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Super Speedy Review Summary
The On Running Cloudventure Waterproof shoes are a superb pair to have for those rainy day trail runs or wet hikes. They are superbly water resilient, even up at the tongue and laces area, and a very sturdy feeling shoe with a firm hard midsole that makes them great over rocky and unstable terrain. They have a neutral gait and are actually generously wide at the toe end. The grip is superb on wet rock and doesn’t get clogged in mud. You’ll need time to get your head round that the shoe ‘feels’ stiff and hard when actually the cushioning is happening in an unusual way you don’t notice.
The On Running Cloud Waterproof shoes are perfect for more urban type running and light trails on a showery summer or spring day. They are lighter than the Cloudventure and just as well made.
You’ll buy them for the waterproof feature but use them because they are so speedy on rough rocky wet and muddy terrain. A great trail shoe for anything from a training run to about marathon distance.
You can buy them direct from On Running at the lowest USA Price here
In Depth Review – Cloudventure Waterproof
Ill review the Trail Cloudventure Waterproof first, then the Urban Cloud Waterproof after in this review.
These Swiss made ominous dark satin shoes are understated badass. Running in the rain is miserable, once you get your feet wet its only a matter of time before your feet get cold and become painful blocks of ice. Waterproof running shoes buy you time to jeep your feet warm and dry. It can make all the difference in a long trail race, and the difference between going out for a training run or not.
I first took these shoes out for a ‘dry run’ on a …ah….dry run and really liked running in them. So for the first time in a long time I was actually pleased that it was raining a few days later so I could see what they were like in the wet.
So are they Waterproof ?
Its kind of the point if you buys shoes that claim they are. The good news is that they are superbly water repellent. You can actually see the beads of water form and roll off the shoes as you run in the wet. Better still the tongue and lacing area is also waterproof which means splashes don’t get your feet via the lacing area either.
Short laces
Sounds like a stupid thing to get excited about … But short laces make me happy. So many shoes have laces that are stupidly long that after 3 bows and some angry scissors it still looks like I’ve tied up a large boat to the docks. These shoes have thin and very understated laces that are just the right length for a decent knot and no more. Its wonderfully Swiss. It makes me smile.
Breathability v Waterproof
Anyone that claims clothing is waterproof and breathable is kind of telling you a little lie. The reality is that the breathability is a trade off against the waterproofness. With these shoes you definitely get 100% waterproof shoes with an element of breathability. These shoes will feel clammy after an hour or two of running compared to normal shoes, everything is a trade off. I recommend using talc on your feet whenever you are running or hiking in waterproof gear every few hours to avoid feet getting too clammy.
If you take the time to gently rinse off any mud and dirt after each time you use them you’ll find the water repellency will be as good as it can be, as dirt can stop the beading process which also affects the breathability. Id also suggest giving these a spray with Nikwax Waterproof spray from time to time ( or whenever you no longer see the water beading on the shoes) to prolong the performance of the fabric.
Heels and Toes
The heels have a strong area of rubberized material round them and are super sturdy on the outside and the toe has a huge rubber toe guard almost like a front fender to keep rocks away. I suspect its nearly impossible to stub your toe in these shoes.
Springs not Foam
Its the underside where things get interesting. These shoes do not use conventional soft squidgy foam to keep your feet and knees all cushioned and happy. In fact after running mainly in very cushioned trail shoes for Ultra races I was surprised at how hard these feel. You need to be aware of something as you run in these. They are only actually hard on the push off stage of each foot. Otherwise the hollow little squishy bits underneath are cushioning your down step by collapsing.
With foam you are getting a cushioned footfall but you are then also pushing off against a squishy surface which isn’t ideal for transfer of power. What these shoes do is allow a slow cushioned landing ( like a spring) but then give you a solid and efficient push off like a coiled spring. Hence why they strangely feel hard. I felt like I was running in minimalist rock hard racing shoes but noticed after a hard long run that i had none of the muscle ache from poorly cushioned shoes.
Grip
If these are waterproof then they are going to be used in the worst places for grip, wet , mud and wet rock are all a challenge for a lot of trail shoes. These have a ‘throw everything at it ‘ approach for grip and work really rather well. There are various shapes patterns and lugs underneath doing everything they can to stop me skidding over, and interestingly they don’t tend to clog with mud like many trail shoes do.
Stiff like a Race Car
Running on rocky trails is hard work. Its been my biggest shock moving to the USA and these shoes really help. The middle section underneath has a super stiff central section keeping the shoe rigid in the middle. It means I can feel where my foot is easily at weird angles and avoid rolling my ankle as much.
Gripes
I often whine and moan when testing gear. On these I would love to see a variant with a higher mid ankle more like a hiking boot so that splash has even less chance of getting in and also to give you even more ankle support on unstable wet rock. Other than that I cant fault these shoes. I don’t think I’d change anything.
Verdict
These are great in the wet. A fast shoe with a generous width, neutral gait and good grip. With Swiss engineering and understated European ‘stealth’ styling I’m really impressed. In the dry your feel will feel a bit clammy after an hour. These are for fast runners who want grip and cushioning on tough rocky/wet/muddy terrain. Great for short training runs and trail runs up to about marathon distance.
Purchase $169.99You can buy them direct from On Running at the lowest USA Price here
Closest Contenders ?
The waterproof zero drop Altra Lone Peak Neo Mid is well worth a look if you are a slower runner over greater distance and is at a similar price. I review the non waterproof version here
Urban Running – On Running Cloud Waterproof
If its more road running you are looking for then the On Running Cloud may be better.
Weight
The first thing you will notice about this shoe is just how light it is at 7.6oz.
Grip
Although the grip on this is geared more towards urban running and in the wet I’ve found that this grips reasonably well off road as well provided you don’t get into too much mud.
Upper Mesh
The upper mesh looks a bit more breathable than the Cloudventure Waterproof as it has slightly less full rubber round the sides to combat splashes. As this is more geared towards urban running its usually easier to doge round puddles and stay up on the sidewalk so I wouldn’t see this as an issue.
Lazy Laces
Be careful with the packaging in the box ! buried amongst the silica gel sachets and tissue in the stealthy black box is a set of bungee lazy laces you can attach to the shoes. With Trail running you usually want a fairly solid fit for the shoe as you land unevenly, but with an urban running shoe you can get away with ‘slipping them on quickly’ much more. The shoe also has a nice large loop at the heel to help the lazy slide on. I find a lot of urban runners cram in a run at lunchtime so this feature is really useful.
Cushioning
The same On Running Cushioning is here in this shoe too. You get the squares beneath the shoe squash as you land giving you as much cushioning as you need, and then once squashed you get a much harder push off so you transfer as much of your power as possible. These shoes give you an amazing hyrid between decent cushioning and the feel of slim racing shoes.
Waterproofyness
Just like the Cloudventure Waterproof this repels water really really well and still maintains a decent amount of breathability. There is always a trade off with waterproof shoes and breathability and these get the balance right. In dry conditions and in the summer I would recommend looking at the normal mesh versions instead for greater comfort.
Build Quality
These have the same Swiss build quality as the Cloudventure. These may well be the most sturdy and sorted looking shoes I’ve used. I’ve put a decent number of miles now on my Cloudventure and they are showing absolutely no sign of wear on the uppers where your foot creases at the sides. Because they are mainly all a stealthy satin black they have something of an exotic european sports care feel about them.
Want to Buy them ?
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On Running
It’s not just a love of running that brought former professional athlete Olivier Bernhard and his friends David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti together. They were dedicated to developing a revolutionary idea.
After retiring from professional competition, three-time world duathlon champion and multiple Ironman winner Olivier Bernhard devoted himself to finding a running shoe that would give him the perfect running sensation. In doing so, he crossed paths with a like-minded Swiss engineer who had an idea for a new kind of running shoe. In the years that followed, the perfect symbiosis of running experience and engineering expertise allowed that first radical idea to be refined.
Dozens of prototypes were developed, but the basic concept — cushioned landing, firm take-off — remained paramount throughout. It was this unique running sensation that convinced Caspar Coppetti and David Allemann to come aboard too. Together with Bernhard, they formally established the On in Zürich in January 2010. Their mission to develop a product range fully engineered in Switzerland using the latest technology picked up pace.
Just a month later, in February, the prototypes won the ISPO BrandNew Award, one of the most important prizes for innovation in sport. Test runners were enthusiastic and spoke of running on clouds. In July 2010, the first running stores had On shoes on their shelves.
Technical specs – Cloudventure Waterproof
| Best Use | Trail Running |
|---|---|
| Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
| Heel-To-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Upper | Engineered mesh |
| Lining | Polyester |
| Midsole | EVA |
| Support | Speedboard |
| Outsole | Missiongrip rubber |
| Rock Plate | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 9 oz. |
| Gender | Men’s |
| Type Of Waterproofing | Waterproof breathable membrane |
Technical Specs – Cloud Waterproof
| Best Use | Urban Running |
|---|---|
| Trail-Running Shoe Type | Urban to Light Trail |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
| Heel-To-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up + speed system |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Upper | Engineered mesh |
| Lining | Polyester |
| Midsole | EVA |
| Support | Speedboard |
| Outsole | Missiongrip rubber |
| Rock Plate | No |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Weight (Pair) | 14oz. |
| Gender | Men’s + Womens |
| Type Of Waterproofing | Waterproof breathable membrane |
Hi, do you have any advice on sizing for the cloudventure? I usually wear a 9 in Adidas road runners.
The On site says go a size up with the waterproof shoes. Is that true in your experience?
Thanks
Hi Olly,
Its a tough question because width plays a role too. I find generally for shorter non ultra runs the most I would go up is half a size for comfort. The On Running shoes I tested ( and wore out cos I loved them so much) are a very snug shoe in a good way. Id say opting for their recommendation of one size up means you have some room for expansion on longer sweaty runs and you can always do a heel lock lace to tighten them up if they are slightly too big. If you get too small obviously its going to pinch. remember you can always return and exchange if the sizing is wrong. From memory I think I actually had both types in the standard size I always go for in all shoes, but again from memory going half a size up on the waterproof one would not have been an issue. Hope that helps in some way ! 🙂