On Cloudrunner 3 Review: What’s Firmer Than Bein’ Firm?

Introduction to the On Cloudrunner 3

LINDSAY: I remember my very first On shoe review in 2023 when I was just a baby Believe in the Run contributor. It was the Cloudgo and, back then, it was the bees’ knees of On daily trainers. These days, it’s phased out of production altogether and only available through third-party retailers or ole’ reliable (aka Amazon).

On has essentially moved, uh, well, on. So, we will, too. Today, we’re looking at On’s Cloudrunner 3. At first glance, this third iteration’s appearance looked different; a side-by-side comparison to the Cloudrunner 2 confirmed it. Right away, you can see a steeper heel rocker even though the rest of the shoe remains grounded. There are also smaller “Clouds” or the hollowed-out sections of the midsole. The upper is slimmer, including a flatter tongue and smaller lace eyelet platforms. Aesthetically, On very rarely misses.

We all know it’s not just about what’s on the outside, though. So, let’s get to know this newest model from the Swiss brand. Starting with all things good.

RYAN: Lindsay isn’t the only one with a history involving daily trainers from On. However, I think it took me a bit longer in my journey with Believe in the Run to get there. Somehow, On’s creations were my reward for surviving a few early rounds of Mizuno trainers (before the Neo Vista revolution) and overcoming a Topo Athletic Cyclone that happened to coincide with my first running injury (though that’s probably a coincidence).

Interestingly, though, my experience with On began in the hybrid road-to-trail running shoe category. I hopped from the Cloudvista (RIP) to the Cloudsurfer Trail (RIP, well, kind of) before I finally got my feet into a proper road shoe as one of Robbe’s hand-me-downs. That shoe, the Cloudeclipse, made me believe in the new things that On was cooking in a big way.

So, when the Cloudrunner 2 showed up, I was pretty excited. I figured it would build on the good things that had already started and hopefully roll smoothly through my stride with some Swiss style. On one count, I was right. The Cloudrunner 2 looked darn good, even if it mostly took on the role of a comfortable walking shoe for me.

Then, the Cloudrunner 3 showed up.

From the minute I opened the box, I knew something would be different. The Cloudrunner 3 both looked and felt a bit different from its predecessor. It had smaller, more angular Cloud pods, more padding throughout the upper, and it was, well, gray. So very gray. Like, Baltimore’s skies from early December through mid-January gray.

Not to be discouraged, I laced it up and took it for a fairly long 16-miler right out of the box, figuring I’d know pretty quickly if I loved or hated it. I was right. Maybe I didn’t know how early I’d be right, but I was right. Let’s talk about it.

What we like about the On Cloudrunner 3

LINDSAY: Unfortunately, what I like about the shoe starts and (mostly) ends with the aesthetic. It’s a strong “like,” though. This is a good-looking shoe. The Forest Glacier colorway is a sleek white and complements just about any run or work fit. The rest of the colorways are varieties of white, with an all-black restaurant server option. The “On” side overlay is also 3D rather than printed, which is a nice touch. It’s all in the details, baby.

The upper is a smooth engineered mesh that is, indeed, breathable. From the top-down view, it’s much less gridded, looking sleeker and more stylish than Cloudrunner 2. They added significant heel cushioning to version three as well. Almost too much, but there’s no Achilles rub, so for now I’ll just say it’s comfortable and give it a thumbs up. The toe box isn’t crazy narrow, but if you’re on the border of needing a wide fit, I’d probably go wide since it’s available.

I love the higher sidewalls of the midsole. I think that’s the direction running shoes are headed in with stability platforms, and the Cloudrunner 2 didn’t fit that mold, so A+ for the change. The midsole still looks like a claw at the heel and is even more apparent now with the pronounced heel rocker.

The outer grid provides full coverage, unlike the previous partial grip that covered only the toes and heels. It makes a huge difference to traction and durability. I haven’t noticed any slippage on tight turns or wet roads, and that’s saying something since right now the city is a giant ice rink.

RYAN: Right, so, in almost direct contrast with Lindsay, I can’t say that I loved the overall look of the Cloudrunner 3, but I think it’s mostly due to my colorway. If I judge it purely based on the Cloud pods and the sleek upper, yes, it does look pretty good. The plastic heel clip is subtle, and I like the pop of the red Swiss flag against the otherwise grayness.

One thing I will agree with her on, though, is the padding throughout the upper. On really packed it in there, making sure that this one would feel like a marshmallow wrapped over the top of your foot. The tongue and heel counter are plush, making it easy to cinch down the laces without any bite. It may have helped with the otherwise long toe box, too, as I think my lockdown made up for the extra length.

Also, shout out to On for the more complete rubber coverage on the outsole. I think the additional protection helps a lot, especially as I’ve been running through the city on a not-so-thin sheet of ice for the last week. I’ve yet to really slip or slide beyond what I would have expected, which just means I’ve had the same usual issues on the plastic decking that sometimes pops up around the harbor. On wood, pavement, and brick, though, no problems.

If I have to say one nice thing about my all-gray colorway, it’s that it barely shows evidence of the dirty snow it’s been run through. I’ve tried to be careful about splish-splashing, mostly because this isn’t waterproof whatsoever, but it hasn’t worked — not that you’d be able to tell.

I’m also not really a runner with serious stability needs, so some parts of the Cloudrunner 3 have been lost on me. I think the plastic heel clip is probably doing a good job, if only because I don’t really notice it. It’s meant to be a subtle stability implement, though, so that sounds about right. If I had felt a clunky overcorrection on every step, I probably would have called it quits much earlier in this shoe.

Lindsay pointed out that there’s a bit more of a rocker to the Cloudrunner 3, and I’ll give that to her — there definitely is. You most certainly go from heel to toe nice and smooth, which is pretty much all that got me through the last 14 miles of my run.

What we don’t like about the On Cloudrunner 3

LINDSAY: It hurts my sweet little heart to say this, but the list is long. In theory, after reading the above, one would assume this is going to be a wonderful shoe. They’d be wrong. Wearing this On shoe is like going on a date with the world’s hottest man or woman and finding out they have the personality of a brick wall.

This shoe also feels like a brick wall, coming in at 8.8 oz for a US W7. I’m big on comparisons for readers who are newer to running, so to give you a better idea, compare that weight to that of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 at 7.2 oz. Yes, that’s a different type of shoe — speed work vs daily training — but it makes a big difference if you want any flexibility in what you can do with a shoe.

Despite a slimmed-down upper, I still had a hard time getting a good lockdown with the laces. After multiple attempts that ultimately ended with me having to loosen things back up, I just decided to leave it alone. There wasn’t too much heel slip, so the looser laces weren’t a deal breaker. Once I got on a run, it was like I was fighting for each step. There was no energy return, and it was just so firm. I tried wearing it for every run and even at work to see if maybe it just needed more time to break in. I’m here to report that they only got marginally softer. Whomp whomp.

RYAN: You ever see Ben Simmons try to shoot a three-pointer? Brick city. I know that’s a dated reference at this point, but like that man could not shoot from a distance to save his life. The On Cloudrunner 3 puts up just as many bricks. I know it claims to use On’s Helion Superfoam in the midsole, but like I barely believe it. There’s simply no return of any kind upon landing. You need the rocker to do literally all of the work.

Up next, although I like that the upper doesn’t shy away from its padding, I kind of wish it would sometimes. There’s just too much cushion, so you can’t always tell whether or not the shoe is tight enough. I’d cinch down the laces to the point where I thought I was okay, only to feel my forefoot wiggle because of how the toebox opens back up. It’s nice for those with wider feet, but when I can’t tighten everything, it simply doesn’t work for my foot.

And, again, this colorway is awful. It’s like the type of thing they’d send Wide-Foot Jarhett because they don’t make any other colorways to fit his clompers. I’m a very normal US M8; there are definitely better colorways to send out. It’s just gray from top to bottom, like who’s buying that unless they’re in some branch of the service industry that’s okay with not-black shoes?

Final thoughts on the On Cloudrunner 3

LINDSAY: The On Cloudrunner 3 is a true-to-size, good-looking shoe. The ride is smooth and stable, albeit a little heavy with no energy return. So, it just depends on your goals here, since the versatility is low. Even with all the changes, the price remains the same at $160.

Would I pay $160 to wear shoes I’m only going to walk in and wear to work? Probably not, but you do you, boo.

RYAN: Yeah… I don’t think you should buy this one. I’m sure some people will because they like the clean On aesthetic, but it’s not the best daily trainer, nor is it the best stability shoe, nor is it the best value. It’s more expensive than the New Balance Rebel v5, the Adidas Evo SL, and the Asics Novablast 5. No, those aren’t stability shoes, but they’ll give you more value for your miles.

If you really want something with comparable stability features, Brooks has the Glycerin GTS 23, Nike has the Structure Plus, and Puma has the ForeverRun Nitro, all of which will at least bring a smile to your face once or twice. I don’t think this shoe will.

You can pick up the On Cloudrunner 3 for $160 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.