As you can guess by their name, On Cloud shoes have gained a reputation for their emphasis on cushiony comfort. The Swiss company, known simply as On, invented their CloudTec soles to literally feel like running on clouds. However, after trying on a few of their styles, I realized it can be a little tricky to find the right fit.
I wish I could try on all of the options On has to offer, but as merely one human, I focused on three designs: Cloudgo, Cloud 5, and Cloudnova.
Which On Cloud shoe do I need?
We’re starting off strong with what I can only describe as the brand’s universally comfortable running shoe. Cloudgo feels snug without being too tight and very true-to-size. I wear an 8 or 8.5, but only have to size up when shoes aren’t wide enough. The size 8 fit me perfectly, but they do have a wide version of Clougo for those who need extra room.
I was happily surprised that the thick CloudTec soles didn’t weigh me down. In fact, they seemed to give the promised momentum to propel me further with each step. And yes, there definitely was a cloud-like quality to them.
As someone with high arches, my biggest concern with sneakers is making sure they offer enough support without feeling too tight on the rest of my foot. I already felt adequately supported by these sneakers, but a salesperson suggested I try an insert. Walking around with one made the rest of the shoe too tight, though. If you’re someone who relies on additional insole support, you might want to size up or choose a different style.
Even though I really liked Cloudgo, the salesperson recommended I also try Cloud 5. I was glad they did, as this style quickly became my absolute favorite option from the brand.
Not only are they slightly cheaper, but the upper design also felt more sturdy and secure without being too restricting. They were just as true-to-size as Cloudgo. Plus, the brand’s “speed-laces” are a nice touch for simply slipping them on and going about your day. The CloudTec soles feature wider pads on Cloud 5, which give them an even bouncier, cloud-like feel than CloudGo. Again, my arches felt completely supported without the need for any inserts. I also have a knee injury that felt less achy while stepping around in these.
The only downside I can see to Cloud 5 vs. the CloudGo is the wider sole pads allowing for more debris to get caught in them while walking or running outside. Even then, they seem super easy to clean up.
I hate being negative, but I would recommend avoiding Cloudnova. Considering they’re currently the most expensive design from On, I was especially disappointed they didn’t live up to the brand’s reputation.
I was immediately uncomfortable stepping into a pair of Cloudnova. There was an immense amount of pressure on the top of my foot, which I thought might be from my arches pushing up into the top of the shoe. I even tried sizing up a half-size, but it was still quite snug and caused my toes to snag on the fabric inside with the excess space there.
I suspect this may be a problem even for those without high arches, though. Cloudnova features a nontraditional tongue and lace design, and a band at the front near the toe area that adds to the tightness. You can’t adjust the band, so it’s incredibly restrictive.
That said, the Cloudnova Form and Cloudnova Wrap seem to feature a more adjustable fit without the band at the front, so I’d recommend going with one of those if you’re dead set on trying this style.
