ON Cloudrunner 2 Introduction

I’ve become a fan of On’s shoe options recently. They offer high quality, stylish yet functional running shoes for every runner and situation. On released the Cloudrunner in 2022 and after two years, the Cloudrunner 2 is finally available.

The Cloudrunner line is designed for runners looking for cushion, a comfy ride and a bit of stability to help with overpronation. Helion and CloudTec make up the plush midsole while the upper is composed of 100% recycled polyester.

If you’re not a fan of what you see in the Cloudrunner 2, an alternative option from On is the Cloudsurfer. Both have a soft, comfortable ride and are designed to log a lot of miles. Brooks Glycerin 21 is another solid option outside of On.

At $149.99, this is not a budget shoe, however it won’t break the bank.

ON Cloudrunner 2 First Impressions

My first impressions of this shoe were kind of underwhelming. I love shoes with cool color options and all of the colorways for the Cloudrunner 2 are just blah. The white and gray version that I bought screamed “middle-aged dad shoes”.

It didn’t get any better when I tried them on. First off, everything about them felt BIG. They were wide and the upper was very deep. It felt like there was extra material everywhere. I had a difficult time lacing the shoes up comfortably and consistently. They just never seemed to get snug enough, even when I tried to use the runner’s loop.

The saving grace to the fit is that the Cloudrunner 2 was quite flexible. This minimized some of the movement of my feet inside the shoes while running.

Ironically, my very first run in the shoes was a marathon. Before you call me crazy, the course was one where you ran the same loop several times. If I would have had break-in issues, I could have swapped the shoes out.

Luckily, they were comfortable enough to make the full distance without rubbing, blisters or sore feet.

ON Cloudrunner 2 Upper

As I described in my first impression, fit was an issue for me. I did research and other reviewers suggested buying a half size smaller than normal. This might have helped, but I’m not convinced it would have solved all the issues. I value consistency in shoe brands and if sizing isn’t reliable, that’s a major drawback.

All other features of the upper were what I’ve come to expect from On. My opinion is that they make some of the best looking uppers in the running shoe space.

A seamless recycled polyester wraps the front half of the shoe. Strategic overlays surround the toe box as well as sections on the lateral and medial sides. These are meant to give you a secure fit and reduce foot movement.

Rigid mesh is used around the heel, keeping your foot locked in and adding to the stability factor of the shoe. The heel collar and tongue are highly cushioned which is oh so pleasant each and every time you lace them up. I really like the laces and lacing system in the Cloudrunner 2. They were effortless to lace and unlace for easy off after those hot summer runs.

Speaking of running in hot weather, we had record high temps in the month of June in Pennsylvania. The majority of miles that I ran to test these shoes were above 90 degrees. At those temps, no shoe will feel cool, but the Cloudrunner 2s were well ventilated and did not breathable.

ON Cloudrunner 2 Sole Unit

Notable features in the Cloudrunner 2 midsole are CloudTec and Helion. CloudTec is what On calls the cloud shaped, tubular cells that line the midsole. CloudTec is easily the most recognizable feature in most of On’s shoes.

A small but mighty improvement to CloudTec is that the cloud shapes are less pronounced which is meant to prevent stones and debris from getting caught in the outsole. I love this feature because this was a constant issue in the On Cloudswift 3.

Helion superfoam is the actual material that makes up CloudTec. Helion is designed to be lighter but more durable and provide higher energy return compared to other superfoams. I thoroughly enjoyed Helion in the past however Cloudrunner 2 did not give the same impression. For me, the heel collapsed far too much, causing significant achilles discomfort over time.

The midsole was too soft causing a lack of support when landing each stride. The only way I can describe it is it felt like my toes were sitting above my heel. This forced me to change my gait but that only solved the discomfort momentarily.

I’ve read other solid reviews of the Cloudrunner 2 so this might be an issue specific to my body and stride, but it’s worth pointing out.

Aside from the achilles issues, I had a much better experience with the midfoot and forefoot transitions. On removed the speedboard which was present in the original Cloudrunner. This helps cut down on weight but also gives you a closer to the ground feel.

A last note about the midsole is that the outsole has held up tremendously to the many miles I’ve put on. Rubber sections cover only the forefoot and heel, leaving Helion exposed through the midfoot.

The rubber shows a small amount of wear in the heel section, but I wouldn’t say they are wearing down.

ON Cloudrunner 2 Conclusions

I’m really conflicted about the On Cloudrunner 2.

On one hand, this is a well made, highly cushioned shoe that can endure a lot of road miles.

On the other hand, they didn’t fit my feet or running gait.

Ultimately, if you like the shoes, I strongly recommend trying them on before you buy. If you like them, I hope they are enjoyed for many many miles.