In this On Cloudmonster 3 review, I’m taking a closer look at a max cushioned running shoe that surprised me in more ways than one.
Back in 2019 we decided to stop carrying the brand On. The brand was starting to hum and you’d be hard pressed to walk through an airport without seeing the distinct pods under someone’s feet. For our store though, they sat. At the time, most of the shoes on our wall lived in that $135 range, with the max cushioned models around $150. On came in higher and, if you held them side by side with more established names, they didn’t always feel like the value matched the price. On top of that, many of the customers who come to see us need shoes with a real foot health focus. I never fully believed in how On was approaching stability and motion control back then. I was reluctant to pull them hard, and so they sat.
Fast forward a few years and we’ve reestablished our relationship with the brand. A shift in direction, a clearer understanding of who their customer is, and a more focused lineup have made the brand more appropriate for the people who walk through our doors. During the break, the one model we were asked about the most was the Cloudmonster. Their max cushioned shoe with rows of pods stacked on top of each other like a double decker bus. When you saw someone in them, you knew exactly what they were wearing. That distinct look matters for a brand whose models can blend together to the casual eye.
This week I finally got to run in the latest version, the Cloudmonster 3. When we booked it last year, this was one of the models we were most excited about bringing back. I squeezed my foot into a demo pair last July, two sizes too small, and even then I liked what I felt. Now that I’ve logged real miles in my true size, the initial excitement has been reinforced, even if the reasons are different than I remembered. As always, running in a shoe tells you far more than walking around the store ever could.
In my head, and even seeing them on people over the years, I assumed the Cloudmonster would be their version of a Bondi or Nimbus. Big cushion, soft compression, that cloudlike feel the name implies. The On models I had previously run in were always on the firmer side. They sat lower, felt fine, but were never what I’d hand to someone looking for something squishy. I used to joke that the brand should consider dropping “Cloud” because the ride never felt particularly cloudlike to me.
The surprise with the Cloudmonster 3 is that it’s a firm cushioned shoe. It’s max cushioned without being max soft. That distinction matters. I personally don’t love overly soft shoes. I feel like I sink, my balance shifts, and my gait changes in a way that doesn’t feel natural. Especially over the last few years, as I’ve worked through injuries, I’ve gravitated toward shoes that give me structure without feeling clunky. You often get forced into tradeoffs: stability that feels heavy, softness that feels mushy, plated trainers that feel fast but unnatural. It can be hard to check every box.
The Cloudmonster 3 sits in an interesting space. It’s not low to the ground like some earlier On models. It doesn’t have an aggressive rocker that dictates your stride. It isn’t a brick, and it isn’t heavy. It feels protective but responsive. I’ve taken it on the treadmill, to the track, and out on a hilly road run. Each time it has worked with my form instead of trying to impose its own. It has even calmed down my Achilles, which is not something I say lightly.
It’s also sneakily wider than it looks. We often hear customers assume the brand runs narrow because of the sleek design. In reality, there’s more room there than you’d think. Even with my bunions flaring up, I had enough space in a standard width and my feet felt better after the run than before.
Of course, it’s not perfect. The tongue could use a rethink. It’s a bit short and slightly puffy, and while I was worried it might bother me mid run, it never quite crossed that line. I’m also not in love with the laces. Small things, but worth mentioning. And then there’s the price. At $190, it sits right at the top of what feels comfortable. If it gives you 500 plus miles, it becomes a worthwhile investment. If not, that price tag will be harder to justify.
If you’re someone who wants a lot of cushion but not a lot of softness, the Cloudmonster 3 might be worth a serious look. It doesn’t run like previous On models I’ve worn, and that’s a good thing. It stands on its own. Just temper expectations. Clouds don’t always mean fluff.
