Running Shoes Buying Guide

Eat up miles of pavement in the cushy Cloudsurfer Max shoes from On. Their comfort-focused design absorbs impacts and delivers a smooth ride for long-distance road running.




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Imported.
View the On Cloudsurfer Product LineView all On Men's Road-Running Shoes| Best Use | Running |
|---|---|
| Running Shoe Support | Neutral |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Maximum Cushion |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
| Heel Stack Height (mm) | 37 |
| Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 31 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Upper | Engineered mesh |
| Lining | Engineered mesh |
| Midsole | Helion superfoam |
| Outsole | Rubber |
| Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 4.6 oz. |
| Gender | Men's |
Fits slightly large based on reviews
| 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Men's | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 |
| UK | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13.5 |
| EU | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 47.5 | 48 | 49 |
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I put a couple hundred miles of running into these shoes. I've been a runner most of my life but I'm just now training for my first marathon. I'm a big fan of the On brand. I find these shoes to be a little thick and clunky. They are extremely comfortable but I find that I'm putting a lot of effort into staying stable. If you're looking for a thick soled running shoe that will give you tons of cushion this is a good contender. I think I just prefer a little more action in my shoe and to be a little closer to the pavement. Still the shoe is extremely well made by a company that knows what they're doing.
These shoes truly live up to the name Cloudsurfer Max. The moment I slipped them on, my first thought was, “Wow, that’s a lot of cushion.” It really felt like walking on a cloud. That said, for me, it was just a bit too much. The sole is noticeably tall—about a 1/4" higher than my other well-cushioned running shoes. I know that might not sound like much, and maybe it wouldn’t be for you, but I could definitely feel the difference. I wasn't walking around tripping over myself, but it felt a little bit awkward for a few minutes while I adjusted. The upper section of the shoe is well-built, light, breathable, and seemingly durable. I really liked that the tongue of the shoe was attached to the sole with stretchy fabric. This keeps the tongue centered. The shoe also had some useful loops on the back (for putting the shoe on), and on the tongue (for easy adjustment). Maybe I have low ankles, but the collar of the shoe seemed a bit high. It didn't cause any real problems, but it wasn't a fit that I liked. The 10 air gaps in the sides of the shoes looked like 10 rock traps to me. I walked though some loose gravel to see if any would get stuck. Somehow, no rocks got stuck in the side holes, which was a nice surprise. However, the bottom crease did pick up a bit of debris, but it cleared out with a quick stomp. Overall, I think the shoe is well-built, it just wasn't a perfect fit for me. Try it on, you may love it.
I’ve spent around 50 miles running, jogging, and walking in these ON Cloudsurfer Max shoes. I tend to do shorter runs, three to five miles, with an occasional ten-mile run mixed in. I also walk/jog with my wife at least twice a week. These shoes have served me well in all contexts. Once my daily shoes wear out, I will be replacing them with these full time. The shoes are quite tall--a 37mm stack in the heel and 31mm in the front. This height does not translate into a squishy or precarious ride. In fact, the shoes felt firmer under my feet than I expected; this is a good thing in my book, since I like stability. But that firm feeling was certainly not uncomfortable after my ten-mile run. These shoes felt quite luxurious, actually. Of course, people who are used to a carbon sole or something more aggressive may be disappointed, but I’m just trying to keep my heart rate up--I’m not trying to break any records. I’ve had three different pairs of ON running shoes, and sizing is something to be aware of. I’m between an 11.5 and a 12 in other brands (leaning more toward 12), but ON shoes tend to run a little large, so I stick with 11.5 in this brand, and that’s been consistently the right size. In terms of fit, these shoes are a little wider in the heel than my current daily shoe (the ON Cloudsurfer Next). I solved the problem with a heel lock lacing pattern, and heel slip is not at all an issue now. Otherwise, these shoes accommodate my narrow ankle and wider forefoot remarkably well. My toes have plenty of breathing room (I like that), and my foot feels snuggly anchored in place. I did not experience any hotspots on any of my runs. I’m not sure how I feel about the elastic that holds the tongue to the sole. The tongue is notably thin, so I supposed this fabric keeps it from shifting around. I worried that it might crease when laced tight and create discomfort, but that didn’t happen. ON have also styled these shoes with tall molded rubber that covers nearly half the shoe at the midfoot. It probably provides some additional stability, but it looks a little excessive. The fabric on the toe and midfoot is dimpled and moderately breathable. The colorway is nice--white, peach, and beige with black and peach soles. I am not particular about shoe color, but I’m glad there was an option with some joie de vivre. Overall, I’m very pleased with these Swiss-engineered shoes, as I have been with my other current ON running shoes. After fifty miles, I don’t see any concerning wear; I expect these will be plenty durable. For this intermediate runner, these ON Cloudsurfer Max are winners.
These shoes are very comfortable and extremely light, which makes them great for everyday wear. I really like the look, they’re sharp and stand out in a good way. The downside for me was running in them; I ended up with calf pain after a few runs, so they didn’t work as a running shoe. Walking in them feels just fine, though, so that’s how I’ll be using them. I’ll be interested to see how they hold up over time since they’re so lightweight.
I wasn't previously a fan of On Cloud shoes due to comfort and fit issues, but the Cloudsurfer Max have changed my mind. These are among the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. I received them right before a two-week Spain trip where I averaged 8 miles of walking daily, plus I've completed multiple 3-4 mile runs on both pavement and treadmill. As someone with plantar fasciitis, I was amazed my feet never hurt once while running in these shoes. The double layer of CloudTec Phase cushioning system has a "squishy" and "bouncy" feel that prioritizes comfort. These will not be your "fast" running shoes. The material forms nicely around your foot with just enough give - perfect if you tie shoes moderately tight like me, though those who prefer super-tight lacing might find the material too forgiving. I never experienced heel slipping or fit issues. Two areas concerned me. The lightweight tongue consistently slides down when putting the shoes on, requiring you to dig it out and readjust - a minor but regular annoyance. More significantly, after 100+ miles of use, I'm seeing concerning wear patterns. The shoelaces show cuts where I tie them and will likely need replacement soon, while the exterior shows heavy wear in multiple spots, raising durability questions. Despite these concerns, I thoroughly enjoyed these shoes. If you prioritize exceptional comfort over longevity and want a plush, cushioned running experience rather than speed-focused performance, I'd highly recommend the Cloudsurfer Max.
These running shoes are stylish and were fun to try out, but I found them to be a bit confounding. I’m new to On shoes and was excited for the chance to try them out. I wore the cloud surfers for more than 50 miles over the past month on a variety of different kinds of runs, and I keep trying to figure them out. As a max-cushion shoe, I was hoping they would have that ideal blend of cushion and responsiveness that I’m always looking for in a daily trainer. Unfortunately, I didn’t find these shoes to be particularly cushioned or responsive (with an exception I’ll talk about later). They felt a little clunky to me. I did like the ground feel: my feet were protected from the terrain and it was nice to glide over the road without feeling every rock or stick. So, why weren’t they more comfortable? On some easy-run days it felt like the shoes were heavy with no pop, when I was looking for something more to keep me going. The exception is that a few times while I picked up the pace, the high stack height helped me feel some forward movement, but they still weren’t as responsive as I hoped. Overall, I think these are a good choice if you know you like On shoes and want an everyday option that will keep you from feeling every pebble on the road. I am curious to try out other On models to see how they compare.
This was my first pair of On shoes and I was very curious to see if I would like them. Out of the box they look great in white/salmon. I thought the upper was fantastic, a nice, breathable knit allows for a very comfortable feeling on the foot. So far durability of the upper has not been an issue either. The heel cup is excellent and locks my foot in with no issue. The max cushion took me a bit to adjust to but is comfortable. Although it is a max cushion shoe, it still felt a bit stiff for me and the cushioning seemed slightly uneven when I ran, something I didn’t feel right away when just walking or doing other workouts. The lacing system is also a plus and really locks the foot into the shoe without any hot spots. Overall, this shoe is a terrific max cushion option for runners, I would just ensure you like the feel of On’s cushioning system before purchasing.
Light, comfortable, stable, surprisingly well constructed. A very pleasant positive surprise for a shoe for which I already had high expectations. Running, walking, everyday wear, great for all. And quite fairly priced. Highly recommended.
I need a wide shoe, and this is a great shoe for comfort and fit if you need a wide toe box ~! I do four miles a day and so far I'm very pleased with this shoe.