First Look at the New On Cloudsurfer.
Every human dreams of being able to fly. And with the new On Cloudsurfer, that dream is within reach. The newly-released Cloudsurfer is an iconic piece of running wizardry, with it’s patented 13 ‘Cloudtec’ Clouds, breathable mesh upper (a new feature), inner layer sock construction (also new), and an arrow pattern for extra grip (once again, new). The Cloudsurfer ticks many boxes.
Judging by the current market trends for colour coordination, the brighter the better. You’ll give a big high five when you see the Cloudsurfer, as the Neon Yellow and Grey (Men) and Lava and Glacier (Women) is hard to miss. You can almost run in the dark without a headlamp they are that bright! But if bright isn’t your thing, On also offer a less ‘bling’ option of Navy and Steel (Men) and Velvet and Blue (Women).
So how does it perform on the road and trails? Well the Cloudsurfer is billed as a performance trainer, but you wouldn’t know it from it’s minimal weight. At only 275g for the Men’s shoe, it comes under the bulky 300g+ range of most trainers. This is from the mesh upper minimising excess material, and the hollow ‘clouds’ which are the main function of the shoe.
Take the Cloudsurfers on the road and you’ll immediately notice the responsiveness. As with any new shoe, the springiness is a godsend. But with the Cloudsurfer, you’ll feel like you’re amongst the clouds, such is the receptiveness. When On claims to achieve ‘More Air Time’, they weren’t wrong.
For those who frequently hit the trails, the spring would be an unknown quantity compared to the pure ‘roadies’. But even with the reduced weight, the Cloudsurfers feel as though your ankles are locked away safely, and can freely follow their natural plane of motion.
Post run, your legs can sometimes feel like they’ve gone a few rounds in the Octagon with the latest MMA superstar. But the 13 ‘clouds’ on each sole of the Cloudsurfer are amazingly cushioning, and offer comfort that is akin to laying amongst a pile of pillows. Without being to spongy, the CloudTec is spot on.
Since taking ownership of the latest Cloudsurfers, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the improvements On has made since Cloudsurfer 1.0. They’ve handled a strong mix of road runs and trail runs, while still keeping the legs fresh. The smooth feel of the shoes adds to the enjoyment of the ride, and each day is a brand new experience flying amongst the clouds.
By Liam Bromilow.
