On CloudGo Review
This week at Northern Runner we’ve taken the latest CloudTec running shoes for a spin and created our On CloudGo review. On running shoes have developed a lot since their inception in 2010. Originally the ‘clouds’ on the bottom of their first shoe the CloudSurfer were designed to stimulate the feet to function. A thin plastic plate within the midsole was designed to mimic your planta fascia by stretching when loaded and springing you into your next step. The On CloudSurfer was designed to work with your feet rather than ‘do the job’ of your feet. It was a different way of looking at running shoe development. The result was a shoe that reduced heel strike and helped you maintain a more upright posture.
Although On running shoes look very different now, they are designed with the same concept in mind and many of the same features.
The On CloudGo is an everyday training shoe. It has the speed board in the midsole and the ‘clouds’ are still there, although they are now buried in the midsole. This still allows the midsole to compress with your foot but makes the midsole more durable. The early ‘clouds’ on the bottom of the CloudSurfer could sometimes break. Stones also got caught between them. These are now all issues of the past with the latest outsole design.
The CloudGo upper is made of 85 to 90% recycled material and the mesh feels soft to touch. The tongue and heel cup are adequately padded and give the shoe a very plush, almost luxurious feel. The heel cup consists of a half plastic cup that gives the shoes a good grip of your heel. The lacing holes are quite far apart, which together with the overlays that run from the base of the shoe through the upper, allows you to increase or decrease the volume depending on the volume of your feet. The toe box is a lot roomier than it is on other On running shoes I have tried. The big toe line is also straight, which allows you to toe off more effectively than you can with a more traditional pointed toe box. The room in the toe box also gives your feet more space to spread and function in the shoes. This roomy, adjustable upper gives a good fit to a large variety of foot volumes and shapes. The CloudGo wide fit is also available for men and women. If you have wider than average feet you can still have a nice roomy fit.
The heel to forefoot drop of the CloudGo is 11mm, which is at the higher end like many Brooks and New Balance running shoes. This was noticeable to me when I first put the shoes on, as I am used to wearing shoes with a lower drop. Often shoes with this amount of difference between the midsole thickness in the heel and the forefoot encourage a heel strike, almost pulling your heel to the floor due to the stiffness of the shoes through the midfoot. The On CloudGo doesn’t do this. The shoes are flexible through the midfoot and allow for a more natural gait. When running midfoot I did feel that the shoes were pushing me onto my toes but this wasn’t too aggressive and once moving in the shoes I wasn’t aware of it with every foot strike.
The midsole is a mix of EVA and OBC. It has a very soft feel to it but isn’t too mushy. The TPU speed board gives the shoes a springy feel, which helps you maintain a nice quick cadence despite the soft feel to the cushioning. As you would expect from a daily training shoe, the CloudGo feels very comfortable. You feel like you can just keep trotting along. The shoes don’t urge you to go quickly like you would feel in a shoe designed for speed with a carbon plate. The CloudGo is there to do the bulk of your easy, slower running. That said they don’t feel lethargic and I quite happily put a few pick-ups into my easy runs without feeling that the shoe was slowing me down or I was hindered by a stiff or heavy shoe.
Other Considerations
New Balance 880: A similar heel to forefoot drop. A bit more propulsion at toe off but, not as flexible. Available in three width Men’s and two width Women’s. Here is a link to our review for more information: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-880v12-review/
Brooks Ghost 15: Similar heel to forefoot drop. A stiffer shoe that promotes more of a heel strike. Available in three width Men’s and two width Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-ghost-15-review/
Karhu Fusion Ortix: 6mm from heel to forefoot. A more responsive ride and the fulcrum helps maintain good posture. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-fusion-ortix-2021-review-by-northernrunner-com/
Hoka Clifton: 5mm heel to forefoot. A similar soft feel to the midsole. The rocker helps maintain a more upright posture and a high cadence. https://www.northernrunner.com/hoka-m92/clifton-t147
Topo Phantom 2: 5mm heel to forefoot with a broad rounded toe box. Slightly more volume than the CloudGo. Here is a link to our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-phantom-2-review/
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