On Cloudrock Low Waterproof review

The On Cloudrock Low Waterproof may be worth the investment for hikers who:

• need a stiffer and firmer platform for rocky areas and mixed terrain
• prefer responsive shoes that help maintain a brisk pace
• adore On's aesthetics and design philosophy

The Cloudrock is likely to feel overly structured and unforgiving for more casual hikes and leisurely strolls on manicured trails. For that purpose, the On Cloudhorizon 2 Waterproof is a more suitable choice.

And if you are here for a technical-terrain shoe but the Cloudrock's price point sounds unreasonable, the Salomon X Ultra 5 GTX or the Terrex Skychaser GTX make fantastic alternatives at a more budget-friendly price.

With its rigid platform, it's not immediately apparent that the On Cloudrock Low Waterproof actually provides above-average impact protection.

Measuring its shock absorption at 116 SA in the heel, we found this On shoe well-equipped for long distances. And because it features a rather firm, thick foam slab, it offers excellent protection against bumpy obstacles like roots and rocks.

The Cloudrock Low surprised us with an unusually high energy return of 56.7%! It feels notably more responsive than the average hiking shoe, making it easier to maintain a faster pace and reducing the feeling of 'dead legs.'

It's not race-shoe bouncy, of course, but a livelier underfoot experience on the trail that felt like a breath of fresh air.

With a heel stack of 38.6 mm, the shoe is rather platformy, raising above the average by a few millimetres. It is almost as tall as the Cloudhorizon 2 Waterproof.

In the forefoot, the shoe's stack height also measured much taller than average, at 29.4 mm. It offers a generous buffer for the ball of the foot and the toe joints, but mutes out the ground feel almost entirely.

Putting the two stack-height measurements side by side, we got a 9.2 mm offset. It is slightly higher than the stated 8 mm but feels nearly identical underfoot.

Because it is a standard drop not only for hiking shoes but also for casual trainers, it should feel comfortably familiar to most wearers. There is a little bit of heel elevation to prevent strain on the Achilles and calves.

Although the brand's product page describes the shoe's Helion superfoam as 'plush,' it feels quite firm underfoot, confirmed by a high durometer reading of 45.5 AC.

And even the compressible CloudTec pods hardly make the ride any more forgiving. Overall, the platform feels sturdy and stable rather than soft and cosy.

But at least the Helion foam's moderate firmness stays practically unchanged in cold conditions. After 20 minutes in the freezer, it showed an insignificant 9% change.

Available in a single standard width, the Cloudrock Low Waterproof caters to medium and narrower feet.

As soon as we took the solidified gel cast out of the shoe, we noticed it had a pointed toebox. However, our calliper showed that, at its widest point (ball-of-foot area), this On shoe is on par with the average at 94.3 mm.

But it's the shoe's big-toe area where the taper becomes most prominent. At only 68.0 mm, it is notably narrower than the average hiking shoe toebox, which can be problematic on longer hikes when feet start to swell.

The shoe's vertical space also turned out to be slightly limited, with a moderate toebox height of 25.8 mm.

It's not exactly restricting, but it can put undesirable pressure on the toes and toenails.

Following the SATRA TM144 protocol, we measured the Cloudrock Low Waterproof's friction coefficient at 0.56. While it's not the tackiest blend, it's a solid result for a hiking shoe.

We felt like we could trust the brand's proprietary Missiongrip outsole on wet rocks, smooth boulders, boardwalks, and other tricky surfaces.

Positioned for All Terrain, our calliper measured the shoe's lug depth at a modest 2.8 mm. That's a rather shallow result for a hiking shoe, making it better suited for dry ground, gravel, forest paths, and rocky climbs.

We wouldn't trust this On shoe on wet surfaces like mud, loose dirt, or snow where aggressive bite and braking power are a must.

The shape and size of its lugs further confirm the shoe’s orientation towards hard and rocky terrain. Flat and square, they feel more at home on hard-packed terrain and lack the sharp edges needed for steeper dirt inclines.

Its thick platform, stiff Speedboard plate, and tall TPU rand inevitably limit the Cloudrock Low Waterproof's forefoot flex.

We weren't able to bend our feet quite as easily in this On shoe, and it required a significant force of 24.7N in our lab test as well. For the record, that's 31% more than it takes to bend an average hiking shoe in the same test!

It may not feel as forgiving and manoeuvrable, but it elevates the shoe's stability and surefootedness quite a bit.

Despite its thick, sturdy platform, the On Cloudrock Low Waterproof does not exceed the category average at 13.9 oz (394g) in a men's US size 9.

This is where the Cloudrock Low Waterproof shines the brightest.

The level of support and stability offered by this On shoe is comparable to that of a hiking boot! Well, it is essentially a low-cut version of the Cloudrock Mid Waterproof. Its sturdy construction provides a stable base that prevents undesirable wobbling or rolling.

The shoe's sturdy build became particularly apparent in our torsional rigidity test, where we recorded an above-average torque of 23.6 Nm. For the record, that's the average for hiking boots!

As clean and unburdened as the Cloudrock Low appears on the outside, its platform packs a lot of powerful torsional resistance.

The shoe's extra-stiff heel counter also contributes to the lockdown and support by securing the rearfoot firmly in place. Refusing to bend or fold even slightly in our manual stiffness test, it easily scored the maximum 5 out of 5!

A chunky base doesn't really align with the Swiss brand's sleek design language, so the forefoot part of its midsole showed just a medium width of 112.2 mm.

However, the shoe's heel was made reasonably wider, at 95.0 mm on our calliper. Not so wide that it would create too much visual bulk, but enough to add plenty of rearfoot stability.

Testing the shoe's durability at the overlap of textile and TPU mudguard, we found both impressively wear-resistant! With damage being insignificant, we gave this On shoe's toebox durability a high score of 4 out of 5!

As for the textile inside the shoe, our Dremel test showed less impressive yet still decent results. Assessing the damage, we rated the shoe's heel padding durability as 3 out of 5.

With a dent as shallow as 0.6 mm, the shoe's Missiongrip rubber stood up to our Dremel challenge like a pro! It is a truly impressive result for a hiking shoe outsole.

Yet the amount of outsole rubber remains modest at 1.8 mm, balancing out the shoe's long-term durability predictions.

A generously padded insole buffers the foot from the shoe's firm platform. We found it notably thicker than average at 7.0 mm in the heel.

But if you want to swap the stock insole for a thinner insert for a roomier fit, or a custom orthotic for more targeted support, you can easily do that.

Its 'Waterproof' tag on the side is the only reflective element on the Cloudrock Low Waterproof.

The shoe's tongue has consistent foam thickness from top to bottom, showing 9.4 mm on our calliper. It is a standard amount of tongue padding for a hiking shoe, keeping the instep comfortably protected from lace pressure.

The tongue is fully integrated with the rest of the shoe's upper to prevent water from seeping into the shoe.

You can reach for the fabric loop at the back of the shoe to help your foot slide in faster.

With On shoes, you always pay extra for the Swiss branding and its signature silhouette. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the Cloudrock Low Waterproof or its materials, there is a wide range of similarly built hiking shoes at a much more accessible price point.