On Cloudsoma Trail Runner Review

As I burst across the finish line of my first race, I was feeling very grateful for my shoes. I’d trained in the On Cloudsoma and worn them almost every day since I took them out of the box. I’d grown attached to these shoes as if they were an extension of me.

I consider myself an athlete, but an average runner. So I’m the perfect person to test Cloudsoma. I am the type of runner who, despite running all the time, has never made the leap to marathons or even halfs. This shoe aims to bridge the gap between a technical trail shoe and a city hill hiker.

According to On, this shoe is meant to be worn for 30 to 60 minutes — a fact that shocked me until I checked my watch and realized my regular runs clocked in on the hour. The On Cloudsoma graduated me to trail prowess. From the first time I wore them, I cut my mile time. With each light step, I was transitioning from a person who casually runs to a true runner.

In short: The On Cloudsoma ($180) is a mid-cushion shoe for casual to occasional joggers pushing for midweek runs and short races. This is a trail shoe for those looking to feel every root, rock, and step. The traditional Missiongrip chunky multi-directional rubber lugs with the “cloud-like” segmented sole shape promising mud flinging and a tight grip. This shoe targets trail runners who want the feel of a barefoot shoe but without compromising support.

Check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Trail Running Shoes for Women.

On Cloudsoma Trail Running Shoe Review

I started seeing On shoes everywhere after I got my Cloudsomas. My neighbor laughed as we brushed shoulders and hurled our twin On boxes into the recycling bin. I did a double-take as every other jogger in my local park rollicked in Cloud 6 and Cloudtech. Shoppers holding bags at my street’s crosswalk shifted hips, wearing jeans or black leggings paired with Cloud X 4.

According to a recent New York Times article, the company, which started in 2010, is booming, but is being warned to tread carefully. As a business, On is openly calculating the cost and weight of balancing pleasing the masses while continuing to produce shoes for true athletes.

The On Cloudsoma encapsulates those efforts.

Impression on Race Day

The Cloudsoma’s upper is so form-fitting, I could barely put them on the first time. There is no traditional tongue separation, and they slip on with effort. The one-piece knit construction is tight. My wide feet actually went numb during the first wear.

However, soon they started conforming to my foot, and they morphed into a second skin. Comfort replaced uncertainty, and it wasn’t long before I never wanted to take them off.

Before using On Cloudsoma, I ran in the lightweight HOKA Speedgoat 6. Before those, $25 sneakers from Decathlon. The HOKA Speedgoats revolutionized my running with their mattress-like support, incredible traction, and 5mm heel-to-toe drop, the rolling sensation rocking my feet forward with every step.

But I couldn’t have run my first race, the longest distance for me yet, without the Cloudsoma. Since running in the Cloudsoma, I’ve steadily improved my times and distances. In my first session, I easily pushed a mile further than usual. I only stopped because it started pouring rain.

In the Rain

Even though it rained on race day, cutting across the dirty trails, puddles, and patchy grass pockets, I never once felt myself about to slip despite the Missiongrip outsole’s smooth surface foam finish. They slid easily while testing standing.

I’m used to Vibram soles with traction that feels like tire rubber on pavement, not soft foam soles shaped like clouds. Despite the mental gymnastics happening in my brain as I tested the shoes running on gravel, I never slipped once. The laces even stayed tied.

The shoes soaked through quickly, though. They have absolutely no water resistance. However, their performance did not let up on the slick gravel, mud, or wet roads.

Comfort & Sensitivity

The shoes boast a sensitivity I’m not used to, which at first put me off — still coming down from my HOKA high. Literally. The HOKAs I had been wearing had a 40mm heel stack. The Cloudsoma only has 33 mm. The difference jarred me.

The cushioning of the HOKA helped me take more strides, but as I moved into longer distances, my legs needed to carry me more than my shoes did. I needed better and more sensitive contact with the trail. With the Cloudsoma, I feel almost every step and twig, without costing me my knees.

My lungs are well-trained; the difficulty of the run usually lands in the legs for me. On describes the Cloudsoma as a “natural-sensation” alternative that prioritizes agility over bulk.

I went in blind on my first run; I did not read the shoe specs beforehand. I worried the Cloudsomas would be too close to the Altras, which I had sworn off. To me, Altras and zero-drop shoes are equivalent to driving a car without power steering. However, these were impressively comfortable.

Very Light

The Cloudsoma have a decent amount of foam despite their natural feel. With a mid-range heel stack (33mm) and a mid-range forefoot (27mm), the foam is mid-level. The shoes still offer decent support and promise one thing — a feeling of lightness. The energy return is not significant, but the lightness is unparalleled.

The women’s shoes weigh 6.8 ounces per shoe, undercutting another of On’s trail shoes, the women’s Cloudvista 2, which weighs 8.6 ounces. Compared to the shoes on our guide to the Best Running Shoes for Women, the Cloudsoma wouldn’t be the lightest — but it’s close. The Merrell Trail Glove 7 has it beat at just 6.1 ounces per shoe.

Traction & Outsole

At first, the traction and feel of the On Cloudsoma unnerved me. I pranced from boulder to boulder and tree root to path with the ease of an elk. There’s no way I can keep up this lightness of step, I thought. Yet, the miles kept ticking upward on my Nike Run App, as it announced brightly, “One mile to go!” 

The Cloudsoma have a decent amount of foam despite their natural feel. With a mid-range heel stack (33mm) and a mid-range forefoot (27mm), the foam is mid-level.

The shoes still offer decent support and promise one thing — a feeling of lightness. The energy return is not significant, but the lightness is unparalleled. The women’s shoes weigh 6.8 ounces, undercutting another of On’s trail shoes, the women’s Cloudvista 2, which weighs 8.6 ounces.

On claims that the outsole pattern is mapped directly to the midsole sections. When an outsole section hits a rock or root, it triggers a specific part of the midsole, sending instant feedback to the brain via the receptors in your foot. I can’t say which receptors in my brain were active, but the feeling made me pay more attention to where I stepped and my stride.

Room for Improvement

The downside to the Cloudsoma is not disguised. On openly states this is not a long-distance shoe. The lightness and the thin upper don’t parade themselves as extremely hardwearing (although I have not tested these shoes long enough to make a claim either way).

The shoe is marketed for short runs and day hikes, but for a beginner, it could be too much feel and not enough stability. I can see rolled ankles or quick toes caught for the less well-versed casual hiker.

These shoes have benefited me as a trained runner looking to increase my performance. Without the foundation of leg, foot, and ankle muscles I already had, I’d be unlikely to be able to appreciate the technology put into them.

The structural cushioning is designed so that each midsole section reacts independently to ground stimuli, flexing with the foot’s natural movement. Despite the moderate amount of foam, this puts pressure on the runner to maintain an efficient stride, something an early runner might struggle with.

However, I believe casual hikers can still find value in them. On’s appeal across all their products is their equal performance in comfort and style. I found myself fitting in with streetwear trends as well as the trail crowd, a solid 2-in-1.

The bonus of these shoes is for the city hiker who wants to walk around town and finish with a quick hike or run without even changing gear.

On Cloudsoma: Who Is It For?

Runners frequenting short trails looking for something light to elevate their distance and time with great traction, sensitivity, and cushion, should look to the Cloudsoma. As an average trail runner, the mid-level foam provided a smooth transition, helping me build more muscle and run farther.

What they removed from the foam was made up for in performance. Feeling more of the terrain means more is up to your own coordination and balance. That is an advantage, not a disadvantage, which elevated my training. 

Especially for casual runners looking for a shoe they can also wear elsewhere that blends well with everyday wear, the Cloudsoma would work well.

If you’re looking for something to run long distances in, this is not your shoe. If you’re a high-caliber trail runner who really stacks miles every day, look elsewhere. However, if you want a trail shoe that is light, lets you run naturally, and doesn’t lack support on shorter, more casual trail runs, the On Cloudsoma should be your pick. I will continue to use mine for all of my shorter runs this summer.