On Cloud 5 Waterproof review

Who should buy the On Cloud 5 Waterproof

This weatherproof On Cloud shoe is a solid choice for the following:

• wet, rainy, and colder climates and seasons
• all-day wear including long hours of standing and walking
• a good-looking shoe for the urban conditions
• a light and easy-to-slip-on shoe for travelling

Who should NOT buy this walking shoe

If you don’t think you’ll get caught in the rain a lot, then we believe that you might be better off with the regular breathable version of the Cloud 5.

And if you’d like to expand your options of waterproof shoes, have a look at our selection of the best waterproof running shoes. Some of them are more rugged to be used on the trails, like the Nike Pegasus Trail 3 GTX.

Waterproofing is excellent

We enjoyed using this shoe in cold and wet climates. We wore the shoes for several really rainy days in NYC and were elated that we never felt damp and the pair still looks nice and clean. We have also worn it in the slush with our feet remaining dry. Because of this, we have something other than rain boots to walk our dogs, too.

In the video below you can see the comparison between the Cloud 5 Waterproof and its breathable counterpart. We use a smoke-pumping machine to check how much smoke is able to pass through the shoe's upper material. On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the most breathable, we rated the waterproof version as 1 out of 5.

On Cloud 5 Waterproof (left) vs. On Cloud 5 (right)

To further support the statement, we put the shoe's upper against a source of bright light. As you can see, there is no shining through the fabric whatsoever.

Looking at the textile through a microscope only confirms the fact that the Cloud 5 Waterproof was made to keep you dry and warm.

The fabric is extremely tightly woven.

For reference, this is what a breathable (5 out of 5) mesh upper looks like.

The only downside of impermeability is the unpleasant odour that might occur if some water gets inside over the collar edges or if the foot perspires. To prevent the odour buildup, we recommend sticking balls of paper inside the shoes to help them dry more effectively.

On Cloud 5 Waterproof is astonishingly light!

The shoe weighs 10.2 oz (288 g) in a men’s US size 9 which is below the average weight of walking shoes (11.3 oz / 319 g). This is impressive given that most of these walking shoes are not waterproof.

They make us feel so light on our feet.

Keeps you comfortable all day

The shoe offers a good amount of cushioning which keeps our feet supported as we go about our day.

According to the brand, there is an 8-mm heel-to-toe difference in the midsole, meaning that the heel receives extra cushion.

Measuring the shoe's stack height with a pair of callipers, we found that the drop is actually lower, at 6.5 mm. This doesn't necessarily mean that the shoe feels flat but it definitely won't feel like there is an extra pillow under your heel.

In the heel, the shoe's midsole is 28.9 mm thick and in the forefoot, it is 22.4 mm. Provided that the average of walking shoes is 30.9 mm and 21.4 mm respectively, this is a good amount of foam for all-day wear.

We found that the footbed is 4.7 mm thick in the Cloud 5 Waterproof. This is a little thinner than the average 5.5 mm across walking shoes.

Now let's dive into what the shoe's cushioning feels like underfoot.

The foam is bouncy with a good amount of spring in each of our steps. We also discovered that the shoe is supportive and soft, yet structured and not just a hunk of material on the foot.

A mix of support and softness is indeed the best description of this shoe's cushioning. Our durometer measurement shows that the Cloud 5 Waterproof is 10% firmer than walking shoe foams on average. However, it is still not enough to be on the firm side. "Balanced" is a good word we can categorise this shoe. 

In any case, a bit of firmness doesn't bother us. We are happy with the way our feet feel after spending a day in a pair of On Cloud 5 Waterproof.

A little on the stiff side (like most On Clouds)

It can be hard to believe given that the shoe's entire sole is made of separated pods and deep flex grooves. And yet, our flexibility tests show that the On Cloud 5 is nowhere near Skechers' level of bendiness.

To check the shoe's forward flex, we bend it to a 90-degree angle while measuring resistance with a digital force gauge. Higher resistance translates to higher stiffness.

Disclaimer: We repeat the test four times and then take the average measurement. The video above shows one of the takes.

And in the case of the Cloud 5 Waterproof, it is 18% stiffer than walking shoes on average. It is also 15% stiffer than the original Cloud 5. But when compared to other shoes from On (renowned for their lack of flexibility), the Cloud 5 Waterproof is actually 12% more flexible than the brand's average.

To support our lab findings with personal assessment, we bent and twisted the shoe with our own hands. We rated the shoe's longitudinal flexibility as 2 out of 5 (where 5 is the stiffest) and its torsional flex as 3 out of 5.

In addition to the lack of flex, there is not much rocker in this On Cloud shoe either. The heel-to-toe transitions feel basic (but it's a matter of personal taste).

Nice and stable underfoot

No time to wobble.

When walking through puddles in the rain, you definitely want all the stability you can get in a walking shoe. And the Cloud 5 Waterproof nails it. 

This is where the shoe's stiffness and firmness come in handy. But the added value also comes from the shoe's wide footprint.

In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured the sole at 104.6 mm (3.2 mm wider than the Cloud 5).

And in the heel (83.7 mm), the shoe is also a good 3.7 mm wider than the OG.

Gets tougher in cold temperatures

Given its waterproofing characteristics, there is a high chance that you will be wearing the Cloud 5 Waterproof in cold weather too. Do keep in mind that low temperatures don't help to make this shoe softer.

To mimic cold weather, we put the shoe into the freezer for 20 minutes. We then repeated the flexibility and softness measurements to see what's changed.

The Cloud 5 Waterproof got significantly firmer (38% more) but it is within the average across walking shoes (40% more).

We were pleasantly surprised with the flexibility department: the shoe only stiffened up by 15% whereas most shoes get as much as 70% stiffer! Luckily, the already stiff shoe doesn't get that much denser.

Cloud 5 Waterproof is a snug-fitting shoe

According to the brand's official product page for the On Cloud 5 Waterproof, the shoe is true to size.

But we can agree that Cloud 5 Waterproof runs smaller and fits narrower. We noticed that it is visibly much smaller than the other Clouds we have tried on and tested. We even ended up having blisters on the heels in our regular size.

We recommend going up by only half a size to achieve a perfect fit.

Having measured the widest part of the toebox (94.7 mm) as well as the area near the toes (74.3 mm), we can state that the shoe is medium-to-narrow.

In-shoe comfort guaranteed

On did a fantastic job with the shoe's upper. We have no complaints about hot spots, rubbing, or blisters. There seems to be enough padding in all the right places.

The collar is well-padded around the edges and there is an ample stretch to the upper fabric.

The shoe's tongue is a little thicker than the average (by 2 mm) which contributes to the in-shoe comfort and warmth.

Super easy on and off

The no-tie design of this On Cloud is something we highly appreciated as the shoe can be slipped into really quickly. No need to bend down and tie laces.

At the same time, there is no need to worry about the heel slipping out of the shoe. There is a good level of stiffness in the heel counter that keeps the ankle in place. Based on our assessment, it is 4 out of 5, where 5 is the stiffest.

And if you are a fan of the conventional lacing or need to get a more fine-tuned fit, a pair of regular laces is also included with the pair.

Sole catches stones

This is such a common problem for On shoes and it is also present in the Cloud 5 Waterproof. We observed that small rocks and debris tend to get stuck in between the CloudTec pods. However, it’s not that catastrophic as you only need to step on a rock of a certain size that could fit into the gap.

Durability looks promising

Despite not having a full-length rubber outsole, the Cloud 5 Waterproof is equipped with strategically placed and thick rubber pods.

These rubber pieces (3.3 mm) are notably thicker than the average (1.7 mm). It means that wearing through these is going to take much longer.

In addition, the rubber itself is 16% harder than average. This also means that the rubber is not that prone to abrasion.

Environmentally-friendly design of the Cloud 5

Just like the original Cloud 5, the Waterproof version contains 40% of recycled materials in total. The highest concentration of sustainable components (90%) is found in the polyester upper fabric.

Appealing design for various occasions

The shoe gained us lots of compliments from the bypassers. Even though it looks a lot like many other On shoes, it still turns heads on the streets because it is something different from the commonly seen Nikes, Adidas, Skechers, New Balance, etc.

Their semi-casual appeal also allows us to dress it up or down, depending on the occasion.