.5
Traction (15%): 9
Rock Protection (10%): 10
😊😊😊😊
2 Comparisons
Inov8 TrailFly Max (RTR Review)
Kurt:The Inov8 TrailFly Max features a high-stack FlySpeed™ Pro foam infused with nitrogen for a bouncy, energized ride. Paired with a Boomerang™ insole, it provides long-run comfort.
The TrailFly Max comes in with a narrower profile (Heel 85 mm, Midfoot 60 mm, Forefoot 110 mm) compared to the Cloudultra 3 and shaves off a bit of weight at 306 g. It doesn’t feature a rock plate, and it feels slightly less responsive underfoot. Where it truly shines, however, is in traction — the aggressive 4 mm lugs deliver outstanding grip, making it an excellent choice for muddy and technical terrain.
Similar to the Cloudultra 3, ankle support is minimal, the TrailFly Max actually features an even softer heel compartment. With the same 6 mm drop and a slightly higher stack (Heel 35 mm / Forefoot 29 mm), it runs firmer.
Hoka Mafate Speed 4 (RTR Review)
Kurt: In essence, the Mafate Speed 4 is a nimble, responsive trail racer generously layered with cushioning — a shoe that blends speed, comfort, and technical capability in one package.
It truly shines on rugged terrain, where traction is key, but also handles steep, fast descents with confidence and control.
Since then, Hoka has split the Mafate line into two branches: the plush Mafate 5 and the plated higher stack Mafate X. For me, the Mafate Speed 4 has always been the perfect all-rounder — a shoe that performs just as well on short, fast trail races as it does on longer, slower ultras where comfort and cushioning become crucial.
Compared to the On Cloudultra 3, the Mafate Speed 4 feels a bit more dynamic, despite having similar specs in terms of weight, drop, and stack height. Where it truly stands out is grip, thanks to the Vibram® Megagrip outsole — one of the most reliable compounds on both dry and wet rock. That said, I do feel it’s slightly less breathable than the Cloudultra, which could be something to consider in hotter conditions.
Courtney Kelly, age 37 is a college lacrosse player turned avid runner. She lives in Manchester, MA with her husband and two daughters ages 4 and 8. Courtney signed up for her first 1/2 marathon the morning of the race in 2022, winning second place in a time of 1:26. She decided to take running a bit more seriously, joining Wicked Running Club and trying some training plans. She ran her first marathon this fall in 3:04:27. In addition, she holds a half marathon PR of 1:25, a 5 mile PR 30:17, and a 5k PR of 18:20. She looks forward to getting some more strength and speed under her belt this next season, before taking a crack at the marathon again. She is 5’4”, 110 lbs.Off the roads, Courtney is a painter and loving mother to her girls.
Kurt Biesemans: Belgian (Trail)runner in his early 50’s. Professionally the founder of Copilr, a startup studio.
His early sports background was in Triathlon: 3 x full Ironman distance, 10 or so half distance, countless 1/4 and 1/8 distance. Due to injuries, I focused more on cycling. He got back into (serious) running in 2017.
Kurt runs around 60K per week and averages 10 hours of sports per week, including cycling, swimming, and strength training. His playground is 70 % road and 30% trail with the trail often muddy due to our wet climate.
Running results to date: 5K: 22min, 10K: 45min 15k: 1:10 Half Marathon: 1h40min, Marathon: 3:41. I ran the Tour du Mont Blanc this spring in 4,5 days.
He also enjoys hiking. In 2024 he hiked Trail du Mont Blanc in 9 days with his wife and 2 daughters (14 and 16). His weight is 77 kg and measures 1m86cm. Typical shoe size is EUR44; UK 9,5; US 10.
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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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