Comparison
On Cloudmonster vs Cloudsurfer vs Cloudrunner
On has three daily trainers and they are not interchangeable. Stack, drop and ride, side by side.
On’s naming does not help anyone. Cloudmonster, Cloudsurfer, Cloudrunner — three daily trainers, three different rides, and nothing in the names tells you which is which. Here is the short version.
The numbers
| Cloudmonster 3 | Cloudsurfer Max | Cloudrunner 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heel / forefoot | 38.6 / 32.2 mm | 37.3 / 29.4 mm | 36.8 / 28.7 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm |
| Weight (men’s US 9) | ~301 g | ~292 g | ~298 g |
| Best for | Daily easy running, everyday wear | Easy runs, long relaxed miles | Easy running, walking, all-day wear |
The stack heights are closer than the marketing suggests. What separates them is how the CloudTec pods are tuned, and the drop.
Cloudmonster: the firm one
Despite the name and the visual bulk, the Cloudmonster is the most grounded of the three. The big CloudTec pods compress slowly rather than sinking, so the ride reads firm and stable rather than plush. Runners who dislike squishy shoes tend to get on with it best.
It is also the most wearable off the run, which is a large part of why it sells.
Cloudsurfer: the soft one
The Cloudsurfer Max takes the same idea and softens it. Slightly less foam under the forefoot, a more forgiving compression, and the most relaxed ride of the three. It is the one to pick for long, slow miles where you are not trying to do anything except finish comfortably.
Cloudrunner: the everyday one
The Cloudrunner 3 has the lowest stack and the highest drop at 8 mm, which suits heel strikers and anyone who spends as much time walking in their shoes as running in them. It is the least specialised of the three, and the easiest to recommend to someone who is not sure what they want.
Which one
- Cloudmonster — you want a stable, grounded daily trainer that also looks good with jeans.
- Cloudsurfer — you want the softest ride of the three for long easy runs.
- Cloudrunner — you heel strike, you walk a lot, or you want one shoe that does everything at an easy pace.
None of the three is a speed shoe. If you want to run fast, look at our race day shoes and keep one of these for the rest of the week.
Fit
On shoes tend to fit snug through the midfoot and true to length. Wide feet are better served by the Cloudmonster in its wide version, which we carry. Conversions are in the size guide.
See the full On Running range, or compare against the rest of our road trainers.
Stack heights, drops and weights as listed on our product pages, for a men’s US 9.