Our review of the all new On Cloudboom Max nylon plated running shoe designed for the middle of the pack to enjoy all the speed, bounce and comfort of a super shoe.
Carbon plated shoes have gotten a lot of attention the last few years. For good reason, they’ve resulted in some of the fastest race times we’ve ever seen and we can’t deny that bounce is FUN!!
But for the average runner, many of these shoes are tuned for a 3 hour marathon runner and not designed for the gait of someone running 4 to 5 hours. The problem with this is it can lead to injuries and just doesn’t give you the benefit you want from that extra $$.
Many brands like On have decided to cater to the majority of us with shoes that are sometimes called supertrainers and utilize softer plated materials. We think this time around the On Cloudboom Max is going to win over quite a few athletes (yes you’re all athletes if you run!!).
Who Is It Good For?
- Wide Feet: Could do well for wider feet, I had to lace it up a little tighter than normal to lock down.
- Heavier Runners: 100% the foam, speedboard and overall design are going to do well.
- Long Runs: Absolutely designed with marathon runners in mind.
- Front of the Pack: Nope, not for you, go enjoy your On Cloudboom LS.
This is a nylon plated running shoe with plenty of cushion, support and comfort to go the distance for runners from a 4 to 6 hour marathon! In fact, it’s designed with them in mind.
On Cloudboom Max Overview
On is ready to shake up their line up this year and we admit that our first test of the newest On Cloudsurfer Max to replace the Cloudeclipse wasn’t exactly a homerun…but this shoe, we’re having some serious fun with it.
A few years ago they released a plated version of the On Cloudmonster, aka the Cloudmonster Hyper and it was fine but I just couldn’t really figure out the why of it. Meanwhile I fell in love with the speedy front of the pack On Cloudboom Strike, which leads us to this new On Cloudboom Max.
Whew that’s a lot of backstory, but I think helpful to understand WHAT ARE THESE SHOES FOR?! 
It has a glasfiber infused nylon speedboard, instead of a carbon plate. This will be more flexible and better for the landing of the average runner.
It uses the same Helion FM foam as their top tier race shoe.
It has a slightly wider base than super shoes, making it far more stable.
It still has a great breathable upper, but is more accommodating than narrow race shoes.
It has more rubber on the outsole to provide more longevity to the shoe.
It has just a gentle rocker and is going to better cater to heel striking than super shoes.
As On likes to say, they re-engineered their fastest shoe for the everyday runner. This was an ethos that Hoka used with the Skyward X originally, but this shoe is different from that. It’s not just massive cushion with a plate. It’s got more rocker and more ability to pick up the pace.
After my first run in this shoe, it went in to my official shoe closet. Yes the one for shoes I grab on a day when I’m not testing and just want something I know I enjoy running. That’s a high bar to meet.
At $230 it’s not a cheap shoe and probably not one that I would recommend as a daily trainer. It’s certainly a shoe that could make it in your weekly rotation for long runs and through race day, but probably not a 500 mile trainer. That’s always the cost benefit analysis of going with top end foams.
Final note is the cut out through the middle of the sole to help save weight, didn’t seem to detract from stability. While it looks like an area for rocks to stick, I haven’t noticed that from any runs and trust me, I complained loudly about that in their early models.
On Cloudboom Max Specifications
- Weight: 10.4 oz men’s, 8.8 oz women’s
- Stack Height: 40mm
- Heel to Toe Drop: 8mm
- Not available in wide
- Available in 3 colorways
- Available at onrunning.com for $230
Is there a On shoe that I don’t like the look of? I don’t think I’ve found it yet, but this one does feel like a departure in one small way – the neon green! It’s still very subtle, but let’s be honest they tend to stick to whites, creams and pastels. This gives the shoe that extra look of energy and I am here for it.
Thought I really wish they would do something about the QC looking logo because I still get questions about it.
Quick Take
- Enjoyable rocker and ride
- Upper molds to foot
- Comfortable cushion for longer miles
- Higher price tag
- On the heavier side
- Not as durable as daily trainer
On Cloudboom Max Fit and Feel
Having run in nearly ever On shoe that’s been released in the last 5 years, this one has a bit more of a Unisex feel. Lengthwise I continue to wear the same as other brands, but the midfoot felt a bit wider here.
This is something that’s been a pendulum with On over the years. The original Cloudmonster had a great fit, then the Cloudmonster 2 felt like your feet were swimming in a double wide. The Cloudboom Max is between those two.
The toe box feels really comfortable and a little more rounded
I played with the laces and found it was easy to snug down so that I felt locked in and didn’t even need to mess with a heel lock. However I had plenty of laces to do so! The laces on this also have just a little bit of a groove, which we are all realizing helps them stay tied! Simple and yet, so important.
The gusseted tongue doesn’t have any issues moving around, but can feel a little sharp on the ankle if you were going sockless or very low socks. I appreciate them cutting weight, but some of these thin tongues aren’t yet dialed in.
Heel collar is lightly padded and felt like it nicely cupped.
Similar Shoes to the On Cloudboom Max
- Hoka Skyward X – Similar plated shoe for mid and back of the pack, feels a little bouncier
- Nike Zoom Fly 6 – Can pick up the pace a little more, more rocker, narrower fit
- Brooks Hyperion Max 3 – Bootie style fit, slightly softer cushion, 6mm drop
Have more questions, let us know!
And if you’ve tried it, we want to know what you thought. Would you change our rating?
A fun shoe is sure to win us over every time and this one is just really fun to run in. It’s on the higher end price wise for a mid-pack shoe and we don’t consider a daily trainer, but we do think it’s going to carry a lot of folks through a lot of miles.Our Verdict
What to read next?
- See all of our favorite On Running shoes
- Checkout our complete list of cushioned running shoe reviews
- Get our tips to save more on your next shoe purchase
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