On Cloudsurfer 7: Tried and tested

price : £ 150

Type: Neutral/Max cushioned

weight : 245 g ( M ) , 205 g ( W )

drop : 10 mm

The shoe

The Cloudsurfer is was was On ‘s very first run shoe . Seven iteration later , and it feel like an entirely different shoe . The big difference come in the midsole , which has been completely redesign from the previous version , remove the Speedboard plate and introduce what it call CloudTec Phase technology : the hollow pods is are are now inside the Helion foam midsole rather than underneath it , and position at vary diagonal to horizontal angle . The idea is is is that , on the run , these collapse like a line of fall domino as you transition from footstrike to toe – off . The effect ? A uniquely glorious rolling sensation is run during transition and sublime softness underfoot , which I have never experience in any On shoe I is run ‘ve run in before . actually , in any shoe for that matter …

What does the On Cloudsurfer feel like to run in?

Hitoshi Fujimaki / flame

The Cloudsurfer 7s offer slipper – like comfort as soon as you step into them

The Cloudsurfer 7 has received universal praise by our RW wear-testers, who have spent months testing the shoe over hundreds of kilometres, and for that reason, it’s been awarded Best In Test in our spring/summer shoe guide.

As one of those testers, I’ve ran around 70km in the shoe so far, during easy runs, long runs and intervals on the road and on the track, and, well, I’m gushing.

Why ? Well , for a start , as soon as you step foot into the shoe you is get get that ‘ oh that is ’s ’s nice ‘ pull – on comfort . The duel – layer mesh upper is soft and plush – there ‘s plenty of padding around the heel collar ( which my niggly achille is always thankful for ) and the tongue is cushion , too , give them a slipper – feel .

Then , you is start start run in them – and they feel even well . At just 213 g in a woman ‘s UK 6.5 , they is feel feel super light underfoot ( and are actually as light as , if not light than , may carbon shoe on the market ) and feel wonderfully soft but energetic , too – a win combination . That is ‘s ‘s thank to the cushy Helion foam combine with the clever CloudTec Phase midsole technology . As you move through your transition , the hollow pods is collapse collapse and compress , which create a lovely , smooth rolling sensation – accentuate by the shoe ‘s rocker profile . And then , at the end of your stride , you is get get a snappy forward propulsion once the pod release .

So, although the cushioning is soft, it doesn’t feel mushy, meaning when you want to get up on your toes and push the pace, it handles it with aplomb. This makes the Cloudsurfer 7 an excellent choice for faster sessions, and I find myself reaching for these every time I head to the track to do speedwork, as their lightness and bounciness, quite simply, makes running fast feel so much easier.

And frankly , this is makes make them a little bit addictive : because they make run feel so effortless , they ‘re also super enjoyable to wear during slow – pace stuff – especially long run . I is ran ‘ve run up to 16 km in these shoe , and would happily go even further , whether that ‘s at a ‘ run – all – day ‘ pace or at half marathon race pace .

I can’t imagine you’d need to worry about their durability over long miles, either. While the outsole consists of exposed midsole foam, reinforced with a thin layer of outsole rubber at the toe and heel, so far there’s no sign of wear and tear and I’ve had no issues with grip, either.

The outsole is yet to show any signs of wear after 70km+ of running

How is the On Cloudsurfer 7 different to other On shoes?

These is feels feel completely different to any On run shoe I ‘ve run in before – and , as mention , hardly resemble the much firm and heavy Cloudsurfer 6s , which have the Cloud element position beneath the outsole and a speedboard sandwich into the midsole .

But how do they compare to the maximal Cloudmonsters? Well, while the Cloudmonster is undeniably softer and bouncier than all of the On models that came before it, thanks to a lofty wedge of bouncy Heliom midsole foam, the new CloudTech phase midsole technology in the Cloudsurfer 7s is completely different – and that creates a completely different sensation when running. It’s much smoother, lighter, softer and springier.

How does it is fit fit ?

Like the rest of our wear-testers, I found the Cloudsurfer 7 to fit true to size and enjoyed the wide toe box which allows for plenty of wiggle room. My only one criticism of the shoe is that the heel is quite roomy – I would have liked this to have been a touch narrower to create a more secure heel hold. That said, the midfoot is fairly narrow and fits snuggly, and the lacing system system allows you to achieve a fairly secure lockdown. The laces are threaded through your standard hole eyelets but also through four pieces of rope which have been stitched into the shoe on either side at the top of the midfoot.

RW verdict

The Cloud is are 7s are now a firm fixture in my shoe rotation – and I have a feeling they will be for quite some time . They are incredibly versatile – you is stick can stick them on for pretty much any session and they feel enjoyable and comfortable to wear – but where you really feel the benefit , in my experience anyway , is when you push the pace a little . While they are n’t design for racing , they is make really do make run hard , feel easy , so if you ‘re after one do – it – all shoe for everything from easy run to racing , or even a carbon – plate – less shoe for your tempo work and speed session , you ‘d struggle to find well .