Trail runners tend to fall in to two very distinct camps when it comes to the underfoot feel. Either they want a lot of cushion or they want superior ground contact to really work with the terrain. The On Cloudultra 2 is going to fall in to the second category.
First let me just say, yes we are really behind in testing this shoe!
But in fairness, who knew so many of you were now eager to hear a lot more about the best trail running shoes. As a long time coach and someone living in Colorado with tons of good trails, it’s really fun to see more of you exploring beyond the roads.
Whether you’re new to trails or looking for that ideal ultrarunning shoe, the On Cloudultra 2 has something to offer!
Who is it good for?
Who is the On Cloudultra 2 a good fit for? Let’s break it down with some common categories:
- Wide Feet: Would consider this a wider midfoot feel, designed for feet to swell during an ultra.
- Technical Trails: Great traction on a variety of trails, including slick rock.
- Long Runs: Designed for ultra runners looking for minimal cushion.
- Front of the Pack: It’s not the lightest, but is high on agility.
The Cloudultra 2 is a great choice for exceptional ground contact and room for feet to grow over long trail miles. It’s a definite upgrade from the original and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
On Cloudultra 2 Overview
This is not a road to trail shoe, this is 100% a shoe designed to hit up those rocky, dirty, long dusty trails. Though in white, the dusty trail soon looked like grey and is once again a point of contention we have with shoe designers on color choice.
Here they are looking so lovely right out of the box. Interestingly, I expected them to feel a bit lighter since you can even see the sun shining through them, but these aren’t a super lightweight racer. That’s likely due to the Mission tread, which I wouldn’t trade!
A big change to the Ultra 2 is the upper. This is a bootie like fit, meaning no detached tongue moving around, just a single piece that you’ll slip in to. Super easy to pull on and this is likely due to the very roomy fit.
Unlikely many On running shoes which can feel a bit narrow, this is wide through the midfoot. And that is absolutely an intentional design, which can be adjusted with the lacing to ensure you feel locked it.
But equally important is that the longer you run, the more your feet may swell and so a new FlipRelease has been added that allows you adjust them on the fly! Because it’s already a wider fit, I think this is truly a feature that comes in to play for those of you hitting 50K and beyond.
While the Helion foam is frequently noted for a soft feeling, that’s not so much how we’d describe it. Which isn’t to say that it’s a no cushion shoe, but if you’ve spent any time in the Cloudsurfer Trail or any other max cushion road shoe recently, it changes your perception of “soft”.
This is more like what I remember with traditional trail shoes.
The focus is on feeling the ground, so you can more easily maneuver over rocks and roots.
In fact, you can tell the cushion is different just by looking at their pods. Instead of the more oval and forward style on many of the new max cushioned On shoes, this is blockier. It’s clearly about maintaining the stability of the shoe with each step, so that you aren’t sinking in or unable to gauge the trail.
With that comes the firmer feel I mentioned earlier. This is not going to be the shoe for those of you (myself included) that want more cushion when heading out on trails for over 2 hours.
On Cloudultra Specs:
- Weight: 10.4 oz Men’s, 9.3 oz Women’s
- Heel drop: 5mm
- Stack Height: 30mm
- Usage: trail running
- 4 colors available
- Not available in wide
- Available from On.com for $180
Of course the biggest feature of this shoe is going to be the outsole. It’s all about that Missiongrip, which is yet another brands fancy branding to say “we got you”.
We’re thrilled there are no deep groves to pick up rocks. But it is important to note these are not deep lugs at only about 3mm. Because of that you’ll find them comfortable on those long dirt road or gravel sections of a race, but might also want something more on steep technical terrain.
Yet it’s important to note that for a smaller lug they provide stellar traction. We can see why you’d feel comfortable choosing them for race day.
Fit
As noted we love the sock like fit, while not everyone may agree with that we think this one did it really well. The liner is really flexible and soft, so nothing is cutting in and it just sat really well. Plus without all the extra padding the shoe feels more breathable and reduced issues with over heating.
The heel lock lacing was doable and useful with the overall roomier fit of the shoe. Note the laces were stretching to their max to make that situation happen, but doable.
Fun note, we love the Easter egg on the laces that say “put it” On.
Similar Shoes to the On Cloudultra 2
- Hoka Speedgoat – A little softer underfoot, similar width
- Saucony Pergrine – A little more narrow through midfoot, great traction
- Salomon Defy Grvl – We actually think a number of Salomons could fit here, but this one is interesting if you’re looking for that lower lug height and traction.
All right there you have it, finally. Our breakdown of the On Cloudultra 2 review.
Have you tried any of the On trail shoes? What are your thoughts?
We love sharing feedback from other runners to help people find the right fit!
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