On Cloudzone Moon review

The On Cloudzone Moon is worth considering if:

• you like the retro-runner take on a clean On Cloud shoe
• you prefer firmer, snappier platforms to plush, max-cushioned ones
• you need a versatile kick for various summer outfits

Its price is probably the most off-putting aspect of the Cloudzone Moon. There is an endless array of equally appealing and comfortable, if not more so, retro trainers available at a notably lower cost!

The Nike Zoom Vomero 5, the ASICS Gel 1130, and the New Balance 2002R, to name just a few!

Its high price point and 'all-day shoe' positioning can raise expectations regarding the Cloudzone Moon's cushioning.

However, its shock absorption proved to be rather moderate at 104 SA in the heel. While this is twice as much as in the adidas Samba (47 SA), it doesn't feel sufficient for spending long hours on your feet.

With a moderate energy return of 49.6%, the Cloudzone Moon feels decently responsive, without feeling dull. It's an optimal middle ground for walking, as it makes the ride feel predictable without 'eating up' your effort.

Even though we measured its heel stack at an above-average 34.4 mm, the Cloudzone Moon isn't as platformy as some other trainers. It is actually lower than the New Balance 574 (38.2 mm).

But it does feel a little more substantial under the ball of the foot with a high forefoot stack of 25.3 mm.

Its conventional heel-to-toe drop of 9.1 mm helps this On shoe feel on par with most other casual trainers.

With a slight heel elevation, it accommodates long hours of walking without straining the wearer's Achilles tendon and calves.

The Cloudzone Moon relies on a dual-density midsole, with a softer foam layer placed atop a firmer one to balance comfort and stability.

The bottom foam showed a rather hard durometer reading of 58.5 AC, but the compressible gaps of its CloudTec design make the experience feel more forgiving.

The top foam, on the other hand, is notably softer at 37.1 AC. It creates a comfortable step-in feel, softening the blow directly underfoot.

The shoe's profile is nearly flat, with no pronounced toe rockers or heel bevels. That keeps it looking sleek and streamlined.

Available in one standard width only, the On Cloudzone Moon fits perfectly true to medium width.

Measuring a one-to-one gel cast of its interior, our calliper recorded 93.0 mm in its widest part. That falls right in line with the category average.

Despite some mild tapering, the shoe's toebox also measured a medium width of 70.0 mm in the big toe area.

Even its toebox height falls squarely into the middle with a calliper reading of 27.2 mm.

That way, this On shoe provides just enough wiggle room both horizontally and vertically.

Going for a walk after the rain won't be an issue thanks to this On Cloud shoe's tacky rubber.

With an impressive friction coefficient of 0.79, it delivers strong grip on wet concrete and other slippery surfaces.

Similar to most other On shoes, the Cloudzone Moon's sole is only partially covered with rubber. But we can't complain because it is present in the key areas of the heel and forefoot.

Its above-average forefoot stack and firm foam limit this On shoe's pliability, making toe-offs snappier but offering less natural flexibility.

Measuring its stiffness at 17.1N, we found it to be on par with the New Balance 550, which is 30% stiffer than the average sneaker.

In a world of chunky and overbuilt trainers, the On Cloudzone Moon keeps it light and low-profile at 11.0 oz (312g). It is surely not the lightest we've tested and doesn't exactly disappear on the foot, but it doesn't drag it down either.

The Cloudzone Moon is a purely neutral sneaker with no added arch support to correct overpronation or excessive inward rolling of the foot.

But there is a good amount of inherent stability coming from its firm base and a nylon Speedboard shank embedded in its midsole at the midfoot.

The aforementioned elements work together to raise this On shoe's torsional rigidity well above the average!

Twisting the Cloudzone Moon by 10 degrees in either direction, we measured a substantial torque of 18.7 Nm! That means 20% more stiffness compared to the average sneaker!

Our feet and ankles didn't have to work overtime to maintain alignment and prevent undesirable lateral rollovers.

The shoe also packs some essential rigidity in the heel counter to steady the rearfoot without overburdening it. On a 1-5 scale, we assessed its heel counter stiffness as 3.

Even though it has a visually clean-cut silhouette, we found that the Cloudzone Moon's midsole is no narrower than average.

The widest part of its forefoot showed a standard calliper reading of 110.2 mm.

There is no extra bulk in its heel either, as the shoe's broadest area returned a perfectly standard width of 83.6 mm.

As dainty as it seems, the mesh material on the Cloudzone Moon's toebox exhibited surprising wear resistance in our Dremel test!

With surface-level damage, it helped the shoe's toebox durability score a solid 4 out of 5.

However, the textile on the shoe's collar causes concerns about premature wear, as our Dremel tore it apart within seconds.

Thus, we couldn't rate the shoe's heel padding durability any higher than 2 out of 5.

Fortunately, the Cloudzone Moon's rubber nailed our durability test with a shallow dent of 0.8 mm.

But we have some reservations about the long-term durability of this shoe's underside. A fairly thin 2.4 mm rubber layer and a lot of exposed foam in the midfoot can deteriorate more quickly than a thick, full-length outsole.

And that would be an unfortunate turn of events for a £180 sneaker.

A sufficiently padded insole complements the shoe's soft layer of midsole foam in creating a pleasant step-in feel.

Unlike most insoles, it's not entirely smooth but features an intricate textured pattern that creates a memory foam-like effect.

But it's also easy to remove in case you opt for a custom orthotic.

Th On logo didn't reflect light as vividly as it did on most other On Cloud shoes we've tested.

The Cloudzone Moon packs sufficient collar and tongue padding for a comfortable, pressure-free experience. Our calliper measured its tongue thickness at a standard 8.8 mm.

There is no risk of tongue shifting in this shoe thanks to its fully gusseted design. Not to mention a more secure midfoot lockdown.

However, a gusseted tongue narrows the shoe's opening, and a finger loop makes it easier to slip the shoe on.

The Cloudzone Moon is one of the most expensive trainers in our catalogue, and it's not because of any outstanding comfort or quality. You're paying a considerable premium for the Zendaya and Law Roach association here.