The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a neutral daily trainer that uses CloudTech Phase technology and a rockered profile to deliver a firmer, lower-stack ride. Despite being marketed as a soft and plush option within On's trainer lineup, it features a noticeably stiff midsole once the "Clouds" compress, revealing the underlying firmness of its standard EVA-based Helion foam. This gives it some ground feel and stability, making it suitable for shorter daily runs. However, its unresponsive ride means it's not a comfortable option for higher impacts and faster efforts, where it tends to bottom out and feel too harsh, though it can still work for occasional runners or easier outings.
Our Verdict
The On Cloudsurfer 2 is poorly suited for marathon racing. While it offers decent stability thanks to its firm platform and wide base, its energy return is terrible, with both the heel and forefoot feeling flat and unresponsive over long distances. The shoe also tends to bottom out under sustained impact, making it uncomfortable for longer efforts. This model works for short casual jogs, but it lacks the protection and efficiency needed for comfortably racing a marathon.
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Lacks protection at the forefoot.
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The midsole is awful at returning energy.
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Not lightweight enough.
The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a sub-par option for racing over shorter distances. On the plus side, its firm forefoot and rocker help runners generate speed through a higher turnover. Also, its relatively low weight and structured geometry contribute to a decent sense of control, especially at moderate paces. However, the underwhelming midsole bounce limits propulsion, making it feel harsh when pushing the pace. It can get you through a 5K or 10K, but there are far better options available if you are chasing performance.
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Firm at the forefoot.
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The midsole is awful at returning energy.
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Not lightweight enough.
The On Cloudsurfer 2 has awful energy return, even for a daily trainer. This indicates that the Helion foam and CloudTec Phase setup fails to release much energy. Overall, the shoe feels flat and lifeless, lacking the responsiveness found in modern foams from other brands. While the rocker helps maintain forward momentum, the midsole does little to assist propulsion on its own.
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The midsole is awful at returning energy.
Cushioning in the On Cloudsurfer 2 is adequate. The heel provides decent protection for easy efforts, but the forefoot feels firm and unforgiving when more force is applied, as the midsole offers minimal absorption once the initial CloudTec elements have compressed. This contributes to the shoe's harsher ride over longer runs or higher intensities. Despite being marketed as a cushioned option, the shoe doesn't offer the plushness or protection runners might expect from its visual design.
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Decent heel cushioning.
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Lacks protection at the forefoot.
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The CloudTec technology makes impact absorption inconsistent.
The On Cloudsurfer 2 has decent stability. Its broad heel platform, firm foam, and relatively low stack height help keep the foot centered, especially when fatigue sets in. This makes it a good option for runners who value balance and control over plush comfort.
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Relatively close to the ground.
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Firm at the forefoot.
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Unplated.
- 4.3 Marathon Racing
- 5.9 5K/10K Racing
Performance Usages
- 1.3 Energy Return
- 6.7 Cushioning
- 7.0 Lateral Stability
Changelog
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the On Cloudsurfer 2 in men's US size 9, as noted on the label for our pair. The colorway shown here is Glacier | Limelight. This model is also available in other colorways, including Ivory | Ivory, Black | Black, and Tangerine | Ivory. Wide versions aren't currently offered. The design section applies only to the exact model we tested, but we expect other size and gender variants to perform similarly.
Compared To Other Running Shoes
The On Cloudsurfer 2 lands in the daily trainer space but takes a different approach than many of its peers. While most modern daily trainers like the ASICS NOVABLAST 5 emphasize plush cushioning and energetic foams, the Cloudsurfer 2 offers a more classic ride experience: a firmer, lower-to-the-ground ride that leans into structure and ground feel over softness and bounce. It uses On's CloudTec Phase, a cavity-engineered midsole design, but the foam is still based on a traditional Helion EVA blend, which is firmer and less forgiving than other classic daily trainers like the HOKA Clifton 10. While the rocker helps maintain a fluid stride, the ride is harsh and lacking in energy return, especially when compared to the more responsive foams found in the competition. On the plus side, it's relatively lightweight and slightly less firm than similar options like the Nike Pegasus 41, so if you're set on picking up a classic daily trainer, you could do worse.
Within On's own lineup, the Cloudsurfer 2 serves as the brand's classic daily trainer, replacing the original Cloudsurfer, a very popular model with a softer feel. This model sits below the higher-stacked On Cloudmonster 2. They also have more performance-oriented models like the Cloudmonster Hyper, which includes a more energetic compound, and the On Cloudboom Zone, an unplated uptempo trainer. In the end, the Cloudsurfer 2 may appeal to fans of a more stable, low-stack ride, but for runners prioritizing cushioning or energy return for their daily runs, there are stronger alternatives across the market—and even within On's lineup.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best running shoes, as well as the best running shoes for men and the best running shoes for women. If you're after shoes that are well adapted for long runs, look towards our recommendations for the best long-distance running shoes.
The On Cloudsurfer 2 and the On Cloudmonster 2 offer two distinct experiences within On's daily training lineup. The Cloudsurfer 2 is a classic daily trainer, with a moderate stack height, lighter weight, and an early-stage rocker that promotes smooth transitions at easier paces. Its firm underfoot emphasizes ground feel and control over plushness or bounce. The Cloudmonster 2, on the other hand, is On's maximalist option—higher stacked, more cushioned, and noticeably more energetic thanks to a more responsive midsole. While both shoes are on the firmer side overall, the Cloudmonster 2 feels slightly softer and more forgiving.
The On Cloudsurfer 2 and the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 are both firmer shoes, but they occupy different subcategories of daily trainers. The Cloudsurfer 2 is a more traditional daily trainer, offering a rockered ride with moderate stack height and a Helion midsole. In contrast, the Rebel v4 is a lightweight daily trainer that sits much lower to the ground, features a lower heel-to-toe drop, and uses a more energetic FuelCell midsole that delivers a livelier underfoot feel for your daily mileage. The New Balance is also more stable laterally.
The On Cloudsurfer 2 and the Nike Pegasus 41 are both classic daily trainers, but they offer notably different ride experiences. The Pegasus 41 is heavier and firmer overall, with a snugger fit. While its ReactX foam provides a livelier feel, it also results in a less cushioned, more ground-connected ride compared to the Cloudsurfer. The Cloudsurfer 2 is lighter and slightly more forgiving underfoot, offering a smoother, more rockered transition and better impact absorption.
Test Results
The On Cloudsurfer 2 isn't especially light, but it falls within a reasonable range for daily trainers. It won't feel bulky or overly heavy underfoot, especially compared to higher-stacked models. However, for runners looking for a truly lightweight feel, there are lighter options in the classic trainer category, such as the Altra Escalante 4.
The energy return in the heel is very bad. While the rocker helps maintain some momentum, the actual rebound from the foam is really terrible. The Helion foam provides very little pushback, which contributes to the shoe's flat, muted ride.
The forefoot returns slightly more energy than the heel but still lacks any real spring. The result is a dull, inefficient ride that doesn't reward increased effort.
The heel cushioning in the Cloudsurfer 2 is decent but inconsistent. At lower impact forces, the CloudTec Phase design works, allowing for visible compression and a somewhat forgiving landing. However, as forces increase into a moderate range, the Cloud elements bottom out, and the foam itself absorbs less energy than other trainers at similar forces. Interestingly, at higher impact levels, the Helion foam finally begins to compress well on its own, providing a more cushioned feel again. This underscores the drawback of depending on CloudTec for cushioning, rather than using a more capable foam in the first place.
The forefoot is where the On Cloudsurfer 2 feels the harshest. It offers some initial give when pressure is light, but this quickly vanishes once the CloudTec structures are flattened. At higher forces, the EVA foam doesn't compress well at all, leading to a rigid, harsh sensation. Overall, the forefoot cushioning is unremarkable, limiting the shoe's comfort over longer efforts, especially for midfoot and forefoot strikers.
Despite being marketed as a soft shoe, the Cloudsurfer 2's heel is actually firmer. It's moderately firm at lower impact levels but becomes even firmer as force increases. This is mainly due to the CloudTec elements compressing early in the load cycle, after which the midsole relies entirely on the dense, unyielding foam. While this contributes to some stability, it makes the shoe feel jarring for long-distance efforts or heavy heel strikers.
The forefoot is very firm overall, and even more so as forces increase. After the initial collapse of the CloudTec pods, the remaining structure relies on a rigid slab of foam. This results in a harsh ride—one that may appeal to runners seeking ground feel but feel overly punishing for those expecting cushion or bounce. For daily training, softer options like the HOKA Clifton 10 are usually a more forgiving option for most runners.