Hi
Been looking at the ON range of shoes and was wondering what people thought of them?
Jono
I started using them in 2011, when I participated in a study conducted in Zurich, where they gave every participant a Cloudsurfer. Ever since, I’ve been doing all my triathlons (up to IM 70.3) and most running races (up to marathon) in them. I’ve gone through three Cloudsurfers and am currently using a 2011 Cloudrunner. I’ll get another Cloudsurfer and will have a look at the Cloudracer for triathlons.
I like them a lot. Walking in them is weird, but running feels just fine. I didn’t have the revelation some claim to have (soft landing, hard push-off etc.), but I have no problems using them. They’re quite good for sockless running, the one thing that annoyed me (rubbing at the upper end of the tongue) has been improved in the newer models. I also think they helped me transition to a mid-foot strike, as heelstriking is almost impossible with them, or at least very uncomfortable.
I’ve put between 540 and 750 km on them before replacing them; in the older models, the heel CloudTec elements tend to break, but this has also been addressed in the newer versions, or at least it didn’t happen to mine anymore.
They suck for running on slippery surfaces (ice in the Winter), but for everything else, they are fine. Lesley Paterson and Ben Allen use them even for XTERRA races. I’ve never had gravel stuck in the sole.
The list of other sponsored athletes using them is quite impressive: Caroline Steffen, Frederik van Lierde, David Hauss, Jacqui Slack, Felicity Abram - pretty much everything covered from ITU to XTERRA and long distance.
What I like least about them is the ridiculous price in Switzerland. They’re almost twice as expensive as in the US… annoying.
just brought some from clever training $90 a pair!..interested to see what they are like.
i come from newtons so im interested to see the difference
Love them! i discovered them randomly when a friend showed up to my spin class wearing them (prior to changing into cycling shoes)… she’d bought them as a gimmick because they looked cool… she is NOT a runner. Then i met an awesome couple at IMWA and they both swore by them. I had been using Newtons, then Brooks PureConnect but found Newtons a bit too firm under foot and the Brooks had great cushion but were too narrow. … I took a gamble and bought the ON’s online (can’t buy them in my home city at all) and have been super comfortable ever since. I have no issues with blisters because the toe box is quite wide, the feel with landing is good and push-off is firm. I am a mid-fore foot striker. I will be doing IM-Cairns in a pair in a mere 6 weeks (panic mode is starting to set in) and have just ordered a pair of Cloudrunners to try as a contrast to my current Cloudsurfers.
I’m very impressed with these shoes, have to say that getting them in Australia for anything less than a king’s ransom is really hard although there are some good deals online, however it’s a risk if you can’t try something on first.
Definitely worth a go IMHO.
(Were i good enough, perhaps ON wants to sponsor me…???..ok wishful thinking but hey, i’m putting it out there to the universe!)
Hi
Been looking at the ON range of shoes and was wondering what people thought of them?
Jono
I’ve been running in the Cloudracers lately, but just picked up the Cloudsurfers for my daily running show. Love them!
I tried some last year but didn’t really warm up to them. Besides that there’s only room in my life
for one goofball looking running shoe and that’s Hoka.