On Cloud 6 Versa review

We believe that the On Cloud 6 Versa can become a great day-to-day companion for people who:

• prefer very light, slip-on 'airport' shoes for commutes and traveling
• have medium-width feet
• are ready to pay more for the On aesthetics

If you aren't sold on the shoe's sock-like upper design and would rather have a classic padded upper with a tongue, go for the On Cloud 6. The latter is also available in a wide width and comes with a set of regular laces.

And if you could use more shock absorption for long hours of walking and standing, the same price can get you the max-cushioned On Cloudtilt.

Those hollow CloudTec pods look like they compress easily and buffer the foot from harsh impact on concrete streets. However, in our lab test, we measured the Cloud 6 Versa's shock absorption and recorded a merely average reading of 111 SA in the heel.

Although it's not outstandingly well-cushioned, it is just right for a few hours out and about. Yet if you need a shoe for an entire day of walking and standing, we recommend opting for the On Cloudtilt (132 SA).

With a middle-range energy return of 51.7%, we also found this On shoe moderately bouncy. It's not particularly responsive, but its midsole has some give that prevents the shoe's ride from feeling flat and dull.

Just like the regular On Cloud 6, the Versa version is built on a fairly grounded platform with a below-average heel stack of 28.5 mm.

It also places the ball of the foot rather close to the ground with a moderate forefoot stack of 18.8 mm.

The difference in stack heights gives us a gradual offset of 9.7 mm.

It is slightly higher than the officially stated 8 mm, but it will hit home for most people unless they are specifically looking for low-to-zero-drop shoes for biomechanical reasons.

The brand uses a rather firm foam for the Cloud 6 Versa's midsole, measuring up to 53.2 AC on our durometer. For reference, it is within the norm for On shoes, but notably firmer than the walking shoe average.

However, because that foam is built into the hollow CloudTec pods, the geometry itself helps soften the shoe's cushioning.

A slightly curved toe geometry helps to smooth out heel-to-toe transitions in this On shoe. But it's not pronounced enough to call it a rocker-bottom shoe by any means. 

Once you're past the Cloud 6 Versa's relatively narrow shoe opening, you are treated to a perfect medium-width fit.

Using a proprietary method, we obtained a 3D replica of the shoe's interior and measured the widest part of its forefoot at 95.3 mm.

But please note that, unlike the original Cloud 6, the Versa edition is not available in a wide-width variant.

The moderately tapered, mildly rounded shape of this On shoe's toebox didn't cause any concerns either. Measuring its width at the big toe showed a standard reading of 71.6 mm.

We didn't experience any pressure on the top of our toes either, thanks to the shoe's sufficient vertical space and stretchy knit upper.

Its toebox height came in at a normal 26.7 mm, as confirmed by our caliper.

The absence of a full-length rubber outsole can raise concerns about the shoe's grip, but fortunately, our traction test dispelled those worries.

With some of its pods covered in rubber, the Cloud 6 Versa ensures grip where it counts, showing a high CoF of 0.64 in the heel area (because slipping is most likely to occur during heel strike). This implies a solid bite even on wet concrete!

The shoe's rubber coverage is strategically limited to the forefoot and heel areas to retain lightness and flexibility. But the pods with exposed foam also have some texture to help bite onto smooth surfaces.

The updated upper design of the Cloud 6 Versa made it twice as flexible as the regular Cloud 6!

Where the original shoe requires a force of 12.8N to bend by 30 degrees, the Versa needs only 6.5N! That also makes it 53% more pliable than the category average.

Paired with the shoe's moderate stack, this flexibility makes its ride feel very natural and freeing.

The On Cloud walking shoe fans will also appreciate the Versa's notable weight reduction. It is a whole ounce lighter than the original at 8.7 oz (247g) per shoe in a men's US size 9. But the lightest adaptation by far is the Cloud 6 Coast.

Judging by how thin and semi-transparent the Cloud 6 Versa's upper is, we expected it to offer improved breathability. However, our lab tests showed a small step back...

The smoke billows passing through the shoe's toebox turned out to be thinner and slower, which lowered our score to a moderate 3 out of 5.

Even though it wouldn't be our first pick for hot summer days, it's a nice option for milder temperatures.

The shoe's knit weave is tighter than it seems when we look at it through our microscope!

The brand reshaped its CloudTec pods for version 6, making them wider for 'reduced pronation.' However, this is still an essentially neutral shoe that doesn't offer any pronounced arch support or stability elements for overpronation.

Its neutral design also shows in our torsional rigidity test. Despite the presence of a Speedboard shank in its midsole, the On Cloud 6 Versa requires a moderate torque of 12.4 Nm to twist by 10 degrees in both directions. That makes it 30% more pliable than the average walking shoe.

If you need better pronation control, consider the On Cloudnova Form 2.

The shoe has a thin internal heel counter and a couple of external panels to minimize heel wobbling. However, both proved to be rather flexible, scoring as low as 2 out of 5 on our stiffness test.

This again confirms the Cloud 6 Versa's neutral build and doesn't put any tangible pressure on the heel bone.

Measuring the shoe's platform width with a digital caliper, we found that it has standard dimensions for a walking shoe. At 109.9 mm in the widest part of the forefoot, it is neither too slim nor too broad for its kind.

Its heel also showed just a standard width of 88.3 mm.

The shoe's knit upper is covered with a synthetic overlay for added abrasion resistance. However, it completely melted under our Dremel, leaving the textile exposed. This lowered our toebox durability score to a moderate 3 out of 5.

The plush fabric inside the Cloud 6 Versa showed impressive wear resistance, earning a higher durability score of 4 out ot 5. It can sustain the friction of numerous on-and-offs.

We are also happy with the quality of the rubber protecting the shoe's pods in the heel and forefoot. Putting it through our Dremel test, we measured a very moderate dent depth of 0.8 mm. Impressive result for such a lightweight shoe!

Especially considering the fact that this On shoe's outsole is only 1.9 mm thick.

The Cloud 6 Versa's insole adds a touch of underfoot padding with a moderate thickness of 3.8 mm.

The insole is slightly molded to accommodate the arch, but may not sit well with some foot types. Luckily, it's easily removable, so you can opt for a different insert if needed.

Already firm at room temperature, the shoe's midsole foam barely changes in the cold. Our durometer recorded a minimal 13% change after a 20-minute freezer test.

The reflective On logos on the sides of the shoe's upper make the wearer visible in low-light conditions.

The Cloud 6 Versa's only padding is located in its collar, making the rest of the upper feel like a sock against the foot.

Thus, there is no padding in the shoe's tongue, and the upper material measures only 1.8 mm thick.

A sock-like upper design is the primary difference between the Cloud 6 Versa and the regular Cloud 6.

Elastic laces adjust to the foot by stretching and shrinking, but people with particularly high arches or wide feet may have trouble putting the shoe on or achieving the right fit.

A large finger loop is essential in a slip-on shoe like this.

On shoes in general are priced above the average without necessarily being more comfortable or better cushioned.