On Cloudsurfer Next Review

Comfort and Fit

The Cloudsurfer Next is decently comfortable and fits well. The material choices don't jump out as exceptionally plush, but the upper is simple and functional. It's lightweight, with an engineered woven upper that is airy on the exterior and soft on the interior. There is a soft knit material around the ankle and heel, with moderate padding in those areas. The tongue is padded and gusseted.

The laces don't stand out, but the lacing system is well-executed, allowing for minute adjustment at each loop. We were able to dial in a fit that provided excellent lockdown. Throughout testing, we didn't have issues with sliding, blisters, or rubbing. The overall experience was solid. It's not the most comfortable upper in our lineup; as a versatile daily trainer, the upper is less plush than some comfort-optimized models. But we found it to be more than comfortable enough for running, and even some daily wear.

The overall fit is about average, with a length that is true to size. The toe-box is slightly narrower than average, but not by much. The midfoot is of average width, and the heel is slightly wider than average. Overall, we found it to be easy to dial in the fit during testing.

Cushioning

Running in the Cloudsurfer Next is an interesting experience. It rolls extremely well under the foot; we found it had one of the smoothest heel-to-toe transitions in our lineup. On the other hand, the midsole foam itself isn't exceptionally forgiving. It's made of On's Helion foam, which On describes as a “superfoam,” but to our legs, it feels very similar to a standard EVA midsole. There is no noticeable amount of energy return, and the foam feels quite firm underfoot. The firmer foam provides a reasonably stable and supportive platform for runners who prefer to feel planted. The squared-off edges of the shoe can feel like an ankle-roll risk when running on off-camber roads or paths.

We think the cushioning performance is pretty mediocre, with 34mm of foam at the heel and a 6mm drop to the toe. While it packs a moderate amount of foam under your foot, the shoe doesn't feel very forgiving over longer runs. For example, after a 90-minute effort, our legs felt noticeably more “pounded” than they did after the same duration run in key competitors. We believe this is due to the relative lack of resilience in the midsole foam. The shoe felt noticeably firmer in sub-30-degree weather than it did in higher temperatures. Some variation of foam firmness in different temperatures is normal. What we experienced in the Cloudsurfer Next was noticeably more than in key competitors.

Breathability

The Cloudsurfer Next took home a middle-of-the-pack result for breathability. The upper is lightweight, and the exterior is airy. However, the interior lining is a soft material with relatively little breathability. We found the shoes to be a little stuffy on hot summer days, but didn't have issues in more normal temperature ranges.

Traction

Throughout testing, we didn't experience any issues on cold, wet, or dry pavement. The rubber outsole has good coverage on the forefoot, and the criss-cross pattern provides a good grip on wet surfaces. Durability seems to be decent. We think the shape of the outsole on the edges of the shoe is a great choice. Near the ball of the foot on both the inner and outer sides of the shoe, the outsole extends all the way to the edge of the shoe. These high-contact areas often show signs of premature wear, but few shoes extend the outsole coverage all the way to that point.

Should You Buy the On Cloudsurfer Next?

Honestly, we think there are better options. The Cloudsurfer Next is not a bad shoe, but the mediocre cushioning and comfort disappoint compared to key competitors. If you find them for a good deal, they might work for casual running shorter distances. However, there are several other shoes that offer similar or better performance.

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