On Cloudboom Max Performance Review

The On Cloudboom Max has a thesis. Not a novel one, as other shoes like the Salmon S/Lab Spectur have run this road before [Editor’s Note: hooray for more running jokes]. That thesis is that marathoners running a 4+ hour marathon need something different than the racing shoes made for the elites (you can find On’s top of line race day shoes on our list of the Best On Running Shoes).

That something different being more stability and support to handle more hours on foot and to minimize the effects of form breaking down over those hours.

I think the thesis is correct. Often the middle to back of the pack marathoners are just as well-served with a daily trainer as they are a race day shoe. But, do they want to pay super shoe prices for a shoe that hedges on its superiority? That remains to be seen.

Let’s find out if the On Cloudboom Max brings enough super shoe DNA to the table to make it worth it for the average marathon runner?

What is the On Cloudboom Max?

According to On, the Cloudboom Max is an “elite-level super shoe that features re-engineered components and geometries that provide marathon runners of all levels with soft, responsive cushioning, absorbing impact, maximizing efficiency, and boosting confidence to reach their goals.”

So back to what I said above. On is bringing all its best marathon-focused technology into this shoe but tweaking it to be better for the masses behind the elites. Let’s find out if it worked.

Midsole

The midsole of the On Cloudboom Max is the Pebax version of Helion HF on top of a glass fiber nylon speedboard which is stacked on top a stabilizing layer of the TPEE version of Helion HF.

The midsole starts out firmer than expected but breaks in nicely. It’s got a measured bounce that sends energy back up without losing energy to the sides. 

The midsole isn’t soft enough to sway side-to-side, which is helpful to anyone whose form doesn’t always mix correctly with super shoe geometry. The On Cloudboom Max is super stable but still bouncy. Cornering feels great and high sidewalls keep the foot firmly on the footbed. The Cloudboom Max is supportive in a way that race day super shoes can’t be (except for the rare oddball like the TYR Valkyrie Elite Carbon Runner).

But the construction of this midsole introduces an issue. The Speedboard is way too stiff. The slower marathon runner doesn’t need a shoe with this much stiffness under foot. They need less stiffness than a race day shoe made for elites.

Instead, On gave those runners a more rigid shoe. Any time I ran double digits in the Cloudboom Max, the tendons in my lower legs felt it for a couple days. It would be an amazing long run shoe but the rigidity just made my legs work too hard. 

It felt so wrong I did something I usually don’t do and checked with other reviewers. All of them had the same complaint (and a few thought the shoe was too heavy as well but the weight didn’t bug me). It’s a pity. This flaw is disastrous both in terms of On’s stated goal with the shoe but also its viability for most runners.

Traction

The On Cloudboom Max’s outsole is segmented into four pieces of thick rubber. It’s hardly showing any wear after 40ish miles so durability will be a huge plus. I did experience some slippage in wet conditions (wet ground similar to a marathon water station) but otherwise it was dependable. That’s similar performance to the Cloudboom Strike but with much better durability.

Upper

The upper is typical On quality and craftsmanship. Not a thread out of place with some great color gradients. This is a shoe that’s wearable both during and after a race thanks to the always aesthetically-pleasing sensibilities of the On design team. The On Cloudboom Max is comfortable, breathable, and the fully-gusseted tongue has padding in the right places. The lacing system also cups the foot nicely and locks the foot down onto the footbed.

The only issue is the top of the tongue starts out sharp as a knife. Make sure you wear socks long enough to go above the top of the tongue or else you’ll be rewarded with a small cut or hot spot at the front of your ankle.

Is the On Cloudboom Max wide foot friendly?

Yes, the On Cloudboom Max is wide foot friendly. It’s built with plenty of room throughout. The most room is in the toebox which allows for some really helpful toe splay.

Is the On Cloudboom Max worth $230?

All the technology and aesthetics make the $230 price feel right. A price point at the lower end of super shoes makes a lot of sense for mid to late pack marathon runners who need a go-to shoe. But ultimately the stiffness underfoot undermines the $230 price point and makes it hard to justify.

How to use the On Cloudboom Max

The On Cloudboom Max is best used for tempo and longer runs on the road (assuming you can handle the rigidity underfoot).

On Cloudboom Max Summary

The On Cloudboom Max has the right idea, but the execution, specifically the plated midsole, misses the mark. If you can handle that stiffness, you may really enjoy this shoe. It’s well built and has few flaws outside of that Speedboard. But I doubt any runner targeting a 4+ hour marathon needs that much rigidity underfoot. The Cloudboom Max does a lot well but ultimately misses on delivering the perfect shoe for its target demographic.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While On did provide a pair of the Cloudboom Max to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.