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On Cloudsurfer 2 Review: The Up & Runners

The Up & Runners

Posted Apr 20, 2025

The On Cloudsurfer 2 offers a stylish look and solid grip for short runs or casual wear, but its firm, unresponsive ride and fit issues make it less versatile as a daily trainer. Best for lifestyle wear, and those seeking a firm ride.

Total

Form

Performance

Value

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Cloudsurfer 2

2.8/5

(1)

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Pros

Sleek, stylish design for running or casual wear
Firm, snappy feel for short runs, workouts
Reliable grip on various surfaces

Cons

Stiff ride lacks comfort for daily training
Low energy return feels flat, disconnected
Firmness limits appeal for softer shoe fans

The On Cloudsurfer 2 aims to be a do-it-all daily trainer, blending style with functionality for runners and casual users alike. Marketed as a versatile shoe for daily miles, gym sessions, and lifestyle wear, it promises a balance of support and aesthetics. After thorough testing, our duo from "The Up & Runners"—Cody and Eric—logged a combined 63 miles to evaluate its performance. Spoiler: it’s a stylish option with solid grip, but its firmness and fit issues will hold it back for some runners.

Cloudsurfer 2 At a Glance

How It Compares to Other Shoes

Cody Jett

Compared to the Cloudsurfer 1, version 2 definitely leans firmer—almost like On took a step back toward its roots. My guess is they went this route to improve durability and help the CloudTec foam hold up better over time, but in doing so, they lost some of the softness and comfort that made version 1 so enjoyable. It feels more like the On of old: firmer, more responsive, and less forgiving.

Eric: I didn't have the privilege of running in the original cloud surfer but at least compared to the Cloud Surfer NEXT the 2 is NOTICEABLY SOFTER. The slight increase in stack and altered angle of the cloudtech phase made a world of difference to me. This is really more of a classical daily trainer rather than a new age supercritical foam trainer.

Performance & Versatility

The On Cloudsurfer 2 is a daily trainer that prioritizes a firmer, more classic ride, suitable for short to mid-distance runs, gym sessions, and casual use. However, its lack of softness and versatility limits its appeal for longer runs or runners seeking a more responsive feel.

Cody (logged 31 miles): The On Cloudsurfer 2 didn’t quite deliver the ride I was hoping for. The foam felt overly firm right out of the box, and despite giving it time to break in, that softening never really came. I kept waiting for the shoe to settle into a groove, but it stayed rigid and a bit unforgiving. Because of the combination of that firm underfoot feel and the uncomfortable upper, I found myself capping runs at around 6 miles. It just didn’t invite me to go longer. In my opinion, a true daily trainer should handle a range of runs—from easy recovery days to mid-distance efforts—and this one lacked that kind of versatility.

Eric McIntyre

[logged 32 miles] The overall ride of the I found to be fairly enjoyable. For context I'm the type of person who prefers the 880 over the 1080 or the Cumulus over the Nimbus. I like a 'goldilocks' feel to my daily trainers where I don't want overly squishy foam underfoot but rather something that is slightly firmer but still has a smooth heel to toe transition. That is what I found with the Cloudsurfer 2. The shoe to me is soft enough, supportive, has a very comfortable first step in feel, and gets the job done. Its not a shoe that you'll be doing speedwork or races in but its definitely comfortable enough for daily miles and easy long runs.

Upper

The On Cloudsurfer 2’s upper offers a sleek, stylish design with mixed functionality—comfortable in some areas but problematic in others, particularly around the ankle collar, which may cause irritation for some runners.

Cody Jett

Visually, the upper on the On Cloudsurfer 2 is a winner—it’s sleek, modern, and gives the shoe a polished, lifestyle-friendly look. Functionally, though, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I appreciated the accommodating fit through the midfoot and forefoot (a win for my slightly wider foot), the heel collar was a different story. The ankle opening rubbed in all the wrong ways, leading to irritation on nearly every run. No matter how I adjusted the laces or tried different socks, the issue persisted. It’s a shame, because with a more comfortable collar design, the upper could’ve been a real standout.

Eric: The upper is very comfortable specifically around the heel area. The tongue is fairly cushioned and could maybe stand to lose a little plush but overall I found the upper to be comfortable. The shoe fits noticeably narrower than most ON shoes but the length fits more true to size. I find it to be a standard overall fit mostly. The shoe has some good lockdown and my only concern with the upper would be when the weather warms up if it will be a little too warm.

Midsole

The On Cloudsurfer 2’s midsole delivers a firm, supportive ride that appeals to runners who prefer a classic, ground-contact feel, but its lack of softness and energy return makes it less inviting for longer runs or those seeking a plush experience.

Cody: I’ve really been enjoying the direction On has been heading lately—more comfort, more cushioning, more of that smooth cruiser feel that makes daily miles a joy. But the Cloudsurfer 2? It took a hard right turn straight into Firm Town, population: not me. The midsole feels stiff and unyielding, with very little give or bounce to soften the ride. I kept hoping it would break in over time, but after 31 miles, it stayed just as firm as day one. If you like that classic, ground-contact-heavy feel, you might vibe with it—but for me, it was a step back from the progress On has been making with comfort-focused design.

Eric McIntyre

The midsole is soft and supportive but compared to many of the other daily training foams on the market it will be on the firmer side. I found this to be good for easy and daily runs as the cloudtech phase kept me moving forward but wasn't giving so much energy back that the shoe had me running tempos. From a foam perspective it feels about as firm as the Gel Nimbus 27 but with a more daily training geometry that to me felt smooth rather than clunky.

Outsole

The On Cloudsurfer 2’s outsole is a standout, offering reliable grip in various conditions, including wet and snowy roads, making it a dependable choice for daily training.

Cody Jett

The outsole was one of the bright spots for me on the Cloudsurfer 2. It handled wet conditions surprisingly well—on a few rainy miles, the grip kept me feeling secure and confident, even on slick pavement. The rubber placement feels thoughtful, and there’s just enough traction without overdoing it. It’s nice to have a shoe that can handle less-than-ideal weather without slipping out from under you. No complaints here—On nailed this part.

Eric: The outsole is very grippy to me. I've been running in a lot of light snow and wet roads after rainstorms, etc and I found that these did the trick really well. On used computer programming to 'optimize' the outsole as well as the angle of the 'clouds' in the midsole and to me I felt that this was noticeable.

Who should buy the On Cloudsurfer 2?

✔️ Best For:

Runners who enjoy a firmer ride and want a shoe that looks just as good at brunch as it does on a short run. Best for 1–5 mile efforts, lifestyle wear, and fans of that classic OG On feel.
Runners who prefer a daily training foam that doesn't squish under foot. Its for those who like the distinction between a 'lightweight trainer' and a 'standard daily trainer.'
This one will definitely come down to preference of foam over everything else.

❌ Not Ideal For:

Runners who prefer a more cushioned, stable ride for longer runs.
Those who are looking for comfort and ease in a daily trainer, the Cloudsurfer 2 might feel like a step backward.

Final Verdict

Cody: For me, the On Cloudsurfer 2 is a miss. The firmer ride just didn’t work for my daily needs, and with so many solid options out there, it’s tough to justify sticking with a shoe that doesn’t deliver. These days, I’m leaning more toward responsive, comfortable trainers that can handle a variety of runs. The daily trainer category is more competitive than ever—every brand needs to bring their A-game, and unfortunately, this one felt like a C.

Check out Cody's full video review on YouTube.

Eric: The Cloudsurfer 2 is a standard daily trainer that doesn't necessary excel in one particular area but is a solid all around option for those who aren't looking for an overly squishy feel. The shoe strikes a more classic balance of soft yet supportive but gives you enough underfoot to be able to handle some bulk daily miles as well as a long run!

Check out Eric's full video review on YouTube.