On Cloudmonster Hyper Review

The On Cloudmonster Hyper.

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

Join us as we welcome the newest member of the On Cloudmonster family…the On Cloudmonster Hyper! On joyfully introduced the Cloudmonster Hyper to the world on April 1, weighing 7.4 ounces for the women’s model and 9.3 ounces for the men’s.

The On Cloudmonster Hyper promises to be an even more cushioned, more responsive shoe than its older sibling, the Cloudmonster 2. Reviewers couldn’t wait to get their hands on these little bundles of joy to see how they fit, feel and perform.

Is the Cloudmonster Hyper truly the super-trainer On claims it to be? Or is it just another case of parental overvaluation? Read on to find out.

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Tech Specs

On Cloudmonster Hyper

Weight 7.4 oz (W), 9.3 oz (M)
Stack height (heel/forefoot) 37.5 mm/31.5 mm
Heel-to-toe drop 6 mm
Category Neutral
Surface Road
Price $220
Comparable to... ASICS Superblast, New Balance SC Trainer v2

Ride

Between balanced and plush ride

Cushioning

Between moderate and maxiumum cushioning

Energy

Between responsive and propulsive energy

Bounceboard deserves the hype

The On Cloudmonster Hyper.

The On Cloudmonster Hyper combines new and innovative materials with the signature technology the brand has become known for.

Distinctive pods underfoot, called CloudTec cushioning, collapse upon landings and spring open during takeoffs. The pods are made up of Helion Superfoam, a lightweight midsole foam that combines both rigid and flexible elements for a balanced ride.

If you’ve read any of our previous On shoe reviews, this all sounds pretty routine. However, the Cloudmonster Hyper is debuting a brand-new midsole compound called Helion Hyperfoam. It’s a PEBAX-based foam, and it’s placed on the top layer of the midsole right underneath the forefoot to absorb impact upon landings and propel you forward during toe-offs. On calls this a bounceboard, as it’s designed to have you bouncing down the road like a hyper little kid who drank too much soda at a birthday party.

While we can’t say for sure if the Cloudmonster Hyper is as hyper as a sugared-up child, it certainly provides a hefty dose of responsiveness.

“Thanks to the combination of softer foams and a higher stack height, the Cloudmonster Hyper is a winner in my book,” says Brandon. “The energy return from the PEBAX bounceboard in the forefoot made all of the difference. Without this element, I’m not sure I would have enjoyed the shoe as much as I did.”

Another winning element of the Cloudmonster Hyper? A closed channel outsole that leaves little opportunity for rocks and other debris to get caught.

“I can proudly say that no rocks were harmed, trapped or traumatized by being stuck under foot during this run,” says Nate, who lives near the Cascade Mountains and has a hard time sticking to the strictly pavement on his runs. “For long-time On wearers, you know how big a deal this is.”

Performance-style upper leaves reviewers divided

The upper of the On Cloudmonster Hyper

While we all enjoyed the ride of the Cloudmonster Hyper, the upper was the main point of contention between reviewers. Kate, Nate and Max (who all have varying foot shapes and widths) thought it ran big, while Brandon and I thought it fit true to size.

“The length of the Cloudmonster Hyper is too long and the width is too wide for my narrow foot,” says Max, who’s currently dabbling in half-marathon training. “I had to lace these bad boys up quite a bit to get a good lockdown fit because of the excess width, which made the laces quite long and annoying while running. But, despite the width, the upper didn’t bunch up around the toes in the way that excess fabric sometimes does. Plus, the padding around the tongue and heel collar made the lockdown fit comfortable, despite having to tie it so tight.”

Kate and Max also mentioned that, because they had to lace up the shoes so tight, the overlays on the lace cage were pressing into the tops of their feet.

I’m going to come to On’s defense and say that I loved the fit, feel and details of this upper. The fit feels slim to me, which I really appreciate because I absolutely hate the feeling of having too much room. There’s about a thumbnail’s width of space between my toe and the end of the shoe, maybe a little bit more, but it feels like a perfect fit. I didn’t have any heel slippage and I didn’t even have to tie the marathon loop!

I think part of the reason the fit feels so nice and snug is because of the lacing system (you know, the one that Kate and Max bashed). The way the suede lace loops are attached to the material around the midfoot really pull all the material together as I cinch them up without the material bunching or buckling. I would rate this upper as a ten out of ten here. Plus, it's based on the upper used in the uber-speedy On Cloudboom Echo 3–the shoes that helped Nate and Kate earn the Strava crown at the segment behind our office.

It’s hard to recommend the On Cloudmonster Hyper for one specific foot shape, because all of our reviewers who found the fit to be too large have different shaped feet–a fact that left me scratching my head. Max has narrow feet, so it wasn’t a huge surprise to hear him say that the Hyper felt big. Kate is typically in between sizes, and has recently been struggling with finding the proper size across various models. But Nate has wide, high-volume feet, so when he said the Hyper felt big on him I knew something was up.

Your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet to try the shoe on in-person. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

On Cloudmonster Hyper vs On Cloudmonster 2

Tech Specs

On Cloudmonster Hyper

On Cloudmonster 2

Weight

7.4 oz (W), 9.3 oz (M)

8.1 oz (W), 10.4 oz (M)

Stack height

37.5 mm/31.5 mm

34.5 mm/29 mm

Heel-to-toe drop

6 mm

5.5 mm

Price

$220

$180

While the Cloudmonster 2 serves as an uptempo daily trainer, the Cloudmonster Hyper aims to break into the super-trainer category with a monster stack height and a lighter weight.

Rather than the plastic Speedboard used in the Cloudmonster 2, the Cloudmonster Hyper utilizes a thick bed of PEBAX-foam (aptly named a Bounceboard) under the forefoot to create a bouncy and energetic ride. We noticed this made the Hyper feel softer, too, an added bonus when you’re logging long runs on the road.

The Cloudmonster Hyper is softer and I believe it’s a better overall shoe to run in,” says Brandon. “It’s lighter, faster, and just as stable underfoot as the Monster.”

Some reviewers felt the Hyper was plagued with the same sizing issues that befell the Cloudmonster 2. Again, I found the fit to feel perfect, but it’s probably worth trying the shoes on in person.

The side profile of the On Cloudmonster Hyper.

How does the On Cloudmonster Hyper compare?

We took a look at some comparable models to see how they stack up against the On Cloudmonster Hyper. Here’s what we found.

Tech Specs

On Cloudmonster Hyper

ASICS Superblast

New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2

Weight

7.4 oz (W), 9.3 oz (M)

8.4 oz (unisex)

8 oz (W), 10.1 oz (M)

Stack height

37.5 mm/31.5 mm

45.5 mm/37.5 mm

40 mm/34 mm

Heel-to-toe drop

6 mm

8 mm

6 mm

Plate?

No

No

Yes

Price

$220

$220

$180

As we compared the Cloudmonster Hyper to the rest of On’s running lineup, we can speculate that the Hyper is On’s version of a super trainer–a maximally cushioned, ultra-responsive shoe that can be worn for races, workouts, or daily runs. These shoes typically feel similar to racing shoes, albeit heavier due to the added durability needed for everyday training. More and more brands are adding these to their lineups, like the ASICS Superblast and the New Balance SuperComp Trainer v2.

However, reviewers were mixed on whether the Cloudmonster Hyper has the elements necessary to meet the super-trainer threshold. The stack height, while the highest of any On running shoe, is similar to the stack height of regular daily trainers amongst other brands. The shoe doesn’t have a plate, either (neither does the ASICS Superblast, but it more than makes up for it with an immense stack height).

We found it to feel most similar to the ASICS Novablast 4, an uptempo, highly-cushioned trainer that is certainly more responsive than your average running shoe but doesn’t quite fall into the super trainer category.

Who is the On Cloudmonster Hyper best for?

A close up of the heel of the On Cloudmonster Hyper.

With a thick stack of energetic cushioning, the Cloudmonster Hyper is a great choice for those who like a little extra pep in their step as they log their miles.

“The Cloudmonster Hyper is an ideal shoe for long runs and recovery days,” says Kate. “It seems to absorb a lot of impact and can be nice and protective if you’re putting a lot of miles in. I’d recommend this shoe to people who like a medium-cushioned shoe. It’s soft, responsive and not super squishy, which is a good thing in my book.”

If you’re a runner who likes a plush, squishy feel underfoot (think the New Balance 1080 v13 or the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 25), the Cloudmonster Hyper may not be the shoe for you. But those who enjoy a balanced soft-to-firm ratio should give this shoe a try.

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