On Cloudsurfer 2 Review: Firm Wins This Round

Introduction to the On Cloudsurfer 2

ROBBE: I feel like every time we review an On shoe, I have to recap our long and varied relationship with the brand. I don’t think I need to do that again because the On of 2025 is not the On of 2018. The shoes back then were absolute wood and brick, as if they were manufactured in the forests of Catan.

The good news is that eventually, On pivoted, dialed back the gimmicky version of the cloud pods, got rid of the Speedboard, and started making shoes that were actually comfortable and enjoyable to run in. That change in direction was marked by the original Cloudmonster, Cloudgo, Cloudrunner, and the Cloudsurfer, all released within a year of each other. The Cloudsurfer was designed as the premium daily trainer, the one to give the most comfort and cushion for hundreds of miles. It was a bit soft, but we didn’t mind — a cloud should feel like a cloud, after all.

At the time, it was our favorite On shoe to date. Since then, we’ve seen a number of other models. Ones that we were mixed on (Cloudmonster Hyper) and ones that we truly enjoyed (Cloudboom Strike, Cloudeclipse, Cloudboom Echo 3). It seemed that On had finally caught up, or they were at least in the mix enough for their booming popularity and on-point marketing to carry them until their innovation caught up to Nike, Adidas, and Hoka.

On feels the same way, which is why they went all-in during the Super Bowl with a campaign featuring Sesame Street’s Elmo and Roger Federer, leaning into the idea that “SOFT WINS.” Not just in running but in life. A more balanced approach to everything. It’s the opposite of Nike’s current “winning isn’t for everyone” and “if you don’t hate running a little, you don’t love it enough” approach.

That campaign is riding on the release of the Cloudsurfer 2, a shoe that is “one of On’s softest-ever running shoes,” according to On. On paper, not much is different from the first version, aside from an updated tongue and upper. The stack height is the same (32 mm in the heel), the foam is still Helion, and it looks almost identical to both the first version and the Cloudeclipse.

In practice, it’s much different. Is that a good or a bad thing? It depends on what you like. Let’s see if it tickles you the same way it does for Elmo.

CARYN: Robbe did a fabulous job of reviewing Believe in the Run’s reality-TV-worthy rollercoaster relationship with On, so I won’t provide more commentary there. What I will say, however, is that I’m absolutely loving their #softwins campaign. Any brand that uses Roger Federer, Yared Nuguse, and Elmo to create witty videos for their products will always get my support.

All jokes aside, I find their brand strategy creative and inviting – and generally like the aesthetic and feel of most of their shoes, albeit not always for running. I’ve been fortunate to review a handful of On at this point, including the original Cloudsurfer as well as the Cloudeclipse. It’s always fun to receive the second version of a shoe for continuity — so I was tickled to be able to try the Cloudsurfer 2. If it’s good enough for Roger, it’s good enough for me, right? Let’s find out.

KARL: Unlike the rest of the team, my experience with On is rather limited. Until now, I’ve only run in the Cloudmonster Hyper, a shoe I got along fine with, aside from the price point. I’ve heard mostly positive things about the original Cloudsurfer, so I was fairly excited to try the new version to further understand the hype around the Swiss brand.

What we like about the On Cloudsurfer 2

ROBBE: Aesthetically, it’s a pretty good-looking shoe. It does look a lot like a few other On shoes at the moment, namely the Cloudeclipse. Meg didn’t like her colorway, but I didn’t have a problem with mine. It’s not as clean as the Cloudrunner 2, but it’ll do.

On the run, my favorite thing about the shoe is the smooth transition, thanks in part to its rockered geometry and maybe, possibly, the CloudTec Phase. It’s hard to know if the CloudTec Phase and the position of the midsole cutouts really make a difference in the stride, but for the sake of this review, I’ll say that they help. In the same way that the Asics Novablast is buttery smooth, so is the Cloudsurfer. Maybe not as much, but fairly effortless.

If you’re the type of runner who likes a throwback feel to when running shoes were running shoes, not mattresses under the foot, then this shoe may interest you. On says the midsole is still Helion, which I guess it is, but they firmed it up for sure. In one way, it’s a good thing — the original Cloudsurfer was soft and cushy, but it also collapsed on impact with a good amount of ground feel in the forefoot. The midsole is firmer in this shoe, which does provide a more responsive ride. But it comes with tradeoffs.

For up to three miles, this shoe is fine. It’s not going to wow you, but it feels like a reliable running shoe. After that, it gets kind of cumbersome. But if that’s all you do and that’s all you want out of a shoe (along with a comfortable walker), then the Cloudsurfer 2 is a fine shoe. It will work, and that’s the best compliment I can give it.

I also felt the traction was solid, and the weight was decently light for a daily trainer. On says it weighs the same as the last version, but it doesn’t — it weighs a half-ounce more.

The sizing — finally — is true to size on this one.

CARYN: When I pulled the shoe out of the box, I had to double check for a second that it wasn’t the Cloudeclipse. The two look very similar, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in my book.

Aesthetically, I really like this shoe even though the orange and pink colorway is a little bit bright for my liking. On paper, it appeared that not much had changed with the shoe outside of an update to the upper. In reality, it feels very different underfoot. One of my biggest gripes with the first version of this shoe was that the cushion was so soft that it bottomed out on the run. It made the shoe feel sloppy and unstable for me to the point that I didn’t want to run in it — but absolutely loved it outside of running.

While On indicates the midsole foam is still Helion, it feels significantly firmer and more responsive. If you like really soft marshmallow foam, this likely won’t be for you. However, the shoe doesn’t bottom out at all and feels closer on step-in to the Cloudeclipse. The fit is also perfectly true to size, which you don’t always find with other On models.

Also, unlike the Cloudeclipse, I found the shoe a little heavy and intrusive for longer runs — it doesn’t turn over easily and feels slappy (please tell me someone gets this term) after more than a handful of miles. However, just like the OG Cloudsurfer, I could wear it for days walking around. It’s one of my first choices for both walking my dog and working for 14 hours in the hospital — which I know isn’t a reason to buy a shoe, but hey, maybe it is?

KARL: The design is a rather safe move from On. It looks very familiar to its previous iteration as well as other models in its lineup, and the colorway I received isn’t my favorite. I’m not really a pink tangerine kind of guy, but I’ve seen the white colorway, and I’ll admit that looks pretty clean. The fit is true-to-size for me, and the ride is fairly smooth underfoot, thanks to its rocker.

I can’t compare it to any other On shoes in its range, so for me, the ride felt pretty similar to the Nike Pegasus 39, a very no-frills trainer which I’ve put hundreds of miles in, except the Cloudsurfer 2 is slightly wider with more of a rocker. I did take the shoe out during a little rain/snow flurry, and I felt the traction was pretty grippy, so I’ll give it kudos there.

What we don’t like about the On Cloudsurfer 2

ROBBE: Let’s go top down for this section and keep in mind that this is a $160 shoe. The upper is stiff and uncomfortable and thick (but not really padded) and wide and non-gusseted and is just flat-out weird. The whole upper feels like something you’d find on a warehouse budget shoe in 2014. For a shoe that claims to be the “gold standard for comfort, smooth rides, and unbeatable cushioning,” it under delivers on two of the three. I’d say the upper is the bronze standard in budget shoes.

The shoe is very flexible, so I didn’t get any heel lift, but it’s just a bit roomy in the upper, as is the case with most On shoes outside the racing segment.

Then there’s the midsole. I actually like a shoe with some good ground feel (namely shoes like the Adidas Adizero SL 2, Topo Athletic Cyclone, or Brooks Hyperion) — shoes that feel like real running shoes. But it’s 2025 — you can achieve that feel with a little bit of energy return underfoot.

The Cloudsurfer is supposed to be the premium daily trainer in the On lineup, and yet it feels like the most basic of shoes. The ride is okay, but it’s just okay. I actually kind of enjoyed it for a few miles, but then it just felt flat, like a Coke left on the kitchen table. It’s undeniably firmer than the first version, which was very soft. My suspicion is that On fielded too many complaints about the Helion midsole compressing too much in the forefoot or catching a case of the Rincon and losing its magic too early.

Contrary to the marketing campaign, it’s certainly not soft. Not for running, anyway. It’s pretty comfortable as a walking shoe, but once those pods get pancaked, it’s all frying pan and no fire.

Some people are going to enjoy this update. It resolves issues that some people had with the original Cloudsurfer; as I mentioned, that shoe was soft but collapsed with a harsh landing on the forefoot. This one is firmer but with a more forgiving ground feel overall. I preferred the first version, and suspect most people will feel the same, but there will be others that prefer this one. Either way, the upper on the first version was infinitely better.

No matter how you slice it, this is just an average running shoe at best and a below-average shoe at its price point. I can tell you right now that every other shoe at the $160 price point (or lower) beats this shoe. The Brooks Glycerin 22, Adidas Evo SL, Mizuno Neo Zen, Asics Novablast 5, Saucony Ride 18, New Balance 880v15, Salomon Aero Glide, Adidas SL 2, Nike Vomero 18. Pick any of those and they’re a better shoe.

CARYN: Robbe already very eloquently covered the overall problem with this shoe, which is that holistically, it is extremely “mid” (as the youths say) for its $160 price tag. What I’d like to discuss in depth is the upper, the one thing that On notes to have been updated in this second version of the Cloudsurfer.

If I said the upper feels like cardboard, that would be putting it nicely. The upper on the original Cloudsurfer was soft, laid nicely, and felt completely unobtrusive. This version now has a huge tongue that is not only not gusseted but doesn’t lay nicely with the rest of the upper. It is both too wide and too thick to the point that it sticks up off the top of the upper. The material feels almost crusty – almost like it was made in a different factory, given how wildly different it is. It feels like something you’d find on the sale rack at DSW (no offense to DSW, it has some great finds). For the quality of materials I’m accustomed to with On, this seems a bit… off.

KARL: Not to beat a dead horse, but I’ll keep bringing it up… $160. $160. $160.

The foam in this version is definitely firmer than the original Cloudsurfer. I know some people thought the original was a bit too mushy, but perhaps On slightly overcorrected it in the Cloudsurfer 2. Like Robbe, I thought it was a fine shoe for runs anywhere between 3 and 6 miles, but after that, it just becomes monotonous and feels rather dull. It’s not something I’m inclined to pick for anything longer than that.

To Robbe’s point, I also used this for some short treadmill miles and some weightlifting, and it works pretty well there (although I’d try not to lean too forward doing Bulgarian split squats).

Final thoughts on the On Cloudsurfer 2

ROBBE: This, too, shall pass. At the end of the day, this is another daily trainer in a long line of daily trainers that will come and go. It won’t be the worst shoe you’ve ever bought, but you’re also not going to leave it by the door and look at it longingly, waiting for your next run. It’s a utilitarian tool, at best.

I want to love every On shoe that I get. I love their design and aesthetic and the way that they go all-in on the sport of running. I really do love their vision. And their top-tier race day shoes are pretty fantastic. I just think they’re still treading water when it comes to innovation. I’m not sure if it’s the insistence on sticking to the Cloud pods, no matter how minimized they are at this point, or if it’s just something else. But we continue to see peaks of brilliance interspersed with troughs of mediocrity. If we could smooth out those sine waves, we may be “on” to something special. Something like sunnier days, sweeping the clouds away.

CARYN: As a brand, I genuinely love On. I love a lot of their shows for daily wear, the almost edgy look of their products, and, honestly, their athletes. The lack of consistency in their shoe lineup from a performance perspective (though I’ve not tested their racing options) just makes it hard to go all in. The Cloudsurfer 2 further proves my point here as an average addition to the On lineup. I’m hopeful over time, On will become a consistent heavy hitter, but for now I’ll be enjoying most of my On shoes leisurely as opposed to on the run.

KARL: Overall, the Cloudsurfer 2 is a fine daily trainer, but there’s nothing excellent to write home about. If you were a fan of the original Cloudsurfer, you may want to stock up especially if you liked how soft the midsole was. As I mentioned earlier, the ride reminds me of a Pegasus 39, a standard daily trainer that I liked a lot, but at a lower retail price (I ended up getting my pair for $54 on sale, a true steal in my opinion). I’ll consider this a miss from On, but I still have faith in the brand for future models. Unless you are extremely into the aesthetic and branding of On, then it’s hard for me to recommend this for the price in regards to running performance.

You can pick up the On Cloudsurfer 2 for $160 from On by using the buttons below.