On Cloudmonster Hyper Performance Review

The On Cloudmonster Hyper is billed as an all around upgrade to a shoe I enjoyed a lot, the Cloudmonster 2. The Cloudmonster Hyper aims to occupy the same territory as the beloved Asics Superblast and the popular New Balance SC Trainer 2. 

It also crams another high cushion shoe into On’s max cushion lineup that includes the aforementioned Cloudmonster 2 and the Cloudeclipse. On one hand, more options are a good thing, but on the other hand, does On really need 3 shoes aimed at the high cushion segment after years of offering a low to the ground, firmer ride?

That’s why we’re here. The WearTesters team of run testers will never shy away from another max cushion shoe. It’s just fun to get out on the roads with a huge chunk of squishy foam underfoot. The results aren’t always ideal, but, in the shoe industry, increased cushion is almost directly correlated to increased interest.

So let’s find out if the On Cloudmonster Hyper can bring both fun and high performance to streets near you.

Performance

Let’s start at the top of the shoe because I need to complement the laces on the On Cloudmonster Hyper. They’re a flat lace woven with silicone and are some of the best laces I’ve ever used. The way the silicone grips means there’s no way your shoes are coming untied, even if you used a lackluster knot. Now, the laces are too long, but that’s a separate issue. The way the laces are built is really cool.

The eyestays that the laces thread through provide a quick lace setup while the microfiber upper (with 85% recycled polyester) delivers the typical On comfort and high build quality. The lightly padded but efficient tongue prevents any lace pressure and isn’t overly thick. All in all it’s another winning upper from On’s design team.

But once we get to the midsole, the On Cloudmonster Hyper becomes a mixed bag. The midsole (and thus the whole shoe) feels lighter and less bulky than either the Cloudeclipse or the Cloudmonster 2.

The transition from heel or midfoot to toe as the Cloudmonster Hyper hits the ground is super smooth and is in line with other high end smoothly rockered running shoes. But, that smooth transition is not always foot friendly. What do I mean by that?

The stability is good. Too good. The heel of the On Cloudmonster Hyper is overbuilt. It’s telling my heel what to do instead of me dictating the motion or pronation that my body does naturally. The Cloudmonster Hyper feels more like a motion control shoe than a super trainer. The heel also sinks in more than the forefoot making the 6mm drop often feel like a 0mm drop. Anyone with achilles issues should stay away because this type of setup will aggravate any preexisting injuries.

And the dichotomy between the heel and forefoot is gigantic. On is using Helion HF (a Peba blend also used in the race centric On Cloudboom Echo 3) and it has a nice bounce to it. The forefoot spring is subtle compared to some other super foams but it’s a really nice improvement over previous On shoes. Long time On devotees will get a distinctly On experience with a bounce they haven’t experienced before. 

That means if you stay on your forefoot, the On Cloudmonster Hyper is pretty darn good. Probably the best On model for forefoot strikers. But I don’t like this shoe for heel strikers. Heel strikers should go with the regular Cloudmonster 2 as the Hyper’s brand of stability may not work well with their natural mechanics.

Finally, we finish with the outsole. It’s a pretty standard looking On outsole with an x-shaped pattern. The outsole grips fairly well. But its durability isn’t good. 20 miles into testing my high wear areas were already starting to go bald. That’s not ideal for a shoe priced at $220.

The On Cloudmonster Hyper is a mixed bag. Whether you like it will depend on what’s important to you and how your foot strikes the ground.

Pros

• Awesome grippy laces (I’ll take more of these any day)
• Smooth transition and weight distribution
• Comfortable upper
• Bouncy forefoot

Cons

• Runs a ½ size large (go down a half size for the proper fit)
• Can feel like a negative drop shoe
• Overbuilt heel controls motion
• Laces are too long
• Outsole durability

Is the On Cloudmonster Hyper wide foot friendly?

The On Cloudmonster Hyper is wide foot friendly. Like most On shoes, there’s plenty of room to accommodate various foot shapes. But remember that the On Cloudmonster Hyper runs big. Go down a half size from your usual On running shoes and you’ll get the fit you’re used to.

Is the On Cloudmonster Hyper worth $220?

$220 is expensive when we’re talking about a shoe without a carbon or nylon plate. There’s plenty of Helion HF underfoot and the build quality is high. But getting $220 of value out of the On Cloudmonster Hyper is tough when the market already features a bunch of great high cushion shoes meant for running long distances.

On Cloudmonster Hyper Summary

The On Cloudmonster Hyper is something new and different for On but its positives and negatives give buyers a lot to consider. At the $220 price point it’s not possible to recommend it above anything on our current best running shoes list. But On fans, especially those that forefoot strike, may find the Cloudmonster Hyper is the exact type of upgrade they’ve been waiting for.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): 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 send a pair of the On Cloudmonster Hyper to facilitate this review, they had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and have not attempted to influence it.