On Cloudmonster

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.9 oz · 39/33mm stack · 6mm drop

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The On Cloudmonster 2 replaced it

How it ranks

The On Cloudmonster is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Looks and cushioning are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. Most runners who compared it with another shoe preferred it. The rating is based on 77 runner reviews and 2 other rated shoes in the Cloudmonster product line.

Very good

Overall

Very good 91

Appearance

Exceptional 99

Cushioning

Very good 90

Durability

Good 81

Comfort

Good 80

Value

Below average 65

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

99 Very high

Very high 99

External retailer ratings

We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.

The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Our ratings
Brand rating
External ratings

What runners say

“I feel like I've strapped mini trampolines to my feet.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38

“The best shoe I've ever run in. Super responsive with a comfortable but firm ride.”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10

“Super lightweight, tipping the scales at just around 10.8 ounces.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38

“They feel like I'm running on clouds.”

5/5 Full review 16 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Glycerin 19

“I love the way they bounce back after hitting the ground.”

5/5 Full review 16 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Brooks Glycerin 19

“So comfortable and cushioned, they made me feel like I was actually running on clouds.”

5/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2

“Boasts a substantial cushion stack height, which provides a plush ride.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38

“This shoe functioned as a great daily trainer that especially excelled at picking up the pace.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 37

“They seem to strike the perfect balance between cushioned and stable.”

5/5 Full review 40 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39

“The cushioning is good without being too soft, and the speedboard allows for a propulsive feel.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3

“The sole wore out pretty quickly compared to other shoes. Lasted about 3-4 weeks or 300-400km.”

5/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a marathon came from the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer v2

“Very light and responsive. Plate makes it stiff, which helps late in long runs but doesn't feel awesome at very slow paces.”

5/5 Full review 55 mpw training for 5K and 10K

“It only lasts around 200 miles; the heel of the shoe starts to fall apart after that.”

5/5 Full review 45 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the New Balance Fresh Foam 880 v10

“The back collar digs into my ankle, so I have to put layers of athletic tape to prevent blisters.”

5/5 Full review training for a half marathon

“They are more cushioned, but needed a break-in because at first they felt really stiff.”

4/5 Full review 22 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38

“My main issue is with how they fit around the ankle and top of the foot.”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26

“No medial post, so ankles suffered early.”

4/5 Full review 45 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the New Balance Fresh Foam Boracay v3

“The only downside is the lackluster durability.”

5/5 Full review 90 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3

“The cloud cushioning technology is very enjoyable even though some other aspects seem compromised.”

4/5 Full review 35 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Mizuno Wave Rider 26

“If you wear the shoe too long, the plate will become uncomfortable.”

4/5 Full review 28 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40

“It also takes a while to break in for comfort.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 40

Prefer this shoe over another

69% 25/36

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

Reviewers say the plate and rocker add snap for tempo and long runs.
Reviewers call it among the most comfortable, cushioned shoes they have run in.
Reviewers describe the ride as cushioned but firm rather than soft.

Cons

It lists above the $150 median for daily trainers for sale, and eleven reviewers call it expensive.
Five reviewers say the sole wears out sooner than other trainers, though three report 500 miles or more.
Three reviewers find the stiff plate uncomfortable at slow, easy paces.

Cloudmonster rates 91. This shoe has very high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the On Cloudmonster

Each dot is one version of the Cloudmonster, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

91 2022 71 2024 85 2026

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

Cloudmonster 3

2026 · 5 reviews

85 Good

78 Confidence
Cloudmonster 2

2024 · 12 reviews

71 Decent

79 Confidence
Cloudmonster This shoe

2022 · 77 reviews

91 Very good

99 Confidence

Runner Ratings

77 ratings

5/5 45

4/5 29

3/5 2

2/5 1

1/5 0

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 8.9 oz
Men's / women's: Men's 9.7 oz · Women's 8.1 oz
Release: 2022 Q1
MSRP: $180
Stack: 39/33mm
Drop: 6mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Who cares about supertrainers

5/5

Overall

The firmness and slight rocker make running feel easier. I know the material is very durable and will outlast other daily trainers I see my teammates use. These remind me of Saucony's Endorphin Shift 1... not the 2 or 3. The Cloudmonsters deliver, without smoke and mirrors... just a lot of miles.

George Gowdy · Dec 3, 2023

40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Saucony Endorphin Shift 2

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

One of my favorites

5/5

Overall

good shoe overall especially if you’re just getting into running

Peyton Maulbeck · Dec 3, 2023

20 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

On Cloud Monster review

5/5

Overall

Best high cushioned shoe that I have run in. This is the only high cushioned shoe that I have loved for long runs, and faster tempos. The Cloud Monster feels lightweight and has plenty of responsiveness for simple tempo work. The only downside is the lackluster durability.

Anonymous runner · Nov 28, 2023

90 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run 3

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 3/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Best shoe I've ever run in - durability and cost are a bit subpar though

5/5

Overall

Honestly the best shoe I've ever run in and I've probably used 1,000s (running competitively since high school, now in my mid 30s). A bit expensive and doesn't seem to last as long as I'd hope, but - not exaggerating - I like this shoe so much that it's made me enjoy running more. Just a fun, versatile shoe good for everything from a tempo to recovery day.

John · Nov 27, 2023

50 mpw training for a marathon came from the Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 5/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

Beasts!

5/5

Overall

Takes an absolute beating, ran at least 1000km in each pair I’ve had. I run ~115km a week so durability is important. Usually using on long runs and easy runs. I know they’re starting to die when they squeak when I go down hills, usually around 900-1100 km.

Dboy · Nov 25, 2023

75 mpw training for a half marathon came from the On Cloudflyer