How to Choose Running Shoes

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.
Imported.
View the On Cloudsurfer Product LineView all On Men's Road-Running ShoesBest 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 |
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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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.
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.
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.