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The On Cloudmonster 3 has been given an upgrade with the major changes coming to the midsole where On’s max-cushioned daily trainer now packs another layer of Cloud elements using the same Helion foam. The midsole set up sticks with the nylon plate and a pronounced rocker for what is an evolution not revolution kind of update.
On says that all adds up to a playful, forward-rolling ride designed to bring max energy to daily runs. So does it? Is it a step on from the past-gen Cloudmonsters? And how does it fare among the best cushioned running shoes?
We’ve done the test miles to find out. Let’s get into it in our On Cloudmonster 3 review.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £180/$190
- Weight: 297g/10.5oz (men’s UK 8.5 / US 9)
- Drop: 6mm
- Stack: 35mm heel, 29mm forefoot
- Upper: Engineered mesh
- Midsole: Triple layer of CloudTecPhase with Helion foam
- Outsole: Extensive rubber outsole
On Cloudmonster 3 Review
How’s the Fit
Nick and Kieran tested the On Cloudmonster 3 for our review and both were fine in their normal running shoe size. There’s a bit more room in the toe box versus the Cloudmonster 2 and we found the forefoot spacious enough but with good security. It all felt pretty easy and natural a little airier than the last gen. The extra tongue padding is a welcome update. So you can lash the laces down for good mid-foot lockdown.
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The Run Test: Likes
If you enjoyed the Cloudmonster 2, you’ll likely get along with the Cloundmonster 3. What you’re getting here is a similarly enjoyable snappy, rolling ride thanks to the rockered CloudTecPhase midsole.
If you’re drawn to that firmer, rockered, rolling feel there’s even more of that here for what is a smooth, fun, consistent and relatively stable ride.
That smooth ride is the star feature of the shoe, with a pleasing reliability, it’s just not overly energetic. Kieran was really happy cruising along 90 seconds below marathon pace, tuning into the rolling ride for a feeling that you could go forever. But wouldn’t choose it first for tempo efforts or anything faster.Â
The midsole set up shoots for efficiency over softness and it’s all very consistent and stable underfoot right across the paces. In that respect it’s doing something many of the other max cushioned shoes don’t do: bringing a good level of predictability.Â
It’s not particularly exciting. But it is predictable.Â
The Run Test: Dislikes
Even with the extra layer of CloudTec elements, the Cloudmonster 3 still doesn’t quite deliver the kind of soft, cushioned ride we’d expect from a max-cushioned shoe. It’s certainly not packing the highly compressive pillowy midsole that’s kind of trending right nowÂ
Particularly when you compare it to shoes like the Adidas Hyperboost Edge or Brooks Glycerin Max 2 or something super soft like a Mizuno Neo Zen 2.Â
Up against those shoes, the Cloudmonster is a firm ride that relies heavily on the rockering to put the life and energy into each stride. There is road protection from the triple stack of cloud elements but it’s not soft. If you’re expecting a really marshmallowy cushion and loads of big stack, road-taming softness you’ll be disappointed.Â
Nor is it a very bouncy shoe. It’s not going to do the work for you. But it will feed back what you put in and it rewards a faster foot turnover. Â
The uppers have been refined, they fit better but the Cloudmonster 3 is somewhat bulky. It’s no heavier than a New Balance 1080 v15 but somehow feels less agile. And Kieran and Nick felt that put a limit on the versatility of the Cloudmonster 3. It’s not a shoe we’d choose for fast efforts.
The bump in price also makes it harder to recommend when you consider the growing selection of rival shoes coming in closer to £140 or $150/$160. But more on that coming right up…
Verdict and Alternatives
While we enjoyed running in the On Cloudmonster 3, it maybe drops between two camps. It’s not a max-cushioned shoe in the classic, big, pillowy soft and protective sense and it’s lacks the bouncy energy of some rival big-stack daily trainers that propel you up through the gears with that fun liveliness.
You might have to be looking for that very specific firmer, rockered, rolling rider to enjoy this shoe. If so, they’re good for knocking out easy miles and a bit of an antidote to the spongiest daily trainers that can make you feel like you’re running on a mattress.Â
What you get from the third generation is pretty much more of the same as those past Cloudmonsters. Adding that extra layer of clouds hasn’t suddenly made this a vastly more exciting, energetic or cushioned shoe and that’s all good, if what you’re after is a reliable, rocker-driven shoe that comes with bucket loads of structure and stability in each step.
In terms of alternatives, if you’re looking for a balance of softer cushion with a touch more energy and and bounce, the New Balance 1080v15 and the Kiprun Kipride Max are two of our top picks for the best cushioned daily trainers.
For a bit more versatility and faster top-end potential on a more affordable budget, the ASICS Novablast 5 and the Saucony Endorphin Azura are also worth a look.