On Cloudhorizon Waterproof review

As long as you can tolerate the shoe's above-average price, we can heartily recommend the Cloudhorizon Waterproof as the following:

• a waterproof outdoor shoe for cold and rainy days (and not-so-deep puddles)
• a day hiking shoe that doubles as a stylish city sneaker
• a max-cushioned hiker that keeps your feet and legs happy for hours

We would avoid the Cloudhorizon Waterproof if the plan is to go on a serious hike that involves a backpack and some technical terrain.

Some of the top-performing hiking shoes in our roster are the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX (if you want that abundant cushioning) and the Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX (if grip and durability are your top priorities).

We are also happy to add that both these shoes are offered at a lower price than the Cloudhorizon.

Just when we thought hiking shoes could not be any cushier than the Hoka Skyline-Float X, the On Cloudhorizon entered the scene with its massive 39.4 mm heel stack.

There is a good reason why it's touted as the brand's most cushioned hiking shoe to date.

Be it a hike or an urban walk, the Cloudhorizon Waterproof delivers immense comfort and impact protection. The shoe made us feel supported on the trail and left our legs free from strain and fatigue afterward!

Not to mention that its bottomless cushioning kept our feet isolated from the bumps and rocks on the way.

The forefoot stack of this cushy monster turned out to be even taller than some other hiking shoe's heel stack! Our caliper measured a whopping 29.2 mm of platform thickness in the ball of foot area.

Contrary to the brand's specs, however, we found the heel-to-toe drop of the Cloudhorizon Waterproof taller than 6 mm.

Our lab measurements showed that the shoe's heel is elevated above the toes by as much as 11.0 mm.

But we should also note that the shoe's drop is somewhat distorted on the foot. Because of the rockered midsole shape of this On shoe and the extra-compressive CloudTec pods, you get the benefit of abundant heel cushioning as well as smooth heel-to-toe transitions which is what matters after all.

When you see the shoe's CloudTec Phase pods collapse under pressure, you think that the On Cloudhorizon Waterproof has a marshmallowy plush midsole. But in reality, we found its cushioning to be more on the balanced side with a distinct touch of firmness to it.

That's because the Helion foam that On uses in nearly every shoe is a firm compound itself. Pressing a Shore A durometer against it returned a slightly firmer-than-average reading of 31.0 HA.

The softness we experienced in the Cloudhorizon is all courtesy of the hollowed-out CloudTec midsole design.

In our opinion, On achieved a fine balance between softness and firmness in this hiking shoe. Considering its massive stack height, you don't want to be wobbling around the roots and rocks - that firmness is responsible for the surefootedness.

Chances are you are eyeballing this waterproof shoe for the cold season. So its performance in low temperatures might be a point of interest for you.

Aside from each shoe's warmth and waterproofing abilities, we also check how its cushioning behaves in freezing conditions. So off to the freezer, it goes!

Repeating the durometer measurement after 20 minutes, we found that the Cloudhorizon Waterproof got moderately firmer. The HA reading went up by 22.9% which is on par with most hiking shoes in our lab.

The Cloudhorizon also packs a well-padded insole on top of the primary midsole cushioning. Our caliper showed that it is just as thick as the average hiking shoe insole at 5.3 mm in the heel.

We noticed that the addition of a waterproof membrane can make a shoe fit slightly tighter. And that seems to be the case for the Cloudhorizon Waterproof. To put the difference into numbers, we poured gel molds of both shoes in our lab.

Even though we tested both shoes in a men's US size 9, the difference in their shape and size is visible even to the untrained eye. The Waterproof version of the Cloudhorizon turned out to be 2.3 mm narrower in the widest part.

The Cloudhorizon Waterproof also gets notably more tapered in the toebox. We recorded a whopping 5.5 mm difference between the two versions of the shoe! At 70.4 mm, the waterproof one can feel a bit snug for a medium-width foot.

Unfortunately, this shoe from On is not offered in wide.

On a lighter note, the toebox height of the Cloudhorizon Waterproof turned out to be on par with the average at 26.4 mm.

It's nice to have some vertical wiggle room.

For a hiking shoe with THAT much stack height and no special stabilizing components, we are pleasantly surprised with the stability offered by the Cloudhorizon Waterproof. Especially given that the shoe is meant for light-to-moderate terrain only.

We expected the shoe to feel just like its non-waterproof counterpart but, apparently, weatherproof materials made this version of the Clouhorizon stiffer. And consequently, more stable.

First of all, we could feel the difference in the shoe's torsional rigidity. The Cloudhorizon Waterproof was notably harder to twist in our manual test.

Because of that, we increased its stiffness score to 4 out of 5. We felt much more confident wearing a backpack with this version because of its higher resistance to foot rolling.

Our next manual test revealed that the heel counter is also stiffer in the Cloudhorizon Waterproof!

On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the stiffest, we gave the shoe a solid 4 out of 5 because it is nearly incompressible in the rearfoot.

This resulted in a firmer and more secure heel hold which contributed to the shoe's arch support as well. 

Can you see how the non-waterproof Cloudhorizon is more forgiving in the heel counter?

Checking the midsole dimensions of the Cloudhorizon Waterproof, we didn't see any drastic differences with the OG's platform.

The shoe still offers a reliable base that proved to be wider than average in both the forefoot and the heel.

Our caliper returned 116.3 mm in the widest part of the shoe's forefoot.

The shoe's heel also provides a solid landing area with 89.1 mm in the widest part.

Curiously enough, the watertight components of the Clouhorizon Waterproof also made it significantly stiffer in the forefoot.

According to our force gauge, it took as much as 41.4N to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle! That's 46% more force than it took to bend the non-waterproof version.

On foot, that means less natural foot bending but notably more stability and a smoother ride.

We are happy to report that the Cloudhorizon Waterproof doesn't turn into a stiff brick in cold conditions.

After 20 minutes of sitting in the freezer, it stiffened up by only 12.3% which is less compared to other hiking shoes.

The average weight of a waterproof hiking shoe is 14.6 oz (414g). Meanwhile, the On Cloudhorizon Waterproof comes in at 12.0 (339g) in a men's US size 9.

But aside from being waterproof, it also packs some of the thickest midsoles a hiking shoe can afford.

With these two factors considered, the weight of this On shoe is nothing less than magic!

We applaud the On brand for always knowing how to keep their footwear nice and light! Even with plenty of features involved.

Breathability and waterproofing never go hand in hand, no matter what the brand promises in its product specs. You just don't get as much airflow inside a watertight upper as you would in a shoe without the membrane.

In the video above, the difference in smoke expulsion is pretty self-explanatory. The waterproof upper of the Cloudhorizon just doesn't let any of it out!

There are no secret perforations or ventilation holes in its upper because obviously, they would compromise the shoe's water resistance.

Because of its lack of ventilation, the Cloudhorizon Waterproof gets the lowest breathability score (1 out of 5). But if you need a breathable hiking shoe for warm weather, the regular Cloudhorizon is also available, among other great summer hiking shoes.

Where most outdoor brands rely on the reputable Gore-Tex technology, the Cloudhorizon uses On's proprietary waterproofing. And yet, this in-house membrane never disappoints!

On the outside, the Cloudhorizon features an incredibly tightly woven textile that looks like it won't let a single drop seep in.

On the inside, the entire length of the shoe is covered with waterproof material.

As long as you avoid stepping into ankle-deep puddles, the Cloudhorizon Waterproof will keep your feet warm and dry throughout the hike, even if you get caught in the rain.

Waterproofing can only work as long as the shoe's integrity is intact. That's why it is equally important to check the durability of its components and materials.

Unfortunately, the upper durability of the Cloudhorizon Waterproof left much to be desired.

The sandpaper tip of our Dremel burned through the shoe's upper within just a few seconds. Considering the damage, we rated its toebox durability with a lower-than-average score of 3.

Staying away from sharp bushes and rocky ridges would be a good idea if you want to extend this On shoe's lifespan.

The shoe's interior lining didn't show the best wear resistance either.

A brief encounter with the Dremel left rather notable damage on the heel collar. This held us back from racing the shoe's heel padding durability any higher than 3 out of 5.

Considering that the On Cloudhorizon Waterproof is meant for a more casual type of hiking, we didn't expect much from its outsole. And yet, we were pleasantly surprised.

With a durometer reading of 89.4 HC, we found that the shoe's outsole is made of a pretty hard rubber compound.

That hard rubber compound also proved to be impressively resistant to abrasion.

Drilling it for 22 seconds at a high speed of 10K RPM left a moderate dent of 0.9 mm. This is the same kind of damage that much sturdier hiking shoes sustained in the same test.

However, we still recommend sticking to less challenging terrain in the Cloudhorizon because its outsole is only 2.1 mm thick and the lugs are shallower than average by half.

The Cloudhorizon Waterproof has some of the shallowest lugs we've seen on hiking shoes. With a caliper reading of 2.3 mm, we wouldn't trust these pimples on steep slabs or moss-covered logs.

It's not the best companion in muddy areas either. Not only because the lugs are barely there but also because the dirt gets caught in the CloudTec pods and scraping it out of there is not a very fun way to pass the time.

To sum it up, it's best to use the Cloudhorizon Waterproof where it was meant to be worn in the first place - light-to-moderate terrain.

Getting a shoe from On nearly always means paying more than the average price. And in the case of the Cloudhorizon Waterproof, it is 20% more compared to the average waterproof hiking shoe MSRP.

In our opinion, the Cloudhorizon Waterproof offers a lot to justify the price tag - the ultra-cushioned ride, the overall comfort, the effective waterproofing, the style... But if you are looking for the best possible value for money, there are several excellent hiking shoes offered at a lower price point.

The Cloudhorizon Waterproof ensures that your footwear choice is visible even at night. The brand logo on the side lights up in low-light conditions.

A generously padded tongue amplifies the in-shoe comfort. Our caliper showed as much as 10.3 mm of tongue thickness which kept lace bites at bay.

A fully gusseted tongue is a must in any waterproof hiking shoe. The gussets blocked moisture and debris from sneaking inside the shoe.

The shoe has a fairly large finger loop which is very handy for the on-and-off.

If you prefer custom inserts and orthotics, the shoe's stock insole is easy to remove and swap.

We always welcome sustainability initiatives in footwear and On offers some ethically sourced materials in the Cloudhorizon Waterproof. According to the brand, 86% of the shoe's upper is made with recycled polyester.

It may not be a feature that people often look for in hiking shoes but it's nice to have a lace garage to tuck excess laces away.