My first word was 'shoe'. I need no persuasion to buy any footwear but am hesitating about these shoes. Whilst spending a small fortune in our local sports shop on teenage son's school trainers, rugby boots etc. I spotted these and had a chat with a lady trying them out. She was smitten, unable to form complete sentences and smiling into the distance so I naturally had to try them. And yes, they were amazing! My high arched, over pronating, wide foot rejoiced as I jogged around the store feeling like I was floating on a cloud as I'm sure the manufacturers intended. They were insanely comfortable! But I couldn't justify their purchase then and there. Although they could be a 'Whoo hoo I've finally reached 10k treat!' in the next couple of weeks.
Having researched them more thoroughly, I have slight collywobbles about shelling out that much for a shoe which may (apparently) get stones stuck in the soles, slip in the wet and confound me with their elastic laces. However, I do crave a more supportive shoe which is soft and lightweight now that I am doing greater distances (and my Brooks Ravenna 8s have done some decent mileage now).
I run on a mix of canal paths (can be stony, muddy and gritty), tracks and streets. In winter I often have to stick to the streets if it's too dark or muddy for the country routes and my ankles and shins take a real pounding from concrete. My knees and feet turn slightly inwards so I have my own biometrics against me somewhat.
Do I get a pair just for road use to minimise the impact on my ankles and shins or risk the odd stone on country routes? Will the stone issue drive me mad or will I just love them and never want to take them off?
I know there are many fellow footwear fetishists out there and I'd really love your advice if you have any experience of running on clouds!
Written by
Slinkymalinki
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
✅ I find them very comfortable and responsive once they've warmed up, but the jury is still out on whether they are good long-term for overpronators like me. So far I've used them for all lengths of run between 5 and 25k and have as yet experienced no shoe related problems. They come up a bit smaller than I expected. If it helps, I have narrow feet but take a half size bigger than my Brooks, which are already a size bigger than my regular shoes. I don't think either of mine have elastic laces, unless you include the two tiny eyelet bits at the bottom. They are skinny and a bit annoying to tie though.
✅ They don't slip as much as my Brooks vapors. I think because of the give in the pods I actually grip a little better. I've not yet slipped in them but I hate running in the rain so do tend to avoid it.
✅ They seem very well made, a lovely quality shoe, and by a company that seems very proud of their product. I like that you can register them with a daft wee card and individual number.
✅ They look lovely, I think the colours are much nicer than other sports shoes. They have a cracking design team and people often stop me to compliment them.
❌ As you know, they're pretty awful for non-road running unless you take a hoof pick with you, as the soles fill up with allsorts of stuff. Stones, pinecones, litter, small creatures. OK not creatures. But I'd not be all that surprised to find something staring back at me. The annoyance level varies depending on the surface really. Sometimes you can just wait to get home to pick everything out, other times you feel things digging into your foot or scraping on the ground and you just have to stop.
❌ I don't think they have the longevity of other more traditional types of shoe, simply because of the pod design rather than build quality.
❌ Personally I'd never buy them full price, or even near to it...it's just too much money. pinkaardvark earlier described then as being like Apple, and I completely agree with that in so many ways. You're paying over the odds for a style choice.
On balance, that's the thing for me really, that last point. I got mine for £80 and £50. I'd struggle to recommend them in good conscience for more money than that. I'll buy them again probably, assuming the stability or lack thereof doesn't cause any issues, but I'll hunt about for another bargain.
Thanks, skqr. A very honest account. I agree about the price and while I love footwear, if it's that pricey I do give myself some breathing space! I think the debris in the soles might drive me nuts so if I get them they might be confined to roads.
It's silly really, I like them enough to keep buying them—so theoretically I should recommend them—but they frustrate me so much at that price point!
(Though I've bought Jimmy Choos before so I'm a huge hypocrite. I think the difference is those aren't designed to be replaced, where running shoes are!)
I love my Cloudflyers but, for me, the very big but is the price point. They are not very durable, the ‘clouds’ wear out quite quickly, it may be my running style but with the reviews I’ve seen I don’t think so.
Collecting debris has never been a problem, on trail or road, I’ve never felt the stones collecting in the grooves or had to stop to remove any. I just get them out when home - it can be a struggle to get them out!
Thanks, Annie. If I could get a pair like Sqkr at such a good price I wouldn't think twice! I rarely pay full price for anything and regularly haunt the fabulous charity shops of the Cotswolds for a new wardrobe!
I got my first pair from Run and Ride, I think they were just last season's colour so making room for new stock—I just checked and although they're still listed at £80 they don't seem to have any sizes left. But keep an eye out, they do come round cheaply periodically!
My second pair were from a small company folding and selling off assets, which is a real shame but good for me!
I have both. I use the cloudflyer for everyday casual wear and gym sessions. They are just amazingly comfortable. I don’t run in them outside mainly because I don’t want them to get dirty! 🤦♂️ I know, I know 😂 But at that price, who would! But I do wear them around and about town etc. If I do If I’m doing any serious running then I use my trusty brooks. They support my foot better and seems to absorb impact better. Also, they are a third the price now so I have two more pairs for the price of one cloudflyer. I also pronate and the brooks give slightly better support I feel. I’ve never tried any other brands than these so can’t comment on all the others out there. BUT, if you said I could only have one pair, I’d take the cloudflyers.
I have cloudflyers. I purchased them as my first running shoe after completing c25k and had my gait analysed. They were the only running shoe I tried that felt 100% comfortable in the shop and they have helped to relieve a lot of niggles I was getting with my old trainers. I think I tried Hokka and Brooks in the shop.
I have had stones get caught underneath sometimes the only way I notice is the tapping sound as the stone hits the ground and sometimes I can feel it and have to remove. Typically I run on roads and compacted stone cycle paths.
I didn’t know about the slipping before
I had purchased them (and run in the wet) I feel they do slip more in wet conditions than my old trainers which were ancient ASICS.
Everything I would say has been said by sqkr I think. The elasticated laces come on a different shoe, not the cloud flyer. But where On have elasticated easy on laces they include traditional ones in the box. I got around 600km out of mine and they don't look wrecked so Id say that is pretty reasonable. Not had slippage issues on mine but have collected a lot of stones. The stone collection seemed to get worse was they got near end of life too. But and it's a big but, I run on compacted and looses gravel byways, and when I run on tarmac and other trails I don't get the issue. If they are a great shoe that makes your running feel great then the price doesn't matter so much. Up and running gave me 10% off for being a gym or club member, you just have to ask.
Thanks for the advice. 600k is not bad going for shoe longevity! It seems like the terrain is an important consideration for these and I do quite a bit of gravel/shingle/stony trails. Miss Wobble is right; I need to try lots on before deciding.
I wonder if how many bits they pick up is a weight thing. You’re a tall bloke so obviously are going to weigh a lot more than me. Gathering stuff in the clouds has hardly happened with mine. Though my Cloudsurfets did collect a nice sample of dog poo, which I have to say was easily removed with a chopstick (don’t ask! 💩🤢)
Dunno. Doesn't seem to happen if I go slow so maybe a speed thing. Sqkr has reported she get stuff stuck in hers and I don't think she weighs more than a poke of chips.
Maybe they have a better sort of gravel in chipping Norton that knows better than to get stuck in people's shoes. I do know I have worked really hard to lose weight over the last year and my bmi is 22 so I am spot on in that regard. It is hurtful to have it suggested I am heavy. I can't help being tall 😕
I think you might have misunderstood me 😊 I didn’t say you were heavy for your height and build, just you were a lot heavier than me - or at least i assume you are unless you’re a famine victim. I have a very small frame, am 5’7” and weigh between 8.75 & 9.5 stone, according to varying factors. If you weighed as little as me, being a taller than me bloke, you would be dead from malnutrition x
I have four pairs of Ons and the Flyers are probably my favourites, like old friends. I have never slipped in them, and that includes wet pavements, mud, leaves, gravel. I have only twice got anything stuck in the soles and I didn't even know till i got home - in contrast to the Cloudflows, where a large stone meant I had to stop and prise it out. I have run over fields, along gravel and stony tracks, through water, and they have been brilliant.
Thanks for the advice, Flick. Good to know you're happy with yours. They were so comfortable when I tried them - unlike anything else. I ought to be prudent though and check out the shoe competition before making a decision. It'll be my little 10k treat!
I think if they were more comfortable than anything else you tried on, you have your answer. What price do you put on your legs and feet? I wear my first running shoes, Mizuno Wave Riders, as everyday shoes now and they are not as comfortable as my Ons. I wouldn’t wear anything else now. I would rather make savings elsewhere in my life x
On was doing an offer where you could wear them for a month and return for exchange or refund if you weren’t completely happy. Worth checking if they still do it on their website.
That's useful to know. I remember seeing something like that on the website. Normally I buy footwear which is comfortable without hesitation but knowing that I don't have to wear it every day (plenty of choice!), it's that unknown of whether it will truly suit you for a specific purpose.
Hi Slinky, I have not had a good experience with cloudflyers at all. I have had a lot of niggles develop and also significant burning on the ball of my feet. I went into Up & Running today to look at new shoes. The staff told me they have at least two customers per week wanting to return their on-clouds, including experienced runners. I guess it is all individual but they are definitely not for me. I will be putting mine on ebay in an attempt to recoup some of the cost
I have written to On-Running hoping they may offer something. My advice would be to really try them out on a treadmill for a couple of runs to ensure they are okay for you before going outside and then potentially losing the ability to return them.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Trail shoes 😍 but advice about lacing needed
Running on ice?
Welcome to the final week of our 'On it in October' quest...
Cross shopping shoes?
