Swiss brand On Running has launched a new version of their hill and mountain trail shoe, the Cloudventure Peak. It is a lightweight shoe for racing and features “Missiongrip” soles.
The website says: “The second-generation Cloudventure Peak sees a series of Swiss-engineered updates, elevating our iconic trail racing shoe to even higher levels of performance.
“Like the new Speedboard™, for example. Its split forefoot design and narrower midfoot increase torsion for responsive agility over uneven ground. Power up. Power down. Power On.”
Missiongrip™ technology is described as being “an aggressive grip pattern that adds bite on soft trails”. The aim is to “deliver traction on the uphills to surge past the field. And, on the way down, protective downhill cushioning is provided through the sole’s unique Cloud elements for both vertical and horizontal movement”.
Other features include:
- Zero-Gravity heel Clouds for soft landings
- Sock style inner
- Ripstop upper
- Invisible taped reinforcements for better fit and hold
- Protective heel and toe caps
- Direct cushioning
- For mixed and trails
- Race shoe
- Neutral stability
- Weight: Women, 210g /men, 260g each shoe
- Heel-to-toe drop women: 4mm, men: 4mm
- Colour ways: white or black
- Price: £135
- Buy On Running Cloudventure Peak.
On test: New On Cloudventure Peak
My first thoughts are, why make a shoe for the trails in white? That seems bonkers to me but I guess that because they are designed and made in Switzerland, runners do not need to consider the mud as much as we do in Scotland. Even on a dry day, the Scottish hills and mountains are still muddy and wet.
I recommend you choose the black version.
The fit felt great to start with. I have a long, narrow foot but the inner sock and lightweight upper seemed good. I was confident enough to take them for an outing on a steep local hill.
The underfoot cushioning is definitely there but not overly so. If you like to be able to feel the ground beneath your feet yet also have a little cushioning, these shoes are excellent. I found they provided enough protection on rocks and stony trails yet I could still feel where my feet where placing. They reminded me of the original Inov-8 running shoes but with more cushioning
The grip is also superb. I hiked fast up the steep hill on a mix of trail, mud, grass and rock. I felt confident in the Cloudventure Peaks.
The sole is also flexible, which I like. I am used to wearing Salomon Speedcross trail shoes and they have a flexible sole, too. The Cloudventure Peak sole moves with your foot and grips the trail really well. It’s agile and the ground-feel is great.
If you like a more solid sole this is not the shoe for you.
The Cloudventure Peak is also very lightweight. I appreciate that and I can see that it is aimed at runners who race. It’s also a good shoe for training if you prefer to wear lightweight footwear.
Another positive point is that the laces, although thin, stay tied. This is an important point because some laces are hopeless and I am forever retying them. However, On have got the laces right in that they stay tied.
So, as I was hiking fast uphill and putting in a few running sections, I was rejoicing in the new On Cloudventue Peak shoes. I was considering that these might become my new trail show of choice. The sole traction and ground feel was that good.
It was when I turned around to run downhill that I suddenly changed my mind. While the traction underfoot remained excellent, my foot slipped forward in the upper part of the shoe until it was pushing against the toe cap.
I stopped and retied the laces, making use of the very top holes. I tried again and this felt better for a while but then the collar of the shoes, above the laces, started to dig into my upper ankle.
I wonder if the shoes are too big? Or my feet are too narrow? Or the hill is too steep? However, I have not experienced this level of push forwards in a running shoe before.
When my foot naturally moved over the the ankle bone side, I felt the edge of the shoe’s heel cup knock against the bone. This was uncomfortable and made me think more about keeping my feet upright.
The shoe just didn’t seem to be working for me. I was frustrated and thought about why this might be. I don’t think the upper has much support or structure. I am prepared to accept that I have a narrow foot and that maybe the shoe is a bit big for me but it didn’t seem to be so when I first put it on. It felt like it was an excellent fit.
When running downhill, especially on steep terrain, my foot just slides forward. No matter how tight I tie the laces, the same thing happens.
The shoes performs okay on flatter terrain and slopes that are not as steep, but if these are being marketed as hill and mountain trail shoes they need to be supportive on all gradients.
The slippage was uncomfortable and it was obvious I would not be able to run far in them.
I was really sad, however because the sole traction was so good and the shoe seemed to fit so well at the start.
The next day, Hubby G tried the shoes, too. He was of the same opinion. He was impressed by the traction but his feet also slipped forward when running downhill. His feet are wider than mine so it was good to check how different feet fit these shoes.
G wasn’t so bothered by his toes being at the front of the shoe.he is used to this because he wears over-tight climbing shoes. But he did say it would probably become uncomfortable over a long distance.
I asked On Running for comment. They said: “Thanks for the feedback. We have now increased the foam in the collar/tongue material that gives a better fit on the foot. This holds the foot better in place and prevents it from moving forward so much and hitting the toes. We also made some pattern updates which improve the fitting more.“
Also, they responded to the lightweight uppers comment. On Running said: “In response to the upper wearing out, we have received wear test shoes back from our athletes and wear testers with more than 300km in them and the shoes are still in good shape. Dirty, but in good shape.“
Another annoying feature is the “stone collecting” soles. It has become a joke at my circuits class that I always bring with me at least two stones in my On Cloudswift shoes. The chuckies on my driveway seem to be the perfect size for slotting into the sole of the Cloudswifts.
I was hopeful that the Cloudventure Peaks would not be like this. The soles looked to have wider spaces between the “cloud” pattern. Sadly, just two minutes form my van and walking along the pavement, I realised a stone had lodged in the sole at the rear area.
The soles do not collect as many stones as earlier versions but they still pick up some.
Conclusion: A lightweight trail running shoe with a very grippy, flexible and good-ground-feel sole. Very responsive and give great confidence on a range of terrain.
But, the colour white is hopeless for the UK and the uppers do not support my feet enough when running downhill.
However, I am delighted that On has taken one of my points on board. I would like to test the new version.
Read my other On running reviews:
See On Running.