On Cloudsurfer Next Review: A Perfect 10?

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.

Last year, we rode the waves and surfed some gnarly cushioning in the On Cloudsurfer. Reviewers were stoked about the soft, smooth cushioning that served up subtle springiness in each step.

This year, On has added to their lineup with the On Cloudsurfer Next–built with the same CloudTec Phase® cushioning as the Cloudsurfer in a new, redesigned package. On says the new Cloudsurfer Next adds “race-inspired features” to the beloved Cloudsurfer (which will remain in their lineup).

Reviewers took to the streets to put the latest creation from On to the test. Will the Cloudsurfer Next nail a perfect ten? Or will it be a wipeout? Read on to find out.

“The CloudTec Phase® made my runs and walks feel very smooth. However, the shoe feels like it has less cushion and bounce than the Cloudsurfer. While I was not overly excited to put on the shoe, my feet didn’t hurt in it either.”

Avoiding aching feet is always a bonus and Mandy, who’s notorious for testing shoes not just during runs but during everyday activities, gave the Cloudsurfer Next a passing mark.

“As a parent of a young swimmer, I wore the Cloudsurfer Next to two different swim meets,” she says. “My feet felt fine throughout both events despite standing on hard concrete and tile for hours. Plus, the rubber on the bottom did a good job of gripping the wet ground.”

Even if you’re not regularly attending youth swim meets, you can benefit from the grippy rubber and closed outsole channel of the Cloudsurfer Next on your next rainy run.

The first thing I do when testing any shoe is slide it onto my foot. The upper, fit and materials always make my first impression. I can tell a lot about the designer’s intentions with the upper of the shoe. If it’s plush and padded, the shoe prioritizes comfort above all else. It’s probably a great daily trainer. If the upper is sleek, lightweight and minimal, it’s meant for performance, when every ounce counts.

Sliding into the Cloudsurfer Next, I thought the shoe would fall into the former category. The fit felt plush and smooth, with thick padding in the tongue and around the heel. “I can tell these shoes are built for pure comfort,” I thought to myself. But taking my first strides in the shoes told a different story. They felt firm and snappy, like something I may pick up for a speed session. What gives?

While the feel of the upper and the midsole may be at odds with each other, we all agreed that the Cloudsurfer Next stays true to its Swiss roots with a nice, clean aesthetic.

“On’s reputation of nailing a stylish shoe is well deserved and the Cloudsurfer Next is no exception,” says Mandy. “I got numerous compliments from people while wearing them, from high school students to older parents.”

We also agreed that the forefoot in the Cloudsurfer Next feels wider than other On shoes we’ve tested recently.

“While my foot was plenty locked in, there was a little bit of extra material bunching around my midfoot,” says Nate.

“I noticed that the toe box was a little bit wider than your typical shoe, but in a good way,” Mandy agrees. I thought the heel and ankle collar felt a bit wide too, but I was able to tie the marathon loop using the extra lace eyelets to cinch down the fit.

The Cloudsurfer Next offers a firmer, more responsive ride, a lower stack height and a lower heel-to-toe drop for more ground feedback. All of this translates into a faster feeling shoe. But wait–what about the weight?

Ignore my funny homophone and you’ll notice that the Cloudsurfer Next is heavier than the Cloudsurfer, almost a full ounce in the women’s model and almost an ounce and a half in the men’s. We can speculate that, because the shoe feels so much firmer, the foam is probably quite a bit denser.

We reached out to On and they confirmed that the difference in midsole foam and the overall structure of the shoe resulted in the higher weight. They also added that additional rubber on the outsole, designed to increase traction and durability, adds weight.

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

What do all of the three above shoes have in common? They all offer firm rides with rocker shapes that help you transition from heel to toe.

The Cloudsurfer Next uses CloudTec Phase® cushioning (remember the dominoes?) to roll you into your next stride. The HOKA Mach 6 uses what they call their Meta-rocker technology, which is exactly what it sounds like: a gentle rocker shape to keep you moving forward efficiently. Similarly, the Ikoni 3.0 uses Karhu’s signature Fulcrum piece in the midsole, acting like the lever in a seesaw. The Fulcrum uses your body’s momentum to roll you forward as you land for easy toe-offs.

On has been adding lots of shoes to their lineup with a distinctly different, softer feel. If your feet have been rebelling against those additions (namely the Cloudsurfer, Cloudeclipse and Cloudmonster) but you want to remain loyal to the brand, be sure to check out the Cloudsurfer Next online or at your local Fleet Feet.

“The On Cloudsurfer Next has a more traditionally “On” feel when compared to the Cloudsurfer,” says Mandy. “It’s definitely a bit firmer, with less cushion and less bounce.”

It’s a perfect choice for runners who enjoy a firm ride with some solid ground feedback.