From the Swiss creator of running shoes comes the new On Cloudswift, which is aimed at city and town runners. This is the second generation of the On Cloudswift running shoe and the brand states that it delivers “enhanced cushioning, grip and rocker shape”.
The main updates are the re-positioned CloudTec® in Helion™ superfoam to give increased forefoot cushioning. Enlarged Clouds to the rear help to dampen heel strikes.
The extreme rocker outsole and re-engineered Speedboard™ “optimise the natural rolling motion for even more propulsive power that feels smooth and effortless”.
The Cloudswift is made for urban runs. It’s light and agile but absorbs heavy impacts to protect runners from the tough surfaces. The upper is designed for comfort.
Features in brief:
- Improved forefoot and heel cushioning
- On’s signature CloudTec technology
- Temperature-resistant Helion superfoam to create a barrier between you and the asphalt.
- Polypropylene Speedboard and pronounced rocker shape for improved energy
- Upper made of 100% recycled mesh
- Integrated tongue
- Sock-like fit
- Price: £135
- Weight: Around 220g per shoe
- Male and female fit
- Buy men’s Cloudswift and women’s Cloudswift (I receive a small commission for each sale.)
Test: On Cloudswift running shoe
I am a fan of On running shoes for road running. I confess I am not a convert to the trail running shoes by the Swiss brand. However, for urban use, they are brilliant.
The new Cloudswift shoes are really comfortable. They offer slipper like comfort with uppers that seem to hug and support the foot.
The heel area is nicely cushioning and the sock-like fit comes from a nicely integrated tongue. I was sent the white colourway to try. I have never understood why anyone would buy white running shoes because they get dirty too quickly.
These are not super lightweight running shoes, but then again they are not that heavy either. They are pretty perfect for middle distance road running sessions, in my opinion.
The sizing seems good. I am a UK8.5 and the Cloudswift fit me well. I have a narrow foot and heel but I was able to adjust the lacing to give the right amount of support. Another bonus is that the laces stayed tied once tied.
It is the cushioning and sole that offers a new experience compared to the last On Cloudswift shoe. While there is definitely a good injection of cushioning, the shoes still feel responsive when I need to add abit of speed to my running.
I have tried them on recovery runs, when doing speed reps and on wet and dry days. I made the mistake of taking the shoes for a trail run and they ended up very wet and muddy but they still coped well with the bumpy terrain.
I really can’t tell you if I felt like I had more energy while running in the Cloudswift but I certainly find they are now my first choice when doing sessions on tarmac.
As usual my main criticism of On shoes is that they pick up stones in the soles. I think this version are slightly less likely to pick up stones but I have still had to remove at least one stone on every run.
The price of £135 is what I would expect the shoes to be. I don’t really want to spend £135 on running shoes but there are plenty of brands that charge a lot more.
In conclusion, I really like the new On Cloudswift shoe. It feels comfortable and easy to wear with plenty of cushioning although not so much cushioning that I feel like my energy is absorbed.