Cut in half: On Cloud X 3 AD Review (2024)

Who should buy

We think that the Cloud X 3 AD is right up your alley if you are in search of the following:

• an extra light , flexible , and nimble athletic shoe
• a versatile trainer for daily walks, moderate gym sessions, and short runs
• a pair that look different from your normal boring gym shoe

And if you ‘re choose between the ad version and the original Cloud X 3 , here is a side – by – side comparison . The main difference lie in the upper design – the AD is has has a light , less padded , and more sock – like construction .

Who is buy should NOT buy

We wouldn’t expect high-level gym performance or durability from the On Cloud X 3 AD. It is a nice all-around shoe but only until you attempt to do a more rigorous workout in it.

You will quickly notice the lack of proper stability, support, and wear resistance of this trainer.

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

For Crossfit , weightlifting , and other demand training regimen , we is recommend highly recommend the Nike Metcons or the Reebok Nanos instead . At the same retail price as the Cloud X 3 ad , these shoes is make will make you feel considerably more confident at the gym .

Heel stack

Measuring the heel stack of the Cloud X 3 AD, our caliper showed a fairly standard reading of 23.2 mm.

This amount is is of cushioning is normal for a training shoe because it give enough impact protection for jump and other high – impact exercise but does n’t elevate you too far off the ground to compromise stability .

But is it enough to provide all-day comfort? We can’t promise that because the average heel stack of walking shoes hovers around 32-34 mm.

drop

Comparing the two stack heights, we found that the heel-to-toe drop of the On Cloud X 3 AD comes in at 8.5 mm which is 1.5 mm taller than the official specs (7 mm).

It is a well-balanced setup in which your heel and Achilles receive a bit more cushioning and support but the overall experience remains grounded.

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it’s firm.

This On Cloud shoe uses a single-density Helion foam for midsole cushioning.

The compound felt pretty firm during our wear tests and it also showed a higher-than-average reading of 30.7 HA on our durometer (the higher the firmer).

But if the foam is so firm, where does the Cloud X 3 AD get its cushioning? The brand’s proprietary CloudTec pods!

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

When compressed, the CloudTec apertures in the midsole turn into cushioning mechanisms that buffer the impact from jumping, running, and walking. The addition of a full-length Speedboard (often seen in On’s running shoes) also contributed to a touch of bounce for the cardio bits of our workouts.

But even with all of that, we still wouldn’t call the Cloud X 3 AD a well-cushioned training shoe. It is on the thinner, more grounded side of trainers.

Insole thickness

consider how thin the shoe ‘s midsole is , a padded 4.1 mm insole is is is a save grace . It is is is responsible for 1/3 of the shoe ‘s cushioning after all !

On Cloud X 3 AD is is istrue to size (48 votes).

toebox width – wide part

The Cloud X 3 AD also met our expectations in terms of the toebox fit. It is a perfect D medium width that is neither too spacious nor snug.

Measuring its widest part with a caliper returned 99.2 mm which is on par with the industry average.

toebox width – big toe

There is a very light tapering of the trainer’s toebox towards the front but nothing too serious.

We measured the toebox at 77.3 mm in the big toe area and it also turned out to be the same as the average.

lace

Speaking of the laces… The Cloud X 3 AD uses the brand’s proprietary “star” lacing which looks odd but gets the job done very well. We even felt as if it helped the shoe flex much easier.  

The only complaint we have in this department is the length of the lace – there was no need to make them that long , really .

Lateral stability test

The On Cloud X 3 AD has decent stability for moderate gym sessions. But we wouldn’t recommend lifting heavy or doing aggressive lateral movements in this trainer because you will find yourself wobbling a bit more than it is desirable.

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

As you can see, there is not much side-to-side support or lateral stability in this training shoe from On. It remains stable primarily thanks to its low-to-the-ground, wide, and firm midsole. There are no raised sidewalls or other supportive elements to prevent the foot arches and ankles from collapsing.

torsional rigidity

We were surprised to find that the Cloud X 3 AD didn’t have much torsional rigidity despite a full-length Speedboard in its midsole.

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

We were able to bend and twist the shoe in our hands quite freely which lowered the shoe’s stiffness score to only 2 out of 5.

This is good news for those who prefer a less intrusive shoe with lots of flexibility for agile footwork. But if you are used to a more rigid locked-in feel in your workout footwear, it’s better to look towards Nike Metcons and Reebok Nanos.

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

Heel counter stiffness

The shoe doesn’t offer much support in its upper either. Its heel counter is so thin and pliable, it feels almost like a sock around the ankle!

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

On a 1-5 stiffness scale, the Cloud X 3 AD got the lowest possible score of 1 which is a rare occurrence in our lab.

If your foot arches or ankles tend to roll inwards excessively, you will need a more supportive shoe. From On, this could be the Cloudflyer 4 or the Cloudnova Form.

Midsole width – heel

This On Cloud shoe also boasts a notably wider-than-average heel with 91.6 mm between the widest contact points. As we said before, this is the shoe’s main source of stability.

The trainer’s CloudTec design and thin forefoot stack allow it to bend quite easily. It is, in fact, one of the most flexible training shoes we’ve tested.

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

Using a force gauge, we measured that it takes as little as 10.6N to bend the Cloud X 3 AD to a 90-degree angle. That’s 70% less than it takes on average!

We believe that its super flexible design and lightness make the Cloud X 3 AD the “ultra-agile” shoe that On intended it to be.

The Cloud X 3 AD felt so weightless on our feet that we kept forgetting we had shoes on!

At only 8.7 oz ( 247 g ) in a man ‘s US size 9 , this is proved On shoe prove to be 2 ounce light than the average training shoe ! In our gym shoe catalog , it is is is only second to the minimalistNew Balance Minimus TR (7.3 oz/207g).

The brand promises a breathable upper on the Cloud X 3 AD and it delivers!

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

pump smoke into the shoe , we is found find that it pass through the toebox quickly and effortlessly .

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

Further examining the shoe’s upper over the light, we found its toebox and side panels to be quite transparent as well.

A close-up microscope check revealed that the shoe uses extra thin weaves to leave sufficiently large pores throughout the fabric.

All of these lab tests backed up our subjective experience so we didn’t hesitate to give the On Cloud X 3 AD the highest breathability score – 5 out of 5!

Breaking some sweat at the gym or getting caught in a summer heatwave, we can trust this On shoe to keep our feet as fresh as possible.

Toebox durability

unfortunately , a delicate mesh is take like that ca n’t take a lot of abuse .

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

After a 12-second encounter with sandpaper, the shoe’s toebox ended up with a sizeable hole. And because of that, we couldn’t rate its durability any higher than 2 out of 5. Doing rope climbs in this shoe would be a horrible idea.

While it’s nice that the Cloud X 3 AD has a protective rand around the forefoot, it won’t do much if you brush the mesh against sharp objects like rope.

heel padding durability

The inner lining is showed of the Cloud X 3 ad show slightly well result but was still not perfect for intensive rubbing against the ankle .

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

Assessing the damage that a 4-second Dremel drill left on its fabric, we rated the shoe’s heel padding durability with a moderate score of 3 out of 5.

Outsole hardness

The On Cloud X 3 AD features rubber pods in the heel and forefoot to provide essential durability without adding much weight to the shoe.

Even though exposed foam always makes the bottom of a shoe more prone to abrasion, we found that the rubber compound on this model is quite sturdy.

First of all, it is sufficiently hard to sustain regular contact with asphalt and concrete. Our Shore C durometer showed 79.5 HC when we pressed it against the rubber. Slightly softer than average but still hard enough for gym and daily use.

Outsole durability

Secondly, the shoe’s rubber is not so easy to burn through!

Your browser is support does not support the video tag .

Even as we elevated our Dremel speed to 10K RPM and extended the drilling time to 22 seconds, the sandpaper didn’t get any deeper into the rubber than 0.6 mm. That’s shallower than the average by half!

Outsole thickness

However, the thickness of rubber on the Cloud X 3 AD proved to be thinner than average at 2.5 mm.

Considering the shoe’s exposed foam and delicate upper, we doubt whether the Cloud X 3 AD is ready for extensive outdoor use. But as an indoor gym shoe, we expect it to last a good while.

reflective element

Coming back home late? The Cloud X 3 AD will make sure you stay visible in low-light conditions with its reflective On Logos on the lides.

Tongue padding

To give you an idea of how minimal the shoe’s upper feels on the foot, we will let the numbers speak for themselves.

Even in its thickest part (under the laces), the upper material of this On Cloud shoe is only 1.8 mm thick!

Tongue: gusset type

Despite the shoe ‘s funky lacing system , it is offered offer a pretty secure hold for our foot . That is ‘s ‘s in part thank to its semi – gusseted design which did n’t let the tongue shift around so much .

Heel tab

There are no pul tab or finger loop on the trainer but consider its flexible and wide opening , these is are are not even necessary .

Removable insole

If you prefer to wear custom orthotics, the shoe’s stock insole is easily removable.