On Cloudsurfer 3 review

In our opinion, the On Cloudsurfer 3 is a great option for:

• Comfort-first runners seeking a plush, foot-hugging upper that feels great from the first minute.
• Loyal On fans who prefer sticking with the brand and need a shoe for relaxed, easy miles.
• Runners who enjoyed the Cloudsurfer 2 but wished it had more cushioning underfoot.
• Anyone in the market for a max-cushioned shoe for walking or all-day standing.

If you're looking for a shoe that performs well at anything faster than an easy pace, the Cloudsurfer 3 isn't for you. We found it heavy, sluggish, and lacking bounce. Instead, alternative options like the ASICS Novablast 6 or New Balance Ellipse leave it in the dust.

We also believe the Cloudsurfer 3 won't satisfy runners who prefer a soft midsole that lets their feet sink into the foam. If that's what you're after, we recommend the New Balance Fresh Foam X More v6 or Mizuno Neo Vista 3 instead.

We registered 146 SA at the heel and 120 SA in the forefoot, both strong results for a daily trainer built around relaxed mileage or long runs.

Indeed, heel shock absorption also improved by 6.6% over the Cloudsurfer 2. We welcome that progress, especially for runners who wanted more protection from the series without moving to a different On model.

Surreal brings a new foam name, but the rebound upgrade didn't arrive in our tests. We measured just 46.2% energy return in the forefoot and 46.6% at the heel, disappointing results for a shoe introduced with a new supercritical EVA foam and a cocky name.

More concerning, forefoot energy return fell dramatically compared with version 2. We see little reason to choose this midsole specifically for its bounce, despite the strong emphasis on new foam technology.

The Cloudsurfer 3 has moved firmly into max-cushion territory. After cutting the shoe in half, we measured 43.1 mm beneath the heel, making it 14.9% taller than the previous version.

That's a major change in identity for a series that used to sit much closer to the road. We now see a tall daily trainer with generous underfoot material, moving away from the lower-profile construction of earlier models.

We measured 32.2 mm under the forefoot, marking another serious increase over its predecessor.

On advertises an 8 mm drop, but our measurements put the Cloudsurfer 3 at 10.9 mm.

That's a steeper setup than the published specification that is better suited to heel strikers than runners choosing the shoe specifically for a moderate or low offset.

We've been testing On shoes for a very long time, and we've noticed a recurring theme with its training models: the ride often feels firmer than the brand claims and even firmer than the name suggests.

Although the CloudTec Phase cavities add some softness underfoot, we still found it to be a firm shoe, something our 41.7 AC reading clearly confirmed.

The EVA-based foam also became 24% firmer after our freezer test, revealing a noticeable change in softness when temperatures drop.

The side profile reveals a clearly upturned forefoot paired with a very rounded heel bevel. We also noticed how the CloudTec Phase cavities change angle along the sole, matching On's goal of sequential compression from landing through toe-off.

We measured 95.4 mm across the widest part of the forefoot. The heavily padded upper looks generous, but the internal width sits close to average, giving the shoe a more conventional fit than its bulky appearance implies.

However, it's also important to consider that the warp knit upper has some stretch, adding accommodation around the foot.

The toebox doesn't taper aggressively toward the big toe. Measuring 74.4 mm in our gel replica, we found slightly more room than in the average running shoe.

However, the overall shape remains fairly conventional, and we believe On designed it to accommodate as many runners as possible.

The main fit restriction comes from the limited space above the toes. We measured just 25.6 mm of vertical clearance, an 8.6% reduction compared to the previous version.

This makes the toebox noticeably shallower, although the warp knit upper feels so comfortable and forgiving that we believe most runners are unlikely to experience discomfort from pressure on top of their toes.

At 0.45 in our traction test, the grip is just decent rather than a standout strength. We wouldn't put this outsole among our first choices for runners who prioritise maximum traction, and we believe that a shoe priced like the Cloudsurfer 3 should score a bit higher.

We found three broad rubber panels covering both sides of the forefoot and heel. Down the centre, a recessed channel exposes a single row of moulded foam protrusions. The overall layout provides good rubber coverage around that channel, with separate forefoot and heel sections following the shape of the midsole.

Even without a Speedboard plate, we still needed 19.8N to bend the sole, requiring 72.2% more force than version 2.

That's a massive departure from the highly-flexible construction of its predecessor, completely changing the underfoot feel and potentially becoming a dealbreaker for some runners. No wonder we found such a pronounced rocker before!

The Cloudsurfer 3 tipped our scale at 10.7 oz (303g) in a men's US 9, making it a whopping 19.3% heavier than its predecessor. And unsurprisingly, this substantial weight gain could be another dealbreaker for some runners.

On has clearly shifted toward a cushioning-focused daily trainer, combining a max-stack midsole with a super-plush upper. However, the added weight is the most obvious trade-off for this new direction.

There are several details that add structure to this neutral trainer: raised foam sidewalls around the heel and midfoot, a firm rearfoot frame and a platform that spreads farther under the forefoot than before.

However, the Cloudsurfer 3 still has a very tall midsole. For us, it's a stable neutral shoe, but not a shoe that we would recommend for overpronators.

We needed 17.2 Nm of torque in our torsional rigidity test, finding noticeably more resistance than average. The hollow-looking midsole certainly doesn't leave the sole freely twistable!

We scored the heel counter 4/5 after finding substantial resistance to folding. The thick rolled collar adds padding at the rim, but there's still a firm structure below it.

Runners with sensitive heels should assess that contact carefully, especially around the upper edge of the counter.

Across the forefoot platform, we measured 117.1 mm, providing a useful landing area and some flare beyond the upper. It's wider than the previous version, although the increase is modest.

We wouldn't describe this platform as unusually wide for a max-cushioned trainer, which is perfectly in line with On's design philosophy.

We measured 91.6 mm at the heel, and it's again a more conventional width than the oversized stack might imply.

The warp knit earned 3/5 in our toebox abrasion test. We found moderate resistance from the material, with visible damage in the tested area but nothing concerning.

The heel lining earned a perfect 5/5 in our second durability test. We were impressed by how little damage it sustained, especially since shoes with ultra-plush interiors often sacrifice durability in this area.

The abrasion test left a 1.1 mm dent in the outsole. We discovered reasonable wear resistance, but nothing here makes the rubber a standout.

We measured 3.2 mm of rubber, a conventional daily-trainer layer over the covered contact areas.

We found no signs of skimping on materials here, and combined with the positive result from our previous test, we believe the Cloudsurfer 3 is built to deliver a very respectable lifespan.

We gave the upper 3/5 in our smoke test, as we confirmed only moderate airflow. Ventilation is clearly not a standout feature, although we think it's a reasonable result for such a thick, pillow-like knit upper.

There are visible ventilation openings in the forefoot, but our microscope images reveal tightly packed yarns and fine fibers partially covering some of these gaps.

We discovered a mixed lacing layout in the Cloudsurfer 3: flat woven laces pass through textile loops along the midfoot, with reinforced punched eyelets at the top. The extra upper eyelet allows a heel-lock knot, while the soft loops avoid placing rigid, rubbing-prone hardware across most of the instep.

Padding is anything but minimal. Using our digital callipers, we measured an exceptionally thick tongue at 11.4 mm.

We spotted no tongue gussets, so neither side is connected to the upper.

A central lace keeper provides an anchor, but we would still prefer side attachments to keep such a bulky tongue centred. It's an odd omission in a shoe that otherwise invests so much material in upper comfort.

We measured the insole at 4.4 mm, giving it a conventional amount of padding directly beneath the foot.

We could remove the insole, leaving room to use a different option. However, a thicker replacement will also reduce the already limited vertical space above the toes.

Like most On shoes, the Cloudsurfer 3 comes with a very clean design and lacks a heel tab.

We confirmed On reflective logos on the upper, a useful detail for a daily trainer that will see plenty of early starts and evening miles.

Good news first: the On Cloudsurfer 3 retains the same MSRP as its predecessor. We appreciate this price hold, especially considering the added cushioning and more substantial upper construction.

However, we believe the Cloudsurfer 3 offers solid value only for runners who prioritise comfort over pace and faster miles, as its performance feels underwhelming from heel to toe. On the other hand, if you're looking for a comfort-first daily trainer, we think the price is reasonable.