On Running Cloudmonster 3

The On Running Cloudmonster 3 is the Swiss brand's daily trainer, with a high (quite high) stack height and a firm ride, designed more for easy runs and long runs than for running fast. It is the workhorse of the Cloudmonster family: the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is taller and lighter (the holes in the midsole have something to do with that), with a foam that is more responsive than expected for those who want to pick up the pace, and the Cloudrunner 3 is there for those after a bit more stability. It comes in a wide fit, and many will also wear it for walking and for long days on their feet, where it works very well as long as balance is not an issue, because such a high stack is not easy to handle properly.

Compared with the Cloudmonster 2 the most welcome change is up top: the engineered mesh upper is new, and the tongue, now padded and gusseted, puts an end to the pain from excessive lace pressure that its predecessor was so often criticised for. The fit is true to size and a little narrower than before, with room up front and a snug, low-volume midfoot that may be tight for high insteps. It feels a touch loose until the laces are tightened, but once tied it holds well and the heel stays put. The rubber outsole grips well on dry and wet tarmac and copes on dirt paths, although in mud or loose gravel the Clouds (the holes in the midsole) can clog up and ruin the experience completely, turning the shoe into a real dead weight.

The Helion™ foam midsole goes from two to three layers of CloudTec®, with the Speedboard® plate above them providing a firm ride, surprisingly less soft than the shoe looks at first sight. With a 35 mm heel stack height and a 6 mm heel-to-toe drop, the geometry of the pronounced rocker is what sets the tone, making for smooth transitions and encouraging a quicker stride even at easy paces. Testers disagree on how much it can take when pushed: some take it up to faster paces, while others find it unresponsive as soon as the pace rises. Ideal for neutral runners who enjoy a fairly firm ride for their easy and long runs and also want it for everyday wear.