Fans of On Running are likely to be fans of Porsche as a brand. There is something geeky about Porsche fanatics and the people I know who preach the gospel of On are also a little geeky. They’re also undeniably cool people. For a brand whose prototype shoe had parts of a garden hose, there is a lot to celebrate about how far they have come while maintaining this techy, geeky, undeniably cool image. At scale, premium technology that keeps improving is something we love to see in the running industry and while On have produced trail shoes, they have yet to produce a trail hit akin to the 991.
The Cloudultra Pro is the long-awaited entry from On Running into the trail super shoe category, released alongside the Cloudultra 3. On have been taking continuous feedback on this shoe for a long time to tweak it into what we have here today, an altogether complete ultra trail racer that rewards in almost every arena. A bold package with a lot of fancy trim that especially rewards those with advanced trail proficiency and possibly a malfunctioning central governor.
Upper and Fit of the On Cloudultra Pro
What works for me
This may come as the header for what works on the upper, but shoe laces are often an afterthought for many shoe engineers. These are possibly the best shoe laces I have ever run in. The lock down is customizable, reliable and simple. This allows the rest of the upper to perform at its given task without worrying that the laces are going to let everyone else down. Kudos to the team at On!
The upper is extremely breathable and the zoned Leno weave looks incredible and performs flawlessly. I have not experienced even a hint of friction anywhere on the feet. With more use we will see how the material wears with more regular rubbing, scuffing and use but the upper is fantastic!
The heel is generously cushioned without it being bulky. I honestly never thought about the heel once. No heel lift. No Achilles chafe. Just a solid cage to run in.
The upper is a great fit and every gram has been shaved from it, which is perfect for days where every gram counts in training or racing. Consequently, there is a lot to celebrate in what On have achieved with the Cloudultra Pro upper.
What doesn’t work for me
There is very little to talk about here. Two things did creep up but neither caused me measurable discomfort.
The toe box is a little roomy for runners like me who have thin feet. I noticed some bunching at the front of the laces. This is not unusual for me, but something to note for other runners with similar feet. No issues with the width (which is neither narrow nor wide), this is purely on the volume of material above the forefoot.
Then, the zoned cushioning on the tongue is a fantastic execution let down by the length of the tongue itself. I always use the runner’s loop and the laces run right on the edge of the tongue. This led to the tongue creeping down just enough for the laces to run directly on the sock which did become noticeable on longer runs and would be a problem on ultra-distance runs if you like to lock down with the runner’s loop.
Midsole and Ride of the On Cloudultra Pro
What works for me
With so much midsole to comment on, there is a lot of positive news here. When you first head out in this shoe, it feels a little like a marathon racer. Your mind inevitably wonders how this is going to manage technical trails and as you learn to trust this midsole you best get ready for an absolute trail party because the Cloudultra Pro loves to fly.
On have the spiciness just right with the dual‑layer Helion HF foam and the nylon Speedboard® for rebound & stability. The combination rewards when you open the taps, especially on lesser technical trails with more speed. One of my favorite running gurus talks about ‘land, load and explode’ as a perfect running technique. The Cloudultra Pro significantly rewards when you load correctly with noticeable explosive sensations while running downhill with reckless abandon. This shoe is a joy to run in and the Speedboard gives more than expected stability going downhill and conversely gives just enough spring going uphill.
Running uphill in the shoe is as much fun as going downhill and the foams work together well to give extra spring to your step, even on the steepest sections. I found that at the typical point where I may transition from running to speed hiking, I was able to keep a slow running pace with the positive energy return without a heart rate spike. More kudos to the design team.
Transitioning between climbs and descents, the Cloudultra are amazing on flatter trails. I had to hold myself back repeatedly because they are so much fun to run on these sorts of trails. It felt effortless to pick up the pace from recovery to threshold, subsequently resulting in a few short walks before tackling the next climb, unable to wipe the smile from my face.
The midsole is well considered, versatile and extremely fun to run on. It is also more stable than expected, especially at higher speeds.
What doesn’t work for me
With great speed comes great responsibility. The Cloudultra Pro did not give me 100% confidence that it would behave predictably in tighter, technical trails. I am not a cautious trail runner, and I did have a couple of moments where the shoe rolled awkwardly over obstacles, almost in the way a road shoe would. This was also not entirely unexpected, given the volume of the shoe itself.
Slow, technical uphill running did not present the same issue, but hiking in the Cloudultra felt quite clunky and cumbersome. Again, this is not entirely unexpected given the geometry of the shoe.
Outsole of the On Cloudultra Pro
Grip and Traction
The 3.5mm Missiongrip lugs spread across the outsole like a weather pattern have been a ton of fun across open dirt roads, technical climbs, descents and the ‘loose over hard’ surfaces we have here in Girona. The grip is reliable and stable going up and downhill.
This feels like the perfect outsole if you do live in a dry area, because a 3.5mm lug is just never going to be a lug for mud. If I need a mud shoe, it would be lower to the ground with bigger lugs.
The execution on the Cloudultra Pro outsole feels succinct for the shoe it is without apology or extra explanation. I am here for it!
Durability
The Leno weave is becoming more popular on this super shoe tier product and has a reputation for being strong and resistant to abrasion and gives me no reason to believe otherwise. The durability of the midsole appears to be on par with the upper so far and I will give more feedback as I run more in this shoe, which I am excited for. Zero concerns.
Conclusion
Value for Money
The price of the Cloudultra is top tier and there is a lot of technology here to justify it. Value for money is likely more important towards the middle-upper sector of the market, whereas this is more about performance. I think On will do well at this price point with this shoe and runners looking for a more versatile, well priced shoe will buy the Cloudultra 3.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
I would throw the Cloudultra Pro in anywhere except for recovery runs or runs with a lot of technical, vertical trails.
Final Verdict
Closing as we opened with a comparison of Porsche and On Running, I would class the Cloudultra Pro as the 911 Dakar in the lineup. The Cloudultra Pro is a bold, strong statement from On as a trail super shoe in a growing market segment that delivers with perfect spiciness, a superb mix of technologies and just a little danger. A commanding shoe with a chassis that rises to the occasion, an exclusive look and a ride that will leave you with a smile on your face.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
On Cloudultra Pro vs. Salomon S/Lab Ultra
What the S/LAB Ultra lacks in the snappy, responsive midsole, the CloudUltra Pro lacks in tight technical trail efficiency. I really like both shoes, I would race both over 50km but pick a shoe based on the specificity of the course itself.
