On Cloudultra 3 Review: A Fine Follow-Up

Introduction to the On Cloudultra 3

ALLISON: I was honestly a little hesitant when it came to trying On’s trail shoes. My past experiences with their road models were frustrating – I always seemed to end my runs with rocks wedged in the outsole. Still, the rave reviews for the Cloudultra Pro had me curious. If the pro version was getting so much praise, I wanted to see whether the standard Cloudultra 3 could hold its own. Would it deliver that same reliable performance while fixing some of the issues that had turned me off from On shoes in the past?

JON: This summer I got to experience On shoes for the first time for both road (Cloudsurfer Max) and now trails with the Cloudultra 3. On has taken notes from the innovation used in its Cloudultra Pro premium racing model and trickled it down to the third iteration of the Cloudultra. Looking at previous versions this looks like a completely different shoe with everything overhauled. 

Like Allison, I have always been skeptical of On; mostly in part to the midsole design being closer to a piece of cheese than a cloud. I didn’t want to constantly pick debris out of it and it just felt gimmicky to me. After having a positive experience with the Cloudsurfer Max, I was ready to see how these would fare on the trails.

MATT: My fellow reviewers seem to share my cautious view of On as a whole. I think it may be a bit unfair at this point, as On has made some large strides. Just a few years ago, I’d spend my dentist appointments convincing the assistants how much better their feet and legs will feel if they swap out their Ons with another brand.

The recent past, however, has seen some foundational design changes in On shoes, and– as a result– some really quality models have changed the reputation of On.

Personally, I have not tested an On trail shoe since the Cloudvista was launched. I was not a big fan of the Cloudvista but as both Allison and Jon mentioned above, the hype seemed very real around the Cloudultra Pro so I was intrigued to give On another shot on the trails and see how much of the tech from the Pro trickled down to the Cloudultra 3.

What we like about the On Cloudultra 3

ALLISON: Well, first off, I was pleasantly surprised, no rocks got stuck in the outsole this time, and the grip was excellent for a non-Vibram shoe. I felt confident running on a mix of gravel paths, dirt trails, and even some slick grass. The shoe also felt impressively stable on rocks and more technical terrain, which gave me the confidence to push the pace without worrying about rolling an ankle or losing footing. The outsole lugs seemed to bite well into loose dirt but didn’t feel overly aggressive on hard-packed surfaces, which made transitions between trail and road sections smooth.

Another highlight was the breathability. During hot, humid summer runs, my feet stayed noticeably cooler and drier compared to other trail shoes I’ve worn, and I appreciated that the upper didn’t feel overly padded or suffocating. Even after longer efforts, the shoe never felt waterlogged or heavy with sweat.

Despite what the specs might suggest, the Cloudultra 3 didn’t feel heavy or sluggish. It had a nimble, almost road-shoe-like feel, which made it easy to stay light on my feet and keep a quicker turnover. That said, the cushioning leans toward the firmer side, which can be a plus for runners who like a responsive, more connected-to-the-ground experience.

JON: The first thing I noticed upon unboxing was the questionable mustard yellow (On calls this Pelican) colorway. I’ve had plenty of shoes in neon yellow but never this shade – and probably for a good reason.  One of the first runs I did in them was trotting through mud which helped mute this. It looked better the dirtier they got thankfully.

The Helion HF hyper midsole compound provided a balance of support and snappiness. The ride is on the firmer side, but the bounciness of the foam combined with the pods compressing on impact provided a quick transition and gave a fast ride. The 6 mm drop had me landing and lifting off on the upper area of my midfoot. I feel like 6-8 mm drops are always a sweet spot for me since I am not slamming on my heels nor touching my calves.  Like Allison, I was relieved that the midsole didn’t pick up any rock, mud, or any other fun debris that might be in the woods.

The outsole grip worked eloquently. It gave me excellent control and traction on everything I threw at it. I could take these through mud, water, and rocks with ease. It wasn’t overly aggressive either so they felt fine whenever I would run on asphalt. 

The upper breathed great through the hot and humid Maryland summer. It was resilient and dried quickly when it inevitably would get wet. The lacing gave a solid locked down feel with no heel slippage and was all around comfortable. The elastic band to hold my laces down in place was a nice touch as well as someone who constantly tucks their laces in to stay in place.

The fit is true to size. I normally wear size 13 but was sent 12.5 and it wasn’t tight at all. The toebox had plenty of space and there were no issues where it felt too narrow or any hot spots on my feet. 

MATT: My sense of style could be called into question at times (big socks & slides guy), so unlike Jon, the matte yellow colorway of the Cloudultra 3 I received were a thing of beauty. It may be that it’s a color you don’t often see, or I could have been influenced by On’s track record of top notch color palettes, but to each their own.

I can agree with both Jon and Allison on most of their observations when it comes to fit and performance. The Cloudultra 3 definitely has more of a road shoe fit and feel to it, and I would agree that it feels lighter and snappier underfoot than the numbers might say. The majority of my runs were done in heat and humidity and I loved the breathability of the upper and its ability to shed water.

I typically prefer a softer midsole ride but I thought the Cloudultra 3 made up for being on the firmer side by providing really good combination of ground feel and energy return in the toe off, especially on long stretches of single track.

The combination of the Helion HF hyper foam and the engineered rocker provide a nice snappy ride that was missing when testing the Cloudvista.

What we don’t like about the On Cloudultra 3

ALLISON: If you’re someone who prefers a plush, highly cushioned running shoe, the On Cloudultra 3 may not be the best choice for you. While it does offer a responsive ride, the cushioning feels much firmer compared to other maximalist shoes on the market. This design might appeal to runners who like a more connected, ground-feel experience, but for those who log long miles and want extra softness underfoot, it can feel a bit unforgiving after a while.

Another thing I noticed was the toe box. Compared to other shoes I’ve worn, it felt slightly more narrow, which may not be an issue for runners with a standard or narrow foot shape. However, if you have wider feet or prefer a roomier fit up front, this could lead to some discomfort, especially during longer runs when your feet tend to swell.

JON: Short of the initial shock of the ugly colorway, I really didn’t have any complaints. I agree with Allison in that if you want something that’s softer feeling with lots and lots of foam, this probably isn’t for you. 

MATT: As mentioned above, while the firm ride has its benefits, for a shoe marketed as “plush” I would take that designation with a grain of salt as I could see the firmness of the ride potentially catching up to me if I were to go for more than a few hours.

The Missiongrip outsole did perform quite well while on a variety of terrain that included rocks, roots, and gravel, however I found the rubber a bit slick on wet surfaces, including a fall on a stretch of wet asphalt in the rain.

It seems I was the only one who had an issue with the outsole so it may have just been an unlucky and random situation but still something to note.

Final thoughts on the On Cloudultra 3

ALLISON (10/15): If you’re already a fan of On shoes and enjoy their signature ride, the Cloudultra 3 will likely be a great fit. This shoe feels very much in line with the brand’s overall design philosophy — lightweight, responsive, and firm underfoot. It delivers that same “connected to the ground” sensation that many On fans appreciate, but with the added durability and traction you need for trails. If you enjoy a firmer, more stable ride, this trail version will probably feel right at home.

JON (13/15): This summer, On has won me over on pavement and now on the trails. It was a pleasant surprise. I was able to get a firm, fast ride with quick transitions with traction is equal to anything I had with a Vibram sole. After testing there was minimal wear which speaks to the higher end price tag. I can see these lasting for quite some time. It will be a perfect fit for my trail rotation on days I need something durable that has some pep. 

MATT (11/15): While I have only tested a handful of On models the past few years, the On Cloudultra 3 is my favorite by far. On has made big strides in the performance aspect of their shoes and they have always nailed the design. If you trend towards a firmer ride underfoot already then I see the Cloudultra 3 being a shoe that you will really enjoy hitting the trails with, and a bonus that they don’t feel too heavy or clunky on the roads either.

You can pick up the On Cloudultra 3 for $190 by using the buttons below.